I was just diagnosed, please give me light in the darkness.

Your poor thing. Thats just awful. Im much older and started taking tabs last October. Started on 25 mcg, now on 50. I felt brighter and less depressed almost immediately. I am noticably less tired. But still having aching joints and weight issues, although could be down to stopping smoking too. Have a search for other websites with active forums......I have seen them mentioned in this forum.........hypothyroidism uk is one, I think. Keep on at your gp, you may need to be on a higher med dose. Or push for a referral to an endocrinologist. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi Ashleymarie, if you are on a very low dose, it may be that you need an increase and the tests need to be repeated.  Have you got the numbers for the blood tests, including the ranges?You are entitled to get these from your doctor.  You can post them on this forum or if you join Thyroid UK, you can post the results on their 'health unlocked' blog, where there a helpful people who can interpret the results and arm you with information for when you see you doctor. Keep a diary of all your symptoms. You should not have to feel so ill.If your doctor doesn't help you, find one who will. Don't give up hope. 

Hi,

I hope that things take a positive turn for you soon. You wrote that you just started meds. It can take a bit of time for them to kick in. I am only boarder line and it took a few weeks. As suggested, a diary is a good way to record symptoms but also improvements that we forget about. I look back at mine to remember how far I've come. I couldn't walk up my stay without resting at the start of my entries and a few weeks later I was walking a mile. Now I work out 7 times per week. I've recorded it all. I'll admit that I have some low energy times but the diary helps.

When you're feeling so low, it's hard to see that there is any hope of feeling normal. Some of the stories on sites like this can be scary as well. I have to say, so far I've had a very positive experience with the meds and since starting them last September.

I would suggest that if it's been more than a month and you're seeing no improvement anywhere that keeping in touch with your doctors is important. Also, there are groups on FB that are very supportive and positive.

Hi ashleymarie. I really sympathise, and know what you're going through. Although I've been on a cocktail of pills for years,I know I have become worse in the last few months, and suspect it's down to the thyroid (I've been on Levothyroxine since June 2011). I decided to start doing more research into the thyroid and Levo on-line (which can be very depressing,as you don't often get the good stories),and buy a book to understand the workings of the thyroid. This morning I went to my GP, having already written him a long letter in advance.I knew I would get confused and have memory failure otherwise. This letter prepared him, so we didn't have to fit everything into my double appointment. I trust and like him,and have left him to find me a different endocrine specialist to give me at least a second opinion, and at best,he'll find one that specialises in the thyroid,which is what I asked for.

Try thyroid searches on Facebook,Thyroid UK, and one that is for patients only,who discuss and give support to eachother. Hope this helps.Good luck.

Hi Ashelymarie, sorry to hear of your thyroid problems. Maybe if they get the thyroid med correct for you, the arrhythmia will straighten out. It does take about 6 weeks or so for your body to adjust to the med. It isn't a death sentence :-) Press for more and better testing and answers. Search for a good endocrinologist in your area, one that will do the testing that needs to be done and treat you with the meds you need to get straightened out. It does take time. Hope you feel better soon.

Thankyou everyone these all help. I will start working on keeping a diary and try giving the medicine some time to work. Thankyou all.

Poor you. I remember feeling that way when I was diagnosed many years ago. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but I can be a long road I'm afraid. Have you spoken to your gp about how you are feeling. If they are supportive it makes things easier.,I was on antidepressants for a year when diagnosed and helped lift my mood while my body caught up whilst on Meds. It can take while to get doses right and to feel full effects. I was off work 6 months and another 6 til felt back to old self. Look at some of other sites and forums, thyroid uk etc. do some reading if you can . Hope you are getting referred to endocrinologists as mine has been my saviour! Good luck. If you look at thyroid uk I am sure they have book list etc, I got couple good ones on ebay. 14 years on, I am still learning new stuff about it!