New to thyroid issues. / hypothyroidism

[Me967]

Hi.  I just started taking levothyroxine 25 two days ago.  I have been EXTREAMLY tired and tend to get light headed after eating.  I have also been getting leg cramps and I'm either freezing cold or my face is flushed.   I was told it is not menapause and my heart is ok.   How long does it take to get used to this medicine?  I was told sometimes it can get worse before it gets better.   I have a thyroid ultrasound to go to next week.

My blood results were low sugar, low calcium, low iron and low thyroid.  My #s I believe are all just below borderline.   I really don't understand them though.  I'm also finding it hard to figure out how to take my thyroid, iron, multi vitamin, blood pressure, H20 and cholesteral pills, plus chantix in the correct manner.???  Can you take Chantix with levothyrozine?  

Thanks for any comments in advance.  I am very ignorant when it comes to thyroid issues.
Amy

[kitty9309]

The ferritin is pretty low. Iron is a good idea. Mine was 9 and then 14 and the PCP said I didn't need to supplement! Endo said to go ahead.

Ask for the free t3 test. Doctors forget that they work for us. They wouldn't have a job if it weren't for us! Your request is reasonable.

Good luck.

[Me967]

Hi.  Sorry I thought I had that listed on the top.  The ferritin level is 20.3

I should be getting the US of the thyroid results back soon but I think it will be good.  At that point I am going to ask about a T3 to be on the safe side. It may upset her but, I just want to be on the safe side.  I just keep thinking what if it's something else; not bad, just something.  I don't know.???  I am alittle nervous about messing around with the thyroid though.  Thanks again;  Amy

[kitty9309]

So at .66, the free t4 is barely hanging on and the t4 is low. That looks hypo, despite the TSH.
I don't see your ferritin level. It is good that you are also taking the additional iron.

[Me967]

Hi.  Well from what I'm looking at the T4 range is 6.1-12.2, the FT4 is .58-1.6 and the ferritin range is 11-307.  I am taking multi vitamins and the ferrous sulfate 27mg tablets daily four hours after my levothyroxine.  

I really don't think I have stress issues though if any which seems odd from what I've heard.  I'm mainly just tired. Like I'm in lazy mood all the time.  I do have a bottle of 30 Lorazepam that I get refilled every 3 years.  I might take one or two in that period.  I just like to have them around if I "do" need them.  I feel so very bad for those that do get it.  I hope and pray I don't have to ever add that to the list of pain in my butt symptoms.  The chest pains have taken me down though.  Take care and thanks for the reply.  

Take Care;  Amy

[kitty9309]

Do you have the ranges for the t4 test? A free t4, as I think you mentioned you are getting, is the best.

The TSH is pretty good. Make sure you don't wind up with a TSH that is too low.

I hope you are being advised to take iron supplements for the low iron. Do you have a ferritin result? It is the best indicator for iron deficiency. The low iron can cause the tiredness, leg cramps and the cold feeling.

You may need more iron than is in a multi-vitamin, though. I use Ferrochel iron, which is better absorbed and doesn't have toxicity issues like ferrous sulfate.

[peggy64]

Well welcome to the world of hypothyroidism~!   I was diagnosed end of march and it has been hell ever since. Taking armour, in 3 months I went from 30 mg to 120. Had a hyper episode,

I can tell mine is not plain ole anxiety because the xanax does not work, or ativan. The anxiety is the pits. I MEAN the pits.

[Me967]

Hi.  Well as far as pulling out another DX.....I'm there.  That is what brought me to MedHelp site in the first place (concerning heart issues though).  I was upset and requested my med. records to find out what was going on because I wasn't being told anything and going for extensive test.  I would be told basic information, while she covered my results from me and I wanted to know.  I was told to take nerve pills for stress but, refused them because I did not feel stressed.  

I was started on Lopressor, Dayazide/maxide, low dose aspirin, then Lipitor and now Levothyroxine along with alot of vitamins.  I mainly complained of back pains and she would check my heart.  All of the leg pains I had, I was told were either chin splints (sp. check) or potassium issues.  

Over time this year I felt tired, had palps, angina, had high BP (though a couple times would drop really low), SOB, lightheaded, sweats (whether hot or cold), and brief harsh headaches.  Well I no longer have to worry about the Mobitz ll block so that's great and made me happy to pass my stress and ecko minus having an ASA within limits.

I asked about all of the things I found including bld work so that is when she went over them with me and told me I had low iron, low sugar, low calcium and low thyroid issues and high hsCRP.  Now my chest pains aren't as bad and I very seldom feel my heartbeat now (which is great), my face is not red all the time now -----all good news; but, I"M BEAT.  I have one good day followed by 1-2 really bad days where I can just barely function mentally or physically.

I'm here to find the "bigger" picture.  Something has to be causing all of this (whether large or small issue); something?  It used to be bouts every 2-3 months.  In between that time, I felt great.  Now it's EOD.  Sorry to go on again on here.  Sometimes I feel like I'm being a hypochondriac.  I just think that Dr.s now a days are to busy to due the research, so I'm trying to do my own.  Sorry about the book and Thanks for listening;

Amy

[EMT9549]

HA well honestly that is a good question because I still am not used to the medication.. I was diagnosed in February 08 and I am still fighting the weird symptoms from the medication... not so sure what is going on but all I can recommend is being well monitored by your doctor and record symptoms you are having because nothing is worse then going from hypo.. to hyper... symptoms are weird and depressing... next thing you know the doctor will pull another DX out of their ***...

Good luck to ya....

[Me967]

How long does it take to get used to the thyroid meds if I truelly need them?

[moojy]

Me967....We are all here to rant and rave..because someone has to listen to us!  Who better than the ones who are going through the same things.

I do agree that AR seems to understand test results best.  He's told me things I was never told by my Dr. concerning the numbers I posted.  

[mommy2two2008]

Amy:         I hope your US goes well on Monday!  I really don't know how to read thyroid blood tests and I have read that I am lucky that my doc started me on meds b/c my bloodwork was "normal"  (p.s.  I don't have any other normal thing going on in my body so I am shocked it was "normal" - that's a really stupid word!!  -- see - I rant too!!!)  I am mainly posting to "bump" you to the top of the board again in the hope that someone answers your questions.  If they don't, you can leave a note for AR - he is the king of test results and interpretation!

[Me967]

Kim Hi.  I only have bloodwork results now.  Some I listed above (hopefully the right ones).  I have a ultrasound of the thyroid scheduled for this Monday.  My neck feels fine though.  So???  She said she will recheck the thyroid results (HAIC,TSH  T4 free, and iron panel) in 2 months and maybe move it up to 50 then.

I did get good results on my spect stress and ecko of the heart though this time so that was good news.  LOL  See I said I would stop ranting.  Thanks for the reply;
Amy

[mommy2two2008]

LOL - I FEEL YOU ON THAT!!!  I rant and whine constantly it seems.  Do you have any lab results or has your doctor order an ultrasound?  Do you have any enlargment of your thyroid.  I ask all of this just to say that it is very helpful for others here to see the lab / radiology results to better answer some of your questions.  I know how you feel, its horrible.  I have had tired swings since being on the levo, but am unsure if it is the thyroid doing it or the medication.  I really don't know anything, I just wanted you to be aware of the potential risks of the chantix.  I was really disappointed, I was really looking for a good way to quit smoking myself.  I guess I will have to try the patch again.  I am not giving up, just not sure what's what at this point and I hope you don't give up on quitting either.

I am sure the others will be able to answer some of your questions and I know any lab results with reference ranges and description on ultrasound findings is a good place to start.  Wishing you well ~Kim

[Me967]

Hi.  I read the comments on the Chantix and have decided to wean down off the chantix.  My question is though:  
Does the Levothyroxine make you really tired at first until your body gets used to it.  I was fine for 2 weeks on the chantix but, this levo pill is putting me in la la land.  

I was told after starting it, that it usually gets worse before it gets better.  "moojy" stated it takes a few weeks to kick in.  Is it possible with my #s listed above that maybe it's just not right for me?

I have been having issues for years but, never thought about thyroid due to ignorance.  After reading it looks like I have alot of the same symptoms, but, some come in waves of every 3 months or so though and that is when I encounter alot of pain and muscle spasms or the lymph nodes in my neck on the left hand side swell up.  Other daily symptoms are that I have no hot or cold tolerances.  I get lightheaded easy, (mainly after eating).  If I get one or two good days in, I feel like I need to regroup for the next 3.  Just alot of frustration trying to figure out what's going on.  I have high blood pressure and cholesteral and thought that my heart was the issue due to the palpitations and sunken feeling in my chest at times.  These get bad sometimes a day or so after the muscle spasms mainly.  Then starts the rough & breathlessness in my voice goes.  And now I'm feeling sick.  YA.  So confused.  Now I'm beginning to wonder if it's not a thyroid issue though due to the tiredness with the pills.  WOW; I'm ranting, so sorry for ranting!  WOW where do I go from all that.  LOL.  So sorry.  Boy do I sound like a whiner.  LOL.  If anyone could help me out here understanding any of this please chime in.  
Honest---I'm Done ranting. GRRRRR..  ok DONE.
Amy

[mommy2two2008]

Below is the link on a recent discussion related to using Chantix.  I am no longer using it since I had symptoms that I don't have now after stopping it.  That's just me though, I know others used it with no problems.  Hope this helps!!
- Kim
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/394473?post_id=post_2934309

[Me967]

P.S.  Concerned about the hair issue. I read that if your Ferritin is down that this is the cause.  Mine is 20 on a (11-360) scale.  I thought it was the thyroid issue that could be causing the thin spot?  Anyhow; like I said.  Any help would be great.

Amy

[Me967]

Hi everyone and thank you for your comments.

To mommy2two2008:  I was looking threw the Medscape site for drug interactions and chantix had none on their checker yet.  The only thing that showed on interactions        (I only listed my pills I take now) was daily multi vitamins/iron.   It said they have to be taken 4 hours apart from the Levothyroxine; because of the thyroid/iron salts = level 3-moderate interaction because of the absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.   I'm wondering about quitting the chantix for a couple days to see if this could still be the case though.  Thank you.

To moojy:  I don't know what is causing me to be so extremely tired.  I have had alot of the same leg body cramps before which have been severe and dragging before; but, not along being extremely tired.  It just seems so odd that this came about the day I started taking them.  I Thank you though and hope your test comes back well and gives you an conclusive answer.  I will look for your post.

To jmpdws:  Thank you but right now I don't know anything at all about any thyroid issues or drugs.  So your comment is just alittle to far ahead down the road for me.  I thank you though for the heads up.  Truth is I don't know enough to even ask my doctor how to know good #'s from bad right now.

To everyone:  From what I have read today it looks like the main #'s to look at are:
T4 -----------mine is:5.7
TSH---------    1.43
FT4----------      .66
Transferrin:  409-425
FSH---------   8.0
HAIC--------   6.4

If I got it right????  Maybe my #'s are fairly good and that could be the reason.  I'm not sure.  Does anyone know how to read these.  I just know I've been having some issues for a few years and now that I've cleared my heart test, now they are checking into thyroid as part of the problem.  Thank you for any help you can give.

Amy

[moojy]

I started taking Levo the same time as you and I haven't experienced anything unusual so far.  Wondering if the Chantix your taking has something to do with how your feeling?
I take 50mg of Levo when I wake up.  I also make sure I don't take anything else with it, except a full glass of water.

My next ultrasound is also next week and I am praying this Dr. has more answers than the last one did.  (which was none)

I was told it takes a few weeks to have the effects of the Levo kick in.  I am very new to all of this, so hopefully someone else with more experience can comment here too.

[mommy2two2008]

Just a little bit of information, be careful with the Chantix.  I started taking the levothyroxine and chantix at the same time and got numbness and tingles in my chin.  I stopped both at the same time and the tingles stopped.  Started the levo at the direction of one of my docs and no wierd stuff.  Also, there is a thread on here relating to chantix and thyroid issues do a search on chantix in the medhelp search.  It is worth looking at before you get too deep in it and feel worse.  Some of the thread mentioned chantix causing hypothyroid.  ~Best, Kim

[Me967]

Sorry, I meant to say in the first line "I started taking it 2 days ago"

Amy