Under active Thyroid

[TartanTed]

A recent workplace medical has revealed I have an under active thyroid (TSH 12.7, T4 8.4).
This helps explain my gradual weight gain over the past 5 years & my difficulty shifting the pounds despite being fairly active & having a (mostly) healthy diet.
I'm going to see my GP and request medication.
Is anyone taking medication for an under active thyroid? Did your GP happily prescribe it? Did you experience weight loss once you were on medication? Thanks

I realise this was nearly a week ago but I had no issues with GP medicating my thyroid (also under active), they might want to repeat the bloods just to have them on their system but I can't think of any other issue. Usually start at low dose levothyroxine (25-50mcg) and titrate upwards according to bloods and symptoms.

Just to warn you, in the nicest possible way, levothyroxine is not a silver bullet. I don't doubt I would probably feel worse if my thyroid levels were out but im not symptom free or even close on a fully optimised dose of levothyroxine.

One good thing is being on levothyroxine if in England entitles you to free prescriptions.

Oh and I struggled with weight loss regardless but I've a lot of other issues and ADHD, when I finally got the other issues and ADHD medicated I was able to finally lose weight and not regain it instantly. There are lots of conditions that are more likely if you are hypothyroid, your gp might want to test for these also.

I'm in the same boat also and newly diagnosed. What are the other conditions that are common please?

Hi, I have just recently been diagnosed too. GP said ‘slightly under’ I have a telephone app on Monday to find out more.

The reason I went to the gp was because I have been having daily heart palpitations. Has anyone else found this to be a symptom?

I didnt lose any weight automatically on the medication. It’s

I’ve been on levo for years now and had no issues with weight loss once I was appropriately medicated - I lost 25kg doing 5:2 (and have kept it off). Not a silver bullet, as pp said.

@Gwdihooooo I started to get daily palpitations about two months after starting levothyroxine. It was the smallest of doses and I would say I probably am still not optimal but I still get them. I have been checked out and discharged from cardiology. Super scary though, I hate them! There are so many symptoms of hypothyroidism. It's also worth getting vitamin D, B12 and folate checked out as you are more prone to deficiency and optimising these help everything function better. Some doctors are better at treating this then others!

I’m newly diagnosed too but my TSH was off the charts.
Been on 100mg of levothyroxine for a month now and starting to feel better.
For me I think my weight loss will come from having more energy to actually exercise rather than falling into a heap around 3pm.
As people have said above I don’t think it’s a silver bullet for people, but once you’re in a much healthier place then the lifestyle changes can have a greater impact on you then before. Well that’s my hope!

Thanks for the responses. I got bloods taken at GP yesterday so once they come back hopefully I'll get a prescription and get started on medication.
Darn... I was hoping the weight would fall off! Looks like effort will still be required but as some of you have mentioned hopefully I'll have more energy to go for that walk & not reach for the biscuits to give me a boost.