So I bit the bullet and went to see the nurse and talked about the problems I had. Came away close to tears, no advice and have to wait 2 weeks to see a doctor.

[pinkbasket]

[fed up]

To get the full picture of thyroid function you need to have the following tests done

TSH
free and combined T3
free and combined T4

Also the British Tyroid assoc recently admitted that at least 25% of the people who give the blood samples have undected hypothroidism.

The problem seemed to me to be that gps would rather give out ads or tell you that it's your 'hormones' or your age.

A couple of other symptoms are
a sort of muscular stiffness (as is they won't get moving after you get up from a sofa),
the outer part of your eyebrows being missing - I was so tired that I was just glad that I didn't have to pluck them,
your tongue feeling almost too big for your mouth
anyone else in that family having thyroid problems, or pernicious anaemia, diabetes, sarcoidosis, neutropaenia or any other of the family of auto-immune disorders
also (in the US) laft-handedness ups the risk.

Also having had a whiplash injury can injure the gland which, in turn, can cause problems. This is why I feel that anyone having such an injury should have the full range of thyroid function blood tests done so that they have their own personal baseline for comparisons.

As you may have guessed, I have an underactive thyroid, which I think was caused by several whiplash injuries. I also had to fight for years to get treated. One of the gps gave me an odd look when I asked her if she had thought of the hidden social costs. After all if relationships break up because a partner thinks that their dp can't be arsed to do things when it's rather that they want to, but just feel as if they're recovering from flu, and so haven't the energy, there will be consideral costs, both monetary and emotional.

However, dh has sarcoidosis, mf had pernicious anaemia and his sisters were hypo, and mm, gm and an aunt all had nodules removed. I was very keen to get a diagnosis and dd will have inherited a tendancy for this sort of illnesses from both sides of the family.

Good luck with getting the problem sorted.

pinkbasket I really feel for you I am in he same postition and getting nowhere with g.p I am so tired all the time muscle weaknesss, weight gain, carpal tunnel syndrome, inablilty to formulate thoughts properly mental sluggishness etc etc so much so I have had to stop my course and have been signed off work for 12 weeks now hAD Bloods done and slightly anaemic and thyroid tsh 1.99 free t4 right at low end at 0.96,

several nurse colleagues have said I am classic hypothyroid as they have seen the change in me.

I can't go on like this any activity even taking daughter to school wears me out.

2 weeks wait to see your doctor is ridiculous.

I also have an odd taste in my mouth. Slightly metallic, but not quite the same as when I was pregnant.
Am also left handed - tb.. how strange

I had an accident which caused concussion and neck problems...

My Grandmother had thyroid problems.

I have had pain which feels like it is inside my arm and I asked a different GP if it was carpal tunnel syndrome and he just said no.

I get a stiff leg if sat for a while and have to limp for a bit until he eases.

I want to be me again .

Even chocolate tastes weird

Woahthere.. After dc3 arrived, I felt like death. Tired, exhausted, chest aching, huge lump in the throat. Turned to constant, severe heartburn after a few months. Tests showed severely elevated liver levels. Loads of tests and came back with a hiatal hernia and liver settled back to normal after a couple of months.

On top of that, for the first year, I got very shaky jittery feelings at night with palpitations. That has eased off though. Now left seeing ENT every so often for enlarged lymph nodes, sore throat and quite tired but all a bit 'vague.'

Seem to have run into other people with similar liver tests and chest ache etc. after having babies though - especially after several babies. I do think there's something they haven't quite figured out yet as this didn't happen with dcs 1 or 2.

Can anyone explain this to me or is it time for new scales? A couple of days ago I weighed 13 stone 8. I have walked 3/4 of a mile twice and done 2 lots of 25 minutes of exercise. This morning they said I weighed 12 stone 13. No way could I lose 9lbs in such a short space of time or is it possible if you have hypothyroidism?

I went to bed really early, I have only been up for 15 minutes and I feel awful. Dh says I look terrible too.

I cant explain it, I weighed 12.12 2 days ago, today i weigh 12.6, not complaining though

Will you keep that off or will it appear to go back on in a couple of days? I feel like I might have lost a couple of pounds but I don't see how I could have lost 9lbs.

Update - apparently adrenal fatigue and slightly underactive thyroid is probable cause for my symptoms after long periods of intense stress has tipped the balance. Been recommended korean ginseng and vitamin B6.

Had my dietary allergies checked and been advised to avoid all wheat for the time being, plus avoid coffee, caffeinated tea, and milk probably long-term. I can still have cheese and yoghurt, and rice or soy milks are fine but not cream or ice cream.

I feel so bad I just want this sorting out, so am going to have a diet shake-up and try this. Will report back.

Pinkbasket - you should get your tyroid levels checked again, mine were fine one month and 4 weeks later they were stupidly out of whack. My GP checked them and said if I was feeling the same or worse in 4 weeks to go back and get a repeat test and it's a good thing I did. Within a month I was on top of the world again, I felt human for the first time in months. My thyroid is hypER though.

I have been feeling like this for a couple of years so don't understand why my test came back fine.

god i hope i keep it off, am going to continue with my diet and weigh in in a week and try not to think about it too much.

I saw the doctor today. He is certain my thyroid is fine but eventually agreed to do some tests. I am also being referred to a rheumotologist as I have had a lot of pain for a few months now.