Thyroid

[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.

 

[25ag]

Does anyone else suffer with sweating of the hands quite frequently? I’m pretty insecure about it and was wondering if there are any treatments or anything I can buy to help stop the excess?

 

[mgmhs]

It's such a minefield isn't it. I still have symptoms of an underactive Thyroid, I am on 100mg... sick to death of asking for bloods to be rechecked only for them to tell me that its borderline and to stick with the 100mg.

So sick of feeling low and tired and dry skin etc etc. Eating healthy and not losing weight either. It's so stressful. I feel totally fobbed off. I am so close to going to the Endocrine clinic at the hospital and bypassing my doctors. I am struggling to concieve and I'm sure my thyroid is the reason. I never had any issue last time when I was on 125mg but the docs wont listen and wont up it for me, even for a trial period.

 

[monga]

Hi! I was diagnosed with OVER active thyroid in July, I'm now 14 weeks pregnant and had a TFT 2 weeks ago, just had call from midwife and I'm now UNDER active. Midwife just as confused as I am. Has anyone else fluctuated between the two?? Espesh in pregnancy? My first specialist appointment is in March so I haven't had any medication that would explain this change!

It’s usually goes away in pregnancy if it’s an autoimmune condition you have, you must contact your GP or consultant for advice if you’re running under.

 

[lexle]

So my doctor doesn’t seem to think that having half a thyroid, you’d need to take anymore than 50mcg of levothyroxine daily, as she said the thyroid that’s remaining will still produce the hormone naturally.
I’d just like to ask those who have had a partial thyroid removal and are taking levothyroxine what are your doses?
They’ve agreed to up mine to 75mcg from 50mcg, on a three month trial. But she does seem to think it’s too much.

I have half and I’m on 125mcg

 

[Hairraiser]

mine are available under medical record / test results on the patient access app if that's something you have or can download? like others have said 'borderline normal' isn't normal at all imo!

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

 

[cocochino]

Random question, my going through tests. Do I have to take medication if it comes back I have it. I’ve been having symptoms for a year? Someone I know is on meds for it and another said you don’t have to as once you’re on them that’s it. just mixed messages.

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, but the doctor told me my levels weren't that bad so I decided not to go on medication. I was going through an extreme amount of stress at the time which saw me bedridden with mono and triggered my thyroid issues, so I decided to make a lot of life changes. I cleaned up my diet, started exercising more regularly, and most importantly... I removed toxic people from my life that were causing me stress.

I hardly notice the symptoms anymore because I'm in a good place mentally. It's a struggle keeping weight on though... I feel like I'm constantly eating.

So I guess it depends on how bad your levels are, and the severity of your symptoms.

 

[monga]

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.

That seems quite a low dose for someone not producing any thyroid hormone, it’s good they’re keeping an eye it usually takes about 6 weeks before any changes occur.

 

[ChampagneBox]

I should have asked for advice before I bought some insurance…anyone who had thyroid cancer, did you declare it on holiday insurance? I’ve only had a hemi so still have half and waiting for my completion which is the 20th September. I’ve bought some travel insurance but haven’t declared my cancer. Should I have? Not on levothyroxine or anything

 

[ChampagneBox]

Hi everyone, so due to some symptoms I’ve had a thyroid blood test (only TSH) and my result has come back as 2.5, which is in the ‘normal’ range. However, after doing some research I see that 2.5 TSH can be seen as bordering on hypothyroidism. Has anyone here had this level of TSH and it be a problem?

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Brilliant thank you so much for the reply! I'll read up on that drug now incase its mentioned it any appointments next month!
Yes I was expecting the regular blood tests, did you get induced a little bit early because of this? I've also got coeliac disease, previous c section and previous high BP so I'm wondering if I'll be delivering at 39 weeks again.
Unfortunately the thyroid issue was picked up before pregnancy so I doubt it'll return to normal after, it's just a bit annoying that these issues got picked up in July and I'm now only just getting appointments for it, I had no idea thyroid issues was such a big thing in pregnancies so wish I'd be warned about that!

Yeah they are a concern but it can be managed so don't worry too much.

I bimbled along between mildly overactive and subclinically overactive for a few years but wasn't monitored for it during my second or third pregancies. It probably was overactive during those pregnancies but it didn't cause any problems.

My consultant did say he thinks it was likely very overactive during my first pregancy and the likely cause of the problems I had (growth restriction, born nearly six weeks prem with an underactive thyroid). My problem escalated immediately after I had number three and I became quite unwell for a while. My weight dropped to 5 and three quarter stone from about 7 and a half in the space of a fortnight!

It was my forth pregnancy it went a bit haywire in and being induced early was discussed as a potential need. It didn't happen in the end and he was born at 38 weeks.

My tsh was undetectable at one point though and I've fortunately managed to escape the need to take medication so far, so it's possible that even if you had been seen before now, they wouldn't neccessarily have prescribed you anything, or told you to delay a pregnancy, it may have just been a case watch and wait with regular blood tests.

Hopefully your appointments will offer some reassurance.

 

[yellowmellow]

Hi helpful people, I recently had a blood test to test for underactive thyroid. My mum has it and I was tested years ago and was apparently borderline and I have a lot of symptoms. I was told over the phone after the test that my thyroid "level" was 7 on a scale of 0-30. The nurse was quite dismissive and didn't really explain what this actually meant just that I don't have underactive thyroid and that's that. I've googled this 0-30 "scale" and can't find any info anywhere that shows a scale of 0-30! I'm totally baffled as to what this score of 7 even means and getting an actual appointment with an actual doctor is near on impossible... Just wondered if anyone can shed any light for me, please? Thanks

 

[mcfeez]

Has anyone found a remedy for dry scalp? I’ve tried a host of shampoos but nothing has cured it. I was looking at The Inkey List Glycolic Scalp Treatment - anyone tried it?

Which ones have you tried?

I used to suffer from dry scalp too but haven't in a while. My favourites for hair are Maui (the hydrating range), or the garnier hair food shampoo and conditioner in banana. I also like pureology conditioner but it is a bit more pricey.

 

[Meg78]

Yes it’s an awful condition, it does give you weak muscles ,that’s part of graves, the excessive tiredness is due to your system running on overdrive, my consultant explained it like driving a F1 car the effect too much hormone has on the body.
You’ll get everything from diarrhoea to palpitations.

Thank you so much, this is exactly what’s happening to me at the moment! My TSH receptor antibody test was positive and my TPO was high as well, I’ve been thyrotoxic before but it normalised without treatment and was presumed to be postpartum, the adrenaline rushes have been back for a little while but suddenly switched off and I started feeling weak, by the time I finally got seen my T4 and TSH are within normal range so I’m a little stumped over what’s going on, whether it could be Graves or just general hormonal fun

 

[KINGAA]

Random question, my going through tests. Do I have to take medication if it comes back I have it. I’ve been having symptoms for a year? Someone I know is on meds for it and another said you don’t have to as once you’re on them that’s it. just mixed messages.

 

[idk2]

What you’re describing is hyperthyroidism, often linked to Graves Disease. Out of the two conditions, hyperthyroidism is more worrisome and I urge you to please get checked out ASAP. My husband unfortunately had this which resulted in more robust proactive intervention meaning he is now suffering with hypothyroidism. Please keep us updated xx

Sorry yes! I meant Hyperthyroidism. Your message has spurred me on to actually make an appt! Hope everything will be okay x

I had my bloods done yesterday and my GP’s have just rang to arrange a telephone appointment this afternoon to discuss the results. Nervous now

Hope everything went well x

 

[Meg78]

Did any of you have heart rate changes? I’m not medicated yet, also Hashimotos and goitre started happening two years ago, but every day I wake up not knowing if my heartrate will be high and pounding or lower and quieter, it’s like I’m constantly swinging up and down, is that normal for the early stages? My bloods are all within normal range still except for antibodies which are high

 

[bitterntwisted]

I've been hypothyroid for almost 20 years now and I'm about to lose my mind. Has anyone who is hypothyroid had their levels jump around? Before Christmas I was bitchy, fatigued, sensitive to cold, gaining weight; all the hallmarks of my levels being off and in hypothyroid territory. GP ups the dose and I do the blood test 6 weeks after the fact. I check my results and now I am in hyperthyroid territory according to my TSH, but my free T4 is in normal range. I am expecting the call this week that the GP/nurse tells me to go on a reduced dose (0.75). Here's the thing, this has happened to me before and I swear that I am religious about taking my Levothyroxine at the same time, no milk/calcium or any other supplements or medications when I take my dose. I am also not eating foods that affect the Levo, such as caffeine, soy, walnuts, fibre, grapefruit, raw cruciferous foods.