Thyroid

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Iv was diagnosed with an under active thyroid about 3 years ago after my last pregnancy. Iv been on medication ever since and will be forever. Took a while to get the dosage right but have been on this current dosage for a while now and seems to be working.
My main symptoms before diagnosis was extreme fatigue, like not just tired, absolutely exhausted and with a newborn it was just horrendous! I also was extremely sensitive to the cold...my feet are still so cold all the time now it’s awful! I had dry skin, weight gain and also what I would describe as having “brain fog”. Constantly forgetting things and getting confused easily. I was 30 when I went for a routine blood test and that’s when it came back. My mum, auntie, nana all have it too so and it is hereditary. I am on the higher dosage compared to all my family though but it’s working for the most part.
Diet wise I havnt changed anything but would be interested to hear from anyone that has more info on that!
Is it in your family?

Yeah my Mum has an underactive thyroid too. She had surgery a few years ago to have most of her thyroid removed!

I've really been struggling to lose weight recently despite having a very healthy diet and exercising almost every day and have noticed I've been cold a lot. I've lost a bit of my sex drive too!

How long did it take for you to notice your symptoms normalise after taking treatment? Did you find it easier to lose weight again?

 

[Vidyagaymes]

It definitely is a symptom! I was freezing all the time before my diagnosis!

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Ive been on propanolol for years, and noticed i felt awful when i hadnt taken them. Thinking it was just anxiety, but im thinking now that its actually my thyroid not being masked. Ive purposely not taken any in 2/3 days and my chest/heart feels very fluttery.

Its strange though. Like.. why would it (seemingly) go high suddenly? Is thyroiditis repetitive!? The GP said my levels were at a level they'd usually see in people on too high a dose of thyroid meds but im not on any!? Oh and that my bloods show inflammation markers. Weird, man!

 

[ChampagneBox]

I just read your post now and I recognise you from the health anxiety (which I suffer badly from myself) thread (and Demi's one ) hope your op goes well today and all the best to you in recovery

Thankyou! It actually ended up being yesterday, no idea why I was told the 7th on the phone haha it was okay, not the best thing that’s ever happened to me but not the worst either x

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

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!

It probably will be a Graves flare up. Whilst it can go into remission, it never truly goes away once you have it as it's autoimmune.

 

[Eye_roll_central]

Yeah my Mum has an underactive thyroid too. She had surgery a few years ago to have most of her thyroid removed!

I've really been struggling to lose weight recently despite having a very healthy diet and exercising almost every day and have noticed I've been cold a lot. I've lost a bit of my sex drive too!

How long did it take for you to notice your symptoms normalise after taking treatment? Did you find it easier to lose weight again?

It took me a while to feel like myself again re energy levels but that maybe due to having to adjust my medication to get the right dosage! Iv always struggled with my weight and now I really struggle to lose anything!
I know a few people who are on medication for it and have no symptoms whatsoever If I miss even one day of my medication I defo feel it! So tired and then takes me days to get back to normal

 

[monga]

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!

Yes it's probably still the same condition they would call it a relapse ,they say you're in remission when it goes away . Good luck !

 

[Beth1980]

I am on Levothyroxine and was just under 5, so in range in my area, but loads of original symptoms and they tried fob me off with ' you maybe in pre-menopause. I know if I go over 2 my symptoms return my last test after increase was still high over 4 but had no energy to fight for another increase. With the colder weather I know I will regret it as my body will be on overdrive just to keep a normal temperature. Sadly Thyroid conditions are not really understood by many GPs.

 

[ChampagneBox]

does anyone else who had thyroiectomy just not feel right after the op? It’s been over a year since my hemi and 10 months since my total, and since about April I’ve just not felt ‘right’. Can’t explain it, just worried there’s something else wrong

 

[Hairraiser]

What are your numbers? You can be borderline but normal and still have symptoms?

Annoyingly, all she said was they’re normal. I didn’t get a chance to ask..

is this something I should find out?

 

[Bidscavan]

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.

I was diagnosed 6 yrs ago as been hyperactive but can go hypoactive sometimes and I think one is as hard to manage as the other. I get the pins and needles in my hands but mine is related to carpal tunnel which often can go hand in hand with thyroid problems. I was also deficient in b12 which can contribute to the pins and needles so might be worth checking out. I also suffer from reynauds disease which doesn't help the pins and needles either at certain times of the year. Brain fog with me is unreal but whether that is peri menopause related or thyroid I don't know. I have the joint pain too particularly in one of my shoulders .The weight thing is a viscious circle for me. When I was hyper I was skin and bone. As it came under control I put weight on but by jaysis I could be rolled down a hill now I don't eat vast amounts and I walk every day but there's no shifting it. Peri menopause related too maybe all I know is thyroid problems suck and when you think you've one bit sorted another bit pops its head up.

 

[queenamber]

I was convinced I had hypothyroidism and had blood tests recently but I turned out to be very low in Vitamin D. They mimic a lot of the same symptoms as thyroid issues: exhaustion, depression, brain fog, hair loss etc. Solidarity to you all because I literally feel like a shell of my former self. Hormones really do affect so much!

 

[shadowcat5]

Yes . Deff get a TFT done ,have you got any other symptoms ? like nail /hair issues , periods , gut , there's so many things besides muscle weakness that you don't put down to thyroid .

nails and hair are okay besides my hair gets oily quickly these days but I moved area recently so it could be water supply thing. My old area was soft water but not sure about here. Periods are a weird one cause I take a mini pill so I don’t get periods besides the spotting. My gut is pretty good, tmi I usually go 1-3 times a day but I’m vegan so I eat a high fibre diet naturally.
ETA: thank you for replying. It’s really helping me

 

[Welshgal]

I have a blood test today for my thyroid. I went to see my GP (have since switched practices) a few years ago and was practically shooed out of the door for suggesting I thought I had a thyroid issue.

I have recently had chilblains which lasted for around 4 weeks in my toes. I get them in my fingers occasionally too. I am ALWAYS cold.
I’m a size 10 but eat the absolute bare minimum to stay this weight (we are talking a stupid diet of less than 800 calories a day) and if I eat any more then I will gain weight).
I have recently lost all interest in things I love to do and low mood and tiredness. This could be covid related though and a sign of the times
My periods have become really heavy.

I do kind of hope it comes back that my levels are off and I need medication, just so I know I can feel better one day.

Totally understand what you mean! That’s the one thing I’m even more scared about then going in the first place - that they tell me everything’s normal and there’s no apparent solution to how I feel / my problems.

Keeping you in my thoughts, and if you feel comfortable, please do share your results! x

 

[Felix08]

Im going to get my levens checked Soon, I have some symtpoms and just want to make sure. Had them checked 3 years ago and my tsh was 3.0 then.

but i have shortness of breath even when in rest, gained 5kg in a month but didnt change anything, periods are irregular all of a sudden, oily hair and very dry skin, mood swings

 

[Leahcar2019]

I was diagnosed 6 yrs ago as been hyperactive but can go hypoactive sometimes and I think one is as hard to manage as the other. I get the pins and needles in my hands but mine is related to carpal tunnel which often can go hand in hand with thyroid problems. I was also deficient in b12 which can contribute to the pins and needles so might be worth checking out. I also suffer from reynauds disease which doesn't help the pins and needles either at certain times of the year. Brain fog with me is unreal but whether that is peri menopause related or thyroid I don't know. I have the joint pain too particularly in one of my shoulders .The weight thing is a viscious circle for me. When I was hyper I was skin and bone. As it came under control I put weight on but by jaysis I could be rolled down a hill now I don't eat vast amounts and I walk every day but there's no shifting it. Peri menopause related too maybe all I know is thyroid problems suck and when you think you've one bit sorted another bit pops its head up.

Oh dear I’m sorry to hear all that - I took was wondering about peri-menopause - I’m only 38 but started my periods early (aged 10) so could be. It’s so hard being a woman sometimes isn’t it! Thanks for replying and hope you stay well!

 

[Dak1988]

I feel over whelmed. I had bloods done as I’ve recently found I am pregnant, but my H4 levels are low. The GP tonight didn’t prescribe me any medication as he needed to liaise with another doctor on what’s the best thing to do as I am 7 weeks pregnant. Unsure if it the pregnancy or underlining problem which has just been highlighted.

Probably pregnancy as they usually need to increase dosage. My level rose to 10 which is ridiculously under active, as I am currently pregnant which obviously worried me but the doctors just gave me another 25mcg on top of my usual 150mcg. My level before this was 3.7. They’ll also probably put you under a consultant at the hospital for your antenatal care.

 

[ChampagneBox]

This week my mood has been really bad, really irritable and weird anger, and th only thing that’s changed is I’ve come down on my levo dose from alternate days 150/125 to just 125…it’s not a big change though so it might not be that, but did anyone else experience mood problems when changing their dose?

 

[barmcake]

Just came across this thread by accident and I’m delighted I did! I’ve got Hashimoto’s & under active thyroid since 2018.. Sometimes the biggest battle I find is getting people to recognise that it’s actually something that impacts you! My husband rolls his eyes every time I mention it The symptom flare ups can be overwhelming at times!

I know the feeling - it's seen as a minor complaint. The insomnia and fatigue make it difficult to have any type of relationship or social life. I'm too tired to take part in life sometimes. Because of it's up and down nature, I never know how I'm going to feel from one week to the next.

 

[monga]

Couldn’t sleep last night because my drain site is feeling itchy don’t think it’s infection itching just healing itching but can anyone suggest something to use on it?

Maybe Sudocrem? I use that on everything lol ,but it's usally works .