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I have Hypothyroidism - it's becoming more tough to take on

Posted , 7 users are following.

tyler48
tyler48

Hi everyone. I've been having symptoms of an underactive thyroid for 5 months, and have been recently diagnosed with an underactive thyroid month ago . As a 20 year old relatively healthy male; you might be able to see how this is confusing to me. I realized, though, that my mom and some of her family suffer from an underactive thyroid.

This is quickly becoming more dire of a problem for me. An enormous amount of fatigue, I'm a delivery driver and it's often so difficult to do my job. I want to quit everyday. I've almost fallen asleep on the road. The lack of energy, interest, and mental foggyness is so prevelant that it's damaged some of my friendships. 20lb weight gain with no diet changes. When I exercise I don't really sweat. Nobody gets what it feels like until they have it, all of that together spawns a gnawing anxiety within you that creates even more stress.

Sorry for that long prelude. My doctor put me on 25mg Levothyroxine. I took it every morning on an empty stomach for a month straight and no change, literally none. I was getting desperate, it's becoming hard to do my seemingly easy job, I start college in a month from now, yesterday I called my mom and told her that I'm losing it. My medicine isn't working and my next appointment with my physician isn't for another 3 weeks. She just gave me a few of her Armour Thyroid medicine, she told me that synthetic thyroids (Levothyroxine) doesn't work for her either. I just started it today and am trying to remain hopeful.

How long will it take to work? Has anyone else ever had this problem? I appreciate any and all answers.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • edel87815
    edel87815 tyler48

    Posted

    I m a 46 yr old female, was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in Sept 2017, I was put on 50mcg  eltroxin, but I felt no different 6 weeks on. Immense fatigue, despite getting a full night sleep. Brain fog lack of motivation etc.  My endocrinologist suggested increasing dosage to 75mcg which I stayed on for a further 5 months. In the initial few weeks I did begin to feel less tired and felt a bit better but far from 100% and felt I was going backwards again.  Roll on to today and I had meeting with endocrinologist. He has now put me on 75mcg for 4 days and 100mcg for the other 3 days a week. I'm hoping this will work for me. I just wanted to share my experience as this is all new to me.

  • MtViewCatherine
    MtViewCatherine tyler48

    Posted

    HI Tyler, the meds take a while to get up to speed, as they have to be increased slowly over a long period of time.

    You should be able to feel some improvement after about a week.

    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      That previous response was the short of it. Do read through the many thyroid posts to obtain a good understanding of what you’re dealing with and how to manage and curb the advancement of the disease through natural methods.
  • dave64969
    dave64969 tyler48

    Posted

    Tyler, it can take weeks or months to get the right dose. They start you on a relatively small amount and keep doing blood tests. I would suggest posting your test results here to get good feedback. Also, Google Hashimoto’s which is a common version of thyroid disease and can be helped by dietary changes as well, especially in a younger person like yourself. Hang in there and let us know how you’re doing.
  • cathy35794
    cathy35794 tyler48

    Posted

    Hi!

          Do you have hypothyroid or just an elevated TSH and fatigue? Do you need T4 or do you have plenty of T4 that isn't converting to T3. I am not be abrupt, but sadly doctor are really poor at correctly diagnosing , so you can be taking something that isn't even helping you. Sure Mom could be right you might be allergic to Levothyroxine, but it is just as likly that your body isn't converting your T4 to T3 which is how your body uses thyroid hormone.Selenium is helpful and needed by your body to convert T4 to T3.  Just some suggestions. I am not a know it all when it comes to hypothyroid just some one hurt by doctors. Good luck Tyler

    • tyler48
      tyler48 cathy35794

      Posted

      I appreciate your reply. The doctor wasn't very specific, he said I have higher than normal levels and that my thyroid is underactive. I have many symptoms, but it just so happens that fatigue is the most prevelant. I usually don't like going to other people for help but my physician isn't helping much. I'll go to an appointment with him and he'll keep me for 5 minutes or less, prescribe me a medicine and tell me to follow up in a few months. No shorter way to get to see him again. This is becoming very deteriorating.

    • dave64969
      dave64969 tyler48

      Posted

      Some docs have no eff’n idea about this disease. Yours sounds like one. Can you find some way to see an endocrinologist? At least ask your doc for your results. He’s not allowed to refuse. Three months with no improvement, get back to him and get tested again. Be assertive about it. The other thing to ask is to get tested for Hashimoto’s. Like I said, Google it.
  • dana18818
    dana18818 tyler48

    Posted

    Hang in there Tyler, it can be a long road.  It may take 6-8 weeks for your symptoms to improve and that's if you are on the correct dose and type of thyroid medication.  If you have an autoimmune thyroid condition it may worsen even with treatment.  I would suggest trying a gluten-free diet, paleo, or autoimmune paleo diet to try and reduce food triggers.

    Best, 

    Zana

  • beverley44045
    beverley44045 tyler48

    Posted

    Hi Tyler. Sorry you are suffering so much but everybody on this site knows exactly how you feel and you have our sympathy.. but I think it can 2 to 3 months for meds to work we'll that's how long mine took but I only know my experience. I've started taking a spoonful of coconut oil everyday as it's supposed to boost the thyroid it has helped me immensely both with energy levels and some weight loss.. not sure if it works for everyone but I thought I'd give it a go.. hope you feel better soon and hang on in there Hun ..x

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