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Original poster

Stupid effing thyroid disease

33 replies

GappyValley · 01/03/2021 15:07

I'm just so so fed up with what my stupid thyroid and stupid hashimotos are doing to be my life, I could sob. Which ironically, is probably another side effect of the fucking thing.

My weight has been creeping up, so I treated myself to one of those meal delivery services that sends you everything daily, strictly calorie controlled.

On top of that, I've been running 12-15 miles per week, and doing strength work.

I've been eating 1400 calories a day for 2 months. It's been a struggle, I've been hungry to the point of it being painful on some days, but I convinced myself it would be worth it to shift the pounds.

Other than ONE glass of wine in 2 months, nothing has passed my lips that wasn't sent by this company.

So I've weighed myself today, and I've lost TWO POUNDS. DH can lose that with a good poo.

I could cry.

I've just had a long chat with a GP mate who has a specialism in endocrinology and she says that my metabolism has probably slowed to the extent of only burning around 1200-1400 calories a day, so if I want to lose weight, I need to be on around 1000 a day and to maintain, not more than 1200-1400. She said it will probably also get worse as I go through menopause.

I can't imagine living the rest of my life on the sort of food portions that get called 'a crash diet' by people with normal metabolisms.

I can't exercise much more than I do, I don't want to put on weight, it is an absolute battle to keep my BMI within normal range.

I am fed up of my hair being so thin. I'm fed up of being so cold that I can't play in the park with DC without taking the rest of the day to warm back up. I'm fed up of the brain fog. I'm fed up of having to spend £000s on private doctors because my GP fobs me off with a twice a year TSH test and a regular levo prescription. I'm fed up of feeling exhausted All. The. Time.

I just need to rant about this stupid condition and the stupid damage it has done to my body Sad Angry

OP posts:
CSJ113 · 01/03/2021 16:24

Hi, I just wanted to offer some words of support because I can see the desperation in your post Flowers. I also have Hashis (for over 30 years) and here's what I've learned: firstly, you sound undermedicated. For me, to feel optimally well my TSH has to be suppressed (

minipie · 01/03/2021 16:36

I second undermedicated.

Another suggestion, there is a company called Nutri Advanced that does a Thyroid Support multivitamin specifically tailored to those with under active thyroid. I started taking it and a few months later noticed I’d grown a whole new crop of hair... hairs that usually broke off were growing properly. I’ve also stopped falling asleep on the sofa in the evenings.

Sideorderofchips · 01/03/2021 17:34

I hear you. But it does sound like you are under medicated. Hashimotos is a fucking bitch. I hate having it

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Menopause Weight management Women's health
Rummikub · 01/03/2021 17:37

What’s your dose you’ve been given?
Does sound like your under.

@minipie what vitamins are in that supplement?

doubleshotespresso · 01/03/2021 17:38

@minipie

I second undermedicated.

Another suggestion, there is a company called Nutri Advanced that does a Thyroid Support multivitamin specifically tailored to those with under active thyroid. I started taking it and a few months later noticed I’d grown a whole new crop of hair... hairs that usually broke off were growing properly. I’ve also stopped falling asleep on the sofa in the evenings.

Woukd you kindly link the one you mean? There's several on the site and I'd be keen to try these! Thanks so much
minipie · 01/03/2021 17:57

Sorry I always get the name wrong! They’re called Thyro Complex, link here

I have their T convert too but haven’t tried it yet.

Seeleyboo · 01/03/2021 18:13

You sound just like me. I am sick of being so heavy and fucking cold. Like bone chillingly cold.

MrsPworkingmummy · 01/03/2021 18:20

Oh OP, this founds awful. I'm due a semi thyroidectomy in two weeks and am praying I don't get this afterwards. I do feel I've got it already as my weight is slowly creeping, I'm always tired and I get heart palpations. Previous bloods have shown I'm within the normal range. I have had a massive goitre for years which is what is getting removed. Dread, dread, dreading the operation.

Turnedouttoes · 01/03/2021 18:27

You sound like me a few years ago. I actually went to the doctor because I was convinced I must be pregnant with the weight I was putting on while also exercising and eating well.
I know low carb is pushed on here a lot but it genuinely was a miracle worker for me. In the first six weeks I lost a stone and I wasn’t huge to begin with so that was a lot.

user810276 · 01/03/2021 18:28

@MrsPworkingmummy

Oh OP, this founds awful. I'm due a semi thyroidectomy in two weeks and am praying I don't get this afterwards. I do feel I've got it already as my weight is slowly creeping, I'm always tired and I get heart palpations. Previous bloods have shown I'm within the normal range. I have had a massive goitre for years which is what is getting removed. Dread, dread, dreading the operation.
@MrsPworkingmummy I have had a total thyroidectomy if have any questions about your op or recovery, ask away I'm happy to help 😀
Rummikub · 01/03/2021 18:34

Snap total here too

Rummikub · 01/03/2021 18:36

Thyroid uk forum says don’t take your meds on the morning of your blood test.
Maybe that’ll help with getting the right reading?

I asked my consultant once if they only go by the figures or by my symptoms. She said they’d ignore the symptoms. I was aghast.

MrsPworkingmummy · 01/03/2021 18:39

Thank you @user810276. I'm nervous about everything to be honest. I'm worried about being in hospital on my own due to covid. I don't want to leave my children and husband. I'm worried about dying whilst under anaesthetic. I'm worried about the drains in my neck afterwards. How did you find the pain afterwards? How long was your recovery? My goitre is over 10cm and very obvious. I'm a teacher and rely on my voice. Did yours change much? I'm honestly terrified. I've put it off and off, but the consultant feels it needs to come out ASAP due to its size.

naomi81 · 01/03/2021 18:41

I am hypothyroid and sounds like under medicated, I was within range but because I had symptoms like hair loss, dry skin, cold the gp allowed me up my dosage. I am also following weight watchers blue plan since beginning of January and lost 21lbs. Maybe time you get a blood test and go from there, good luck it's so hard to manage Xx

Sideorderofchips · 01/03/2021 18:45

Losing weight is alot harder with hashimotos. I'm trying but the tiredness is so hard

What I hate is that everyone thinks you are. Exaggerating because you're young and yet feel 80

Sarahlou63 · 01/03/2021 18:54

@MrsPworkingmummy. I was supposed to have a full thyroidectomy in Nov 2018 because of a goitre. As it happened they couldn't get it all out so ended up being a partial. The good news is that the remaining thyroid stepped up to the plate and I don't need to take drugs. The bad news (but very, very rare) is that one of my vocal cords was paralysed during the surgery and it took about 6 months for my voice to recover (but it did, with lots of speech therapy).

Original poster
GappyValley · 01/03/2021 19:09

I don’t think I’m under medicated, but I might up it 25mcg and see if anything changes
I’m on 100mcg which keeps my TSH at 1ish and my free t4 was 19 at my last test.
I get a full tft privately every few months because my GP doesn’t give a shit beyond checking my TSH occasionally

I’m on 6000iui of vitamin d, iron, magnesium and a thyroid supplement (viridian) every day
I’ve been gluten free for years on the advice of a private endo, which has kept my tsh stable because it fluctuates wildly if not. I tried low carb for a few years and it didn’t make any difference but I don’t have a sweet tooth so I’m probably naturally quite low carb

None of it seems to help. Well, I’d probably be in far worse state if I didn’t, but it’s not giving me much quality of life at the moment.
I’m so fed up of it Sad

I just served myself up a smaller portion of dinner than I gave to my 4 year old, and I still can’t lose weight

OP posts:
user810276 · 01/03/2021 19:10

@MrsPworkingmummy

Thank you *@user810276*. I'm nervous about everything to be honest. I'm worried about being in hospital on my own due to covid. I don't want to leave my children and husband. I'm worried about dying whilst under anaesthetic. I'm worried about the drains in my neck afterwards. How did you find the pain afterwards? How long was your recovery? My goitre is over 10cm and very obvious. I'm a teacher and rely on my voice. Did yours change much? I'm honestly terrified. I've put it off and off, but the consultant feels it needs to come out ASAP due to its size.
@MrsPworkingmummy Well I had mine done before covid but in a hospital 3 hours away from where I live so only had visitors once during my stay but in all honesty I didn't want visitors as i didn't feel like talking much after, but did FaceTime my family every night so that made it easier. I felt no pain after only needed paracetamol, I thought it would be much more painful. I had a one drain on the right, originally I was told I would be in hospital for 2 nights but my calcium was low due to some parathyroid damage. That resolved after day 3 but I had to stay in for one week as I was still bleeding. My voice hasn't changed at all, in the beginning I did find it hard to raise my voice but I just tried to rest it as much as possible. My recovery was a bit rough I had a wound infection. I think most people have an easier time than I did recovering. Ive never had an op before so like you I was scared. I never had any regrets after the op and one month after at my post op I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer ( a total shock). It is scary but it won't be as bad as you imagine it to be. In the beginning I hated my scar as it was very red for a long time and large. Now I look at it and it reminds me how strong I am.
Original poster
GappyValley · 01/03/2021 19:11

This is the supplement I take - looks similar in terms of nutritional content to the other one mentioned upthread

www.viridian-nutrition.com/Shop/Thyroid-Complex-P747.aspx

OP posts:
CSJ113 · 01/03/2021 19:24

Just to say that anyone in the UK with autoimmune thyroid disease should be wary of taking supplements containing iodine - it's extremely unlikely you are deficient and it can do more harm than good. Better to take supplements targeted to specific deficiencies.

awaynboilyurheid · 01/03/2021 19:33

You can get a fuller picture of what your thyroid is really doing by getting private blood tests, you can find links on the TPA UK website, it’s good website for advice. I have hashimotos too but I am on non desiccated thyroxine which for me works so much better than Levo.

MrsPworkingmummy · 01/03/2021 19:55

@sarahlou63 could you speak at all, even when it was paralysed? How was your recovery otherwise? Do you feel you have a good quality of life?

@user810276 thank you so much for being so honest. I'm not too concerned about the scar. It's my voice. I'm also worried I'll develop a thyroid disorder.

It's strange as usually with an operation, you know you'll feel better after. I don't really see the benefit of taking my goitre out. I've had it 6 years, it's over 10cm and has displaced my windpipe. Rationally, I know I need it taken out, but I don't feel poorly if that makes sense.

I love my job, I have a good life. I don't want this procedure to ruin that.

How long did you both have off work? I work in a school catering for SEMH students. We have a huge catchment and our students are voltile and often violent. On a day to day basis, we often have to hold/restrain our students for their own or others' safety. My consultant has said I should take 3 weeks off. Does this sound right? Xx

user810276 · 01/03/2021 20:06

@MrsPworkingmummy I was told I would need 6 weeks but I think that was mostly because it would take time for my levothyroxine dose to be correct. I wouldn't of been ready after 6 weeks I would have said probably 8 weeks.
If I was recovering from just the surgery no thyroid replacement need I would say about 4 weeks, but its important to realise that everyone is different and don't go back until your 100% ready. You need to listen to your body.
I ended up been off work for 9 months, I needed further treatment due to the cancer and covid slowed everything down. It took me along time to recover mentally.
I know exactly what you mean about having an op when you feel fine before. I felt great before so I felt like I was making myself ill by having the op.

MrsPworkingmummy · 01/03/2021 20:19

@user810276 you've given me lots of good for thought. I hope you're feeling a lot better now! Yes, my consultant said 3 to 6 weeks. I have the Easter hols following the op so that should give me a few more weeks. Our sickness pay policy isn't very good so I'm preying I'll be back to work after 4 by the time the holiday is finished xx

user810276 · 01/03/2021 20:46

@MrsPworkingmummy I am feeling a lot better now thank you.
I hope you have a easy and quick recovery. Let us know how is goes 😀