peter has an underactive thyroid

[misdee]

they think it could be a side effect of his meds cocktail he has to take. they have perscribed him something now.

will it be for life?

whats the symptons?

[WigWamBam]

Misdee, it can be a temporary condition but it's usually life-long. It's more likely to be temporary if it's the drugs doing it, but even then it could still be life-long.

The symptoms include dry, scaly skin, hair loss, lethargy, fatigue, forgetfulness, muscle aches, anaemia, constipation, weight gain.

He will be put onto Thyroxine, and once the right dose has been established the symptoms should go away.

This is all he needs, isn't it!

[misdee]

just checked his cabinet he is on levothyroxnine.

his symptoms fit anyway.

has blood tests in 2+4weeks.

[Glassofwine]

Misdee - don't worry about it, it is usually life long, but the levothyroxine is only a hormone not a drug. It's just that he isn't making enough of it himself and so he needs to top it up. I have an underactive thyroid and my symptoms were tiredness, putting on weight, brain fog, pmt and heavy periods - obviously he won't get the last two. So the good news is that after they get the dose right, which can take a while he will feel much more energetic and generally feel much better. There can also be a link between underactive thyroid and depression, so if he's been feeling a bit low that may stop too.

[WigWamBam]

One of the other symptoms is feeling cold even when it's hot.

Levothyroxine is the standard name for synthetic thyroxine. They will probably want to monitor his levels of thyroxine and thyroxone stimulating hormone for three or four months to get his dose right, by which time he should be starting to see some improvement.

Given his other medical problems they will probably want to keep an eye on his blood clotting, as Thyroxine can sometimes thin the blood too much. He might also find he sweats a lot and has diarrhoea for the first couple of weeks on Thyroxine - I did!

[KristinaM]

I have it too, developed it during second pregnancy. They think that the hormone changes in preg can trigger it (in vulnerable people i guess). Maybe its the same with his meds.

The biggest hassle is getting diagnosed. Once they get your meds right ( I mean the dosage of levothyroxine) you are fine.

Agree with glassofwine - it can make you horribly depresed. may account for how he has been feeling recently

[misdee]

he has twice weekly blood tests as his INR levels need to be stable, i imagine they will just keep a close eye on that and his warfarin may need adjusting.

thanks.

lol@pmt and heavey periods, he does suffer, but only when its me with it

[Dottydot]

I've got an underactive thyroid and when it's really under, the symptoms are feeling cold, down - depressed, tired, putting weight on easily (that's my excuse anyway!). But Thyroxine sorts all that out once they get the dosage right - might take a few months (took about 3 years to get mine right - only because I seem to need an elephant's dose to sort me out!) to get right. Good luck!