Just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid

[HeyBungalowBill]

Hello, I've just been diagnosed with having an underactive thyroid. It runs in the family on my dads side so I'm not completely surprised but I'm still a little sad and upset that I'll be taking tablets for the rest of my life! I'm only 19!

I'm quite relieved to have it so I can get back to feeling alive when I'm on the tablets, I haven't felt very alive in years!

Has anyone got any tips for swallowing tablets as I seriously can't do it? Just keep practicing?

Also has anyone lost weight since starting on the tablets?
I know having it makes you gain weight so I can only assume taking the tablets will help you to lose it?

hi there
first off, good idea to have celiacs test to see if that is the cause. also tests for ferritin, b12, vit d and then get the results yourself
you will prob want tsh under 1 so always ask for results and start a file of results

i put on weight once i started on meds but have now lost it thro dieting

I, conversely, lost a stone and a half in the first three months on meds. I think it's probably the luck of the draw.

Thank you for the advice merci, did your GP check you for those?
I will suggest it to my GP

Fingers crossed I lose weight!! My dad has been on the tablets for 6-12 months ish and he's lost a noticeable amount of weight!

I know 19 is young, but I'm glad you've been diagnosed and won't have to spend years wondering whats wrong.
Just remember to take your tablet first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Agree that taking it from age 19 is better that it not being diagnosed and just settling for feeling terrible.

Try have to glass of water ready. Put tablets onto tongue, take a largish sip of water so that tablets rise off tongue and swallow so all the water is swallowed and nothing gets caught in teeth. I have to take iron too and those are too big for me, so I get the liquid ferritin.

The tests that merci mentioned should have been taken by your gp already, really. You should also be going back for more blood tests so they make sure they get the dose right, it isn't a one dose fits all.

I put weight on initially as I got my appetite back. I'm finding that as long as I get plenty of exercise, I can now get into size 10(ish) clothes without too noticeable a muffin top.
I have to take extra iron if I exercise a lot or I get unbearably achy and stiff. It's great to be able to hike & run again though, and with the right amount of iron I just get normal stiffness. I thought I would have to hang up my walking boots, as for years I didn't know what was wrong.

BungalowBill (great name btw! Love that song) I have just today had the same diagnosis. It seems mine may have come on following the birth of my DS. It's all very, very new to me, but wanted to say you're not alone. It is almost a relief to know why I am bone crushingly tired, and can not shift my baby weight despite my best efforts. Everyone, including my Doctor, told me it was just new mum tiredness, but I knew it wasn't just that, and insisted on through blood test. Glad I did now.

Yegods and helza - I definitely agree that it's best to find out now, I've felt shocking for years so drowsy and like I'm not living my life. It's felt like I've been dreaming my life, not like it's actually happening.
My dads just been diagnosed at 50 and thinks he felt it as a teenager so think of the years he could have enjoyed more!

Dirt dancing- you really can tell it isn't normal can't you? At times I wondered if that is how normal people felt and that I was just tired like everyone else.
I was upset when first diagnosed but it's a positive thing as things should get better from here
What dosage have they started you on? They've started me on 25mg

About the username also - my ex was a huge Beatles fan and that song is constantly going round and round in my head
It's a good song! But sometimes I wish it'd leave me alone

DirtyDancing exactly the same happened to me. I was diagnosed after having DS. Couldn't shift any baby weight and was really tired. Didn't realise it inhibits milk production too and I struggled to feed DS as I didn't produce any milk! Feel better now though. Am expecting DC.2 and am being more looked after because of it.

I think I had the beginnings of it as a teenager too. I was called lazy. It now think I was more anaemic than we realised and should have had regular iron.

I take mine at night, have a read of this thyroid.about.com/od/thyroiddrugstreatments/a/bedtime.htm

Re taking tablets. I used to have a problem taking tablets, then I read somewhere that they are easier to swallow if you drink from a bottle rather than a glass. I was sceptical but tried it and it worked!

Hope you soon feel better.