Can we have a roll call - thyroid problems - sign in here

[ivykaty44]

Can we please have a roll call on thyroid problems of either type?

pretty please casue I know there will be a few of us on here

Hello,

Am trying to pluck up courage to go to the doctor. My Mum had Thyroid problems but I'm concerned I have Google induced paranoia.

I really feel the cold, but recently also felt ill if too hot. Weight gain, breathless when just sitting in the car or indeed now at the computer, mild tinnitus, tired al the time. Last night my heart seemed to be all over the place.

But I have small children and live in a cold house so perhaps thats just the way it should be!

What sort of response did you have from GP, did you just ask for a blood test? Am I just part of the worried well?

My gp has been blardy lovely, though it was the hosptial that did all the bllod tests as my gp was paranoid and had me have an ecg at the surgery as I don't think she believed herself how high my heart rate was (it was 150bpm instead of 60) lying down.

I was breathless before but put it down to being asthmatic, I was terribly hot all the time, but put it down to good circulation, I had scant periods but put it down to being pre menopausal, my bowels opened three tiems a day - I put it down to exercise and everyone said they opened their bowels after exercise, I had a tremour, didn't notice it much had got used to shaking a bit and getting frite when someone shocked me(I would physically jump in my skin)That my mum and her grandma did so thought nothing of it.

On their own all the above I had dismissed over around two year they meant nothing to me until I was told all the symptoms and the penny dropped.

i had even got so wired that i struggled to swallow a hot drink

My gp has said it is not a science and we have to look at the bloods and how I feel rather than just look at the bloods alone

Hashimoto's here too on 150 a day at the mo.
and vitiligo which is a related condition.

blagbag - go to the gp. it is a simple blood test, cheap and easy and even if your thyroid is normal it is useful to know what your normal tsp is in case you go hypo in the future (lots of women do)
as you have a family history and symptoms you really should go!

under active for 22 yrs,been fine on 200 thyroxine and now new GP is muckin it about as she wants it exactly 21,she does'nt get the average does'nt mean has to be and there is a bit of leeway allowed.

Can I hijack the thread momentarily and ask when is the best time of day to take Levothyroxine?
I take mine before bed but always wonder if this is sensible.

Another graves disease. Diagnosed after dd birth last march. Like others, now that I know the symtoms I've had this for a number of years. Its only when I look back at photos and see how shockinly thin I was that I've realised. I had 5 dc in 8 years so thought being breathless and hot all the time went with the territory. My GP has been great and the endo I see in the hospital also no complaints. I only went down hypo for a few weeks on the carbimazole and now I seem to be ok on a maintainence dose. Although hair is coming out in lumps. Also had terrible halucenations(sp?) on the beta blockers.The worst thing thats really getting me down is the eye condition side of Graves. Very uncomfortable and can't wear my contact lenses. I know thats just vanity but it just gets to me some days. My right eye has become more pronounced now. Waiting to a see an eye specialist and probably surgery. Im just trying to keep positive. I feel so much better this past 6 months so hopefully this will continue.
Im really glad to see this thread as I've stopped talking to people about it. The reaction I get is 'oh you're so lucky to have the thyroid condition where you loose weight!'

Oops mine was a long post. Can you tell I'm just glad for someone to rant to!
Korma, thats crap you've been battling this for so long. I can imagine how it must get you down. I know the effect it had on my moods, personality was dramatic. Hope for the sake of your dc you get better.

carrotsandcelery- i was told to take levothyroxine in morning at least 30mins before eating...

underactive - asked for test as family history.

Yes a weird response to and incurable disease "oh well you get to be thin" eddiemccready

Carrotsandcelery - my prescription on my levothyroxin box says to take in the morning.

Isn't it particularly important to take at least 30mins before consuming milk products?

My gp has been very supportive. She says that she likes treating an under active thyroid because it makes such a difference to the patients once on thyroxin

Thanks everyone - that is interesting - my box tells me nothing. I will switch to the morning before I wash and it will be at least a half hour before I eat.

Wonder if I could ask you ladies a question?

I took some natural slimming pills recently (Adios) which warned not to take if you have thyroid problems. Whilst taking them, I couldn't sleep, was a bit hyper and speedy, but actually felt a bit happier (like in a seratonin kind of way). Apparently these side effects are not usual, so now wondering if I DO have a slight thyroid problem?

I've suffered from depression and wondered before if it had a thyroid connection. Also I have mood swings, extremley bad PMt/heavy periods, senstive to tempereature (I'm either sweating or freezing cold) and get bouts of terrible fatigue. I feel this isn't enough to go to the doctor and ask for a test though?

I think you will find that adios tablets will speed up your system - for someone with hyperthyroid symptoms this could be dangerous as everything would be working faster anyway and then adding something else in to make it work fast could have your heart racing at higher levels making you vulnerable to ...?

If you wonder if you have a thyroid condition go and talk to your gp and tell them you would like to be tested. Please though don't take those tablets as they could be dangerous for any

ME!

Hashimoto's, diagnosed when ds2 was six months ish, and from tsh levels they think it packed up after dd was born, two years before!

ivykaty...you are lucky to have a doctor who takes into account how you feel, mine are totally led by the blood tests, and every year I have a battle as my tsh level is effectively zero, and they want me to take less thyroxine

I do not cope well on less and have absolutely no physical symptoms of being over medicated so poo to them!

Me - Graves disease, doctor is an utter dinosaur completely leads by blood tests - aghhh!!

just over a year ago was diagnosed with overactive thyroid (was loosing weight, hyper, heart palpitations and racing heart- doc. thought i was having a heart attack - heart beat was all over and very fast - after having blood test was told overactive thyroid and put on carbinazole & beta blockers - endocronologist recommended radio active iodine - which i had only a few months after diagnosis
now i take 75mc of levythyroxine, and although I can't loose weight, get a bit tired etc i am much better - it's really poxy getting the dose stabilised though, been on 100/50/75 and have bloods done every 8/10 weeks
the service from my doc and the hospital has been really good

can I ask molly why the endocronologist rececmmended the RAI only after a few months after dx? Instead of leaving you on the carb for 18 months? Was the carb not good for you or not changing your blood results to their liking?

if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks ivykaty44, I've stopped taking Adios now. Will ask my doc for a test although i feel a bit of a silly hypochondriac to do so.

I also have thyroid problems - I have an underactive thyroid and also I am anaemic with very heavy periods. I take 125 of levothyroxine and also take ferrous fersamal. I still feel very tired all the time with very little energy. If I go out for the day I am ready to come home after a few hours as I get so tired and feel like an old woman needing to sit and have a rest. The doctor says that my throid levels are normal now I am on the medication. Does anyone know what my thyroid levels should be?

just got results of second blood test and now levels are too low,did'nt see the same GP and she was puzzled as to why the first one had interfered with my thyroxine as it was a bit high but in normal range.Now have to wait 2months and repeat the blood tests.oh happy day PS Daft apath your nickname just made me remember mum who used to call us that all the time.Have'nt heard it for years

frankie3, from what I have gleened your levels for your thyroid will vary on where you live in the UK! If you are in Devon and Cornwall the lower and higher levels for T4 will be different from Cumbria. Added to which I think the ways of measuring are diffrent to.

So you need to ask your own G.P. what the levels are for the blood results in your area of the country and then what you levels are.

reply to ivykaty44
i was diagnosed in december and had the RAI in february - i was offered RAI or an operation - i did not know there was any alternative apart from being told that underactive was much easier to treat and less
strain on the heart - perhaps i was naive

frankie "normal" TSH levels are very controversial. The official normal range is usually around 0.5 to 4.5 (although this does vary a bit for each lab), but most people with thyroid problems will tell you that they feel much better when their TSH is lower than 2. My consultant wants mine under 1.5 during pregnancy and I feel best when mine is well under 1.

Luckily I have a fabulous GP who is happy for me to overmedicate slightly rather than slip above 1. Her MIL overmedicates and doesn't tell her GP, so she said it was best that she lets me and knows about it! So you do get some GP's who are happy to medicate until the patient feels better but others wont let you play around if your TSH is in the offical normal range. It's a bit of a lottery. Find a lovely GP and go from there!

And then there are T4 and T3 tests which you only get if you are lucky enough to have a lab that can afford them - mine can't atm. I can never remember what I'm meant to be aiming at for those, or even whether high or low is good! But as I never get them done it doesn't matter much.