Thyroid

[monga]

Hi! I contacted my midwife today and she's referring me to the area midwife that specialises in endocrinology issues and she's contacting the specialist to get me seen sooner

That’s great they’re getting you sorted it’ll put your mind at ease now they’re keeping a check on things, exciting times ahead

 

[Vidyagaymes]

It

Mine have been all over the place for years from the highest end of the scale I'm now right under, my last readings were T4=14.6 TSH 5.53 apparently it's been a big drop from my usual readings ( I'm hyperthyroid) have to get bloods done every 6 weeks until they decide what to do .I dropped after my covid vaccine they're waiting to see if it comes up again so I'll have to stick the cold for longer


It's rare how much the thyroid can affect you. I never even gave it a second thought before it went wonky there's so many symptoms from it from diarrhea to shakes and everything in between .Hope you get it sorted soon it's such a horrible feeling .

Its really been an eye opener for me. So much of the rubbish I’ve been dealing with is almost certainly linked to my thyroid… fuzzy thinking, depression, low appetite, coldness. I really really do hope that the treatment will help With that.
I just also think it’s super ridiculous that bodies can just start to hate themselves and make tonnes of antibodies against something that is actually really important….

 

[Hairraiser]

Yes I struggle to get warm the only time I do is when the UK has a heat wave then I get heat intolerance. In winter I wear 2 layers of socks (one thick walking ones), a vest top, long sleeveed top and a thick jumper or fleece and I can be sat dressed like that with a hot water bottle, thick cover and fingerless gloves on and still freezing.

Oh my goodness, I feel like I could have written this myself.
I think I’m finally starting to realise I’m not completely crazy.
I have an appointment Monday morning so will hopefully get a blood test done and some sort of reassurance.
at this point I actually want it to be a thyroid issue so I can treat it, cause otherwise I think il go crazy!

 

[mcfeez]

Hypothyroidism - diagnosed at 15 (now 29). Been on levothyroxine since I was diagnosed but have never felt like it’s made a difference. GPs don’t seem to give a shit and as long as they’re satisfied with the blood results then that’s good enough for them. I’ve considered going private but it’s just too expensive atm.

The exhaustion and brain fog is the worst. I can easily sleep for 12+ hours a night (and would if I didn’t have to go to work). I used to be fairly intelligent, nothing to rave about but I did well in school up until I was diagnosed then everything took a nosedive. Still affecting me now as I’m about 6 months behind on my college work and every time I sit down and try to get something done my brain just goes blank and can’t string a sentence together or concentrate. I’ve been in tears over not being able to focus.

Always have cold hands and feet even when I’m warm. Dry skin, dry eyes, brittle hair and nails, heart palpitations, low mood/mood swings, raging irritability, consistently crave sugar, bad circulation - get frequent cramps and numb/tingly hands and feet. Was always underweight and struggled to gain no matter what I was eating, now the weight has decided it wants to stick around and am no longer a bottomless pit

Also have PCOS on top of all that plus cervical issues. I wonder what it’s like to be illness-free

Hi xbxbx. I'm so sorry you are struggling like this. I too feel like the "numbers" on your blood tests aren't taken overly seriously and even if you do have symptoms they need to be severe. I've been on medication for mine for 10 years now and repeatedly get told my numbers are borderline (they've have been changing over recent years, dr has admitted this) - I still have the dry skin and hair I had when I was originally told I had hypothyroidism and my weight although under control is higher than it ordinarily would have been. Despite this, I've repeatedly been told my doctor won't budge my medication unless I decide I want to get pregnant - then he says we'd need to do a more thorough review. I too would love referral to a specialist. My mother sees the endocrinologist regularly for hers (although her issues are hyper rather than hypo) and has had much more in depth discussions around her thyroid health.

 

[GamerLlama87]

Hello, newly diagnosed hypothyroid here, apparently! Dr said it's apparently very under-active, I had no idea don't seem to have any symptoms they expected me to have, I feel great in myself, not bothered by the cold if anything I'm quite a warm person, my hair and skin are fine, no problems with my period etc don't get it but meh, maybe I just haven't noticed and I'll feel like Spiderman once the meds kick in

TSH was at 10 if that means anything to anyone

 

[xbxbx]

I am so sorry @xbxbx. Please keep pushing your GP or try to go to a specialist.

Thank you. I’m due for another blood test soon so I might ask if I can be referred to see an Endocrinologist. I really wish thyroid conditions were taken more seriously

 

[Beth1980]

Yes they do and I find unless someone has a thyroid issue or knows someone close there is very little knowledge out there, hoping one day it will become the new menopause. As in more gets spoken about and therefore more understanding and research.

 

[xbxbx]

I’ve been taking levothyroxine nearly a month, I had radio iodine treatment in April. After about two weeks ( of taking levothyroxine) I felt like I had more energy but now I feel quite tired again a lot of the time & I’ve put on weight. Really fed up & kind of wish I hadn’t had the radio iodine treatment & just carried on with the carbimazole. I take mine in the morning either as soon as I get up or half hour after I’ve had my morning cuppa, apparently caffeine can effect how it works

Sorry to hear you’re not feeling great.

I’ve been taking levothyroxine for 16 years, since my early teens, and have always taken it in the morning as per docs instructions. I don’t feel like it’s ever made a huge difference as to how I feel tbh. Part of me puts it down to a combo of having hypothyroidism and PCOS and that’s just how it is - but I’m also wondering if years of having no breakfast until a few hours after waking up is the culprit.

The rule I was told was no food, drink or caffeine until an hour after taking levothyroxine. This means I get up, take my meds, get ready for work, head to work and the first thing I eat is on my morning break around 10:30. 4 hours after waking up.

I might do a trial run of taking my meds at night and having breakfast first thing to see if I notice any difference.

 

[Vidyagaymes]

Just bene diagnosed with Hashimotos Disease… Feels like a relief to have an explanation of why I’ve felt shit for so long, but also weird to get used to now being “ill” instead of it just being in my head… my doctor said it might take months before I feel better as my thyroid is basically not functioning right now… Dunno why I’m posting, just be nice to hear from some others who are in the same boat I guess…

 

[jojida]

Hi ladies.

I'm wondering if anyone can shed light on how hard/easy it is to be diagnosed with an underactive thyroid? Especially as someone starting from an overweight BMI?

I recently came across a checklist for thyroid issues and I check a lot of the boxes - difficulty losing weight but easy weight gain, always tired no matter what I do, eat or take (as in supplements), low mood, constantly cold and always battling with dry skin. I always thought that this was just how my body worked (even my boyfriend says I'm just eternally sleepy) but my mum had an overactive thyroid when I was little and now I'm wondering if it may run in the family. How long did it take from your first appointments to diagnosis and being on tablets etc?

Would be grateful to hear from anyone

ETA: I also just read that teenagers can start puberty early if this is something they suffer with. I started my periods in primary school so really starting to wonder if I've always had this issue in peaks and troughs...

 

[Readread]

Does anyone suffer from thyroid problems? If so, what's your symptoms? What is your treatment like? Do you have to adjust your diet in any way?

I had a food intolerance test done where I sent away strands of my hair and it has come back showing my thyroxine levels are out of balance which and after looking at the symptoms, they all apply to me! Just waiting for a doctors appointment to have some bloods taken.

 

[monga]

Does anyone here have Graves’ disease? May I please ask what your initial symptoms were and what you do to manage it?

Your consultant will put you on anti-Thyroid meds and 6 weekly blood tests until it’s under control…
All I can describe the symptoms is the worst panic attack you’ll ever experience, that’s only if it’s running extremely high,the symptoms start off like edginess, you may feel hot, it creeps up on you tbh.

 

[knivesnflowers]

Fingers crossed @knivesnflowers that they have found something (in a nice way) and you get the correct treatment and feel better soon. I really need to get myself together and go back and ask for another increase but after the last doctor's reaction I don't have the fight yet.

just remember you're allowed a second opinion!!

 

[GetOffMyLawn]

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.

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

 

[knivesnflowers]

Hoping for a bit of advice before I start googling and driving myself insane.
My 13yr old daughter had some blood tests and when I rung for results the GP receptionist said that “there’s an issue with her thyroid and that she’s anaemic” and that we need to book an appointment to see the GP. I can see in the app the results and free T4 was 10.7 and her TSH was 2.8. Her HB and Ferritin are also low - HB 107 and Ferritin 2.

The anemia isn’t really anything new although it’s definitely worse than it was but the thyroid thing is what’s throwing me off. Does anyone have any suggestions what those results could mean as well not be able to get an appointment for a day or 2

The day or two delay shouldn’t make a difference! I was about her age when diagnosed, apparently puberty can trigger something or other to be out of balance hormonally. Just make sure they don’t fob you off with that though and have them investigate fully (maybe ask for an antibody test if not already done - unlikely to be hashimoto’s but that’s what I had and luckily my gp was on the ball). If the anemia is down to periods or anything like that then it might be affected by her thyroid and medication too so just keep an eye out.

have them keep on top of her bloods too, I had tests every three months or so to see if the levo dose needed adjusting, and one every year to keep on top of it. on a positive note she’ll get free prescriptions

 

[JellyWobbles]

Did you guys know that multivitamins can interact with thyroxine? My mind is blown right now… given my latest symptoms I decided to research if any of my current meds interacted and a couple do… but I never knew about the vitamin!!

As for weight, I’ve gained 5st since being diagnosed. Before I was, I initially gained two stone and it wasn’t coming off.. I felt so drained, it was a battle to keep my eyes open.. then my mental health deteriorated and I gained a further 3st from all the other meds they’ve put me on (worst culprit being quetiapine). My weight is so bad now that ive been referred to weight management clinic with the bariatric team in November. Im really hoping they can help me, surgery if suitable.. because I feel so horrible and no matter what im trying rn it’s not budging, I’ve never been so big I just feel extremely unhealthy in so many ways.

 

[bourb0nbiscuits]

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

Sometimes results are borderline, so falling to the ‘normal’ range but only just. Could you make an appointment with your GP to discuss your symptoms again? I had symptoms of thyroid problems for a few years before my bloods were out of range, looking back at photos now I can see my neck has a pronounced goitre back then but my bloods were showing as fine.

 

[ChampagneBox]

It's usually about 6 weeks before you'd see a change your bloodstream would have enough hormone to cope .

Just tested positive for covid so I guess that explains the tiredness

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Having a hemithyroidectomy on the 7th April and I’ve never been had an operation/been to hospital as an inpatient before can anyone advise on what I should take? im thinking it might be good getting some button up pyjamas/shirts but I don’t want to waste money if that’s unecessary, but I’m worried it’ll hurt to lift tops over my head. Anything else I should think about taking?

Hiya, I had a hemithyroidectomy in 2016. It probably will hurt a bit to move your neck, and you'll be a bit stiff, so some button up style tops could be useful.

I'd also take something warm, so a dressing gown perhaps. I know hospitals are usually warm but I found I was quite cold at points during the night.

Other stuff would be mp3 player and a book. You may be waiting around a while both before and after the op.

Depending on which side you're having out, as daft as it might sound, I'd suggest one of those soft seatbelt things or a fleece to wrap around it because a seatbelt resting against your incision (even with a dressing on) isn't pleasant.

I'd also get some dry shampoo because you can't get the incision wet for a while. I vaguely remember wrapping my neck in clingfilm, leaning very uncomfortably over the bath so someone could wash my hair. Amusing but not fun!

I had some voice issues afterwards so be prepared that things could be a bit different with your voice. It gets better though!

Happy to help with anything else you might want to know although of course your experience could be totally different to mine and I hope nothing I've said worries you.

 

[Penguin86]

Hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine does fuck all though my tests say normal. Still have all the awful symptoms.

Hypothyroidism symptoms
Hyperthyroidism symptoms