Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

[*LovemyKids*]

Hi i was just diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, i have been given oroxine tablets to take. I was just wondering how long did it take for other people to stop feeling tired. I have been feeling like this for about a month and i have three small children i just really can't wait to have some sort of energy to do more around the house. My husband is so great he does everything for me and i just really want to do more for him. Also i have to have blood test done in a month to measure my hormone level and i am one one tablet per day, how much is everyone else taking and how long will it take to get my medication right?

Ok so i big questions is will i stop feeling so tired when i medication is right or not?
Sorry about all the questions i just really want to know that someone else has the same problem and talk about it.
Thanks Nikki

[~shazz~]

my husband suffers from this
how are you going now on meds ? he finds that when he forgets to take his he gets very tired very quickly and hasn't been able to lose the weight he gained prior to diagnosis he is about to go to a endocrinoligist (sp) to gets his levels correct as he has only ever been under a GP with little observance from the GP re his levels

[Ambah]

My sister was just diagnosed with this (previously she was hyperthyroid and went on meds to counteract that, but now she has hashimoto's). She told me that she began noticing the difference with her energy levels improving after just a few days of taking the thyroxine. Wish I had more answers for you, but just thought I would share what she has told me about her experience.

I hope things improve for you soon & your begin to get your energy back.

[{sarah}]

I have to say that it took me 6 days before I suddenly felt awake. I'm sure you know what I mean, you know that feeling where you're all foggy & not quite there?? Well that finally went (after six months suffering) on the sixth day of taking my Oroxine. It was awesome & like suddenly the "awake switch" in my brain was turned on LOL!

Sorry I hadn't seen this before, how are you feeling now?

[paradise lost]

I began to feel a bit better after about 3 weeks of levothyroxine (generic oroxine) but it turned out i needed a higher dose. I was up at 7am hoovering the house within about 10 days of getting my dose upped!

Bx

[~Aveta~]

sorry to hijack the thread, but how were you ladies diagnosed? GP or endocrinologist? my GP keeps saying i'm low but fine...

[{sarah}]

Mine was a bit complicated, I was first diagnosed with an underactive thyroid by my GP, then it was waaay overactive so he sent me to an endocrinologist who I am still seeing trying to get to the bottom of why mine keeps going up & down.

[paradise lost]

My GP, but i had a goiter and my levels were crazy (though not as crazy as sarah's ) so it was a no-brainer. I've seen an endo only once for him to say "antibodies? Hmm, you have Hashi's, there's nothing to cure it, take this thyroxine". Which my GP had already said!

Bx

[MsPink]

Hi Nikki,

You should be feeling better within a few days. The body c an't tell the difference between the real hormone and Thyroxine tablets - they are identical.

As soon as you body realises it has the hormone back to correct levels - you will be fine. Sometimes it does take a couple of visits to the endocrinologist to get the exact levels of medication correct

I have the same condition - so happy to answer whatever you need.

[chris]

I have had Hashimoto's for nearly 20 years now.
I also have Pernicious (SP???) anemea which is caused by auto immune problems. I was told that people with one auto immune prob like hashimoto's can have other auto immune probs that are not diagnosed properly.
I am on 200mcg of thyroxine and it has been stable on that dose until my last pregnancy with.

Were you told to take your thyroxin on an empty tummy and not to eat for 30min to an hour??? Also don't take any other medications around the same time especially Iron or calcium tablets.

If you don't feel a bit better (out of the fog) after a fortnight ask your GP to do more bloods to check T3 T4 and and THS levels plus get your B12 and your Iron levels checked also.

I have to cut it short as bub is crying. I will try and get back here.
If you want PM me.
Take care
Chris

[{sarah}]

Also don't take any other medications around the same time especially Iron or calcium tablets.

Oh my goodness, I wasn't told this! I take mine in the morning with my multi-vitamin & my iron tablets. What problems does it cause??

[chris]

Back again...
I was told that it reduces the thyroxine's effectiveness/ absorption.
This also means no coffee or tea if you have milk in it. I take it first thing in the morning while I am getting Miss D's bottle, by the time she is finished her bottle I can have my morning cuppa.

If you have to go to hospital for any reason make sure you get the Dr to put in your notes that you have to have thyroxine early before breakfast.
Also make sure your chemist dose not change the brand of thyroxine as you could react differently to another brand.

Take care
Chris

[paradise lost]

Sarah, thyroxine needs to pass undigested into the small intestine to be absorbed properly, so taking it with water 30-60mins before food allows it to "wash" quickly down into the lower digestive system - if you eat or drink anything but water your body closes the valve at the bottom of the stomach, fills with stomach acid and begins to digest it before letting it pass through. In addition, thyroxine binds with calcium and will no longer absorb properly, so taking it with a multivitamin that has calcium in, or a glass of milk, is even worse.

One of the reasons i don't like taking it is because i have to take it and then wait...

Also ITA on the thyroxine brands if you're on a generic. I'm worrying right now because i have to switch generics because of my new doctor (i take a Lloyds generic, and there are no lloyds places near me now) and i don't know how well it's going to work.

Bx

[*LovemyKids*]

Ok sorry i didnt realise that you were all responding to this thread, thank you all sooo soo much for your replies. Well i do feel a little better not as tired. I did go back to my dr and he said my levels are fine i do feel like they are not now i am due to go and get another test and see, but i think that i will need to go up. I still feel tired in the morning but once i get going i am right.

Yes i do wait 40 minutes before i eat every morning and i do not take any other vitamins or anything.

I am finding that my hair is falling out really bad. I normally have really thick hair now its quite thin. is this normal? and will it stop falling out when my meds are right.

I feel the same one morning i forgot to take my tablet and by lunch time i could really tell and so i took it straight away. Its amazing how much your body really needs it hey.

Also i am only seeing my GP should i be seeing a endocrinologist????

Thank you heaps for all your help is so reasuring that others have this too:-)

Nikki

[chris]

Hoobley : I am on a generic brand. It is made by Sigma and it is called OROXINE. The best part about these one's is that it isn't made up in a bottle but in foil blister strips. (keeps better)
Hope that I have helped
Take care
Chris

[chris]

Love my kids : For me my hair took a while to stop falling out. At the moment it is good (touch wood )

I was under a Prof at the local hospital (I was a bad case when first diagnosed) Then when I stableized I just stayed with the GP. If your tired still ask your GP to test your B12 and Iron leves when you get your next blood test.

I went to the GP today and got everything checked as my thyroid has been playing up since (and during) my pregnancy.

Take care
Chris

[paradise lost]

Chris thanks for that, unfortunately i'm in the UK and they either don't sell oroxine or they call it something else...? Here the generics vary by pharmacy in general. I'm just crossing my fingers that the next one will help. I might ask the doctor if i could have a non-generic requested but i don't know if the NHS will do that. I've been taking it badly since i moved (not skipping it but taking it too close to food/coffee) and i'm beginning to feel it (sitting here freezing and miserable that after another week on less food and more exercise i have GAINED half a kilo!) so i need to get my act together.

Bx

[chris]

Hoobley: Sorry I didn't realise you were in UK. I am living in a double fog these days as I am on pain killers and am having probs with thyroid.
Have you though that your weight gain could be fluid from monthly cycle? lus when its cold the body naturaly stores more to keep warm.

I know that it is hard to loose weight especially when you have thyroid problems . Don't be too hard on yourself. Just be careful that you eat enough for your body to function. You don't need to be sick from not eating enough. Your immune system might shut down and you will catch all the bugs around. (well thats what happened to me plus I put on weight).