Thyroid

[crankypants13]

Has anyone tried or discussed Armour with their doctor? I’m on Levo for almost five years now and don’t find it’s helping all that much. With small kids it’s difficult feeling so low all the time.

 

[lexle]

It will be 4 years in September, they wouldn’t start me on levothyroxine until summer 2020 even though my symptoms had been setting in slowly since I had the op in 2018.
They agreed to start me off on 25mcg which helped initially but I soon started to fall back, so they upped it to 50mcg summer last year. My TSH level is currently 2.2 but my symptoms are as bad as they’ve ever been, it was 20 degrees here in the last week and I was absolutely freezing cold, it’s bizarre.
I suppose finding a good doctor that will listen is half the battle won isnt it.
I’ve even thought about going privately to see a specialist doctor, how long has it been since you had yours removed? Do you feel better since being on a higher dose?

I had exactly the same when I was on too low of a dose, so cold all of the time and I was extremely tired even if I’d slept well. I don’t have any symptoms at all now and haven’t for years. I can’t remember how long I’ve been on the higher dose but my op was 8 years ago and I’d guess within a year or two of it I was on 100mcg. Are you still under the hospital? I go once a year to see the consultant and I see my GP in-between, so I have my bloods checked every 6 months

 

[Beth1980]

I have not seen that as a range, TSH is normal up to about 5 anf FT 4 anywhere from 7 up to early 20's.
I have just had a battle on to get an increase of medication as I was 'in range' but going off Thyroid UK I am totally at wrong end for both GP tried to say it could be perimenopause.
Have you had an antibody test? Good luck with everything.

 

[hettywainthroppp]

I’ve been told 2.5 is my maximum. I went to 2.4 once and my dose went to 150, but now back to 125 as then it went over

I meant to ask you about your levels, so me being 2.2 on the ‘normal scale’ is ok, but on the ‘under-active scale’ I’m coming to the limit.. My symptoms are always the same when my meds need increasing so my body sort of tells me
Did your doctor tell you to keep your level below 2.5?

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Does anyone get any bother with sudden hair loss? I’ve always shed quite a bit due to hypo but over the last few weeks it’s been quite extreme and to the point where my scalp is now visible in places it wasn’t before (mainly temples and around ears). I’m talking losing handfuls in the shower and when brushing/combing. It happened around 2 years ago as well and I never found the real reason it happened but after spending a small fortune on hair loss products and supplements it seemed to eventually stop.

I don’t even know if it’s caused by my hypothyroidism but I cannot think of another reason why it’s happening. I do know that it happened around the same time of year last time as it was just before Love Island started lol. It just sucks because my hair has always been an insecurity for me. It’s fine, curly, prone to breakage and grows incredibly slowly. Now that it’s even thinner due to the hair loss it’s even more prone to frizz and breakage and I constantly look like I’ve put my finger in a plug socket

My birthday is coming up soon and I’m aware how vain this sounds, but I feel like it’s put a total dampener on it as I’m going to be avoiding all pictures due to the current state of my hair. It’s a ‘big’ birthday too so I wanted to get memories to look back on but now I can’t think of anything worse.

I’ve been on levothyroxine for 15 years. My bloods are always somewhat ‘normal’ and tend to go between 75 micrograms and 100 micrograms depending on the results. It doesn’t make sense why this is happening.

I have balding on my temples now bloods came back ok so i dont know whats happening

 

[monga]

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.

I'm not too sure but it might be borderline ? it does no harm to get it rechecked as it can be hard to pick up in some people and can take numerous bloodtests to establish .

 

[lexle]

No I’m not, they haven’t seen me in endocrinology since I went back for the results post op. I have an annual blood check with my GP but they will check them sooner if I call. The coldness is such an issue, my partner laughs when I’ve got a blanket on and it’s warm. I’d have the central heating on 24/7 if I could afford too!


I read that if a thyroid condition is detected then TSH levels should be kept between 0.5-2, although I’m not sure how reliable that source was. My levels were at 4 before I began on Levo and I was barely functioning.
I think too much levothyroxine can cause more issues than not enough from what I’ve heard, it’s so hard to find the middle ground isn’t it.
How do you feel with your TSH level being so high?

I’ve been told 2.5 is my maximum. I went to 2.4 once and my dose went to 150, but now back to 125 as then it went over

 

[lexle]

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.

I have an underactive thyroid and my level needed to be below 2.5 during pregnancy. My dose was increased and now I’ve had my baby, my dose has gone back to my original one. Definitely speak to the doctor about it as thyroid plays havoc with everything! I didn’t realise how much until I researched it myself

 

[mcfeez]

Not had my results back yet, but overthinking and worrying Has anyone had their whole thyroid out but hasnt put on loads of weight once on medication? is there any way of feeling like you did before the surgery on the tablets or will you always have side effects?

What tablets have you been put on? Sorry, I havent had mine removed I only take the medication for underactive thyroid.

 

[knivesnflowers]

same for you too it's shit when there's a diagnosed reason for how you're feeling (thyroid) and they still explain it away with stress/weight/hormones as if it's not their job to still do something about those too! when first diagnosed i was sent to another trust and it was literally less than two weeks between bloods and appt - would love to know where that urgency has gone
---
double post but just remembered my lymphocytes were slightly high on my full blood count - 5.28 when upper limit is 4.00. surely this is the hashimoto's aspect of the hypo flaring too? will definitely be ringing now

update to this - rang tuesday and earliest phone call back was 10th november still took it though bc technically my bloods are in range so i doubt i'd get to speak to them in the meantime. got a text earlier asking me to make another appt, only thing on the system for the receptionist was my bloods so i'm hoping someone has joined the dots and has come up with an answer for me rather than having to convince them myself? fingers crossed

 

[knivesnflowers]

Got my latest results and my TSH has settled to within range apparently. It was 0.57 and now its 0.74 where their level started from 0.55 so it wasnt majorly out anyway (but T levels were ok?). She mentioned that it could be autoimmune thyroiditis? I feel like ive come away more confused

imo that sounds like hyperthyroidism? ik for me (with hashimoto's) the tsh is high and t4 is low so the signalling hormone works overtime to produce enough thyroxine, and if i'm reading it right yours is the opposite! p sure that would fall under graves disease or something similar where the body is attacking healthy cells.
disclaimer - not a doctor and i could v easily be wrong
also i think this site explains it better: https://www.healthline.com/health/subclinical-hyperthyroidism

 

[Milliemoo99]

I've noticed slight swelling in my ankles but nothing really bad! Getting through to the doctors is ridiculous isn't it. The other day I was number 33 in the queue at 8am! Mental.




Has anyone struggled to lose weight/put weight on thyroid related?

Yes, I find it difficult to lose weight and I am on thyroxine! I took part in a survey a couple of years ago, and almost all of us who contributed all agreed that it is a lot harder to lose weight if you are hypothyroid and on thyroxine.

The specialists disagreed and said that with the correct diet then there shouldnt be any difference!

So is it my age, or my ability to follow diets correctly......that makes it harder for me to lose weight? I did wonder if the fact that the thyroid regulates hormones, makes it harder to get the system working fast enough to digest food properly? But this is complicated by the fact that I am coeliac as well, and most coeliac foods are extremely sugar laden to make them palatable! I only lose weight, if I eat way less than the recommended daily allowances!

And I am at an age where my hair is thinning, but I do also remember when I was pregnant, that a side effect of pregnancy, alongside things like teeth issues, was hair loss. So again could be either causing it?

 

[Leahcar2019]

In your "odd things" I did notice my hair as well, mine got so dry and hard to manage and was coming out a lot more in the shower. If your test comes back borderline (my first tests did) be sure to stress your symptoms as they will medicate you if you are having symptoms and they suspect the meds will help.

Thanks - will do.

Hope your symptoms have settled down now.

 

[ChampagneBox]

Not had my results back yet, but overthinking and worrying Has anyone had their whole thyroid out but hasnt put on loads of weight once on medication? is there any way of feeling like you did before the surgery on the tablets or will you always have side effects?

 

[hettywainthroppp]

A little bit but my hair was always been quite dry and thinner prior to being diagnosed. If its quite dramatic and noticeable I'd speak with your doctor about checking your medication dose is right.



Weight was the primary symptom for me. I gained quite a lot despite no changes to lifestyle. It took a few years but I did manage to get it under control and took a good lot of the weight gain off. Its my opinion that even now medicated my body isn't the same as it was before i.e. its more difficult for me to take weight off now.

Hi, if you don’t mind me asking, How did you manage to get your weight back under control?
I’ve cut out junk food, only eat lean meat, fruits and vegetables and I’ve lost 5lb in two months. It’s soul destroying
Even with medication my body isn’t the same as it was before, I totally agree with you. My energy levels some days are non existent, other days absolutely full of energy.
I’ve got the legs of a 70 year old though, aching every night like I’ve run a marathon

 

[ChampagneBox]

What tablets have you been put on? Sorry, I havent had mine removed I only take the medication for underactive thyroid.

I’ve only had half removed so far so not on medication, but if it turns out to be cancer I’ll have the rest out then I will be. Probably overthinking things, just wondering if weight gain happens to everyone

 

[ChampagneBox]

So I’m just over 3 weeks post hemithyroiectomy, starting to feel a bit lethargic. Not sure if it’s because I’ve been out of routine for so long and just adjusting to getting back to work and stuff or if I should be asking for a blood test to check my levels? I also weigh myself weekly and every week since the op I’ve put on a few lbs, but again it might be because I’ve been eating a lot of shit food. Should I be contacting the specialist nurse or my GP if I’m worried? Nothings been said to me about a blood test since the op

 

[JellyWobbles]

Have any of you guys had myxedema?
I’m hypothyroid been about two years or so now, the pst few weeks my legs and feet have been swelling at first I thought ah it’s the heatwave it’ll pass but it’s got progressively worse. It’s not pitting. I know I need to see the doc shaepish fighting at 8am for an appointment isn’t an art I’ve conquered yet.

 

[knivesnflowers]

Is that the nhs app?
if I can’t figure it out myself I think il ask for a printout of my results.

i think it's a third party one but recommended by my gp. definitely ask though!

 

[mcfeez]

I’ve been looking for a thread like this for ages.

I had a blood test on Friday, and I suspect from my symptoms I have an underactive thyroid.

In December I was poorly with the virus that was going around, then in early January I was diagnosed with sinusitis.

I still haven’t got any energy, and I’m tired all the time. I wake up tired. I nap in the afternoons which I’ve never done, and go to bed early most nights.

In 2019 I lost 4 stone, but since then I’ve more or less put it all back on. It doesn’t matter how healthy I seem to eat, my weight doesn’t move.

I do feel the cold a lot, but I do also have periods of feeling hot and sweaty. Mostly in the mornings.

I have terrible brain fog, and my memory since Christmas has been really bad. I have no capacity at the moment to retain information, and I’ve made a few mistakes at work.

I’m on the pill so can’t comment on my periods, but I’ve always had heavy periods, and unfortunately issues with fertility too (I am 38 and childless).

I get pins and needles a lot - mostly in my hands and arms. I also get pain in the joints, but again mostly in my hands.

Other odd things:

- My hair since around October last year has become very luggy. I haven’t changed routine but it’s just so knotty all the time.
- In November my ring finger swelled up so bad I had to go to A&E and have my wedding ring cut off. They said it was as a result of trauma from knocking it, but I don’t remember doing that.
- Since October I have lost 4 toe nails - they have just come off - it’s not fungal as I went to the chiropodist who confirmed not.
- I get really bad acid, a lot.

Anyone else has any of the unusual symptoms and had underactive thyroid? I guess I’ll know for sure this week once my blood tests come back.

In your "odd things" I did notice my hair as well, mine got so dry and hard to manage and was coming out a lot more in the shower. If your test comes back borderline (my first tests did) be sure to stress your symptoms as they will medicate you if you are having symptoms and they suspect the meds will help.