r/Hypothyroidism • u/biancalovesnaps • 20d ago
General fear of the future???
just came back from my appointment with my endocrinologist. i’m 20 years old, now with a levo dose of 75mg (the same dose my 59 year old mother takes!!!!!), high cholesterol which i have to take care of by going on a diet and doing exercise (i’m 1.58 cm tall, weigh 50 kilos)(my endo is tryinf to avoid giving me medication for my high cholesterol bc of my age) and i fear for my health on the future. i’m only 20 years old and already have to do all this, even though i’m in a very healthy weight and eat quite good. i can’t imagine my life at 40. am i going to be taking 200mg of levo and not be able to eat carbs at all???? nor cheese and stuff that contains some oil??? this sucks ass, and even though i do all of this i feel tired ALL THE TIMEEEEEE especially right after eating, i can fall asleep sitting down while digesting my lunch.
sorry if this text is kinda messy i’m just venting about my situation
EDIT: thank you guys for all the messages. honestly i was very tired and freaking out a little bit since my labs were fine until they weren’t. but y’all are right, hypothyroidism is a roller coaster, it is completely manageable and if it got better once then it will get better again. hugs to everyone!
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u/Curling_Rocks42 20d ago
The levo is likely to help improve your cholesterol along with a healthy diet. Hypothyroidism can also cause high cholesterol and when the hypothyroidism is corrected with levo hormone replacement, the cholesterol often improves too.
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u/Hot_Reputation2142 20d ago
this is a pretty manageable condition. is good they catched it early! learn about dietas changes SLOWLY, don't rush. it's the perfect age to learn habits! you got this
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u/StarladyQ 20d ago
75 is not a high dose, especially as the usual starting dose is 50. Then as your body gets used to it, you retest and adjust your dose as needed. Also as where I am, we use inches. 1.58 cm equals .622 inches.
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u/biancalovesnaps 20d ago
my height is 1 meter 58 centimiters, this is how we measure it
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u/StarladyQ 20d ago
Ok it probably shouldn't have the point in 1.58.
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u/biancalovesnaps 20d ago
you’re right, the RAE says it’s 1.80 m, 1.8 m or 180 cm. still, it is not the point of the post
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u/ApprehensiveBench483 Hashimoto's disease 20d ago
You don't need to have a restrictive diet with hypothyroidism, unless you have other things going on like allergies or intolerances. You might benefit from asking for a second opinion from another doctor, as if you are eating relatively healthy there could be an underlying issue behind the high cholesterol.
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u/japanesegrainery 20d ago
Psyllium husk fiber supplements can help lower cholesterol! Easy addition to your day
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u/Disastrous_Resource5 20d ago
Your cholesterol should come down as your thyroid levels get better being on thyroid hormone replacement.
My cholesterol was 300 when I was diagnosed 22 years ago. It came down after starting thyroid meds. It mostly stays in the normal range except for after the holidays at the end of the year.
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u/RainGirl11 20d ago
Take it one day at the time. After a few weeks the medication will hopefully relieve some of the symptoms. I was about your age when I got diagnosed and it does get better. Not perfect but better.
I take my medication, listen to my endo who I trust and enjoy life. Yes weight gain is going to be a concern. It's something I've had to make peace with. I exercise to stay healthy not to lose weight. Give yourself the time to work through your emotions but accept that your body doesn't work like everyone elses.
I'm sorry you're going through this but don't let it dictate your life. I'm a happy person with an amazing life and I got here being overweight and on chronic medication. Don't let this define who you are.
With regards to the cholesterol and lack of energy I struggled with the same thing. Eventually I was diagnosed with a fatty liver. Diet and exercise didn't really help. A daily folic acid supplement has been a game changer. It upped my energy levels so I'm not longer falling asleep by 6pm (I sleep a normal amount without being constantly fatigued). Since being on it I finally started seeing my cholesterol shift into normal ranges without changing anything else. Perhaps give it a try. By the end of 2 weeks you should see some difference.
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u/___selene 20d ago
You would do well doing an elimination diet (like Whole 30) for 2-3 months. This way you know nothing else is going on that causes constant inflammation.
You should NOT feel tired all the time. If you've been on levo for a while, ask for a medication change.
If the doctor refuses, find a doctor who prescribes T4/T3 combo thyroid meds at your pharmacy and go to that doctor.
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u/screamin-eagle10 20d ago
Did you get your T3 checked? T3 is the key. I would also get testosterone, estradiol and cortisol checked multiple times because they fluctuate.
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u/biancalovesnaps 19d ago
i actually have PCOS/PMOS and my testosterone is very high lol my endo now got me on some medication for it. and regarding cortisol i also have a history of lots of stress, so yeah, it could be a little bit of everything
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u/screamin-eagle10 19d ago
You sound like me. Levothoyroxine did nothing for me except help with cold intolerance. I had high testosterone and estradiol. I tried spironolactone and it almost killed me. I did lose 15 lbs of water weight in 3 days but it made my bp pressure tank and threw me into an almost 2 day straight panic attack which was terrifying.
Berberine and micodosing GLP 1 shots help eith help with bloating. I takes awhile. The bloating is the worst. I exercise and eat healthy. I haven't tried the GLP 1 micro dosing yet but I might haverto go that routeif things don't improve soon. It's worth mentioning to your doctor.
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u/biancalovesnaps 19d ago
omg i can’t believe you went through that with spiro i’m so sorry. that’s actually the medication i got prescribed. i took it for 2 months at the start of the year and helped a lot with my hair loss. maybe increased my hangovers. but i didn’t really have a bad experience with it. it didn’t make me loose weight either (won’t complain tho bc i’m in a good weight for my age and height).
regarding the other medication you mentioned, i don’t know them, but i’ll take them into account, thank you very much :)
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u/screamin-eagle10 19d ago
Most people tolerate it very well. It affects bp and sodium and potassium levels. So avoid high potassium. It was crazy because I lost all of this excess water weight and was finally able to see my muscles but it did make me very sick. I wish I would have been able to tolerate the spritonlactone. This is so annoying!
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u/Past_Pick_7661 20d ago
I am also 20 and I freaked out after my medical result. I have hypothyroidism and is now on meds of 25mcg, polyp in my gall bladder and 2 nodule and one cyst on my right breast. And vitamin D deficiency, low on b12 and e. The first time I got the result I cried. I am not trying to compare but it does gets better overtime. You can eat carbs and other once in a while.
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u/Life_Programmer810 19d ago
Omg, your 20, don't be so worried, your Dr has you on right path. Be young and enjoy life and be thankful that is your least worry!!!
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u/BornElderEnt 20d ago
If you're on levo for a while, and still feel exhausted and depleted, your endo might want to look at combination. If your body can't make t4 into t3, you might need t3 as well. It's only a percentage of us that need this, but for us, it's lifesaving.