Suddenly sick and freaking out after thyroid results

[yellowcourgette]

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I was called in to the doctor about an abnormal blood test. It turns out I have very low thyroid. The results are pretty severe and the doc sounded concerned. My TSH is 25 and my T4 is 7.4. It makes sense because I have many of the usual symptoms, my depression has been AWFUL and my ADHD completely unmanageable.

Today I have 'woken up', i.e. morning has arrived with very little sleep, with horrendous body aches, a fever and nausea. My lower back is super sore and my skin is so sensitive. I am so worried. I feel so poorly and can hardly get out of bed. Last week I had flu which floored me and I didn't imagine getting sick again so soon. I can't keep food down but I've managed some paracetamol.

Can anyone reassure me that I don't need to go to the hospital and it isn't because of the thyroid thing? Is this my weird brain magicking up more symptoms?

Also, is that it for me now taking medication for life? Could this be a false reading? Should I get another test? My mum was just told she had low thyroid but it turned out to be incorrect. This was a different doctor though.

Please help, I am super worried and feel alone.

What did the dr say to you at the appointment, apart from that your results were abnormal?

Honestly, taking Levothyroxine for life isn’t a big deal. It doesn’t really have any side effects - it is something that your body should be making naturally. This may be an answer to your depression and feeling rough.

it would be worth getting your thyroid antibodies and/ or iodine levels checked too (primary hypothyroidism is generally either autoimmune or due to an iodine deficiency).

good luck and feel better soon x

Try to see this as a positive thing - now they know what's wrong with you and it's relatively easy to treat, you should be feeling much better really soon.

She said I would have to take medication for the rest of my life. I don't know if it could be a false reading? It was fine in 2020. Could my diet be a cause? It's not good at all but I am not overweight.

Sorry my anxiety is so bad that this is something serious and I need to get seen

I can't interpret the results, but low thyroid is a long term thing. It will make you feel generally tired, and also affect your skin and hair in over time. It is really common, particularly in women and once you get the levels back to normal you will feel better generally. Try not to panic. If you are feeling ill over night its going to be an infection or something else.

Medication for life? Well if it is low you will benefit from supplementing the missing hormone with a tablet. So I guess yes, but its not a big deal, been taking mine for ten years. You will get it sorted.

i take levothyroxine for under active thyroid and it is an absolute wonder drug. I have no side effects and I can tell when it’s not at the right level as I get slower, colder more tired, depressed and fatter!

it might be that you have just picked up a bug/not got fully rid of the last one.
Did the doctor give you a prescription?

Thanks. I know to most people taking meds is simple but my ADHD makes this really hard for me and I have a few eating issues which means restricting food (I would have to change my breakfast time) can be a trigger. I know I sound pathetic but little things like this can be so hard.

I have also just had a UTI so I'm worried this could be something bad. I've never got sick again 3 days after recovering from flu

I was diagnosed with under active thyroid when I was 14 and have been taking levothyroxine since then (I'm 44 now).

Obviously I'm not a doctor or medical professional, but there are so many flu-like bugs going around so it's possible that you've caught another one. I know people who have been in a cycle of being ill, getting better, falling ill, getting better, falling.....you get the gist of it.

On the bright side you'll have a medical exemption from prescription charges. Don't be fobbed off if your GP says they're not sure about it.

Taking Levo's not so bad. I've been taking it for over a decade and still do everything I did before my thyroid went into overdrive and had to be killed off. It might take a while to get the dose right but it works.

Hi,

Firstly, don’t panic. Its very easy to treat and you will feel so much better when you are on levothyroxine.

It’s very common for people to develop hypothyroidism later in life. Levothyroxine has no side effects. Once you are on it they will monitor your bloods in about 6 weeks time to make sure you are on the right dose. If you are not they will adjust as appropriate. From then on you will have to be proactive about organising your own blood tests every year or so (or whenever you feel like you are not on the right dose).

I was born with no thyroid gland. I take levothyroxine daily.

Also, as a bonus you will never have to pay for any prescriptions ever again!

Your TSH should ideally be between 1 and 2.5 - it might take some time to find the correct Levithyroxine dosage but once you do you’ll feel like a new woman.

Put the pills on your night stand (unless young children in the house!) along with some water and take them as soon as you wake up, or set up an alarm reminder. No need to adjust eating, that medication is taken on an empty stomach.

Thanks everyone. So this awful fever thing is just a coincidence? I really panicked at the results, 25 when it should be under 4 sounds bonkers.

Sorry, I am not a good sick person 😭

It is only serious if it goes untreated for a long time. Yours is going to be treated. It isn't about lifestyle - often it is genetic. My Gran, mum, one aunt and me all have the same thing. There is absolutely and utterly nothing to worry about, honestly.

Also, just to say thanks to this thread you have reminded me I am overdue for a blood test!

Please don't panic, its a very common condition and easily treated.

When you first said low I thought you meant low TSH indicating hyperthyroidism - this is far more serious, even fatal untreated. But hypothyroidism is totally different and really not a big deal.

You will be fine.

With undiagnosed ADHD I struggled for years to take thyroxin every day. But your thyroid levels build up over time, so if you miss a day or two or take it late it's not like you'll get symptoms back straight away. But consistency really helps your body manage the condition so aim for that as much as possible.

I find having a little daily pill box next to my bed really helps. I take the thyroxin straight away when I wake up (I still have a notification on my phone to remind me, for the odd days I forget) because you shouldn't mix it with caffeine, calcium, iron or vitamin C, which inhibit absorption. So by the time I've got up properly, got ready and made my breakfast an hour or so later, it will be fine to eat and drink. Some people set an early alarm, take the pills and then go back to sleep. I then take the ADHD medication with my breakfast.

I take vitamin supplements in the evening/at night to leave a long gap between thyroxin doses.

I know it sounds a bit miserable and a huge responsibility to have to take medication for life, but it is going to help you feel healthy and you do get used to it. Plus, you'll qualify for a medical exemption card so you'll never have to worry about not getting your medication because of low funds.

I don't recognise the flu symptoms you're having as part of hypothyroidism, but if you're worried then calling 111 and explaining your situation might be advisable.

Hang in there, you're about to start treatment that will improve your life and wellbeing. Good luck with everything.

Hi OP, I had the opposite problem to you - overactive thyroid and before treatment I felt horrendous. I attributed all symptoms down to stress but it was truly awful. Once on the treatment I started to feel better very soon, and you will too. It may take a while to get the right dose, but they will and you will see the effects. Thyroids are strange, so small but when they don't work as they should they make you feel lousy, and the MH effects are real.

It's fine, honestly
I was diagnosed with hashimotos. I take levo daily, and that's it. No side effects. To be honest I don't feel much different

I've had low thryoid for years,can't remember my figures I'm afraid. I started taking 150mg of levothyroxine and now am on 125. I have a friend who has no thryoid at all due to cancer and therefore the removal of the thryoid altogether. I can't remember the dose he takes, but it's the highest, whatever that is.

The pills are very small, so I find them easy to swallow, barely notice in fact, I put it in my mouth take a normal glug of water and it's gone.

Yes, it's for life, but you will get used to it.

I found when I started taking it and my levels got to normal that not only did I have some more energy but I also had less pain (I have ms so both those things are issues).

It's easy to say don't worry, and less easy to do! Shall I say it anyway?!

The tablets are tiny, easy to swallow. You could ix them in with whatever you have for breakfast and you'd probably not notice.

The other stuff? Coincidence I think. You jave been unwell and are perhaps not entirely recovered, but getting your thyroid levels right will help you.

You really will feel the benefit of taking the meds once the right dose is sorted. Literally changed my life from sleeping so so much to full of energy.

Also taking levothyroxine means you are eligible for free prescriptions for life. Every cloud...

Thanks everyone. I might take the £130 I'll save every year from prescriptions and get a treat with it! Or some vitamin pills 😬

The fever thing should be unrelated, though feeling cold is very common. When I was diagnosed with secondary hypothyroidism, my TSH was 50, and I panicked too. At the time I was depressed to the point of drastic measures, so taking the thyroxine was a lifesaver for me. You might start to notice little things improve once you take the medication (nails get stronger/less brittle, skin not so dry, digestion issues improve, etc). This can take 6-8 weeks and you might feel worse before you feel better.

It's ALL prescriptions, forever 😉 - I have saved a fortune on all my prescriptions over the years!

Hypothyroidism is a common complication of Covid. I know four people who developed it after infection.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8976890/