Thyroid

[heresmycode10]

I have what I describe as “bricks on my chest” feeling when my levels go too low. It feels very heavy, and worse in the mornings. When my T4 has normalised, it stops. My levels have been fluctuating the last few months and that’s one of the key signs I look out for now.

 

[Sozhun]

Thanks for your reply. I’m annoyed that the receptionist essentially diagnosed her which I’m sure they’re not allowed to do so I’ll definitely be mentioning that when I see the doctor. She has lots of issues which is why we had the bloods so under active thyroid would explain 99.9% of them.

Thanks for settling my mind until we see the doctor

 

[willow.b]

Hoping someone with experience can help me here...
My partner and I have been struggling to conceive for a while and I've had this thought at the back of my mind about me possibly having an undractive thyroid. I had a blood test in 2020 and my serum TSH was 3.76. I don't really know what I'm looking for but I've read it should be under 2.5 in pregnancy. I'm going to contact my doctor anyway but is there a chance this is what's stopping me getting pregnant? I would say I have all the symptoms of an underactive thyroid.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

not sure if you mean thyroid issues in general or specifically postpartum (sorry if the latter bc that's not me) but yes! started flaring over lockdown, assumed it was with WFH for longer periods of time but saw a physio earlier this year who said it's likely a TFCC tear based on symptoms and physical assessment but no xray etc. i wear a wrist widget now fairly regularly and have seen a change in how much i 'notice' it tbh! also use an ergonomic mouse where your thumb points up and have got on well with that too

another q but honestly might be different based on what's causing the nodules - how often do you get an ultrasound? my first and only one was almost 7 years ago after being diagnosed, keep asking docs but can never get a straight answer

My wrist pain was specifically postpartum. It didn't happen at any other point it was overactive. Not that I remember anyway. I used wrist splints for a while.

I've had four, maybe five ultrasounds in total I think. Three before I had half removed and two on the remaining side after that. I vaguely remember discussions that there would be one annually under the Endo but because the my wind pipe had become deviated there was no choice but to operate at that point.

It's ENT I was under most recently (most recent scan was last year or maybe earlier this year, I've lost track of time a bit over the last two years). They've said I will definitely need the remaining half removing within a time frame of ten years but won't monitor me during that time. I just have to go back to the GP and be re-referred if I feel it's become problematic. It may well become overactive again but so far so good .

 

[bourb0nbiscuits]

Have they not checked your levels after your treatment to see how much they’ve fallen? Maybe they need to increase your dose?

Yes I had my levels checked a month ago , I hadn’t taken any meds since my treatment in April. When I had my bloods done they started me on levothyroxine 100mcg, got my next appointment in September & have to have bloods before that appointment.

 

[Vidyagaymes]

I Think it took a month or so for me to feel even a wee bit better. but I had very very high TSH so it took time for that to come down and for the dose to be regulated.

Definitely sounds like you should be medicated if it is still that high! Medicine has been amazing here genuinely feel like superwoman compared to before

 

[ChampagneBox]

Has anyone had radioactive iodine treatment? I’ve been hyper on & off for about 4 years , on & off carbimazole. I’d got it reduced to taking 5mg every other day & was hoping to be discharged at next appointment with endocrinology. In November I started feeling rough & thought I was peri menopausal but had a blood test last Monday & have been told to increase the carbimazole to 20mg a day & start propranolol too- and think about either RAI or surgery. I’ve always said I’d just carry on with the medication before but enoughs enough I’m having a permanent treatment this time.

I’ve just had RAI for thyroid cancer, but if you have any questions let me know!

 

[Linkylu]

So my blood results came back.
thyroid levels are fine.

I’m sat here crying in frustration as I was so sure it was my thyroid and that I was finally gonna get help for it!

So I’m supposed to just lose My hair in clumps, be freezing even in a warm environment, struggle to keep awake & feel low 24/7 for the rest of my life with no explanation.

ok
I don’t know how much longer I can take feeling like this

It’s true that the NHS “normal” range just often isn’t. Naturopaths often talk about this being the case. Also, you could get your blood count checked as pernicious anaemia (lack of vit B12) can wipe you out and make you feel really awful.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

one thing i'm surprised about with my hashimoto's is the lack of check ups for the nodules / goitre?? it's been five years since my first and only ultrasound but even when i've enquired about a follow up scan due to symptoms i've just been told they're not really a thing...

That doesn't sound promising for you receiving proper treatment. Did they mean not really a thing or not really a particular problem in Hashimoto's? If you're having issues with the nodules I'd definitely push for a second opinion (if you haven't already).

 

[ChampagneBox]

When some of you say your hair textures changed, what do you mean exactly? Because ever since April this year my previously wavy/curly hair for 26 years has started going straight? Some of the little hairs near my neck are still curly, but it doesn’t hold styling as well any more this is my only symptom, so not sure it is a thyroid thing or not, but when I google it thyroid problems do come up as a cause…

 

[Hairraiser]

View attachment 2561254It’s showing this as a normal T4 reading .
---

You seem to be just on the normal range so maybe that’s why you’re having symptoms.

I mentioned it again to my doctor when I had a medication review, and she wasn’t very reassuring.
Dreading going into the winter feeling like this.

 

[WhatABore]

Yeah I'm sure they mostly are. It just seems strange that my symptoms match up to hypothyroidism and the test came back as such. Thank you though. I will report back!

Of course I just thought I'd add that note. I'm not sure about things like the thyroid ect. But the food thing is not accurate at all.
I've done one in the past too and paid quite a bit for it and was actually told by several doctors that there isn't a way to tell food intolerances by hair. Or anything.
I did some research, even a simply Google and it all came up there

 

[bourb0nbiscuits]

Are they proposing a hemi or total thyroidectomy? I had a hemi because I was hyper due to a multinodular goiter that was also compressing my windpipe. My levels have been within range ever since apart from briefly creeping toward hyper after every Covid jab I had. It seems to have settled again now.

If it's a hemi they are suggesting then it might be worth considering surgery over RAI because you stand a greater chance of being medication free for a period of time (possibly a considerable length of time).

However, obviously our circumstances could be totally different so this might not be an option for you.

Ive managed to mess the quoting bit up so your post has ended up beneath my reply. Sorry, I presume you'll still get a notification.

I’m not sure what type of surgery it would be, my next appointment is in March. The idea of being medication free is very appealing. I’m thinking about recovery time afterwards too with surgery. I’m guessing with RAI it would be pretty straightforward?

 

[ChampagneBox]

Oh my gosh, sorry to hear that , how are you feeling?

Yeah fine! Slightly sore mouth a week on but apart from that it was fine

 

[idk2]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was quite young - I think I was 18 but it could have been when I was 16 as well.
I have always struggled gaining weight but even though I was eating in excess of 2000 cals a day, I was losing weight and as any parent would, my mum was worried and booked a blood test which showed my thyroid levels were out of whack. I also had a sensitivity to heat at the time and couldn't sleep in even a warm room as I felt like I was burning. Sometimes would feel very fatigued and weak but other than nothing. I was on some tablets for the better half a year and got retested and they had levelled out.

The sensitivity to heat has come back recently though but I'm not losing weight as I was before (not gaining either). I think I will need to book a blood test soon. Better safe than sorry. It does worry me that it has come back as I still cant wrap my head around what it is lol.

 

[monga]

First time poster-

does anyone suffer with any heart complications or symptoms as a result of their thyroid?

If you're hyperthyroid you'll likely suffer from palpatations .

 

[aggytha]

I don't think false positives happen really so it does sound like you had an existing autoimmune condition that has simply become symptomatic/presented now probably due to hormone changes etc due to the pregnancy.

I don't know that much about autoimmune thyroid conditions beyond what I read up on a few years ago but I'd imagine you will be closely monitored now. Also, if you feel unwell in the weeks or months following delivery then make sure you go back to the GP, don't just 'put up' with it.

I'm glad you have some answers and a clear plan in place for follow up etc. Hope you're feeling OK about it all and not too stressed out.

thank you so much! I have been told Endocrinology want to see me 6 weeks post birth so sounds like everything is in place!

They seem to be happy that my levels are okay and I don’t currently need medicating which is great, just want to make sure all the right things are done to check on the babies once they are born as I believe thyroid problems can pass over.

 

[mcfeez]

Sorry to jump in. My husband and I have started ttc and we are 3/4 months in, I track ovulation every month so we’ve been timing to that. I had a possible chemical pregnancy last month (very late period/faintly positive first response pregnancy test/period was a bit heavier than normal when it finally arrived.)

I noticed going through my file that my bloods that I had done last had my thyroid at 16.4 pmol free t4 and tsh 3.7 mu/l.

After reading up quite a bit recently, I see that my tsh should really be no more than 2.5 and I am wondering if this is linked to my missed miscarriage?

I saw an endocrinologist last week as I’ve been having symptoms including hair shed (no patches or anything but noticeable to me) flat mood, motivation on the floor alot, complete LACK of libido- I don’t struggle to orgasm but am never in the mood so to speak / never get horny, which is not helping ttc at all from my perspective.

My endo suspects I may have benefit from thyroxine but we are waiting for updated bloods to come back. What is it like as a drug to take? And how quickly does it act?

Everytime my GP discusses my bloods he mentions that if I want to/plan to get pregnant he would want to bring it below 3 (mine is currently around 5 but with no symptoms), so it sounds like your endo is right. It takes a while to start to feel better on thyroxine, several weeks. One time I was accidentally given too high a dose (pharmacist messed up!) I took for a few days without noticing and the doctor said it was fine as it would have had really no impact being taken for so little time if that gives you an idea.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

If it's really high it can feel like you're dying it's the worst feeling in the world

Honestly, i lost sense of where I was, i went tingly all over, horrid feeling of deja vu, i had to reasses where i was when the moment passed. It was like a blackout without fainting. So so horrible!!

 

[Cotton3112]

Yes , if it’s graves for example that usually goes away in pregnancy as do many autoimmune conditions , the medication they give isn’t readily available as it can damage the liver so they keep a good eye on people it’s usually only given in the first trimester anyway, surprised they haven’t told you what conditions causing it, hopefully you’ll settle down soon and be able to start your family

Ah okay!! That’s good to know thank you. When I got diagnosed the first time, I had Graves. But medication treated it and it went away. Be interesting to know if I have Graves this time around too. That’s very insightful, thank you!