r/Hashimotos•
DaisyArbutus

How long until the meds "hit"?

For the past couple of years, I have felt something was wrong. My energy levels had been steadily declining. My TSH/T4 were tested a few times, but everything always showed in normal range.

In February, I had labs done in anticipation of a procedure for a different health concern. I was having some symptoms (that I know now can be thyroid related), but I've had IBS since I was a teen, so I'd just thought I was having a flare; I also deal with anxiety, and I thought maybe the stress of my job was just getting to me. My numbers were:

TSH: 0.1

T4 Free: 18

A couple weeks later, I went back to confirm my results:

TSH: 0.03

T4 Free: 19

My GP referred me to an endo, but didn't start me on any treatment as he said that hyperthyroidism can have several causes and he wanted me to get assessed by a specialist to be sure the course of treatment was most appropriate for my case. Nothing was arranged to keep tabs on my thyroid in the interim.

I finally got in to see the endo in May. He gave me some lab requisitions and said I'd need to go once a month for 3 months to establish a baseline, and that he'd also send me for a thyroid ultrasound, and that after the 3 months we'd discuss treatment options. The next day, I went to get my first round of labs done. My numbers this time were:

TSH: 80.3

T4 Free: 5.9

TSH Receptor Ab: 7.2

Thyroperoxidase Ab: 328

The endo called me back the day he received those latest results and said I needed to start on levothyroxine immediately (no time for an ultrasound). He put me on a 100mcg dose. I've been on the meds now for just over a week.

When can I expect to start feeling better? I feel like my energy levels have started to shift the slightest bit in the last couple of days, but I've been feeling like a shell of myself for months now: back-to-back illness, intense exhaustion, depression/anxiety/mood swings, dry flaky skin like I've never had in my life... It's been awful.

Next labs are scheduled for June 11. Curious to see what those will show.

Posted May 24, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC

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