New to Meds for Hypothyroidism, have questions?

[Cvequestrian]

Hi everyone!

I started taking 25mcg Levothyroxine around the beginning of December (possibly mid-November, but I can't remember exactly).

First day on the medicine, and aches and pains I'd had went away! I couldn't believe it, as I'd never realized they were related, I thought they were from a car accident I'd been in. Not to mention, I didn't feel exhausted or get headaches. I really hadn't associated these things with being hypothyroid, the only things I'd thought were related was hair loss, hives and weight gain (ugh), so you can imagine my relief when, at 28, I discovered I wasn't already "feeling old" for no reason!

First few weeks, I felt great in general, there were only a few days where I was achy and tired. The past two weeks, I've started feeling achy and exhausted again. Not to mention, I'm getting headaches again. I'm still taking the 25mcg of Levothyroxine...

So, I am wondering... am I more "hypo" than what I'm being treated for?

Or, alternately (and depressingly), was the relief I'd experienced temporary and now I'm actually hyperthyroid (as in, I don't need the medicine)? I will be calling my doctor's office on Monday to schedule a follow up, but I'm curious about other people's experiences. Also, my eyelashes have resumed falling out.

I was so happy to be feeling GOOD and felt as though a weight had been lifted (I wondered why, at my age, I felt so run down all of the time). I'm active, own a large horse farm, carry water buckets, ride horses, clean stalls, walk at least a mile per day... and I'd just gotten so tired and run down feeling. I thought our work as "farmers" was wearing on me, but still, that didn't quite make sense. Even though I'm active, I don't feel overworked...

What were your experiences with starting out with hypothyroid medicine? Anything similar to what I've described? If so, what was the outcome?

[Barb135]

Please post your recent blood tests, so members can see where your levels are.  

It takes 4-6 weeks for levothyroxine to reach full potential in the body, though it's possible for some symptoms to go away sooner than that; I think, "immediately" is a little too soon.  If you've been on the medication since Nov/Dec it will have built up in your system as much as it's going to and it's past time to retest.  25 mcg is a very low dose and it's quite likely that you simply need an increase.  Be sure to get tested for TSH, FREE T3 and FREE T4.  


Undiagnosed1968 - you, too, should post your actual current levels.  There are no topical hormones that will substitute for thyroid medication, nor are there any that would have prevented your surgery. The thyroid is a major part of our anatomy, controlling several body processes, but thyroidectomy is not all that unusual and many people do very well on the replacement hormones, since the active ingredient in levo is identical to what your body produces.  Many of us, whose thyroid has been destroyed because of antibodies are in the same boat you're in - no working thyroid.

Please post your current thyroid levels, so members can see where you're at and possibly make suggestions for treatment that might help you.  It's not necessary to live in misery, and is possible that a simple switch in medication/dosage could do the trick.  If your doctor is treating you, based only on TSH, s/he's doing you a great disservice by putting you on a constant roller coaster.

Be sure to include reference ranges with all lab results, since ranges vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report.

[Undiagnosed1968]

Hi, well I've been experiencing this since 2005. I was thrown in the fire so to speak. I wasn't feeling good ever, tired, throat felt so tight I could hardly drive and still check mirrors safety. Well, right after Christmas,I was visiting in laws, when I received the devastating call, that had changed my life and not for the better. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. I was thin,active healthy looking. I had dry sore calves and brittle nails and a few more livable symptoms. With the advise from 3 phycians I returned home to immediately have surgery to remove my Thyriod. I immediately went from Hyper to Hypo, after a few years of juggling they finally rested with a dose of 200 MCG per day Levothroid medication. It isn't right and they know but they gave up because every single
blood test it's either to high to low, we even tried to alternate 175/200 MCG still had bad readings no matter what I did. I know food can affect your absorption of your hormones. Sometimes I think your better off than you know. Get re tested and do it frequently.  Years later I feel awful and I know the importance of a Thyroid from all the research I've done since my experiece. If I could do things over again I would use a topical hormone,although I didn't have a choice or option to not have the avasesive surgery that so ruined my health and the health of my family. Something died that day don't let them have what health and youth you have left to offer. Remember if it doesn't feel right it probably isn't.

[Cvequestrian]

Also... the aches and pains are in my back, shoulders, elbows and hands mainly? I experience them more in the morning, when I wake up. I take my meds in the morning, so I'm wondering if maybe they are wearing off? I dunno what to think..