Thyroid, Underactive

Bailey72 said on 24 January 2012

I have finally been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. I always present with normal blood tests but had a whole list of symptoms including an enlarged thyroid and the beginnings of a goiter. I finally had a doctor lose his temper with me because I dared to challenge his "you are depressed, have sleep apnea and obviously eat far too much and dont exercise" I have two springers that need lots of walking. I asked him what the lump in my neck was and he said "an enlarged thyroid" but still did nothing about it. About the same time I found out through forums about a doctor who treats with symptoms not blood tests. He agreed that just by looking at me I was obviously hypothyroid. I am now on Levothyroxine and fatigue has gone, sleep better, no aches and pains, periods getting better, but I havent lost any weight yet. My advice if NHS is fobbing you off, find a good doctor who specialies is thyroid issues. I am proof you can have Normal Blood results but be hypothyroidism

sixdice said on 06 January 2012

Thousands of people in the UK with a Thyroid condition are poorly treated by the NHS.Thyroid disorders are serious and if not treated properly can lead to diabetes and heart disease to name but a few.Take your health into your own hands,Thyroid Patient Advocacy website is a start.Look online there is lots if info about how T4 Levothyroxine is not the best or only treatment.I know it's difficult,especially when feeling like death, to stand up to dismissive,arrogant,ignorant doctors but it's worth it believe me,I've been there.You know how you feel and it's your life.Take control and look for support forums online.
Good luck.

User624816 said on 14 December 2011

I was diagnosed with a underactive thyroid over 10 years ago. I am currently taking ?mg a day. I was due to have an operation 2 weeks ago that was cancelled because my thyroid level was at 29.6 and should be between 2 and 5.
Roughly how long will it take for my blood levels to go back to normal?
Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

212xxem said on 07 December 2011

Hi Everyone.

I left a message back in August, and hopefully I am going to give some of you a little hope. I have finally tonight been fiagnosed with hypothyroidism and pescribed my first lot of drugs :D Its taken 2 /1/2 years and many unnessecary physio/scans/councelling appointements and lots of prodding and poking but I have a final diganosis. Please keep going! Youll get there in the end

mitch161 said on 30 November 2011

i am not advising to demand you do this as every persons thyroid dysfunction is different. do not let GP's think that we are all the same.

but in my case as i was born with a dysfunctional thyrid gland my GP use to just keep increasing my levothyroxine up to a massive 300mcg. after some research into the lack of knowledge of thryoid dysfuctions with ALL GP's i persuaded the GP to trial me on liothyronine (the T3 suppliment) now im on 100mcg levothyroxine and 40mcg liothyronine. and im feeling great. i got a spring in my step, clear headed and... losing weight.

my diet has never changed but i went up to a massive 22 stone.. now its coming down and i need to wear a belt with my clothes.

so again ask for a full thyroid blood work up and inform the GP this T4 iss for body growth T3 is for metabolism.. teach the GP a few things and i hope you get some support. T4 (levothyroxine) is NOT the only solution

mitch161 said on 30 November 2011

i have been born with hyperthyroidism so i have expereinced every symptom there is. and on the times my dosage was too much have experienced every symptom of HYPERthyroidism too.

here is my OPINION for those feeling the groggy energy lacking symptoms, the feeling of feeling older then you should. this is to do with your motabolism. doctors think that giving thyroxine is the magic pill/cure. IT IS NOT hyppothyroidism is not a diagnoses of a specific problem.. its a general description.

hypothyroidism is general because people with just a slight lack of thyroid function are hypothyroid.. and those with no function at all where basically they have no gland are also classed as hypothyroid. yet the different levels are due to different reasons age, pregnancy, cancer, infections.. or birth defects.

now onto the more helpful bit. GP's only test for T4 because that is the test for how much thyroxine is in your blood. IT IS NOT the test for how well your thyroid is functioning.

ask your GP to do a full thyroid workup including tests for T3 (the metabolism part of thyroid)

yes thats right.. T4 is mainly for growth and mental stability/awareness.. T3 is your metabolism.

as a car analogy.. the docto knows you have a petrol leak so gives you more petrol.. but never ever changes the oil.. so slowly you dry up and rust and ware away your engine. ask for a full thyroid test of all the TSH T4 T3 and all the other bits to do with thyroid. if nt ask to be refered to a endocrinologist

mitch161 said on 30 November 2011

I was born with a thyroid issue. during teenage years i was on around 100mcg.. and in early 20's i went up to a massive 300mcg.. what i found was GP's think hypythyroidism is just one disagnoses.. IT IS NOT. it is just a broad description.

people have hypothyroidisn for many reasons. and as we all know it has many symptoms. GP's blood tests only look at the T4 element of the blood test for thyroid function.

if any of you are feeling like your 60yo with low motabilism this is a indication that your T3 is not right. thyroxine (levothyroxine) is pure T4 which replaces your natural thyroid. but your body also converts some of this into T3. if your thyroid is messed up or the gland is not working right you may not have enough T3 in your system. this causes lathargy, sleeping issues. digestive issues energy levels and mental issues. GP's ignore the T3 test as its more expensive. they forget to realise that a problematic thyroid gland may be due to a deeper reason. so ask for a full thyroid test of T4, T3 and anything linked to it. ask for a full thyroid MOT basically not just a visual inspection (bad car maintenance comparison but i hope you get the point)

Remember T3

Sylvamain said on 29 November 2011

Hi... I'm 36, i've had under active thyroid deseas since i was born, i'm not coping... my TSH levels are very high, have been for some years, and my T4 levels are low, but managed (the doctor says) yet i don't feel that they are... i'm always tired and i have no energy to do anything and I'm depressed because i don't feel that all that can be done is being done to help me live a normal life.
I'm on 125mcg of Levothyroxine, but i also suffer the side effects of my medication, which makes my life that little more intolerable.
please help.

Sarahlbell said on 27 November 2011

I am 19, got diagnosed age 17, 75mg per day and yet i still get cold, feel tires, forgetful, and have concentration and weight difficulties. is this normal? my levels were satisfactory when they were last checked

Sarahlbell said on 27 November 2011

I am 19, got diagnosed age 17, 75mg per day and yet i still get cold, feel tires, forgetful, and have concentration and weight difficulties. is this normal? my levels were satisfactory when they were last checked

ludup said on 27 November 2011

Hi all,
Help! That's the only word I have here. I am a 32 year old woman and have been battling with all of the said symptoms for the last three years. I have just had the blood test again, which has come back normal. Although my thyroid hormone level was a bit low. My GP advises me, 'he has no answers' Asked if some of it was in my mind, and was I depressed? I'm depressed about feeling so tired all the day I know that much. i wake up feeling like i've not had any sleep. Ever day its a mission to function. With being cold, tired, feeling sick and aching head to toe. Not too mention the inability to loose weight. I have coeliac disease so I eat very healthy. My hair is very thin now. To be fair I am at my wits end. Now my GP has basically said there is nothing more to do?
Is there anything else I can do?

Katie_52 said on 27 November 2011

Hi all,
I'm 17yr old girl....
I was only 14 when I was diagnosed with under active thyroid. At first my mum realised that I was loosing a lot of hair when I would brush it or wash it, as my hair fell out in clumps my sleeping patterns were strange. I would sleep during the afternoon 3 till 6 then at 9pm I would be ready to go to bed. So when I was diagnosed my GP put me on 25msg but as the years go on my hair continusly falling out, I feel even more weak, my sleeping is getting even more worse and my memory is going down hill.

I feel like an 60yr old women unable to enjoy myself or let my hair down....literally. The GP told I would have to live with this for the rest of my life, it dawned on me that it's going to be a struggle and very stressful.

But my main issue is my low blood pressure, sleeping and the continus of my hair falling out.
If there anything that you can help me with or even give me some advice I would be very most grateful

RUTE x

AliceTMarsh said on 26 November 2011

Repolying to Shushant.

Have you got mercury amalgum (silver colour) fillings?

One of my friends had severe hair loss and it was caused by one of the fillings leaking she recovered well once they were removed.

Get your dentist to check your fillings if they are silver coloured - mercury amalgum. I would get them removed and replaced if you are in any doubt, with white fillings.

If not then - just worth checking.

User552720 said on 24 November 2011

I tried to wean myself off 100 mcg Levothyroxine and boy didn't I get some bad feedback, icy cold back, cold hands and feet, my idle setting was messed up but didn't I sleep well! The whole point of this was to cure my sleep problems and heart palpitations. I am back on the 100 mcg because it did not do me any favours withdrawing in the short term. My sleep is okay at the moment because I listen to audio books to to settle me down then I drop off. I have very horrible headaches which affects my mood and work performance. My energy levels peak in the evenings and it last for a few hours until bed time, then i'm wacked out! I don't intend on taking these tablets for life as i'm on nearly 40 year old bloke, so will eventually stop taking them and hope for the best! Oh yes I wanted to ask if anyone has been having eye problems? My eyes are dry and I take hypromellose every day.

shipshape said on 20 November 2011

this will be in two or three blocks as there is not enough room th eend block will be at the the top. first. let me tellyou that nhs endo doctors medical people an dproffssore do not care. they have no idea what it is like to really suffer from adrenal fatique which they denu eveb exists but it does!!!! hashimotos is horrible, hypo .hyper and all the sighn sand symptoms that go with it all are real all tooofetn we are told pshcyo or depressed! this is not the case and i urge you all to check out tpa.uk shiela turner and thyroid uk-healthunlocked. you will find so much help and support there which will not be acceptede by th nhs becos people on these sites are so desperate at the appaliing treatment of nhs in these matters. we have a right to alife and i cannot even begin to tell you the suffering that i have been thru for years , ending up in hosp in 2007 with all symptoms of adrenalinsuffiency but no one even thought about doing a cortisol test. that is essential for life an dis dangerous if it gets left i do not know how i survived but it was hell an dagain in 2008 an dagian in august2010 relentless horrific suffering which was nothing short or hell 24.7 for 15 months. you can read my bloggs on thyroid uk, its too involved to write at all here, i have spent thousands trying to get the medical profession to listen to me , i have now seen a proff at a cost , who is actually testing for adenmos and human growth hormone, who said i may have a converision prob of t4 to t3, an dlow cortisol howver we wil see. in th emeantime please sign this petition to get the governemt to fund research into t3 an dnatural dessicate thyroid, some people cannot tolerate synthetic thyroixne. http://epetitions.direct.gov.ukpetitions/9000. we need 100,000 signaturs and it closes in october 2012. please tell everyone you know this is your chance for better treatment.

ChristosPalmer said on 04 November 2011

I currently take 75mg of Levothyroxine for my hypothyroidism, I still get joint and muscle pains, muscle cramps and weakness.

I have high blood pressure which is successfully treated with 10mg Ramipril.

I've been ill with mental health problems for over 12 years. Nothing has improved, except the blood pressure.

SoniaCrosbie1991 said on 31 October 2011

Hi I was diagnosed this year with under active thyroid and I'm only 20 years old, I am on 25mg but I still feel like nothings improved at all, I've been checked once every 3 months but the results always come back as normal, it's very frustrating, as I'm still always feeling the cold and I suffer from everything on the list too, it's really starting to annoy me, everyday I feel like I've run a marathon, even if I haven't!

Please is there anyway anyone can offer advice, diet change the way I live? Anything would be great I feel 50years old sometimes and I'm only 20

meandsis said on 21 October 2011

Read previous comment first........
I watch as she she cries in frustration as yet another "all knowing" doctor tells her its all in her head or attempts to put her on yet another prescribed Med to mask the real issue. Why would a person who fights through everyday and pushes herself to be as normal as possible create these symptoms in her head. How can you think yourself constipated. If you create these pains out of imagination then why not wallow in them? Why not lay around all day and be waited on? Why put on an act of defiance? Maybe for the meds? But how can that be when the amount taken is less then the recommended dose? Why? Why? Why? Questions that a doctor without an answer would rather dogde then allow himself to be challenged by. My wife isn't a good person. She is a great person. To be forced to watch helplessly as this person who brightens your world has thoughts of ending hers due to a constant battering of symptom after symptom that untill finding this website she felt that she own had been cursed with. I read other peoples comments to her, not to self diagnose, but to show her that she is not alone. It is a powerful thing to know that countless others fight beside you. I love my wife. I need my wife. I may be forced to watch as she courageously stomps through each day fighting the urge to surrender. But I cannot be forced to except it. It she can summon the energy to do everything she does to keep our family going then who am I to just throw in the towel. She is our rock, our glue, and our example of what love really is and we will continue our fight together. Stronger now, knowing we are not alone.

meandsis said on 21 October 2011

Everyday I sit and watch helplessly as my wife suffers through horrible back pain which travels to her neck and shoulders, on occasion rendering her unable to hold up her head. She sits awake most nights surfing the endless wave of television channels but at 3 and 4am she only finds boring infomercials. Finally falling asleep around 6am, the rest of the world is waking to a new day of unknown possibilities, yet the most loving women I have ever met opens her bright greens eyes at noon feeling as if she is waisting her life away. When I hear her footsteps coming down the hall I wonder..... how does she feel today? Though she forces a smile and may fool a stranger, I know the truth...... my baby is hurting..... physically and emotionally. She is ashamed of her pain so she hides it, but I know. She doesn't want to be thought of as lazy so she pushes herself to go, go, go..... but I can't tell she is so exhausted she wants to cry. From the limp in her step, which is hard to notice because she is covering it up, I can tell that either one or both of her legs are numb with pins and needles. As she gets ready and applies makeup to her already beautiful face she stop to take a few deep breaths fighting the nausea. I ask how she feels and as usual she says "fine", but I know she is anything but. I play along and move forward in general conversation only to watch her get frustrated as she loses her train of thought in mid sentence or stumbles through her words causing her to stop. Everyday I watch. I watch as she mothers our 4 children yet never feels adequate. I watch as she changes into outfit after outfit only to look in the mirror and see someone that she considers worthless. I watch as she holds back tears, fighting her pain, because she does not want to be seen by the world as a "pill Popper" by taking even the recommended dose.

User607448 said on 18 October 2011

Hi all,

For the last few years I have been feeling increasingly tired, have had trouble with my hair falling out, put on weight so easily yet can never get it off, at least one muscle in my body aches daily, I get cold very easily and feel generally down. I explained the tiredness and hair loss to my DR who asked me to go for a blood test to check for an underactive thyroid and anaemia. I have received my results today and they say that everything is normal.
I go to bed every night between 10-10.30pm and wake up at around 7am. By lunch time I'm almost falling asleep at my desk and by 7pm I'm dozing off on the sofa. This has been happening for years now and I always thought it was just because I'm a little overweight that I'm constantly tired, until I was asked for a blood test. I was slightly happy at the thought I may have an underactive thyroid, not because it's a lifelong condition but because I'd finally know that I had a reason to be so tired and grumpy all the time. I feel like crying now I've been told I'm normal! I cannot possibly be this tired for the rest of my life, it's already been happening a good few years, I can't deal with it much longer! Am I mad?
My Mum also has an Underactive Thyroid which she only told me after I explained why I had to go for a blood test. I want to take everyones advice and get a second opinion although I don't want to be seen as a hypercondriac or a troublesome patient! Should I call my GP and speak to the person who checked my results? I can't keep going for blood tests surely?!?! Any words of advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks

alexps85 said on 17 October 2011

Hi all, I hope somebody can advise with this.

At the start of the year I was starting to feel pretty low and tired, generally rubbish - my head was hurting, I was having the occasional dizzy spell, and my legs (calfs) had an ache about them which was getting worse - after many visits to the doctor they finally did a blood test for me which came back saying I had an underactive thyroid. Getting somewhere, I thought. I was prescribed 25Mg Levothyroxine tablets. But I was noticing no improvements so I went back to the doctors a few weeks later and prescribed 100Mg, but again, no improvement and after a review blood test they have upped me to 125Mg.

But these tablets don't seem to be having any effect, and if anything I feel like I’m getting worse. I’m always feeling dizzy and light-headed, but it is so much worse when I am at work, to the extent that I feel like I am going to fall over. I have to sit staring at a computer screen from 9-5 and although I take a break at lunch, this does nothing for me, and generally my days at work are a nightmare that I have to try and get through. In meetings at work I feel very very anxious and agitated, and my palms start to sweat and legs hurt.

I get: headaches, forehead feels so tight, eyes feel tired and strained, head feels like it will explode, very anxious, restless, low concentration, confused, low, waking up at the same time every single night.

I have explained all of this to various doctors (i always seem to have to see someone different) but I get told things along the lines of try and relax, and take paracetamol for the headaches. But paracetamol is doing nothing for me and even if it was I can't keep taking that!

I don’t enjoy my job, and I am being made redundant soon and am very stressed with that and my housing situation. I just can’t relax. I’m so stressed worrying about this and clearly the more I worry the worse it gets.

In short, I don't know where to turn. Any advice would be great.

she53 said on 16 October 2011

OMG, what a horrible condition.
Just diagnosed, and burst into tears at docs.
Such a relief to know why i have felt so bad for so long.
I feel that i havent lived my life to the full for so long. Like a big depression.
Keep falling asleep, even in company.
I have so many of the symptoms listed.
I was putting these feelings down to being menopausal, having arthritis, and getting older.
Fatigue, muscle/joint aches, lethargy, weight gain, mental slowing, loss of sex drive, dry skin, brittle nails etc.
I was interested to read of the eyebrow loss some poeple get, as mine are very sparse.
I have had gut problems for years, and as a child suffered constipation.
As an adult was diagnosed with IBS, diverticular disease, acid reflux, and hernia.
Are any of these indicative of this condition?
I have been going to weight watchers for 3 months and only lost 7-8lb, even with excercise.
Is there a diet to help this condition, or any other tips.
I am starting on 50mg of levothyroxine, till my next blood test in 6 weeks.
hope to feel better once my dose is worked out. :)

elking said on 19 September 2011

Hi, I have been having test for two years waiting for me to finally get results back saying i had an underactive thyroid. It all staterd when i gained a goitre, it become obvious and a bit of a pain. Throughout these two years i have been ill after ill (all relating to my chest and throat) i went to the doctors 4 weeks ago with tonsilitus (4th time in about 5 months) was put on penecillin. After taking this, my goiture became more tender and i started to get pains in the thyroid area. I had a blood test, my yearly one. Week later i was called to say i need to start taking levothyroxine straight away (50mg) Since then, i have unbarable pain in my neck. Hurts so much i just cry. I look hideous, feel hideous and just want it to go.

I just want to know if this is normal or not. When i read things everything seems so servere that it scares me.

Hope you can help.

EMMA

shipshape said on 18 September 2011

sleepy100, i can relate to each an d everyone of your listed symptoms, do yourself a favour an d eveyone else too, go onto thyroid uk site forum... you will find other people with the same problems but the site is so informative, an dwillno doubt give you some hope...

shipshape said on 11 September 2011

girls you will get the END of this email first as its so long its in 3 parts...

shipshape said on 11 September 2011

the swelling-- then all the nerves amd muscle started twitching an dtrembling i felt electrocuted 24/7, the neurologist said i was mental--- and discharged-- i suffered an ordeal from hell for 9 months relentless with adfrenaline surges as soon a si dropped off to sleep it rage thru me an dbash my brain with the most awful snsation then my body would start convulsions... it went on night after night ,no sleep wieght loss i felt so very very ill iwent to see a private prof of neuroendo in london- i had 10 min as their sec had forgot to book me in- they scribbled away why i babbled as i dont know how i made that journey to thecity.. they said theres nothing wrong and needs a psychiatrist. how i got home being dead i will never know. i suffered in hell for ayear.. i finally have a credit card full up to nearly 3000, but so be it. i found a non nhs indep doctor an dhis tests were awsome.. my adrenals were collapsing, an dall my hormones were so low. i have never been so disgusted in all my life at the apalling treatment we get ,they know nothing!!!! i have on my records- so many times pscychological problems. i cant have this so i am wondering what to do, i aim to make an official complaint when i am stronger and i aim to get in the newspaper as this treatment we get is appalling. why the hell should we put up with it. my advice to you log on to thyroidukweb. the info is good , an dprint of some of these pages.i also emaild. t.e.d. about my eys and their endo confirmed by symptons it looked like adrenal insuffiency-- after being on meds /supps from my amazing private doc i have had 4 hours sleep fri and sat. its a long hard slog back when you have been dead for years, never give up girls an dwhen you get the energy write to the mags, papers and tv... we have to do this. good luck wnd wishing you al well... xx

shipshape said on 11 September 2011

hi girls, i havent been on here for ages as it soooo winds me up. i read all of your stories, i have printed of pages to take to my MP. I too have suffered years about 15 i guess, since 2006 i was semi dead, then 2007 i was in hosp after feeling weird all summer, lightheadness, weakness, dizzy, aches,pain, muscle and nerve twitching in my limbs, weight loss, nausea unable to eat hair loss dry skin feeling so ill and fainting, got told off in surgery for fainting, ended up 3 times by ambulance in hosp , 2nd time had vile blader infection which i beleive now to have precipitated the adrenal crash i had which was looming all th eyear except i didnt equate it to my thyroid condition... i have since done a load of searching for my symptoms as i was told i had, 'mental problems,'- i was imaging it, i had anxiety, i was depressed, i was a HYPOCONDRIAC!!! Everytthing but the real thing--adrena linsuffiency, docs and endos do not like hearing those two words, i suppose we havent really got adrenal glands in our bodies.. they are taboo subjects so is the thyroid in fact HORMONE is a taboo subject--- dont these co called professional endos know what hormones do? i thought they made us function??? maybe i am wrong there then!!! i wonder how they got on in med school- perhaps hormon word was never mentioned-- i wouldnt be surprised either if was never mentioned! ok--- in 2007 i was in hosp for 9 days- dead of course i was not able to situp, wash myself, hold a spoon, i was so weak and ill and no one thought of doing a cortisol test-- my bp was 97 systolic an di was vomiting badly that was the final clue but i didnt know this til later-- vomiting with all those other symptoms is adrenal or even addison crisis--- no doubt brought on after no treatment for years then the bladder infection, ok 2008 the same thing happened but less severe then downhill all the way til aug 2010 . i was watching tv after having had 2 epsidoes of eyelid /face swelling and given cortisol to stop the

michelle26 said on 07 September 2011

hi thyro thanks for replying my kidney infection was 2 years and dissapeared with treatment all symptoms happened after and last yr my tsh was 2.33 just got results for repeat from docs and there now tsh 3.66 so keeps climbing up just wondering if all the meds and tests i had started thyroid of,havent spoke to doc yet about level climbing up the receptionist just said was normal and i asked for the levels of tsh, will see what doc says

thyro said on 06 September 2011

Hi michelle 26. To my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong doctors) a serious kidney infection which would have put your body and mind under a lot of stress, could result in a rise in Reverse T3. This molecule prevents T3 (the hormone your body actually uses) from reaching it's receptors and gives rise to hypothyroid signs and symptoms. The problem is that the usual TSH test will show results in the normal range. Even a T4 test would come back 'normal' What you need is a T3 test and unless you have a doctor who is knowledgeable or at least open minded, you will probably have to push hard for a referral to an endocrinologist to have the test. You could always have the test done privately, as I have just done, but I have heard that some doctors will refuse to accept these and will insist on having their own tests done!

michelle26 said on 04 September 2011

hi new here wondering if anyone out there has some advice for me or views.
2years ago i was a healthy female weighed 10st for my 5'4 height,got hit with serious kidney infection stayed in hospital had loads meds,went back to work then bit by bit wham i get health issues,tiredness,muscle pains tenderness,leg pain foot pains,numbness and tingling in hands and feet,headaches in 5months 4st extra weight wont go,hit with 8months of constipation barley could go,my left eyebrow at end has gone,dry skin on palms hands and face,hair is dry and wire like,gritty eyes like covering over them,cant sleep and i feel like dori from nemo,urinary problems but nothing found b12 is slightly low,weakness,sometimes eye lids puff,test last year showed TSH as 2.33 they said that was fine however since then symptoms worse so doc is repeating waiting for results however researching im confused as in usa 2.33 is borderline etc should i be pushing this as lots of debates over tsh levels didnt do my t3 t4 antibodies so dont no what those levels are anyone got any views

michelle26 said on 04 September 2011

hi new here wondering if anyone out there has some advice for me or views.
2years ago i was a healthy female weighed 10st for my 5'4 height,got hit with serious kidney infection stayed in hospital had loads meds,went back to work then bit by bit wham i get health issues,tiredness,muscle pains tenderness,leg pain foot pains,numbness and tingling in hands and feet,headaches in 5months 4st extra weight wont go,hit with 8months of constipation barley could go,my left eyebrow at end has gone,dry skin on palms hands and face,hair is dry and wire like,gritty eyes like covering over them,cant sleep and i feel like dori from nemo,urinary problems but nothing found b12 is slightly low,weakness,sometimes eye lids puff,test last year showed TSH as 2.33 they said that was fine however since then symptoms worse so doc is repeating waiting for results however researching im confused as in usa 2.33 is borderline etc should i be pushing this as lots of debates over tsh levels didnt do my t3 t4 antibodies so dont no what those levels are anyone got any views

SHUSHANT said on 03 September 2011

I am facing continous hair loss problems for last 5 years now. Tried many brands who claim to have the perfect remedies but nothing seems to be working. If you have any suggestions then do fill me in .. Venkat from Chennai.

thyro said on 01 September 2011

I would echo the experiences of many people here and on thyroid forums. Doctors seem all too ready to dismiss symptoms if TSH is in the normal range (a range that is smaller than that used in the USA for example) I was fine on levothyroxine for a year or so and my symptoms of dry skin, brittle nails and twice weekly migraines disappeared. However, now that I am on a higher dose (125 micrograms) my symptoms have returned The migraines have returned. At least one of the doctors at my local practice stated categorically that there ' is no link between hypothyroidism and migraine' She was clearly unaware of recent research showing a strong correlation, otherwise she would have at least been open to the possibility of a link.
I believe that I may be one of the minority of patients who are poor at converting T4 to T3 but the doctor refused to acknowledge this. I have decided to pay for my own tests and if I find an abnormality in my T3 levels will go back and push for a combination of T3 and T4 to be given. If necessary I will change practices or go private. Thyroid patients should not need to do this. Doctors should be willing to acknowledge that symptoms COULD be due to under-treated hypothyroidism and at least be prepared to trial their patients on combinations of T4 and T3. At present it seems that far too many patients are told that there symptoms must be due to something else, or even worse, told that they are simply depressed or imagining things!

212xxem said on 29 August 2011

.... a ultrasound. This came back fin. She alsos ent em for counselling and he discharged me after one meeting. My hair began falling out particularly in the shower! When I told another Dr trhis he told me to tell my hairdresser!All Drs have reassured me it isnt anything bad as they said my symptoms are not specific enough and I have no other symptoms showing signs of cancer etc (which is what I always tell them I think I have.) Again my symptoms calmed down. Hoever, this month my symptoms have come back worse than ever. My peried was longer than usual ( I also notice my pains are worse at certain points in my cycle). I retruned Dr A and he diagnsed me with having a trapped never in my neck. however, my partner came with me as he is as frustrated as me and wants an answer as well (all my family and friends are becoming tired and fed up of my moaning and worrying that I have every chronic illness going!) he mentionedd my previos blood tests and Dr A looked back at my blood test results. Dr A was concerend and has booked me in for a blood test to check my thyroid and also check inflammtaion and muscle inflammation level. the anti inflammatory drugs he prescribed have done little to help and the pain is becoming more wide spread, sometimes it wont be there sometimes it will and in different areas. I am constantly worrying I have cancer and worry I am the one who will be the lucky 1 in 1000 who go away undiagnosed. I understand I have written my whole life story and I do aplogise but I would love to hear if anyone else felt like this and if you believe underaxctive thryoid would explain this. Now I have read a little on symptoms and signs I feel I may at last have an anwer but worry by blood tests will come back clear and then im back to the drawing board!!! Any advice, suggestions or thoughts are welcomed! I need answers

212xxem said on 29 August 2011

Hi Everyone,

Its been really useful reading these posts and has raised my hopes a little in terms of an explanation of how I have felt the past 2 years. I am 26, female, overweight but relitively fit. I love running, swimming and aerobics and when I feel happy I do excercise every other day. I rarely lose weight, gain it extremely quickly and even after joining weightwatchers had to eat very little to even lose 1/2 lb in a week as i was sick of putting on each time. My excercise also is disturbed every couple of months (the time between my symptoms is getting shorter and shorter) as I lack energy, sleep a lot, am feeling incredibly depressed, anxious and stressed. I begin to have pains mostly in my shoulder, neck, back, breastbone and pins and needles too. Sometimes the pain is in my leg and sometimes it feels like my ovaries. I have been to the doctor at leat 10 times in the past 2 years. I have now been able to pin down the best doctors in my surgery, as out of the 5 I have seen concerning my pains and symptoms only 2 of them have ever attempted to find an answer for me. My symptoms began in July 2009 and finally in 2010 Dr A (as I shall call him) helped me after I had seen a 3 useless DR who told me it was all in my head and sent me on my way. Dr A sent me for blood tests, ECG and fitted a 24 hr blood pressure machine. Blood pressure was great, ECG normal, liver, kidney, bone functions fine, the only anomoly was that my T4 and T3 levels were ok but my TSH was very high and my ESR was a little higher than should be. DR A suggested that I came back for another blood tests in 4 months time. My symptoms would die down again, I would feel myself and then it would flare up again. Stupidly I didnt got back for my blood tests as I then began have symptoms elsewhere and didnt udnerstand that my symptoms could be produced by thyroid problems. Next I was worried it was ovarian cancer or cyst as my periods were everywhere and I has pain. Dr B was great and sent me for a

debthom said on 28 August 2011

Hi all after feeling tired, gaining lots of weight, having dry skin brittle nails and losing my memory I went to see my GP he sent me for a blood test to check my thyroid, the level came back at 4.9 which he said was good and told me I had tatts. After getting worse I went to see a different doctor who sent me for a TSH test and my level had gone down to 4.6 in just 3 months but because this is just within normal range the doctor would not give me any treatment so now I have to have blood tests every 6 months or until my doctor thinks my TSH level is low enough to have treatment. I am just soo fed up with feeling like this all the time and want them to understand what it is like to live with this day in day out!

QueenEsther said on 23 August 2011

I need to add, most importantly, that my memory, which was photographic before, has turned to frighteningly bad, I get moments of complete blankness, not knowing where I am going or what I am doing for up to 5 seconds at a time. Losing things is the worst, it's as if I have dementia at times, all this got decidedly worse after recent non-specific debilitating viruses, which left me feeling the same head fuzziness I experienced for some years following a bout of meningitis. The fuzzyness comes back after any virus, cold or flu. The docs have never diagnosed me and act as though it is in my head also which I think again is due to the fact that they see depression on my records. I now believe something physical must be causing the depression not the other way round. Id be most grateful for help with diagnosis which seems has to be from self or other people who have similar symptoms and not docs these days.

QueenEsther said on 23 August 2011

I stumbled here by chance looking for a reason for 2 different Docs giving two different diagnosis for a pain and soreness under my armpit which has been there for a number of years and more recently tingling similar to pins and needles in fist 2 fingers of hand on same side as well as occasionally nervy sensation up same arm. One doc considered me to be worrying about too many things (i.e all in my head syndrome) due to his recent diagnosis that I have depression, something I have suffered from for many years off and on, but had worked so hard to fix myself for ten years I did not agree with. I was recently bereaved 4 people whom I loved dearly,but have experienced a massive amount of death in my life so I did not accept depression, merely trapped and unreleased grief. However i went along with it, tried many antidepressants which I cannot tolerate.
I fall ill a lot despite my way of self healing and positivity, so this Doc thinks I am just depressed which is what is making me feel ill and imagine symptoms. I feel it the other way round, that the constant being ill makes me fed up so I have to seek medical help. The other Doc thinks I have carpal tunnel syndrome. However I also suffer with frequent cramps in legs and feet and even back, I am lacking in energy all the time and just want to sleep, but in general life I am incredibly happy, positive, smiling, happy and content. It is the feeling ill and tired and other symptoms that are draining me. I am tearful easily, but maybe due to not getting much sleep at night due to frequency of needing to empty bladder whilst lying down. I have gained 2 stone over my comfortable weight and wonder could the explanation to all this be under-active thyroid or something else which after many many visits to GP I have not been tested for. They seem to only test for one thing at a time and only what they personally consider. Can anyone give me a clue as to what may be up with me, diabetes and high cholesterol have been ruled out

Fran10 said on 19 August 2011

I hope and pray everyone who has undiagnosed thyroid issues has their health issues resolved soon.
I, myself am on 175 levothyroxine a day and have been for a number of years. It hasn't been plain sailing though, I believe I have had an underactive thyroid since puberty but it was only diagnosed when I I was in my thirties. Initially I was on 25 but with the onset of the menopause it went 'haywire', which they (doctors) did not pick up on for an number of years. I was told my symptoms were due to the menopause and/or depression and put on antidepressants. I was lucky I never lost my job I was so bad. My thought processes and energy levels were awful and I was and am in a job where you are expected to hold meetings/give presentations etc. Luckily my manager was supportive (although he thought it was depression). Eventually after 2yrs of antidepressants they thought my thyroxine should be upped. It was't instant because my Doctor believed in upping by 25 every 3 months only so it took a long time to finally get to 175 (from 25) but at least I am there now. The only worry I have now is that the amount of thyroxine I need changes again, but hopefully not. I certainly know that when the levothyroxine dose is changed it does take 3 months to stabilise and every time it is change you go through 'hell' again i.e. mood swings, rashes, pains everything but it does get better.
I wish everyone all the luck in the world. At least we are living in this day and age and not the past where we would have had no life at all to speak of.

nell mcg said on 16 August 2011

oh my goodness. It's all starting to make sense now. I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid about 5 wks ago and started on 50mcg, I have jst gone up to 75 today.
I have been on anti depressants for years, tired all the time and putting on weight. I lost my mum last year and have not been coping very well, so my anti depressants were doubled and I put on 2 stones. I have also very often had lumps in my throat but put it down to "swollen glands" never making the connection to thyroid. Also pins and needles in my arms a lot.
I went to my doctor purely to reduce the antidepressants because I could not lose weight. Straight away they sent me for blood tests and I am now on the thyroid rollercoaster.
I am so sorry that so many of you have had such bad experiences, but I wanted to share a little bit of positivity. I feel so thankful that I have a surgery who have acted so quickly to address this problem, not at my bidding as I was totally ignorant. I don't know what to suggest as I am totally new to this but I really hope that help comes your way soon.

anon5678 said on 04 August 2011

So I've been to see the endocrinologist (who seemed as disinterested as my doctor) who sent me for three more blood tests (don't know what for) and who agreed to raise my dosage from 75mcg to 100mcg. It had me feeling much better for a week and a bit, but I'm scared it's starting to wear off now. So have to wait for the results.

My advice would be, take as detailed notes as you can when speaking to docs or specialists as part of our condition is that remembering things is such a struggle, so take a pen and paper to help you.

I'd also say be persistent, cry in the appointment if you think it might help get the message across, but more importantly, persevere.

If at all possible try to register with a different doctor’s surgery, using other's recommendations for quality ones, or ones in more well-off areas.

Insist to see an endocrinologist. If the doc won't refer you, leave and find another doctor.

Keep a list of your symptoms too, as this can help both yourself and any professionals.

I requested for the page editor to reply to my below message on 5th July, but a month later it has still gone ignored. Where else can we complain more about this?

The experiences listed on this page are unacceptable and has left many of us with the feeling we are wasting our lives and that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

sleepy100 said on 01 August 2011

over 3 years later......
still no treatment......feeling terrible.......GP laughed at me and said that I was normal and she couldnt for the life of her work out what could be wrong with me.
I weakly repeated "Low T4". The blood test says so.
She snorted in scorn. "Pah! borderline" 9.00 is normal.

I have been to an Endo is the past (was sent by a previous and very reluctant and scathing doctor). The Endo was very patronising and told me that I was mistaken or was imagining my symptoms. I couldnt hold back the tears any longer.
So, like many others, I can no longer participate in normal life.
I cannot work. I cannot socialise. I am soooo tired all the time.
My skin burns.
My eyes are so heavy and tired
My muscles and joints ache
My arms and legs are so weak, I crawl upstairs to bed (usually go back to bed mid morning)
I am constipated
I have terrible brain fog and cant think or concentrate
I am starting to feel very down and isolated.
I am totally disenfranchised
My hair is so thin now
My skin itches
My eyebrows are falling out
I have very low blood pressure
My eyes hurt
I have found out I have a massive ovarian cycst now and have to have my ovary removed too.
This goeshand in hand with thyroid disorders.(confirmed by a very nice lady gynae)
I have had tiniuts for 3 years.
I wake up all through the night
I REALLY CANNOT TAKE ANYMORE
Why are themedical profession so snotty about thyroid?
I feel that perhps they are so uninformed that they shy away from it for fear of looking like idiots. They turn it all round and tell us that we are stupid/just depressed/wasting their time.
It really is time that the NHS/GMC/medical "profesionals" became more educated.
I am at my wits end.
What am I supposed to do? What are we all supposed to do with an untreated condition?
I am by character, a very upbeat positive person, but I sit here defeated watching the world go by, through the window. sigh.

biglou said on 23 July 2011

hi be trying to lose weight for ages s world w watchers
nothing
went to the hospital on Thursday had blood test done doctor saw my glands were Swellen being tried
sore throats all the time
dont feel like doing anything
eating drinking coffee alot

ring any bells to any one on monday should get the results? underact tryroid

blue013 said on 16 July 2011

The 'official' information on this site so doesn't cover the suffering or the frustration at the medical profession that Thyroid disorders cause - it took me 10 years to get a doctor to listen my symptoms and a simple blood test found antibodies – I’m still struggling as the medication doesn’t help – just to add to the aggravation the professor I went to see recently was so patronising suggesting I had depression that I wanted to hit him – I restrained myself but I’m now researching other endocrinologist who have a real interest in Thyroid problems as I want to try T3 – like many others I’ve become my own expert and often tell my GP what I want. Britain is so far behind USA or even Europe in this area its shameful!

anon5678 said on 05 July 2011

I emailed NHS choices with the below letter and they told me: "we would advise that you should leave a comment on the relevant page and request the page editor respond."

My email is as follows:
"I want to alert you to the comments section of the Hypothyroid page on NHS choices. It seems to be full of people who have not been received successful treatment and as such some are quite upsetting.
There seems to be a fundamental lack of understanding about this condition. Is there some way that diagnosis, tests and/or treatment could be reviewed?
Perhaps you could give me some info about who could be alerted to this problem that affects many people."

Please could the page editor respond to this?

I then wrote to NiCE with a similar email, and this is their response:

"Thank you for contacting the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and for highlighting the problems which people are having with this condition.
NICE has not yet been asked to produce guidance on this topic. Topics for the NICE work programme are referred to NICE by the Department of Health in line with the national priorities that they have established. You can read more about how new topics are selected via the “get involved” section of our website.
You may find it useful to refer to NHS Evidence, to see if another body has issued relevant guidance. The website address for this is:
http://www.evidence.nhs.uk
Regards"

It is clear that a lot of people are suffering and the treatment seems to be dependant on how much individual doctors really listen to the patient. Please could the page editor respond to this and forward to medical staff and specialists?

Thank you
Anon

ScattyNat said on 18 June 2011

I could write a book on my health travels but for those of you out there suffering, find a doctor who is willing to trial you on T3 medication, as well as T4. I was diagnosed Hypothyroid in 1999 after 2 years of symptoms (I was 25), initially felt a little better on 100mcg T4 but suffered a neck injury in 2000 and varying symptoms started up but all tests normal and I was labelled depressed (which I wasn't, I was tired, in pain and suffering symptoms I couldn't understand - pins & needles, infections, headaches, not sleeping...) In 2005, after a serious argument with my current Endocrinologist we agreed to disagree over T3 and he trialled me on it and I immediately felt some benefits (I think he thought it was psychosomatic, I didn't care). Anyway, by 2008 the pain and fatigue symptoms had got very bad and I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia; placed on painkillers and antidepressants to help with the sleeping. However, despite medical arguments that they don't cause weight gain, I had put on over 40 kg by 2011!! After reading the work of people like Dr John Lowe and Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield I demanded to double up on my T3. I am now on 150mcg T4 and 20mcg x 2 T3 (one in the morning, one in the afternoon). Within 48 hours I felt completely different, calmer, sleeping better, appetite reversed, no longer sugar craving or grazing throughout the afternoon and evening; the weight is finally starting to drop off and I feel great. I still have my Fibromyalgia pain but its more manageable. I've stopped the Antidepressants because they had stopped working regards helping me sleep and the T3 seems to be even helping there, I've been going to bed at 11pm (I haven't done that in years). Find a doctor who is willing to medicate based on symptoms and not test results which have clearly been shown to be flawed. Lastly, check out Thyroid UK, who are now advocating the connection between thyroid dysfunction and Fibromyalgia...and Good Luck everyone, keeping fighting.

Pandadoodle said on 17 June 2011

Just wanted to let everyone on here know that you can find some of the best help on how to manage low thyroid and other metabolic disorders from a specialist called Dr Bary Peatfield - check out this site for more info:
http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/

He's one of the good guys and isn't shackled by NHS or GMC guidelines - more importantly he really listens to patients and goes by how you feel and your symptoms rather than blood tests. The only downside is that as he's no longer a member of the GMC his help is only available privately. However, I can confirm from personal experience that his help is more than worth the consultation fee.

Best wishes to you all and good luck with finding a good doc.

flojac said on 17 June 2011

Have got a clinical history of thyroid issues, have only 1/3 left. Have 20 years of TSH tests progressively deteriorating but still just within range. I have the clinical history and clincial presentation including goitre, but I cannot get them to agree even to a trial dose because of NHS guidelines are solely on TSH result I am told. I used to get T4 measured but that changed around 2002 where the labs apparently have the final say. Even though my doctor requests T3 T4 if TSH comes back in anything near normal range then T4 and T3 tests are not done.

At last summoned up the energy to find out all I could about hypothyroidism and forced my GP to listen to me - bear in mind one previous GP told me to go and sort myself out and it was my age and gender that were the problem. I got all the diet/depression questions but got her to do many more blood tests and there are anomalies. I have a goitre and I have used that to force her to send me to an endocrinologist. I'm not full of hope because I hear they don't like to treat either because the NHS guidelines are to treat using TSH range not clinical presentation. But I have to wait and see. I'm intending to take my husband with me - somehow it makes a difference having a man in the room - and that I am really annoyed about as well.

HJC2011 said on 08 June 2011

Having recently been advised to arrange a blood test to check for an underactive thyroid, I have been trying to understand more about symptoms and treatment.
Due to the mixed and sometimes upsetting comments that people have added about their experiences, I have suggested to NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) that they too visit these pages. Hoping that they will pick up on the suggestion that a GP checklist and some treatment guidelines would improve the situation.
Suggestion has been acknowledged and will be assessed. Fingers crossed!

Yukiko101 said on 04 June 2011

Hi ssmilerxx21, I'm nearly 24 and in a similar situation to you. When I was at uni I started to get really ill with all sorts of problems and after about 4yrs of tests the doctors decided I had borderline hyothyrodism(among other things). I've had to take time away from uni because of the memory loss, concentration problems and just generally being too tired to get out of bed in the morning. I was sleeping nearly 16 hours a day and the doctors wouldn't do anything as I am borderline, so they called chronic fatigue syndrome(ME) instead which doesn't help at all. So I went to the ME clinic - didn't help. Last year, I had to take some more time away from uni and came home. I went to my old surgery and found a really nice understanding doctor and explained about all my problems I'd been having with getting help etc (really took a while) and asked if I could try taking thyroxine to see if it would help. Since then I'm taking 50mg a day and there really is a difference. My advice is ask your gp if you can start it, and if they say no find someone else. The doctor I'm currently seeing told me that they are normally relucant to give medicine to borderline cases but if it is severely affecting your health that that should be taken into consideration. I have to have blood tests every 6 months to check it's working too well but all the last ones have been good. I'm currently trying to get my life back together and hopefully return to uni next year to finally complete my course - 7years!
Hope that helps :)

SuziSwift said on 30 May 2011

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2006. I have been on levothyroxine since then, starting on 25mcg and have been on 150 mcg for about three years. But I feel bad. I initially put on 2 stone and haven't ever really lost it. I am exhausted much of the time, but recently have started to feel a mix of other symptoms too: including swollen throat and tongue, and aching legs. I'm only 29 and have no idea of what a "normal" 29 year old feels like. I currently feel like an old woman.

I went back to the doctor recently to ask for help especially losing weight (could do with losing 3 stone to get to a healthy weight) but my thyroid test came back okay. My GP says I am "biochemically fine" and won't let me do anything. I am reluctant to increase my dosage without her support - when asking about it she told me such horror stories of what might happen if I take too much that I am scared to do it. But she didn't answer why I feel so rubbish. She also said that people are dose sensitive so what might not be too much for one person is dangerous for another - but if this is the case taking more than suggested can it not be the case that I might not be sensitive enough to what is in my blood stream?

I want to exercise but am so tired. Her response to that was that I would get more energy by exercising. When I said about weight she suggested I try Slimming World. I don't know what to do.

Can I ask to be referred to an endocrinologist on the NHS?

mummywoo said on 26 May 2011

Hi ssmilerxx21 I really feel for you I was a simliar age when I was diagnosed ( I was 24) with an underactive thyriod I felt exhausted so much so I couldn't be bothered to do anything even go to work, I was also very nauseas and lost weight going on the thyroxine. It took 9mths of these horrendous symtoms prior to a diagnosis and when all my friends were going out I just slept.

On the thyroxine I actually go worse it turned out I did have an underactive thyriod but the main problem was I had Addisons Disease. If you have any of the Addisons sypmtoms you must insist on a test for it, it is just a simple blood test but it is a bit rare therefore GPs often miss it which happened to me and I ended up in adrenal crisis.
Good Luck

Anyway I do find in order to feel good and with consultation with my endocrinologist I increase my thyroxine from 175mg to 200mg when I am on my period!

ssmilerxx21 said on 21 May 2011

Hi there!
25yr old female here, got diagnosed with borderline inderactive thyroid bout 7 yrs back but then nothing got done and blood test seems to to be back to normal but for last 2 yrs my memory has been going for bad to worse and headaches have been so bad. I have been my GP 8 times in the last 2 wks begging him to help me he asked my symtoms and this was my reply -- bad headaches, memory loss, bad moodiness, extreme extreme tiredness anf generally feeling awful.
he done my bloods and i got the results bk 2 days ago, underactive thyroid again and they want my bloods done again in 3 months time, no medication nothing and boy do i feel awful, partner of 9 yrs asks before are you ok? and i burst into tears, when he asked what was wrong i told him straight i cnnot cope with being this tired its no fair im exhausted i didnt think it was this possible to be this tired in ur life. I wasnt this tired when pregnant or when i had a new baby 2 yrs ago, so were do i go from here im gettin a cold today my throat is killing me tonight (which has been happening since i was 10yrs old) and i generally feel crap, is there nothing they can do. i wokr monday and tues 8-4.30 and i feel that bad im actually thinking ill never make a full day without falling asleep which is no good at work.
were the hell am i meant to go from here i dont even no anything about under active thyroid, dr keeps asking if im sleeping erm yes once im asleep im ASLEEP but it makes no change, he also keeps asking if i feel depressed, my answer was i feel down because im so tired but im actually thinkin now i could have a bit of depression but i dont even no what depression is either really (plus i would say this to my GP that i think i do have it a bit but i feel so ashamed so keep saying no which is no good but im meant to be the strong 1)
what is depression? what is under active thyroid?what happens next? Were do i go from here?... as 3 months like this and believe me i can not last 3 hrs this tired x

oddpoppy said on 17 May 2011

Im a 27 yld f & Ive had underactive thyroid since I was 13 .
Ive been on 100mg for the past 2 years .
Only problem is the last month they only gave me 50mgs and I only realised at the end of the months supply.
The doc' have given me a blood test today .Ive explained I feel extremely tired , and my moods keep going haywire , that I can't keep my contraction (writing this is an effort atm) and I keep having problems swallowing . My doc reckons I should take 200MGS for two day's then carry on with 100 like normal.
Has anyone else have anything like this happen to them? My doc hasn't told me if i'll be okay or not .just said to do that and wait for the blood results.
Can I drink? or will that be dangerous?, Can I fall into a thyroid fit? How long will it take for my levels to go back to normal? Any help much appreciated
Poppy.

emmalou76 said on 16 May 2011

hi brenda50
was reading your comment as well as the others and would like to say thankyou. i never realised just how much this disease affects ours and how many ppl are affected with it. I have had to live with board line underactive thyroid for many years with out treatment but have finally found a doctor thats has said enuff is enuff and started me on thyroxine. Like you i am getting more and more down, never finish anything i start and really cant be bothered to so much at all anymore. my neck is swollen and to scared to go back as my aunts neck was badly swollen, and dnt want to end up like that.

Katonthetiles said on 16 May 2011

UATP I'd find out your exact test results and look online to see if you're boderline as if so, thyroxine would help you. Try another dr maybe? It's your right.

I've not felt much netter on thyroxine but was given a higher dose but although I had my old energy back and metabolism I also got bad tremors and insomnia as well as a heart fluttery feeling. So now just zero energy, muscle aches, brain fog, massive hair loss etc but now being tested for adrenal problems and have been found to have borderline synaspin stimulation test results and apparently need further tests but been chasing for an appointment and keep being told we'll call you tomorrow when have the lab space etc and dr here. Don't know what any of it mean but I was want to feel younger and less bald again! Ho hum. At least we're not alone.

buddha68 said on 15 May 2011

hi i understand brenda i did some ironing today & cooked dinner then slept for 2 hours it does your head in i have a list of chores which never seem to get through everyday life with work & family is enough in itself.i am on regular blood checks to wish there was a magic pill aye!!!!

toshymac32 said on 15 May 2011

Hiya folks, new to this website.

I was told I had an overactive thyroid when I was 21 just after I had my first son, I was given thyroxin and beta blockers at the time but then came off them as I went border line and they wouldnt treat me anymore, I am now borderline underactive but again no treatment, recently I started feeling crap , bad hair,skin, nails and I drink loads of water, my eyes feel like they are burning, i have no energy and I have gained so much weight, this week I gained 3lbs I was in tears, Last weekend whilst lying in bed I found a lump at the bottom of my neck in between the collar bones, you know the V bit between neck and collar bones, I had an appointment with a fracture clinic as I had an accident with my shoulder, he felt that area and said my thyroid was slightly swollen, but it wasnt the lump I could feel, my hubby has felt it too, im a wee bit concerned just waiting for blood tests to come back, Doc asked if I had a history of breast cancer only my great granny and my great Aunt had her breast removed last year, why would that be relevant?

Sorry just needed a rant, feeling confugled

32 female, 5ft 7 and over 12st

Brenda50 said on 15 May 2011

I have been suffering from an underactive thryoid for many years and I now take 150mcg of Levothyroxine every day, however, I still feel very tired, depressed and worry constantly. I find it difficult to concentrate on one task at a time and never seem to finish a household job. This is affecting my personal life and work. At the moment I have to take each and every day as it comes. I have regular blood tests and when my medication is increased I feel better for a few weeks and then it seems to wear off.

It has been good to read the comments on this site as I know I am not alone in the way I feel.

buddha68 said on 15 May 2011

i was diagnosed in jan 11 started 25mg now on 75 mg still shattered my hair really dry which wasnt before medication feel like im in a bit of a sureal life cannot get organised working is a hassle and sleep well i dont have a pattern its a strange condition and not one solved just with a pill like i was told at the beggining only people suffering from this under active thyroid will understand i never put on any weight so lucky there im told lol!

anon5678 said on 12 May 2011

@mummywoo That's great to hear, I will take your advice too about seeing an endocrinologist. Have just arranged to see my doctor about getting a referral. The medical receptionist seemed reluctant but I will be persistent.

@ShellyBobbs Yes my hangovers take a lot longer than usual to clear and make me feel wierd & depressed. I am in my early twenties and this has prevented me from going out and partying, so hangovers are few and far between.

I also heard on the radio about http://www.moodscope.com, a way of tracking your mood daily. I think it could be quite useful for many people on here to attempt some control or understanding of your moods.

ShellyBobbs said on 12 May 2011

Just to add from my last comment, I haven't turned to drink, I just find that even the smallest amount of alcohol takes far too long to get through my system.

ShellyBobbs said on 12 May 2011

This week I've just been so knackered, luckily I've been off work but have only been sat on my bum all week. My head, neck and back have been aching all week, my head for 2 1/2 weeks now. My hair is falling out, last week in the sweltering heat I had a t-shirt, jumper and coat on and foggy doesn't even come near to describing how foggy my head is at the moment. Guess what, I totally forgot that it could be my thyroid - it's been underactive now since 2002!

Plan of action should now be to arrange a blood test which should be a good 2 week wait, another week before I phone them because I haven't heard anything, just to be told everything is fine - what's the point? You will all understand that I just cannot be bothered with it. My appetite has gone up the swanny now, I lied to my hubby yesterday about what I had eaten because apathy is in full flow, I'd rather be sat on the settee with a rumbly belly than stood up in the kitchen having to think what I want and actually making it, although cooking for my children is totally different.

I've been here plenty of times, luckily I have a wonderful hubby and 3 children that make me give myself a kick when it's becoming a real pain.

We are just small fish to the medical profession, take your pill, shut up and go away!

Does anyone have problems the next day when they drink alcohol? I don't just mean the general hangover, but palpatations and it taking far longer to get out of your system than is normal?

mummywoo said on 07 May 2011

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyriod in 2006 and also Addisons disease in the same year. All I can say is that since taking my medication I feel 100% bette.r I have a great endocrinologist who checks everything monthly and we work on how I feel along side my blood test results. I have recently given birth to my second beautiful child and can honestly say I have never felt better. I would suggest if you are struggling insist on a referal to an endocrinlogist and if you still not happy change to another til you get the answers you need. I have a very busy life and have never had as much energy and get up and go as I have at the moment.

User552720 said on 06 May 2011

I am male, in my late thirties, on 100 mcg Levothyroxine Sodium. I thought the medication would treat the problem however I don't think they work effectively! On the minus side, suicidal thoughts, brain fog, lack of assertion, mental agility is minus 50, sleepy in the late afternoon therefore poor sleep over night, psychological disturbances like my mind is at war causing relationship problems! On the plus side uuuhmm, no more migratory pain, aah that's it! A big hug to all you people out there! (:

BB_11 said on 05 May 2011

Hi,

I have just been diagnosed with Underactive Thyroids through a routine blood test and I am 31 years old.

My GP has started me off on 100mcg Levothyroxine which I started taking today.

Looking back over the last 6 months, I have had all the symptoms, weight gain, hair loss, depression, fatigue etc.
By 3/4pm, I usually lose my concentration and mind goes blank. I often feel sleepy whilst driving home around 6pm.

My working hours are very long, 8.30 – 6pm and I am contemplating if I should ask for reduced hours, so finish at 5/5.30pm, do you think this is reasonable?
Has anyone asked their employers for this based on the medical condition?

Many Thanks

anon5678 said on 04 May 2011

2 of 2

Since taking the tablets I've had:
Palpitations,
Minor pains in my thyroid area,
About a 5% increase in energy and overall symptoms, but I would attribute this to the warmer weather, and better job situation.

Good points:
I did manage to run a half marathon (after my first week of treatment) which was purely a mental effort.
Free prescriptions.

The one thing I have not had is weight gain which I hope is not to come.

Taking the tablets indefinitely doesn’t bother me that much; what does is being seen as lazy and the thought that I’ll always feel like this

When I asked my GP about fertility, risk to family members, how I got hypothyroidism, etc, he responded to every question with a vague 'I don't know.' No websites, leaflets or counseling were offered. I sincerely hope his lack of interest is in the minority.

Some related points:

One blood test is not an accurate measurement of levels in my opinion. A similar test is needed in the way that diabetics test their insulin levels with a drop of blood, and treat accordingly.

A major part of being hypothyroid is that brain fog which in my opinion affects assertiveness, this is a catch22 as it is harder to stress your point to the doctor. I wonder if doctors actually take it into account?

Also, as an aside, I wonder what percentage of suicides are caused by this condition?

Next steps:

I am going to get a second opinion or attempt to see a specialist.
I am going to attempt to get a fertility test; though being young I am worried they’ll dismiss me as being hypochondriac.
I am going to take Yoga classes back up as it has made me feel wonderful in the past,
I am going to recommend that my close family members get a test
I am going to ask for counseling to try and beat it mentally.

Good luck fellow sufferers, and keep putting pressure on your GP.

anon5678 said on 04 May 2011

1 of 2

I am reading these comments with despair at the lack of effective treatment. I was diagnosed at 22, 3 months ago, although had noticed symptoms since 2 years ago. My initial reading was 50 which from reading this I gather is v high. On first being diagnosed my GP offered me no information so I had to search for it myself.

I was put on 50mcg at first, which lowered the level to 10 and then bumped up to 75mcg which brought it into the 'normal' range at 4 which is still high. My GP said I was not allowed to increase the dose as that would be too much. After telling my GP I still felt awful, he told me to 'try and feel better'.

I have the following symptoms:
Cold all the time. In the winter just gone I was often painfully cold and sometimes shivering in bed,
I cannot concentrate, making conversations impossible as I forget the question or what I was talking about literally 10 seconds ago,
I used to feel intelligent and have a good memory, but now I just appear thick as it’s hard to keep up with moderately complex situations,
I used to really enjoy going out drinking and meeting people but now the though of being out past 11pm in a nice (but chilly) outfit fills me with dread,
The slightest thing makes me well up and cry,
Low energy,
I feel in despair at my prospects in life and am not at my full potential (even though without the hypothyroidism I've got a lot of things going for me),
Minor occasional suicidal thoughts,
Stressed easily, putting relationships with family and friends at risk,
I feel apathetic when it comes to issues I’ve felt strongly about before,
I feel double my age (seems to be common complaint on here),
Before I was happy and optimistic, now my mood is very up & down and I feel nothing will ever get better,
I feel as if at my age, 22, I should be out partying or travelling but this lifestyle is near impossible,
And lastly, when I swallow it doesn't feel smooth, as if some left over food is stuck.

resurgam said on 02 May 2011

The number of posts on here is an indication of the gross inadequacy of the medical professions understanding of this condition and the treatment offered. The description on this page by the NHS is testament to this lack of understanding and how they minimise the impact it has on people’s lives.

I was eventually diagnosed as over active after a catalogue and years of misdiagnosis too detailed to go into here – suffice to say my GP questioned me repeatedly about my drinking habits, refusing to believe I was tee total! I can go on. However, eventually I only got a diagnosis because I paid privately. When the results came back I was on the verge of a thyroid storm and the results scared him so much I was admitted to hospital. Cutting a long story short and ignoring the NHS incompetence, a year after treatment began they gave in and gave me radio active iodine – thus over dosing and rendering my thyroid useless. That’s why I’m here on the hypothyroidism site!

I am an expert – choosing (eventually) to manage my own symptoms with the dose I know I need – not what the tests say is a normal range. I question what “normal” is. What was my “normal” range before I became ill is the question never asked or answered.

All of you should trust your instincts (difficult when dealing with brain fog) stand up for what you believe deep down is the truth and politely but firmly fight for your own cause. If necessary, write a letter to your GP. Remember also that there is no one group of typical symptoms. Depending on the stage and severity you can present some symptoms opposite to the officially recognised ones. For example, although severely hyper thyroid, contrary to popular belief I was not hot all the time I was actually shivering with cold an a hot day – my body temperature clock had simply gone haywire.

I have never posted any of this anywhere before – but this site has angered me into submitting. All of you – trust your instincts.

gee94 said on 21 April 2011

i recently got diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and seem to of been getting every symptom really badly. i seem to go through bad patches where i will sleep and sleep for ages, like the other night i slept for 22 hours! i even gained 11lbs in 3 weeks when i was on a diet because of it :( its horrible

casper182 said on 21 April 2011

I was diagnosed with over active thyroid after my son was born in 1994. I had a thyroidectomy in 1997, i have been on 100mcg Levothyroxine ever since. My thyroxine levels have all of a sudden risen and i have to have another test in a couple of weeks to double check them.
In all the years i have suffered with this condition i have never felt right, but all i ever hear is "your levels are within normal range" .
The levels they refer to are the TSH levels. Not once since leaving the specialist have my T4 or T3 levels been checked. I have been fighting with my weight, erratic sleep pattern, tiredness, terrible memory and hair loss. I put some of the symptoms down to the Depo Provera, but i have been off that for 6 months now with no improvement.
I will be asking them to test my T3 & T4 levels when i go for my test next. Just hope my thyroid hasn't grown back, i couldn't go through that again.

User162046 said on 16 April 2011

hi i have been feeling so tired ,depressed,cold, sore eyes and have back and arm pain along with some other stuff,gp sent me for blood test and my tsh came back 9 .something so have to wait 6 weeks for a retest is this normal,as i fill i am going mad with depression..help

UATP said on 12 April 2011

I had underactive thyroid all my life, not knowing what was wrong with me I carried on with my life. Tried my best anyway, I have all the symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Few yrs ago when I started university I couldn’t cope anymore, so I did my own research. I put my symptoms on a website that can tell you what you might be suffering from. It came out that I had underactive thyroid. I saved up for nearly two yrs, even though I was a student and I couldn’t afford it, I managed to make an appointment with a private doctor. She also tells me that I have underactive thyroid. And that I need to go to my GP and ask them for so and so tests etc. all the information I needed. I went to my GP, she said no problem. I had the tests done, and they came back last week. She said I was fine, 100% ok, nothing is wrong with me now I’m really confused about the whole thing. :-/
Is the GP wrong is saying to me I don’t have underactive thyroid when everyone else, including my own research is telling I do in fact suffer from underactive thyroid. Why is the GP not treating me? Doesn’t my GP care? Are they worried about the cost of the medicine I’m going to be taking? What should I do now? Who do I go to? I got so many questions and don’t even know who is the appropriate person to ask. If I could afford it I would just got private but I can’t. I would honestly appreciate if anyone could tell me what should my next move be? Thanks.

ps28 said on 11 April 2011

It is good but sad to know that other thyroxine takers feel the same as I do. The 'take a tablet and your back to normal' is a myth. Over 5 years I have gone from 25 to 125ml always tired, I don't suffer weight gain always been 8 stone which does surprise me. I drag myself to the gym when I feel I've got an ounce of energy left at the end of the day, only to try and get rid of toxins in the body. I also feel fuzzy brained, ready to cry at anything and sometimes find it hard to string a coherent sentence together, sometimes feeling that although I have slept like a log all night an hour after getting up I feel fit to drop. I am extremely surprised at the amount of mail posted here and the similarity of how I feel to how others feel. I only came on the site to look for self help, now it had put everything into a new perspective. I was led to believe that thyroxine was the wonder drug and that i was not coping.

shipshape said on 06 April 2011

also doctors and endos should always test free t4/ free t3 (which they rarely do) free t3 is the amount of available hormone which is the most active hormone which every cell needs... apart from all the other thyroid tests as well as tsh, how can you tell if you have a thyroid or adrenal prob just by tsh..well you cant! t4 has to be converted to t3 an d if you have a sluggish liver/kidneys/ low progesterone the converstion will be hindered. check out thyroid uk.

shipshape said on 06 April 2011

it appears that so many people here are unhappy at the nhs treatment/understanding of the whole endocrine system which carries a myriad of symptons and so many are still suffering. this is becos the nhs is limited in treatment and knowledge. on one hand we are encoureged to take responsibility for own our health but when we do( becos endo's and gps do not fully understand what we are experiencing we get hauled over the coals for doing our own research. this is the 21st century people are not stupid anymore we are becoming more enlightened and interested and when we find some legimate info then the endos and gps should let the ego go and listen to the patient. it would savenhs thousands of pounds by treating our symptons properly instead of sending us to heart/gastro/psychiatrists/rhuematoids/uncle tom cobbley and all.... please just listen to ue, if you are a fully functioning doctor ( which you are ) you have read and learned . well we the patients are capable of learning too and we are the ones experiencing the symptons. there is a reason why we do not feel well/dont sleep/ feel nauseous/blurred eyes/etc it is the whole hormone problem. Please listen. i would like to be a dedicated doctors case history as i have all my notes which run in a pattern.i have lost 15 years of my life and now going miss the next 20 if someone does not listen, its no wonder we self medicate or find private doctors, its a case for the european human rights, no-one should be fobbed off and left to rot. thyorid and adrenal go hand in glove as do progesterone/estrogen/testosterone/ and all the other hormones, polycystic ovaries carry hormone inbalance/thyroid causes bone loss as well.nhs should be using natural progesterone for us who need it lack causes so many problems including sleepnessness, i feel we are left to suffer its like being ignored becos we have done some research.

mallio said on 06 April 2011

I wasn't formally diagnosed with hypothyroidism but i'm taking 100mcg of levo, the strange things i have is energy rush in the evenings, get very chatty, then conk out later on in the evening. I also have problems with my right eye which some people have also mentioned eye problems, gritty, watery and blurry. I sometimes burn up through exertion, get pains in my chest and heart palpatations and I am only 38, Male lol
I find that a good diet and exercise helps with the symptoms! I empathise with all of you out there!

Dlt_debz said on 06 April 2011

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in Dcember 2010 and just started taking 50mg levothyroxine two weeks ago. I was (going by what I have read here) lucky that my doctor picked up on the signs and so decided to get me to do a blood test which showed my thyroxine levels were borderline, so when I recently fell ill and another doctor at the surgery wanted to test me for diabetes I (knowing that i was due to have my thyroid levels checked again) requested to get the test for my thyroids added on to the same blood test and so when I got a letter from the GP who runs the surgery asking me to call and book an appointment to see him I knew something was wrong and that was when they started medicating it. This is also when I started doing my research into the condition and recommended that all my family got tested. As much as I am still trying to come to terms with it I am doing as much as I can to make it so in the long run its as tolerable as it can be. I know its going to have good days and bad days but I am going to do my best to deal with it. Doctors aren't all bad and i know mine are doing the upmost to help me, they are even helping me apply for a medical exemption certificate as hypothyroidism is one of the conditions covered by it

watermelonfare said on 01 April 2011

I have suffered from symptoms for two years (exhaustion, weight gain, dry patches of skin) and am now waiting for my diagnosis after blood tests.
I was wondering if anybody had noticed a link between their symptoms and stress? I find that in a matter of minutes of a stressful situation my dry skin patches appear or worsen and with-in a hour im ready to crawl into bed.
Regards

shipshape said on 30 March 2011

i had to be my own doctor as best i could read.... dr lam/dr jon lowe/dr james wilson. to name a few. I bought glycerrized licorace drops( dont take if you have high blood pressure) vit b3 and b5 to support adrenals and liquid b complex. i had to go stay with a friend becos i couldnt do a thing for myself my body was shutting down, i have blood tests for cortisol which are always normal , even tho i do not function right, blood tests measure boundup by protein levels as well as free hormone so that gives a false reading, saliva tests are 4 phials of spit 4 times a day at specific times with rules it tests the free amount of cortisol and dhea for use by the cells.cortisol lets you sleep ( circadian rhytham has to work right, i had saliva tests from an acreddited lab showing hypo adrenal function but its ignored. there is not enough knowlege or if there is it is ignored , its about time docs and endos listened to the signs and symptoms of the patient, low progesterone has an effect on thyroid, polycystic ovaries cause over abundance of androsteneidone male hormone causing hairloss but natural progesterone will counter act it and help hair to grow but its not accepted! why , when there is legitmate info on the web ( and we know we have to be careful) is the evidence not accepted. those who suffer resort to going to private doctors who will listen and who will understand our plight. general medical council must be a bunch of old men, they do not have all this hormone stuff....there are many mistakes made by the nhs but gmc are only too ready to get rid of private doctors who get their patients well. from what i have read no-one is satified with the nhs treatment needless to say i am told i am depressed or i have mental problems. i am furious. i am taking it up with my MP.

shipshape said on 30 March 2011

hi, i have read all these comments and i couldnt agree more. about 15 years i havent had a life, been fobbed off with all the classis symptons of adrenal fatique and underactive thyroid these two can go hand in glove and its most important to get adrenals sorted first except. docs and endos do not like to admit there is such a thing as adrenal fatique, as far as they are concerned if the blood test says normal then you are regardless if your dead on the way to being dead or dead and buried! as far as they are concerned there are two functions of adrenals. either fully functioning or addisons, they do not recognise the middle bit, when you are getting worn out, i know i have been there 3 times, i had to be my own doctor and muddle thru as best i could , i have had 3 crashes one i was in hosp, instinctively i asked to be put on a saline drip, which i was for 3 days, i discobered adrenal fatique and your body needs salt, the last crash was for 8 months and was pure hell.. nerves like electrical bare wires touching, muscle twitching s all day every day at night awful adrenal rushes pounding my body and head i had to keep jiggling my body around as i couldnt keep still it was electric shock 24/7 so nauseous i couldnt eat for 2 months cortisol controls histamine and i had two severe allergis reactions i was givem 30mg prednisolone for 6 days , my point is -if i had enough cortisol in my body i wouldnt have needed prednisolone would i? after that i crashed, i have never felt so ill for so long nearly 8 months i didnt know who iwas or what i was, my ft3 is 3.3 the normal range is ( 3.9-4.7) nut funny this.... i am told ''you are in the range for t4 but when it comes to be ing out of the range for ft3, i am not offered any t3 meds.so i am still not functioning, eventually i had to be my own doctor as best i could ( to be continued on next bit not enough room here...

melthyorid said on 28 March 2011

Hi

To all of you do not give hope.

I was untreated for 10years.

Having moved house & a new doctors surgery i was diognosed by a locum at our surgery, during this time I had lost, most of my body hair, always asleep, cold, lose of hearing, loss of sight, loss of all facial features and had sleep apnea, for which I needed a machine to keep me breathing during the night.

I started at 75 micro grams, the sleep apnea stopped, which earned the G.P's a recognition that all sleep apnea should be checked for thyroid problems, now standard practice.

my dose as gone, over the last 12 years, from 75 to 100, 125 , 150, 175, 200, 225, where it is at the minute.

I still have problems hence the up grade to 225.

Talk to your doctors and dont be fobbed off with their indifference, which I have never had since diagnosis.

The modern G.P.'s know of the condition, so talk to them about your fears and let your employers know of your diagonsis as soon as you know.

Take care & regards

Mel

hapytoes said on 21 March 2011

I am actually weeping as i read this.
I was diagnosed in November and am currently on 150mcg. Everytime my medication is increased I immedialtey feel better, but then go down hill gradually. I am struggling to work and am so emotional..hence the weeping!

I have neve r had to take time off work before and dont know how to ask for it, am worried that I will look like a shirker. I had three weeks off initially but this was maily due to ane ear infection.

For years I had also had symptoms and was told by my doctor that he would love to tell me I had a slow metabolism,but i just need to diet!! New sugary and I finally got blood tests. I am grateful that it is not a life threatening disease, but just feel wretched. I'm 40 this tear and feel 60.

I also have very painful joints which i have seen some of you on here put, so now dont feel like some kind of hypocondriac...............Thank you all. xx

hibii said on 16 March 2011

@underactive bob.

Yes I do feel the same as you, and so does my daughter. You hit it spot on when you say you feel twice as old as you actually are.

It's not what I calla quality of life the nhs etc all claim to uphold. If they call this quality of life, they ought to rename it to a prision sentance with hard labour. Thats more accurate.

hibii said on 16 March 2011

Having read a lot of the posts I too suffer with the symptons of an underactive thryoid, so does my daughter and we really are going through hell.

I have suffered in unknowningl for over15 years with my thyroid failing, it wasn't until my dughter saw my old GP and she told her to ask me about thyroxine, I twigged that I should have been on thryoxine. Then my Gp looked up and said oh yes you are low, we'll check and see. Good job she did as mine was in its death throes and pumping out the toxins. Allthe years I've suffered, thinking I was going mad and all along it was clearly evident my thryroid was failing.

Yet is seems as in my case my GP, and these are her exact words, What do you want me to do about it, and said in a very agressive tone. At that point I sat there shell shocked.

I am so exhausted, mentally and physically, by the time I get up I'm already worn out and shaking with exhaustion, let alone all the other symptons. You get to a to a point when you think that's it I can't cope anymore. Then a stupid GP just snarls at you what do you want her to do about it. She's the medical professional, how am I to know other than fix this as I can't physically go on anymore I've no energy left.

How is it the NHS, GPs etc think it is ok, for use to suffer these horrendous symptons just because our levels are within the normal range. Mine is on the bottom of the normal range. Normal it is definelty anything but.

Isn't it about time they medical system recognised that normal levels are not alway for al the people?

Underactiverob said on 15 March 2011

Hi everybody, it's such a relief to read that I'm not alone!! For 6 years now I've had an underactive thyroid which was overmedicated and it's only when I asked the doctor if my symtoms could be due to a too higher dose of levothyroxine that he looked it up on his computer and said "yes", your dose is too high!
As of 8 months ago I was diagnosed with osteporosis as well (I'm 40 now) and I'm really struggling at work. My employer is very understanding but for how much longer, the amount of time I'm taking off work is increasing, I just can't do the amount of physical work I used too.
Am I the only one thinking that it's impossible to keep struggling on? The stories I've read on here sound all to familiar, my only hope is to see a specialist which I've finally managed to do for this month, I'm not a lazy so and so, I've never been out of work but I feel like an 80 year old sometimes, does anyone else here struggle to keep working? Thanks

Toni2015 said on 12 March 2011

HI, everyone, I'm an international student here in UK and today I was just diagnosed as underactive thyroid. During the past a few months, I experienced almot all the symptoms on the list, extreme fatigue and depression being the most severe ones. But I didn't realise I am getting this disease, I just thought that the cooursework is too hard and I'm homesick until one day I lost my consciousness for a few seconds, fortunately in my flat, then I'm starting to see the doctor and get the blood test. it's reaaally hard to cope with this disease without the support of family and friends and my home is thousand miles away. I will live with this disease and try to get my degree, so tired.

Queen2131 said on 04 March 2011

Hypothyroidism being unrecognised seems to be a big issue.
I have a t4 of 9.8. The doctor still thinks that I have "normal function" so therefore I am "ok".
I have lost faith in GP's. i think they may be good at diagnosing the obvious and the palpable, but I beleive that it stops there.
I was told by one doctor that it was psychological!
Being totally fobbed off by a quack springs to mind. How much are these people being paid?
These are most of the symptoms i have had for the last 1 -2 years.

low blood pressure
falling hair and very dry hair
thinning eyebrows
itchy dry skin
hoarse and sore throat
painful joints and muscles
irregular heart beat
chest pains
annemia (am taking ferrus sulphate with vit c now)
burning skin feeling on legs and feet
shaking hands - they are so weak and clumsy
brain fog - cant remembetr anything or think clearly
tinitus (for the last 2 years)
I look like a corpse - pale with black bags under eyes
constipation
I sleep ALL THE TIME
I do not smoke, drink or take drugs. I eat sensibly and go into the fresh air.
This is the 3rd GP I have tried now. I have been told that I may be imagining the above.
Where on earth is one supposed to go for help.
This has been going on for a couple of years now. I cant work and I cant plan anything as I have to cancel plans all the time mostly due to feeling ill.
Any ideas what to do?
At least I am not alone!

Grumpy99 said on 22 February 2011

I had an overactive thryoid in my early 20's and after 5 years of various treatment, I ended up underactive and taking thyroxine. I was lucky enough to be relatively healthy for the next 20 years. I then went for my yearly blood test, only to be told that I was off the scale hyper. I couldn't believe it. I felt so well, fit & healthy. However, I have had to decrease my dose considerably over the last 5 years. My body has reacted very badly to every change of dose & I have had to do it painfully slowly (at one time I was trying to cut a 25mg tablet into 4 pieces). It's ironic that when I was medically ill I felt so wonderful & now I am medicall "well" I feel so dreadful. I'm now trying to get referred to a Chronic Fatigue specialist for some help, but am not holding my breath. My local Endocrine consultant has been less than helpful and was against me trying any alternatives to Levothyroxine. I don't know why as it couldn't possibly make me feel any worse than I do! I've also asked several doctors over the last few years if being pre-menopausal would have anything to do with my recent problems and all have said it shouldn't make any difference. However, now they can't get my dose any better than it is, & because there's no other explanation, my age (53) is suddenly the cause! I understand that there hasn't been any research into thyroid disease for around 50 years. Nothing has changed in that time. Even the blood tests are so complicated that most GP's can't decipher them easily! Surely now, with so many folk feeling so awful it's time someone, somewhere took this on and tried to improve things. Medical knowledge in this area must have moved on? I am now desperate on all levels. I live alone, with no family or partner, and would love to hear from anyone in Suffolk who is struggling with this disease and it's consequences. Good luck and good health to you all.

wildwookie said on 21 February 2011

To Dotty 2011

I don't normally post on these boards but read your post and had to reply.

You could be describing me when I was newly diagnosed about 12 years ago.

Living with Hypothyroidism is hard work especially in the first few years. Its difficult when you feel everyone around you is thinking you are somehow making things up. Believe me I've been there.

You need to do what is best for you at the moment. It doesn't matter what those doubters think. Your friends will be with you all the way.

One thing you don't need to do right now is worry about children. Trust me on this, as I write my comment I'm enjoying some peace and quiet after putting my 6 year old boy to bed. Have faith, you will make it through this.

roxy998 said on 18 February 2011

To the Mum from Somerset, i too had exactly the same problem with my right eye, i actually went blind no vision whatsoever for 30 mins, i then went back to the opticitions who investigated it, then reffered me to an eye specialist, i'm in the middle of tests to see if i have an under active thyroid.......i shall keep you posted on the results, but i'd get yourself referred to an eye specialist, because they are now scanning my neck arteries...........

dotty2011 said on 17 February 2011

I was diagnosed 3 years ago after suffering extreme tiredness, weight gain (going from 9st to nearly 12 in the space of less that a year) , feeling cold and having pain in my joints and losing sensation in the skin on my back.
I finally gave up on trying to make myself feel better through diet and exercise and went to the doctor, after being referred to a specialist im now on 150mg of levothyroxine and to be honest i do feel alot better but im still suffering with tiredness and the depression that seems to come with it. This is something ive learnt that i have to deal with. But people can be very dismissive of how bad it is to be tired and have no sympathy, i was off work for 3 months due to depression and i feel people i work with think that im being pathetic now that im back to work but working a short day, that im using some sort of excuse to not go back to working full time just yet.
Ive also become worried that i may not be able to have children, ive asked about tests to see if i am still fertile but was greeted with 'find out and see' from the specialist, i have no desire for a child at 22 but i want to know if its possible.

loopymcme said on 06 February 2011

Hi,
I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism a couple of years back. It saddens me to see that people are still facing difficulties with diagnosis, the same as I faced.
From my late teens I was going to the doctors with complaints of tiredness, sometimes insomnia. I had never linked the other symptoms in (cold, periods, depression, weight gain)
One doctors advice to me was to 'imagine I am in a field of flowers as I try to sleep and smell the roses' as a way of falling asleep and getting a 'good nights sleep' That was the last time for years I went to the doctors with the problem.
I then started suffering really bad depression symptoms and had to go to the doctors again where I got the most amazing doctor who looked at my file, my current symptoms and put a blood test forward for everything he could think of. My blood came back 'normal' for my thyroid, but he advised me that it was at the low end of a scale that has quite a wide range of normal!
For that reason he put me on 50mg thyroxine and a few months later he upped it to 75mg as he felt I was still to low on the 'normal' scale.
I have been on 75mg since and still suffer symptoms occassionally, however I understand this is something that unfortunately I have to live with as I am on the medication and dose I require and the symptoms will never fully disappear. I still have cold hands and feet all the time, suffer irregular periods, have weeks where I do nothing but sleep, and get depressed and cry for no reason. On the plus side, these occur allot less than before and the 3 stone weight gain has been worked off, although it is still a job to keep it off, especially on low energy days.
To anyone still awaiting a diagnosis, hang in there and get a second opinion. I hope that it all works out x

Mum from Somerset said on 06 February 2011

I’ve recently been diagnosed with under active thyroid. I’ve got all the expected symptoms, but on top of that I’ve been having problems with my eyes.

Anyone else getting probs with their eyes? It’s hard to describe but suddenly my right eye starts to shade over then returns back to normal. It make me feel a bit disorientated for a brief moment.

rockyhorror said on 02 February 2011

i've been experiencing the very debilitating symptons of this for about 4 years (i'm almost 20 now), and have a strong family history of it too. i've been to the doctor's repeatedly but just been fobbed off because my 'weight issues' - i was 11 stone when i first went, which was only half a stone overweight for my height, and now after no help whatsoever i am 16 stone. i can't help but feel horribly objectified every time i go; how can i go to the gym when some days i can barely make it to classes? i understand that things like headaches and chronic exhaustion and fainting etc can be related to other illness, but all they did was mri for tumours and check for diabetes (because at 7 pounds overweight i was clearly just fat and lazy, not ill). my question is, how can i get my doctors to take me seriously? they point blank refuse to perform any diagnostic tests. my gp suggested i was exaggerating my symptoms due to depression and put me on prozac, but after 6 months and no difference except from added nausea i came off of it. reading these stories i feel very pessimistic about it all, i can't believe how many of you have been ignored too!

KiwiChic said on 01 February 2011

I was diagnosed with this almost 2 years ago now, it's awful Im 'still' tired and I have to have a 'Nana Nap' in the afternoon. I assumed the Levothyroxine tablets would be a wonder drug......nope it is not, I feel exactly the same as I did in the beginning ie as in the way of being tired and the lack of energy by late afternoon, even though I do have a good nights sleep. Like others on here, I too thought I had early dimensia or I was drinking too much alcohol and my brain cells in the memory dept were depleting! as I can not remember things and especially certain 'words' I find frustrating to remember when I'm talking at work and this has left me feeling, like I sound uneducated. I have an increase in weight which I cant get rid of, however on a plus side its nice to have a normal body temperature again no lower back pain.

Half pint said on 29 January 2011

Hi - can anyone help, i do have these symptoms which sound like an underactive thyroid -

Dry skin, pins & needles in my palms and lower legs, weight gain that no matter what i do i can't get rid of (annoying me now!!), irregular menstrual cycle, feeling the cold more than most, skin complaint restricted to one area

But i do not have the following, which I have read are major symptoms - depression. hair complaints, fatigue or lethargy, muscle ache.

I realise a doctors appointment should be the next step, but I wondered if anyone on here could help as my main symptoms seem to differ from most people!!
Although they are within the symptom 'list'!

Thanks

lauraanne said on 26 January 2011

I am 17 and i was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid 3 months ago.
I was suffering from really bad migranes for a few weeks and after blood tests revealed i had a TSH of 66.4 i was put onto 50mcg of thyroxine, I was signed off of work for 4 weeks whilst i managed to recover and gain energy i hadn't had in a while.
Unfortunately i still feel the effects of having hpothyroidism, many people just think you can take a tablet and you are cured, this is not the case, i often feel extremely tired, have gained weight that i orginally lost years ago, cold hands and feet etc. Many do not realise that thryroidism affects people on a daily basis.
Information pages such as this have helped me gain a greater insight into hyprothyroidism and it is comforting to find that it's not just me as a newly diagnosed person that finds it a struggle day to day with the constant feeling of tiredness etc.

borriss said on 24 January 2011

iv had a under active thyroid for 15yrs and its been a nightmare! im on 175 thyroxine and was told last wk at the doctors the level that my thyroid is at 3 and mine was 26,i feel and look like absolute rubbish to put it bluntley! iv got alsorts of problems going on which im hoping is down to this level,then i no im not going insane! blood presure was 160/110 im 42 and feel like im 82,im currently of work as i just cant cope! roll on friday when im booked in again to try and sort the problem... i wish you all well

tiredteacher said on 21 January 2011

I have been totally wiped out for over a year but the last 4 months have been simply awful. Yesterday I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and given a prescription for 50mcg levothyroxine and told to have another blood test in 9 weeks followed by GP apppointment the week after.
I have been off work for 3 weeks and have another sick note to cover me next week with the assumption that I'll be back to normal after that. Am I right to be sceptical about this? I only ask because I attempted to return to work on Monday of this week and the effort has had be bedridden with fatigue since.
On four ocassions in the last week I have had near fainting episodes and an almost permanent dizziness. My sleep is totally wrecked, varying from complete insomnia to sleeping for 18 hours straight.
Don't get me wrong, I am desperate to get back to work as I am going more than a little stir crazy being at home. However, I do not want to risk a repeat of Monday's disasterous effort which would not only have a negative impact on my health, but would mess work around. If my brain would work I would feel better about the whole thing, but concentration is a rare bonus these days. Even following a conversation requires more energy than I have to spare.
Any advice would be appreciated.

sarah154 said on 08 January 2011

This site is amazing, i have found it so hard to find real stories of people who have an underactive thyrios. it is hard for people to understand how having an underactive thriod controls my life. alot of the information i have found through your stories has helped me, people i talk to about having an underactive thyriod think i am making most of it up which is disappointing. i went to many doctors about my health problems before i found my doctor now who understand it a little. if you think you have a underactive thyroid make sure you get tested because the long term effects of not being on medication for it can be devasting. for me i am an emotional wreck most of the time and even though thyroxine helps it makes me feel sick too.

250 said on 08 December 2010

Hi I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid 9 years ago. I also at the same time collapsed with glandular fever.
I have the symptoms of weight gain, irregular periods, lack of concentration, tiredness always being cold, memory loss slurring of words unable to think of the required word.and irratable.
I am currently on 250mg and still feel awful.
4 years ago when my child was 1 1/2 I began to feel that my thyroid needed to have a higher dose. i went and had 3 tests all came back normal. To my horror 1 year on I was informed by my GP after becoming tearful as I felt I was either cracking up or had post natal depression that my blood tests had not been tested for thyroid function. on having the correct test done it was apparent my medication indeed needed increasing. My relationship crumbled and finally ended when I found out he had been having an affair. When he accused me for exaggerating my illness and in fact I am Lazy!!! That was it for me he had to go and I needed to concentrate on having and trying to have calm intervals and sleep if needed throughout the day. I do sometimes feel I have been robbed of having energy to play with my fun filled 5 year old.
It does not help when family members are not sympathetic and often tell me we all get tired!!!
I cant afford gym fees being a single part time working mother. i do walk as much as i can which spurs some boost of energy.
I have good weeeks and bad weeks but now know I'm not lazy and certainaly don't exaggerate.

quantumcelt said on 22 November 2010

I hate to get people down about this , especially if you've just been diagnosed. However the comment on this page that hypothyroidism isn't serious and popping a few pills will fix you right up is typical of the unhelpful attitude you will face in the nhs. My symptoms from day one have had a severely disabling effect on myself , my family and my life in general. I have constant chronic fatigue , falling asleep mid conversation with people! . Suffering what's called brain fog , lack of ability to concentrate, loosing track of conversations, extremely poor short term and long term memory, slurred speech and depression. Along with physical symptoms such as weight gain, fluid retention, hair loss. I am a middle aged male who was diagnosed 2 years ago and am at present on 275 mcg of levothyroxine a day , my tsh levels have never reached recommended levels , 9.4 being the lowest. Endocrinologist however will not increase dosage as he says the side effects of a larger dose would be worse than the symptoms I experience now! Gp defers to the endocrinologist. I appreciate there are people suffering more serious illness's than hypothyroidism but feeling this terrible every day is pushing me to the brink!

galish said on 15 November 2010

I have had a thyroid condition for 10 yrs. I am now 54. I was initially diagnosed with Graves Disease (overactive thyroid) My T4 was over 50(normal is 12-23)My TSH was 0. I was obviously very ill and following an unsuccessful thyroidectomy I underwent radioactive iodine treatment which consequently left me with an underactive thyroid
(T4 4.0 and TSH 11.0) I have experienced the extremes of being both over and under active in my thyroid condition. I am a registered nurse and I have a good understanding of my condition. I would recommend to anyone suffering from a thyroid condition to seek out as much information you can, this site is a good start. Also when you go for your blood test ask your GP to look at your T4 level not just your TSH. in my experience when my T4 is between 15-20 I feel well. Either side of these levels I don't. My TSH has always been pretty normal if my T4 level is monitored this way. Hope this is helpful

nikita100 said on 10 November 2010

There seems to be a difference of opinion as to what doctors believe to be a normal level of TSH. I have read that in the U.S.A. a level of above 3.0 is considered to be classed as an underactive thyroid. Where in the U.K. some say 5.0. As my levels are changeable I am tested every six months. I was getting all the usual symptoms but was told I was borderline , at 4.6, and to leave my medication at 75mg. It was only when I explained how ill I was feeling.and I asked for my dose to be increased, it was put up to 75mg one day and 100mg the next. It doesn't seem much difference but I am hoping it will help me to feel better. I also feel the doctors do not realise how awful it is to feel weak and tired all the time, with no energy. I think the main thing is if we feel ill, the doctors should listen to us. I also read that one person can feel dreadful on a reading of 4.0 and only feel better at 2.0, so each person is different and this should be taken into account when looking at the blood results.

Lynbeverley said on 05 November 2010

I was diagnosed with under active thyriod just over 2 years ago. I haven't felt well since, i have really bad muscle pains, no energy, lethergic, and basically have no up and go at all. I also can not lose the weight. Is there anything i can do?

terrinic said on 03 November 2010

I have had an underactive thyroid for nearly two year's and I am taking 75mc of thyroxine, my doctor has been really good and gave me tablets to help with my weight gain,which did'nt help much. I have now got bags under my eyebags,at the top of my cheek's and wondered if this was a symptom of my condition or of the medication i'm taking as it is driving me mad, any thoughts on this?
Thanks

payne6661 said on 29 October 2010

I've just found out that I'm Hypothyroid, and well to be honest I have a lot of questions and well my doctor wasn't the least interested. I've had these symptoms for time and well I've only just decided to get tested.

First of all the main question...
I've been given a doseage to start me off and for the first week I take 1 a day, 2nd week 2 a day, 3rd week 3 a day and then the 4th week 4 a day, when it gets to the point where I have to take 2 a day, 3 a day and 4 a day, does it matter if I take these all at once or am I supposed to spread them out throughout the day?

Jennyfizzle said on 21 October 2010

I too have recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. Part of me is relieved that I now know what has been going for potentially years. All the symptoms I have, weight gain, irregular and now absent (for 16 months) periods, struggling to cencentrate, chronic tiredness and always being cold have been present. I genuinely believed the Doctor when I was first prescribed thyroxine that I would "feel better and the weight would start to come off" after 1 month I do not fell remotley better and to be honest have put weight on. The weight is the biggest issue for me. Before work and studying commitments ate up my free time I frequently visited the gym and had a fairly balanced diet but still never managed to lose the full amount of weight I wanted. I also noticed that if I missed a few sessions the weight would creep on suspiciously fast. Was this becasue of the Hypothyroidism? Who knows. I understand that time, trial and error is the only method to get the correct dosage but having read the testimonies of other people I feel I may not get the end result I hope for. I most certainly agree with other comments about the Doctor treating you as though you are some sort of hypochondriac.

loulou282 said on 13 October 2010

ive had an underactive thyroid for about 10 years,it was over active at first and i had radioactive iodine treatment which made it go underactive. I have been on 150mg thyroxine for 9 years and still get symptoms which are hard to live with,tiredness and depression and cant be bothered attitude,i feel worse the run up to my peroid and i aslo have reactive arthritis which i get now and again. hope this information helps.

Razkaz said on 16 September 2010

The dose of my thyoxine has been reduced twice in the last two years due to me getting several ectopic (extra) heartbeats a minute. They said I was on too much. Each time it was reduced I put on half a stone. I had to eat hardly anything to stop more weight going on. They still say I am on too much. I am constantly tired, no, some days its exhausted, and struggling to keep the weight stable. I have to see the doc at the end of the month about the result of my blood test a couple of weeks ago, I guess that means its still too high. I think I may have ME so if my doc is her usual useless self I'm going to see someone else. Can I just say a lot of you sound quite knowledgable about it but still get your doses wrong. Thyroxine is not given out in doses of mg (milligrams), its given out in doses of mcg (micrograms).

Moira Gillespie said on 02 September 2010

Check out www.thyroiduk.org. Good advice on blood tests, treatments including Armour or other natural thyroid (made from pigs' thyroids) which some people find far better then synthetic thyroid preparations.

New Uk "guidelines" saying there is no need to treat people with hypothyroid symptoms unless their TSH is over 10 are outrageous. Good research says people with hypothyroid symptoms and TSH over 2 need treatment. Change GP till you find a good one who will listen. Take your body temperature in the morning every day for a week before you get out of bed and tell the doctor the readings; list all your physical and mental symptoms before you go to the GP and read the 2 websites mentioned in this email for information. Knowledge is power...good luck.

www.thyromind.info gives information and inspiration regarding the mental health aspects of thyroid disease. Yes thyroid disease can make you depressed or anxious or make you have visual hallucinations. The great news is that once the thyroid disease is being treated properly the mental symptoms should go. Wonderful news.

Love and light xxx

coachwise said on 27 August 2010

As I understand it an underactive thyroid means the liver cannot assimilate cholesterol properly leading to the furring-up of arteries. I had an underactive thyroid for years undiagnosed(they thought it was M.E. )and had to have 3 stents put in my coronary arteries.
Could tiredness be a symptom of lack of blood supply to the heart?

Caffb said on 25 August 2010

Hi, I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid 4 yrs ago after various trips to the doctors and as I had just had my youngest, I was being told i was suffering with post natal depression. I knew there was more to it than that and eventually asked for blood tests. Then I was diagnosed and given 150mg of thyroxine. 4 years later and yearly checks I remain on the same dosage but feel awful again. I wish they had home kits like they do for glucose and cholestorol, as some days I feel worse than others. My hair is starting to fall out again, I have no energy or ethusiasm for anything, my body is aching and I want to sleep all the time. My husband says I should go bad to the doctor but I just feel as if im wasting their time. I'm on anti depressants but I think this is related to my thyroid. People don't realise how much it affects you. It is comforting to read all your comments on hear to know I'm not going mad!

lindbows said on 24 August 2010

I have been taking thyroxine for about 10 years and have been stable for about 4 or 5 at 100mg. Lately I felt quite low and put it down to stress at work. This week I have been suffering with a stiff neck too. Any connection anyone think?

clairefranc said on 16 August 2010

I was diagnosed with an underactive thryroid 5 years ago. I was in hospital for another problem and it came up in blood tests that my thryoid levels were borderline. I hadn't realised that I had a problem - I was always tired, but thought that was due to working hard and life generally, and had put on a bit of weight, but assumed that was due to getting older. I was fortunate in being treated at a private hospital where they had the time to look at things in more detail. It was suggested that I came back once I'd recovered from my operation and have more tests on my thyroid. I had a whole day of tests and the consultant, who had thought it was a borderline case, admitted to being shocked at the severity of the problem. He said my pituitary gland had been compensating for my thyroid, which is why the levels only looked borderline, but in fact I had a chronic case. I am now on 100 mg of levothryoxine and 10 mg of lyothyronine per day. I hope this helps anyone who is borderline - your body may be trying to compensate itself but you may have a bigger problem than initial blood test suggest. My problem now is, though not overweight, I'd like to lose a few pounds. However hard I try [and I'm not cheating, honest], my weight stays exactly the same. I'm going to go to the doctor's about it as I'm sure it's something to do with the thyroid condition and it's so depressing! Anyone else had the same problems?

pink armadillo said on 15 August 2010

i was diagnosed as having an underactive thyroid over a year ago now. i have been on 100 mg for well over 6 months, my gp told me that my blood tests showed that my levels were spot on at this dosage and i havent been offered a repeat blood test since, with repeat prescriptions being issued for 3 months supply at a time on at least the last 3 occasions although probably more likely the last year at least. Do they have to offer you repeat blood tests to check levels or do i have to request it? the reason that i ask is that i am still suffering from irregular /heavy periods, tiredness, i have suffered from swollen ankles which disappeared upon taking levothyroxine. only to be replaced by swollen/very stiff knees , so sore that i could not kneel on them. i went to my gp about this and they said to self refer for physio as it was unlikely to be linked to thyroid problem. I am the only earner in my household and do not have the time to attend physio sessions regularly enough to be of benefit. i am currently suffering from swollen fingers and very stiff joints in my fingers, in the mornings upon waking i cannot form a fist as they are so achy and "tight".I still have very low energy levels and i am wondering wether i should go back to my gp and insist on a blood test or wether to go for a second opinion instead. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms with an underactive thyroid?

staceyrobbo1234 said on 15 August 2010

my baby is 6 weeks old and was diagnosed with underactive thyroid 4 weeks ago he got put on 50mg of levothyroxine and had bad reactions to it but he has been moved to 25mg and is still haveing these roblems as he has severe rash on his face neck and back and is gradually spreding also he has hot flushes and his heartbeat is going faster but when i take him to alder hey they dismiss it but it is now going worse so i rang them up and there is noone there today that can see to him i dont think he needed them to startwith as he was perfectly fine now he is soo restless and agitated all of the time i suffer with low hormone and hope it wasnt just this case with him too and they have given him this by accident plz can somebody help me.

maighread said on 13 August 2010

My TSH Level is 11.76 but my doctor has told me that there is no need for medication. He took my body weight which is one and a half stone overweight and says that this is usual at my age 53. My mother had hypothyroidism. I complained of cramps and freezing cold legs, he advised me to put moisturiser on them. He said edema was due to change of weather What do I do now?. Suffering from memory loss (studying degree) concentration fatigue and just about every symptom.

mummy of two said on 09 August 2010

I was diagnised with underactive thyroid in march this year.
I went to my GP about four times before they offered me a blood test to check my thyroid levels. I just had or second baby last year in June and I started to feel different in December, I have been to the doctors with depression I was told i am jsut tired as i just had the baby, then i started to put on weight, loosing my hair, felt freezing cold all the time, been very emotional. I have been on the tyroxine tablets since March, but I feel different again the last couple of week i have been feeling low, very cold, emotional, now it got to the point that my marriage is on the line, my hubby cant put up with my mood swings, I dont know what to do. been back to the docs, but i have to wait for my six weeks since the last blood test, but it is just been very hard, can some one please give me any advise? Did your condition effected your marriage?
please help. many thanks.

Portiamaire said on 04 August 2010

Hi
I have booked into the doctors for this afternoon out of desperation, I am so tired and nearly cried when I had to get up for work yesterday. I first went to the doctors 2 months ago with pain at the top of my legs which I still have, the best way to describe it is bone ache. They did a blood test and they spotted my thyroid levels was just slightly out of range. I went back again to the doctors and was informed that I had to wait 3 months for another test. I have waited 2 months since my blood test but cannot wait anymore. My back aches all over, my stomache is bloated and my bones in my legs ache. Worst of all is my lack of focus and concerntration at work. I have lost all interest in everything. All I do is go to work come home and I am usually in bed by 8.30. My eyes sting so much if I try and stay awake. So I am back off to the doctors this afternoon to plead for further help. I have never been a poorly person and have rarely visited the doctors. I feel that I am putting them out by going back again, and really do not know what to say to her when I go. All I know is that I feel different to how I used to feel, and I know the difference between feeling well and unwell. Does anyone have any advise. I am working and taking split days off, which I can do and all I can think about is my next day off.

Totters said on 25 July 2010

ettyking, insist on a blood test to see if it is a thyroid problem. My friend has similar symptoms with ME. If it is your thyroid try the book I recommended on 5th July.

ettyking said on 22 July 2010

Hi,
I am really desperate,I have been gradually getting worse and believe i may have an underactive thyroid,I have so many of the symptoms,The worst of all of them being the tiredness,I spend most of my day in bed every day,I get up and within the hour have to go back to bed again until lunch,force myself to shower and dress and sit down exhausted,i sleep again mid afternoon and wake again for tea,then again feel exhausted by 7/8pm again,i am constantly struggling to keep awake!!,I have musle aches and pains all over and am always cold,i feel weak,have terrible depression,gained 3 stone in the last year,and have suffered very heavy prolonged periods for a very long time now,I am so down you would not believe,I do not feel i am living at all just existing and im really desperate for help!!,All i get from my GP is that im Depressed,nothing else,I cannot go on like this and wonder if anyone else has had trouble trying to get a diagnosis?? I do feel I have something medically wrong with me,I feel so ill every day,this is destroying me now.Any info advice would be so very welcome! Thankyou :) x

shejay said on 16 July 2010

I have recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, only went to Dr's because of painful joints, ad-hoc aches & pains and leg cramps (assumed at 57 I was becoming arthritic). Been taking levothyroxin now for 4 weeks and now have other symtoms that were not apparent at the time eg; sensitive neck, burning sensation at the back of throat. shortness of breath, feeling very low and depressed and still have original symtoms to boot. However been back to surgery saw the practise nurse (who was more informative than Dr) now have to have ECG and blood levels checked next week as opposed to having a blood tests only after 8 weeks as instructed by GP - can only assume that there is no standard procedure for treatment following diagnosis within the NHS - let alone the same surgery! Anyone else had conflicting problems with procedure's or is this the norm? Keep you posted - the NHS is a whole new ball game for me!

marybeth said on 13 July 2010

What a relief to read these comments. I was diagnosed 7 years ago. GP tells me thyroid levels are towards top end of scale but I feel rubbish. Worst part is depression. My sister also has hypothyroidism. We have completely different 'advice' from our respective GPs. How can that be right? This disease is too easily dismissed as 'not serious'. The effect on my life has been shocking. Worst thing is Doc not believing me. I wish someone clever in the medical world could come up with a way of daily testing and regulating dose to suit.

Totters said on 05 July 2010

Excellent book for hypo & hyper thyroid sufferers -
"Thyroid Problems" by Patsy Westcott, published by Thorsons Health (an imprint of Harper/Collins. Patsy Westcott is a medical journalist. I bought the book several years ago & it helped tremendously. I've leant it to numerous friends with the problem & they've all found it helpful.
It's written for women but I think men would find it helpful too. It outlines the symptoms (& there are many as the thyroid hormones act within almost every tissue of the body), & talks about treatment. Basically, as I read it I just started to understand all the strange things that had been happening to me for years.

Totters said on 05 July 2010

I've always been susceptible to cramp, but it became excruciating a few years ago, from my feet right up through the inner thigh. I hadn't associated this with thyroxine but it could well be the cause. My doctor prescribed quinine tablets, & this keeps it at bay.

sothatsit said on 04 July 2010

Has anyone out there had adverse reactions to levoythyroxine?
I was started on a 50mg dose and within 4 weeks was virtually crippled with worse muscle cramping than I ever suffered as one of the original symptoms. I felt as if every muscle and tendon in my lower legs had been torn. Having been a very active dance teacher for 26 years this whole aches, pains and tiredness thing is devastating.
After another blood test I've been temporarily taken off the drug (3 weeks now) and am due to go back to the docs in a few days.
Meanwhile the original symptoms ie tiredness, lack of concentration, aches etc which I felt had begun to improve while on levothyroxine, have returned while the severe cramping has subsided.

cascott63 said on 03 July 2010

Hi Everybody, glad I found this page. Ive been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid 6 weeks ago. My symptoms are strange. I stopped smoking in December (had mini strokes) and joined swimming club so as not to gain weight. Lost almost 2 stones. Symptoms were, I was really low, crying all the time, couldnt sleep, thought I was going mad. Took me quite a few appointments before I got blood test. Told it was depression on numerous occasions. Finally found out. Now though after 6 weeks of meds getting the same way. Have had terrible weeks or so. Very emotional, dizzy, blood pumping in my ears, headache. Not to have next blood test until 2st July, but going bak Monday. Feel I;m going nuts and nobody to share it with. Anybody out there can talk to me.

Diarmuid said on 23 June 2010

I am wondering what the side effects of taking hypothyroxine are? I began with 25mcg, 12 months ago, then 50 and this week have been upped to 75. However I do already have an autoimmune condition which I manage quite well. Is medication for arthritis contraindicated when taking hypothyroxine? Am I on a down-hill slide here? Any advice anyone please.
Diarmuid

sumat810 said on 20 June 2010

I'm 54 and have been on medication for underactive thyroid for about 8 years.I started on 25mg of thyroxine I now have to take 200mg of thyroxine per day. I have found that halving carbohydrates is very beneficial to losing the weight.
Also get the book "The Great Thyroid Scandal and How to Survive it". Please read it, it's full of really practical help.
You may be able to get it from Amazon.co uk. Or you could try your local library.
There is another book which might be a bit more difficult to get, I think it's called "Crying behind closed doors" I have not yet been able to get this book but have heard that it's about a woman who ended up almost, or partially disabled because she could not get her doctor to believe that there was something wrong with her. I hope this information helps. Good luck to you all, from Sue.

paul69 said on 18 June 2010

I have been suffering with tiredness for over 15 years now, together with increasing weight, depression, anxiety and muscle and bone pain - doctors didnt seem to be able to diagnose anything. Then by chance my new doctor spotted that my Blood tests showed high tsh and suggested possible Underactive thyroid - I then discovered that some of my family also had the same ...and never mentioned it! So now I am on 50mgs of thyroxine ( although i sometimes take 2!!) and already after 3 weeks the changes are massive - I cannt believe that its taken so long to be resolved - I guess the internet helps gain knowledge. I am male and had TSH level of 7.3 which my doc thought was just borderline - I now understand that anything over 5 should be treated. I'll let you know how it proceeds - dont hesitate to get a blood test - dont wait like i have had to do. Thanks

Jobah said on 13 June 2010

If you don't feel well and have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism and your GP insists you test results are normal get a second opinion and insist on being referred to the endocrinology clinic. I was dismissed for years until I became very ill before my doctor referred me to the diagnostic clinic and eventually diagnosed with borderline hypothyroidism and put on 50mg and referred back to my GP but I was gradually very poorly again to the point where I felt i was dying. I had all the typical symptoms of having hypothyroidism and was not living a normal life. I asked to be referred back to the endocrinolgy clinic when my doctor insisted my results were normal and he refused to refer me but I knew I was ill. I got a second opinion and this doctor referred me. I was found to have adrenal fatigue, I was menopausal (which the doctor said I was too young to be at the level I was at) my autoimmune system was poor and showing a reaction to hypothyroidism and my T4 levels were low. I have been on 100mg now for 6 months and I feel like I am waking up for the first time in years. I still get tired and I have to pace myself. I no longer have a swollen belly. my periods have returned and I feel more alert. Hopefully i can start to lose the weight and maybe my depression will go. people are commenting on how well I look - people were always telling me to sit down before and told me I looked ill - why didn't the doctor see it. I feel like myself again and I pray I return completely to me. I can't get my lost years back. if you feel ill and genuinely feel something is wrong but you can't get the doctor to listen. get a second opinion and keep on until they find the answer. I wish I'd been more assertive instead of so trusting. I thought I was going mad, I could kick myself now. I have to stay positive and continue to get better for my kids sake.

paulx2pjw said on 03 June 2010

I was diagnosed three weeks ago as hypo and i would like to ask other sufferers if they experienced a hot almost burning sensation in their throat along with a dull pain in the upper chest and shortness of breath after even the smallest of exercise. I don,t know if its connected but as a previously healthy 46 year old it worries me a little. i am so far on an initial dose of 25mg and am due to have another blood test in a month or so.i woul appreciate any info on what to expect in the future. I thought at first i was gonna have a heart attack but due to my previous fitness my gp was excellent and ordered a full set of blood tests one of which showed up as hypo.

krist said on 01 June 2010

This message is for TIGGER48 & everybody else too.

Hypothyroidism is a DISABILITY and you are covered under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Tell you employers and put it in writing. You cannot be fired and must be helped with work and adjustments made to improve your working conditions etc...

Its classed as a Disability because:

A Disability is defined by how the condition effect the person without medication.

It is a lifelong condition which you will need to take medication for the rest of your life.

Hope this information helps you all, i was never made aware of this by doctors or anybody and i nearly got fired untill i told them in writing its a disabilty.

SPO said on 26 May 2010

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid 2 months ago. I had been suffering with irregular periods for over a year and had been down lots of routes to finding out why with no answers for a long time. Then I had a blood test which found the underactive thyroid and unbeknown to me I had a lot of the symptoms but just didn't realise that they were symtpoms for an underactive thyroid!

I have put on weight and dispute taking thyroxine for 2 months I cannot loose a pound! I am 27 and exercise at least 3 time a week. My stomach is constantly bloated and swollen and it is getting me down. Drs say it can take 3 to 6 months for the thyroxine to kick in. I haven't had a period now for 7 months but I'm definitely not pregnant!!!

Can anyone offer any advice/help?

I have also read that thyroid disease can be linked with coeliacs disease and am now worrying I may have this too.

borolad46 said on 18 May 2010

i haved just recently been diagnosed by my gp with under-active thyroid,quite a surprise to me because im normally fit and healthy,but i developed an ache in my left arm which i had for 2weeks,but it was when i went to thye doctor with ringting in my ears i jusrt happen to mention my arm,blood test showed under active thyroid,could the ringing in my ears be linked? also my bones ache and muscles is this normal? i have just started levothyroxine....hopefully when medication starts to work these problems should be eased,i would welcome any comments..

jadesnana said on 03 May 2010

Having just been diagnosed with this 3weeks ago, I now realise why my life has been so hard for the last 2 to 3 years! While trying to study for a university degree I have found some of the work very hard and there have been times when I have fallen behind. I am now having to repeat the last 2 years!!! as I already had an underlying back problem the doctors put everything down to that and my age (early 50's). all things considered I think i have done great being able to stop smoking. I just hope they get my levels right soon as my health seems to be deterioating daily now and I'm on 75mg of thyroxine. Seeing doctor again this week so wish me luck. if you are feeling unwell don't let the doctors fob you off, I did and I'm now paying the cost!!!!!!

tigger48 said on 09 April 2010

For quite a few years i had been feeling lethargic. suffered depression , had memory loss amongst other things including putting on weight. It started off with being off work for a while with vertigo, I went back to work only to find that i was falling asleep. My Drs thought it was one thing then another. It was the practise nurse who suggested a blood test due to the facts of swollen ankles falling asleep a the wheel etc. thats when it was discovered that i had underactive thyroid.
Until i watched This Morning programme i found that my memory loss and concentration are part and parcel of this. at work i have had warnings and have nearly lost my job and my job is now on the line again.
I thought i was going mad, thought i had the starting of dementia, my mind was going overtime. Now I Know I am NOT Mad thank you This morning.

mickk44 said on 06 April 2010

I have felt tired for a few years now and it's getting worse.
I also have joint and muscle pains, mainly in my chest and back.
Every week or so my facial skin especially around the nose and eye brows dry and fall off in flakes, horrid looking.
I have put on 2 stones in weight also.
I have been for two blood tests and have returned "normal"
After reading this page i am sure i have the sub clinical hypothyroidism, where the t4 is low in my case but not to the test for all.
I have made an appointment to see my gp armed with this in a few days.
I will keep you updated.

sperky said on 07 February 2010

I am 27 and have been feeling exhausted for so long and have tried to tell the doctor and like so many people they don`t seem that bothered. It was on a routine eye appt that he mentioned that I should get my thyroid checked and asked if i was very tired . Am yet to make the appt but am feeling worried about what they mite find i hope it will be something that can be treated and i will start to feel better soon.

chloe1998 said on 12 November 2009

check out www.thyroiduk.org.uk - which explains why blood tests can be unreliable

hannah0066 said on 07 November 2009

I have recently been experiencing extreme fatigue and low blood pressure (89/41), as well as pain in my joints and feeling cold. My doctor ordered a thyroid test which came back normal. However, I am on Depo Proevra and have heard that this can affect the result of a thyroid test. Is it worth mentioning this to my doctor? I didnt mention it to the nurse when she took my blood as I didn't reliase it may make a difference. Thanks

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