feeling weird since taking thyroxine

[somesunshineplease]

Hi, I've recently been diagnosed with Hashimotos - my thyroid was overactive and now it's underactive and I've just started taking thyroxine a week ago. I wasn't really feeling unwell, it's just the blood tests that showed my thyroid was underactive. Now, since I've been taking the pills I've been feeling really weird - dizzy (vertigo?), tired and grumpy. Could it be the medication? Of course the expensive consultant aint around to answer my questions...

Also, I haven't got AF back since stopping bf a month ago (ds is 5 months old) - has anyone else not got AF due to hypothyroid?

sorry, so many questions!

[Elasticwoman]

I've been hypothyroid for some years and the thyroxine never had a bad effect on me at the beginning - but I was put on a low dose at first for a week or two.

What's AF?

[sunnysideup]

make an appointment for a blood test so they can look at the levels in the blood. What dose are you taking at present?

[WigWamBam]

I've never had a problem with side-effects on thyroxine - it just replaces the hormone you're missing, so if you're on the right dose you shouldn't have any problems. If the dose is too high you can start getting some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, like diarrhoea, restlessness or heat intolerance, but as far as I know, vertigo isn't normally something that thyroxine would cause.

Thryoid problems often cause period problems, so your lack of periods could be due to the Hashimotos. Although that said, it could equally be the fact that periods don't always come back as soon as you finish breast-feeding, and can sometimes take a while to go back to normal after birth anyway.

[sunnywong]

hello, welcome to the Hashimoto's club, there are lots of us on here.

You do feel weird after changing doses, there's no denying it, and dizziness is one of the effects, but it will settle down I promise you ( I got my knickers in a right old twist recently after dropping dose values recently and Spacecadet and others kindly talked my down and told me to hang on in there) Hang on in there, take some iron tablets and remember not to take your meds with calcuim, so that means don't wash them down with a pint of full cream milk.

Your consultant should be having you back in for a blood test 4 weeks after starting your medication and if he hasn't then go and get your bloods done and make an appointment to have them analysed.

As for the AF or lack of, count your blessings, I had mine back 6 weeks after giving birth both times and I was exclusively bfing.

I found this website very helpful

HTH

[sunnywong]

forgot to add one of the underlying reasons of being grumpy could be wanting a quicker fix, I mean it does take a while, up to 4 months if it's the first time you have been diagnosed, for the effect of the thyroxine to kick in and I know from bitter experience how hard a thing that is to wait for epecially when you finally think there's a cure for feeling like shite for so long.

If you have the time or inclination do a search on the MN archive for hypothyroid or hashimotos. Mostly me whining bu lots of support.

[WigWamBam]

Sunny, do you know why they shouldn't be taken with calcium? I think I've seen you say before that they shouldn't, but I'm not quite sure what the reason is.

[sunnywong]

JJmumsnet told me that when I was first diagnosed, I think it must be a prohibitor for their uptake within the body. I think.

I just neck mine straight from the fridge and chew them first thing in the morning.

[WigWamBam]

Ah, right. That's not something I've ever come across ... not that I take my meds with milk but I do take a calcium supplement. I guess they're OK taken apart though.

[sunnywong]

yes, give them half an hour

I bloody LOVE thyroxen

[WigWamBam]

Oh, it's fabulous stuff, isn't it!

Makes you feel human again.

[somesunshineplease]

thanks!!! funny that 2 of you have sunshine in your names too! I'm due to increase my dose on sunday so will take all your advice and 'hang in there', so nice to get such great support.