How long before meds take effect!

[Nan2350]

I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroid disease - in mid January '08.  My TSH was 14.92.  I had all the classic symptoms, which had started a few years ago with hairthining and gradual weight gain.  By this past summer I was not feeling "right" - more weight gain, swelling of lower legs/ankles etc. and a heavy feeling in my throat, like someone was giving me a slight choke.  My blood pressure felt funny and I knwo this because I was always a 120/80 person who was a regular blood donor.  Never had elevated BP.  I was always cold when everyone was normal.  cold hands and feet.
So, because these symptoms come on in a gradual way, you don't know enough to put them all together and self-diagnose HTD.  I finally made an appointment to see a doctor after I "knew" I wasn't okay - it was the weight gain that really had me freaked out!

I had all the blood tests and I was quickly diagnosed.  My doctor prescribed .05 MG of Levothyroxin which I've been on for about 7 weeks now and nothing seem to have kicked in yet!  I feel just a horrible as before I was diagnosed.  

Question is, how long should I expect to wait before starting to feel better?  I see the doctor again in early April.  Can I hope that she mighr increase the dosage for better response?

Thanks

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Would go ahead and retest thyroid levels and add TPO-antibodies to confirm this is Hashimoto's (most common cause).  Then adjust the dose as necessary - you may need more medication.  It also may take a few months to notice a difference.

[peaches101]

I am not the doctor but he should answer by sometime tommorow.  My regular doctor wants to check only every three months to see where my levels are at but the endos I have seen say about every 8 weeks until you figure out the right dose.  I would guess that you need a higher dose.  Have you ever had your TPO antibodies checked?  This will help tell you whether your thyroid problem is auto-immune. I just recently got back from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.  They were really amazing there.  They did an ultrasound of my neck to make sure there were not any nodules to worry about.  They also did several blood tests to make sure there was nothing else going on.  If I were you and still did not feel any better after 7 weeks, I would call and ask to have blood tests done now to see where you are.  I wasn't trying to butt in, just wanted to help.

Janelle

[kat8888]

A related discussion, how long does it take for topamax to take effect for essential benign tremor was started.

[bhark]

Pls answer this doctor ASAP.
If I have thyroid problem. Then how should cure it. It is curable or not.
hello doctor,
In the recent 2 years my weight keeps on increasing, some of the doctors thought it is thyroid problem and I gave a test for thyroid confirmation. the result of the test is
TSH - 0.93 mlU/ml
T4 - 6.10 ug/dl
T3 - 99.55 ng/dl.
My question is that do I have hypothyroid problem. The doctor who treats for me gave thyrox-25 tablet and asked me to take it for a month, but in the test result the following were described
SERUM T3 - 99.55 ng/dl   Adults: 80-180 ng/dl   New born 4 days - 100-740 ng/dl
SERUM T4 - 6.10 ug/dl      Adults: 4.5 - 12.5 ug/dl  New born 4 days  - 14.0 - 28.4 ug/dl
SERUM TSH(3rd generation)  Adults: 0.3 - 5.0 mIu/ml New born 4 days: 1.0 - 38.9 mIu/ml

Please inform me whether I have hypothyroid problem or not. Please, if not then why my doctor gave thyrox-25 tablet for me. Please help me  doctor.

[bhark]

hello doctor,
In the recent 2 years my weight keeps on increasing, some of the doctors thought it is thyroid problem and I gave a test for thyroid confirmation. the result of the test is
TSH - 0.93 mlU/ml
T4 - 6.10 ug/dl
T3 - 99.55 ng/dl.
My question is that do I have hypothyroid problem. The doctor who treats for me gave thyrox-25 tablet and asked me to take it for a month, but in the test result the following were described
SERUM T3 - 99.55 ng/dl   Adults: 80-180 ng/dl   New born 4 days - 100-740 ng/dl
SERUM T4 - 6.10 ug/dl      Adults: 4.5 - 12.5 ug/dl  New born 4 days  - 14.0 - 28.4 ug/dl
SERUM TSH(3rd generation)  Adults: 0.3 - 5.0 mIu/ml New born 4 days: 1.0 - 38.9 mIu/ml

Please inform me whether I have hypothyroid problem or not. Please, if not then why my doctor gave thyrox-25 tablet for me. Please help me  doctor.

[Nan2350]

Thank you Dr. Lupo!  I will call the lab to see if my MD ordered TPO test this time.  It doesn't appear to be on the lab report I have from the first (and only) tests I've had to date. Now I am informed and will discuss all this with my doctor in early April.

Thanks for your advise.  Nan  :)

[Nan2350]

Thanks Janelle for your input!  I'm getting real educated on this subject and appreciate your sharing your experience.  I insisted on getting in earlier to see my doctor and of course she did order labs to be done a week prior to seeing her.  I go on April 8th.  I also have a friend who is a Nurse Practitioner and he also said he sees women with HTD all the time and with TSH levels much lower than mine and starts them out on higher doseage of Levothyroxin and adjusts from there.  He thinks my MD is being too conservative.

I'm better equipped now to discuss this in April.  I'll come back on and let you know what happens at my next appointment.  :)

Thanks again.  Nan