Postpartum& newly diagnosed hypo
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some insight because I’m feeling a little confused and concerned about how my hypothyroidism is being managed.
I had my annual checkup with my primary care provider about 8 months postpartum, and she ordered routine bloodwork. At the time, I assumed everything I was experiencing was just normal postpartum changes. I was constantly tired despite getting more sleep after my baby started sleeping through the night, struggling with weight gain and inability to lose weight, dealing with headaches, brain fog, hair loss, and a variety of other symptoms that seemed to affect almost every aspect of my daily life.
When my lab results came back, my free T4 was 0.7 (essentially normal), but my TSH was 28. My doctor had me repeat the labs to make sure it wasn't an error, and the results were very similar: free T4 was still 0.7 and my TSH was 25.
After that, I was started on 25 mcg of levothyroxine. However, since starting it, I honestly feel worse. I've been experiencing more headaches, dizziness, sluggishness, and generally don't feel like I'm improving at all.
My doctor wants me to wait until June 15th (about 7.5 weeks after starting the medication) before repeating my bloodwork. I understand that levothyroxine can take several weeks to fully affect TSH levels, but I'm concerned because of how poorly I'm feeling. I came across some information suggesting that dizziness can sometimes occur if the dose is too low, although I'm not sure how accurate that is.
What also seems unusual to me is that I haven't had any follow-up appointments since my annual visit. I haven't been referred to an endo, and no additional testing has been done to rule out hashimoto’s.
Has anyone had a similar experience postpartum? Is it normal to wait this long for repeat labs with a TSH this elevated, or should I be asking for further evaluation, thyroid antibody testing, or an endocrinology referral?
Thank you for any advice or experiences you're willing to share!!