Week 5 journal | Nursing homework help
A 38-year old male presents with no previous medical history. The patient presented with fatigue and trouble concentrating. After a physical exam, there were no unusualities found. Blood work was then ordered. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which there are elevated levels of thyroid stimulatinghormone (TSH), and no thyroid hormone (FT4).
Levothyroxine sodium was given to the patient as a treatment for the hypothyroidism. This synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy restores natural hormone levels and lowers fatigue. The patient was advised to consume one tablet each day on an empty stomach, 30 minutes prior to eating anything. He also had to stop taking iron tablets or calcium supplements within the first four hours after taking levothyroxine.
Additionally, the patient was referred to follow up care once his TSH/FT4 tests results had been available at his laboratory visit three week later. This will include counseling on lifestyle modifications that can reduce symptoms, such as regular exercise, proper sleep hygiene, and avoiding electronics two hours before bedtime.
It is crucial for him to pay attention to any medication side effects, such as headaches or heart changes. After follow up lab tests are completed every 3 – 6 months over the next year or so we can adjust dosage accordingly until desired TSH/FT4 values are achieved while monitoring closely any adverse reactions experienced during treatment.