General Chat

Expecting to be told tomorrow evening that I have an underactive thyroid, which would certainly explain a lot of health problems I have been having over the last five years.
Does anyone else on here have this condition and if so, do you have any tips for me?
Thanks

S

I have an underactive thyroid, was diagnosed quite a few years ago, once you get the correct dose sorted out you should start to feel loads better.

jean

I have an Underactive Thyroid, and have been on tablets for about three years. Before I had them, I was tired, dry skin and could not loose weight.
I am nearly 78, and they have done me so good, feel like a new woman.

My maternal grandmother had the same problem, which went untreated, and caused her to go into a coma, and she died of a heart attack. Although she was 88, she could have had so many years of not just falling asleep, and being lethargic.

The saddest thing was, my Doctor said she could have been treated, as the tablets were out in the 1950's. Her Doctor just said it was old age when she complained of itchy skin and falling asleep.

Mo

Try reading as much as poss. from the net, remember that there are certain foods that slow down the way thyroxine works,all the cabbage caulifrower broccolli famly are not good and I think peanuts are a no no.
Any medication takes a few weeks to build up and as I recollect should be taken before a meal regularly.
Hope you will feeling better soon.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm not worried about it, although I was a little surprised when my GP suggested it as a possible/probable cause for my symptoms. I haven't been 'right' for about 5 years and I've always been fobbed off with 'It's the menopause' before so it's just good to see my GP taking some trouble.

My only worry is that I have taken no prescription meds of any sort for the last four years because everything I have tried to take has caused an adverse reaction. Is there a risk that this might that happen with thyroxine as well? Does anyone know?

I'll update after my appointment tomorrow.

S

Hi Sheila, I had to have part of my thyriod removed due to cancer four years ago. When I first started on thyroxine I found it took a while for me to get 'straight' with the medication, as my doctor started me on a lower dose which was increased gradually. I have a lot of adverse reactions to medications and apart from thyroxine, there is only one pain killer that i am able to take without being very ill. I found that the thyroxine started perkin me up almost immediately.
One thing my doctor told me was not to over do the 'green veg' as the amount of iron in it can slow the thyroxine down. I'm not sure whether this is fact or fallicy though as I still eat plenty of veg and am completely fine day to day.
xxxxx hope everything goes well xxxxx

Free prescriptions eh - and not just for the qualifiying condition - every cloud has a silver lining - must be good to get something back from the system.

Thanks for all your positive advice - will update tomorrow.

S

I've been on Thyroxine since 1995....started on a low dose which was gradually increased until my tests were ok. I soon felt a lot better, lost the foggy head I had and tiredness. I haven't had any adverse reactions, but would advise you to always check the chemist has given you the correct strength of tablets as mistakes can be made. I also joined the British Thyroid Association which sends out a regular magazine with info and other people write in with their experiences. Just google it for info. Good luck.

Hi Sheila

I have recently been diagnosed with this myself,,,
yes it explained a hell of a lot (thought I was going round the bend)
as well as no energy,,my Dr has recently upped my medication
to 100 g a day and he might still have to up it, but I feel more like
my old self,,,although I hate the blood tests,,like getting blood out,
of a stone lol,,,,dont worry they will sort you out mate.

Ray

PS the Dr asked me who else in the family had it ?
I said no one,,,,then found my aunt has had an,
underactive thyroid for 18 years......

My daughter was the only one in the family to have it, until she met her half sister after 35 years and discovered they both had it and had identical meds.

I have had all my life was not diagnosed until i was 32 when my old doc retired you have to take the tablets as soon as you get up in the morning on a empty tummy for best results. As far as i know i am the only one in my family that has it Valxxx

~~ waves to all

Hi Sheila

I was finally diagnosed with an underactive thyroid shortly after moving here, looking back I must have had it for years.

I was so so tired, losing hair when I washed it, at times ... although I thought I was talking sense, others could not understand me, gained weight and more. I also have Raynauds Disease which is a side effect of it, my fingers turn white if the wind blows, tis cold.

I am on Thyroxine, as the others have said free medications for life; your Surgery will provide a form which you complete, you then receive a card (similar size to a Barclaycard) which you produce when collecting your meds.

I have to have two bloods tests a year, my Doctor said to give them 'birthdays' to help me remember when to return for another one.

Your thyroid controls everything, once your level is established you should feel like new my friend.

I was strangely enough told it ran in the female side of the family, asked if there was a history of it; I immediately alerted all females in my family. It was not until Ray put up a thread that I realized it can affect men too, I have a son and am keeping an eye on him.

xxx Shimms xxx

my hubby was diagnosed bout two year ago now

he got the one that he has to take thyroxine for but he got opposite symptoms, hes thin, tired, felt generally unwell,

he felt much better after taking the thyroxine, however for some reason he thinks he can go without his medication at weekends,
then come a monday or sunday he says he got all these different symptoms, when i push him to take tabs he gets all defensive,

its just a bloo flippin tablet for god sake
why does he not remember it, its like hes checking they really work

it good your son wen tlike that to docs for check,

it makes um feel awful apparently my boss was saying
they cant tell you whats wrong just general feeling of unwell,

i know joan,
i keep nagging him he should take um every day,

i noticed after id said tonight, have you been taking your tablets, he got all funny and defensive again, (hed been moaning his eyes werent focusing right), he snuck out the kitchen and took them, cos he knows im only saying cos its true,

with the other medication hes on too, if you miss um for while you do get side effects, it makes me mad,

6 months ago I was fully expecting to be told that I had an underactive thyroid... I had been fighting my GP for a long time to give me the necessary tests, but for some reason they were reluctant to... they said it was nothing that losing a few stone and getting over the menopause wouldn't sort out!! I was sent 3 times last year to see a dietician... lol.

The results shocked me. I did not have a problem with my thyroid, I had a pretty lethal type of leukemia, lol!!

However, I would never have pushed for those tests, and stamped my feet on the ground in a fit of anger and temper... if it hadn't been for the advise and support of people on this site...

http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Another site that was helpful was

http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/index.php?

Well worth a look around!!

Good luck everyone.

Love

Daff xxxx

daff its so sad that some health professionals havent learnt a thing
my mam was told 15 year ago, he head aches were down to menopause, panic attacks, and her weight loss was fine cos she had a bit of weight to loose the doctor told her
he gave her hrt patches cos he had seen her several times
she used one
she collapsed and ended up in hospital a week later she had undergone all the tests, had brain tumour,!! i arrived home just in time to speak to her before she was transfered to cardiff underwent biopsy and never woke up from her coma,

they dont learn anything by thier mistakes, they are so arrogant

sending you hugs daff by the way on this sunny day,
xxx

Thank you Julie Ann... I am so sorry about your mum, I know how you miss her. ((((hugs))))

Rita, I am so sorry to hear that, and hope that they can cure it... or at least hold it back and keep you well for many years yet... one lady I seem to sit next to every time I have a transfusion is 92, and was diagnosed with her bone cancer when she was 64. She takes a very mild chemo in tablet form once every couple of weeks, and has a blood transfusion every fortnight... and is thriving!! Hopefully you will be the same (((((((( hugs ))))))

My reason for coming on the thread, though, is that whilst I was struggling to get a diagnosis, those two sites were brilliant... the first in particular is excellent for getting answers to the questions you feel too daft to ask the doctor... or that you walk out of the surgery and realise you have forgotten to ask... everyone is very supportive and helpful, and if they can't answer, they will give you links so you can get the info.... and the also give loads of tlc when you have the bad days!

Love

Daff xxxxx

I have been looking at the website recommended and could cry! I have been tested several times over the years (I'm nearly 44 and have had no energy for over 20 years), but have always been told the blood test results are ok. I feel really frustrated because basically I am always tired and wish I had the energy some of my friends have. OK I am a mom of two and work part time, but still I believe something isn't quite right. I have lots of the symptoms but basically Dr usually tries to convince me I have depression - I don't think I have depression, or maybe I'm in denial !!!

Might print some of the info off and get back to the Dr, time to make use of hubby's family BUPA policy i think.

Sorry for rambling

Michelle

Update as promised.
Well, that was all a bit of a farce. I'll put this figure in just in case any of the 'old hands' can comment on it. My TSH - 'the only test they do' - was 2.25 so according to my doctor, that's OK.
However, my cholesterol, which was normal 2 years ago, is now 50% above what it should be and I am instructed to reduce it by diet. I have explained, patiently, that we changed our diet completely 12 months ago when OH had a stroke and was advised to get his cholesterol down. She gave me a leaflet about cholesterol and the first thing I saw was that high cholesterol can be caused by underlying health problems like, you've guessed it, underactive thyroid.
Also I have tachycardia. I have just had a bit of a google about that and guess what one of the causes can be? Yep - underactive thyroid.
I've been on the Thyroid UK site and checked their list of symptoms. I have a substantial number of them, including the thinning hair and the weird burning sensations in the palms of the hand, and feeling the cold terribly,
GP wants to send me to see a neurologist...
Here we go again.
Thanks to all for your support.
S

Not quite as frustrated now. Very helpful people on the thyroid forums told me I was entitled to a copy of my blood test results and they are now helping me to go through them. Whether anything will come of that I don't know, but it gives me something to do.

Also now have appointment to see neurologist at the end of May - probably a waste of time, but hey ho - it's a morning out of the office.

Thanks for all the support and advice

S