Just had a blood test and the docs are suggesting I have this-explains a lot after feeling really tired at times, a little bit of feeling sad at times, and sudden lack of tolerance to more than a few beers.
Does anyone have any experience of this and subsequent recovery once the docs put you on the pills?
Tvm
M

My girlfriend has Hashimoto’s. She had it for ages before being diagnosed.

She changed her diet and has been able to keep the medicine to half a tablet of Levothyroxine(25microgram) every 2 days.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-3139/13-Ways-to-Treat-Hypothyroidism-Naturally.html

My missus was hyper- and hypo- for years. Really messed her up at times. I won’t even explain how bad it became 5 years ago. Thankfully she saw an endocrinologist (on private) and he finally figured out what she needed to do. 2-3 months later she was right as rain. It can be a horrible condition. Not enough is done in this country to understand/manage/beat it. Apparently it’s given serious consideration in the US.

How much was the private endocrinologist? The doctors refuse to refer her to one.

Welcome to the club tcomc1000, there are some hypo chaps on here so hopefully they’ll see this thread.

It’s a good idea to get in the habit of asking for a copy of your blood test results, you’re legally entitled to these and there’s info here:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/Category.aspx?CategoryID=68

There are a large number of symptoms associated with this condition and indeed tiredness and feeling depressed are but two.

I would recommend this book, written by a British expert. It’s only £10.10 including postage:

https://wordery.com/your-thyroid-and-how-to-keep-it-healthy-barry-durrant-peatfield-9781905140107?cTrk=NDQ1OTQ4NDd8NThlMTY3ZTcwZDkwNzoxOjE6NThlMTY3ZGRlY2IzYTQuODQ4NTAzMTY6ODc4NTVmOWU%3D

You should have blood tests every 6-8 weeks to monitor your TSH. Do you have antibodies? If so it may help to adopt a gluten-free diet and take a selenium supplement if your level is low. Don’t expect to feel great right away, it will take some time to reach your optimal dosage.

Be aware that around 15% of thyroid patients can be more complex cases and Thyroxine doesn’t work for them. Unfortunately in this scenario you’re very much on your own and will have to diy.

Any q’s just shout. 🙂

I think she was on PMI at the time as I don’t recall there being any fee.

Dr Zachariah was the man. He also takes those without insurance so it’s worth you putting in a call.

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism a few years back after a full suite of blood tests to identify why I was constantly feeling tired. Initially the doc thought it was anaemia but decided to do a full suite instead.
When the test came back he said he’d not seen levels that low/high t3/t4 in anyone my age even who actually had a thyroid.
Anyway to cut a long story short after a about 3 years of 3 monthly tests my level was set at 150ug per day. Apparently that’s quite high.
The Levothyroxine is an immediate replacement and as such just puts me back to the levels that I should be at with zero side effects. As I’ve now been on the same dose for 6 months I can still give blood apparently.
My wife can immediately tell that evening if I’ve forgotten to take them in the morning as I’m grouchy and tired. Apparently it is supposed to take a couple of days for the levels to go out of kilter. Not with me.
Either way, you’ll be on Thyroxine for life probably, but as a benefit will never need to pay fro prescriptions again as you now qualify for free ones if you get a Medical Exemption Cert.

Just to add that you need to take your Thyroxine with water but away from food and other drinks especially tea and coffee. Leave a good hour.

If you’re taking any other meds such as AD’s, PPI’s etc then they could interfere.

Thanks guys, that all sounds quite promising.
Only discovered it because part of my job means I have a medical check up, and they took my bloods as part of that.
Cheers for the links, I’m going to puruse them now.
I think my levels are only boarderline (11.6 and 6.4) for yah and t4 so they are giving me 6 weeks to see what happens and if my levels recover to normal

Just for balance:
Hypothyroidism is usually very straightforward and easily managed in primary care by generalists without recourse to “specialists”.
With a TSH of only just above 10 and relatively mild symptoms there is no rush to start any treatment so repeating the tests in a few weeks sounds spot on.
Don’t worry if you do need to take thyroxine in the end. Most people’s levels don’t fluctuate much.

More likely to be an FT4 of 11.6 and TSH of 6.4 surely?

What docrobster said – yes some do have a hard time with it, but others like me are much luckier. Haven’t changed dose in years and it has never caused me grief. Fingers crossed you’re in that camp.

Well

I think my levels are only boarderline (11.6 and 6.4) for yah and t4 so they are giving me 6 weeks to see what happens and if my levels recover to normal

Assuming autocorrect tsh to yah?

I have it and am barely affected by it. It got spotted in a general blood test years ago when trying to diagnose why I was fainting. I just take my 150 micrograms (never realised that was a rarely high level) every morning and carry on with my day. If I forget to take them one morning, meh, no ill-effects.

Very occasionally, i.e. two or three time a year, I begin to realise my levels have gone a wee bit skewy because I am showing all the signs of being hypo- or hyper-. The most noticeable sign is to do with sleep. All I have ever had to do is wait a couple of days and everything’s back to normal.

But really, although I’m not affected by it I can use it as an excuse for everything! Can’t be bothered doing something? Forgot something? Put on a bit of weight? Sleepy? Grumpy? “Yeah, feels like my levels are maybe a bit low.” NEEDING to go out for a ride as you’re getting antsy sitting in the house? I can also blame that on my thyroid! It’s brilliant.

It’s much tougher on others. Both my sisters also have it, one of them has levels that are constantly fluctuating so she is, genuinely, always suffering the symptoms one way or another.

I’ve had this for 20+ years. Took sometime for an intial diagnosis as I was young, fit and very active (i did have a terrible recovery time from riding though). I had quite significant symptoms by the time i was diagnosed and they do take a while to go away if you have had them for a while. You also normally take 6 weeks to adjust to a new dose.

Once stable you should have annual checks. I am on 175 a day as close to full replacement which is likely why i have been stable for years. i didnt even need a change during pregnancy.

The old skool way of measuring if you needed a dose adjustment was resting heart rate and as mine was a little extreme (38 when diagnosed) my gp is willing to use this for adjustments when my heart rate takes a big dip. A couple of years ago I had fine bloods but had an increase in symptoms for several months and a drop in heart rate so they made an adjustment and checked – the bloods didnt change but i felt better so was left on a higher dose. Having a quantifiable measure that is obviously out of kilter will help your gp do adjustments. I have had several gps over the years through moving and they have all been fine in listening. Feeling tired alone is not enough evidence though as there are so many others reasons for this they could be doing you more harm than good by adjusting – much worse to be over than under.

All in all you are most likely to be fine and i haven’t found the need to take the tablets in a specific way beyond the habit of taking them in the morning before food. I have a consultant endocrinologist as a friends (although have never involved him in my care) but he advised when i first started taking tablets as long as you are consistent in how you take the tablets (e.g. before or after food and roughly at the same time) then that is fine.

Good luck!

So my results after 6 weeks are in,
Tsh of 7, t4 of 13.
Two day wait to see the doctor, but I’m guessing that’s not me all clear.
Bugger!

It’s unlikely that you’ll be treated until your TSH reaches 10 and, unsurprisingly, your FT3 hasn’t been done. These are the BTA guidelines which I would suggest you read:

http://www.british-thyroid-association.org/sandbox/bta2016/bta_statement_on_the_management_of_primary_hypothyroidism.pdf

Edit: were antibodies tested? Be aware that the NHS only tests for one type and that even if you do have them then NHS management won’t be any different.

Because of my job they are unlikely to leave it and will dozen me up/send me off to a specialist.
Thanks for the reading material, am about to sit down with a cuppa and read it through.
M

Definitely try and persuade them/Endocrinologist to test FT3 which is free T3. It is only the T3 hormone that is the biologically active thyroid hormone within our cells. In other words it’s the important one as opposed to the pituitary gland which produces thyroid-stimulating hormone aka TSH.

Good luck with your appointment. 🙂

Quick update
Thanks to everyone who added their bit, was uber helpful.
I’m on the pills. 50 mg every morning. Am starting to feel a little more with it, but it’s only been a week so maybe the placebo effect. My antibody count is massively high so the doc said it’s pretty much my body slowly killing off my thyroid.
Tonight’s a tired day but others have been better-Massive party on Saturday and I stayed up waaaaaaay past my normal current bedtime of nine o clock!
How long does it take being on the levy until you are pretty much normal again?
Thanks in advance
M