Thyroxine for the newly initiated

[MothInMyKecks]

I've been on 25mg of Thyroxine for nearly a fortnight now. Because of my extreme fuzziness, I didn't ask any details of blood test results so I don't know how Hypo I am. I am also extremely anaemic apparently.

I had a few days of feeling 'charged'; and for a little while, I was wee'ing for Britain, but all that's stopped and have now crashed and burned again. My symptoms are worse than ever and I feel I can't continue like this. I have 2 young children, a workaholic husband and by bedtime, I'm literally on my knees. I look, and feel terrible.

I'm getting the typical iron-supplement related SE's (black poo) but not feeling any of the benefits either. I leave at least 12 hours between the thyroxine and Ferrous S as I read (wasn't told by either GP nor Pharmacist) that FS can negate the effects of Thyroxine.

Am I doing everything right? Do I need to wait another 6 weeks before my next round of bloods before seeing the GP. I feel worse than ever. I can feel myself getting worse too. My weight is rocketing, fluid retention is increasing too. I can't continue like this.

PerAr6ua, some of them are totally disgusting! I've found a couple that make me almost bounce around work though, it's handy when I need a boost!

I'm getting fed up of being so bloody tired. My joints ache, my memory is shite, and I'm very grumpy.

(think I have a lump in my neck )

I'm on 50 mcg and have been for 5 years. It took about 3 months to start to feel better and considerably longer for me to sort out my iron levels which, I understand, often goes with the territory. Both things are making you tired, but you will start to feel better and it's wonderful, for me it was like being plugged back into the mains, slowly! If you are on any kind of birth control, it might be worth looking at a non-hormone option if that's possible as it can interfere with thyroid function. Best of luck and hang on in there. BTW, exercise also stimulates the thyroid (in a good way) so even though you don't feel like it, that can really help too.

This is a very good website: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/. I think diagnosis of thyriod issues & related problems in this country is shockingly bad & treatment even worse.
Those of you getting very badly constipated with iron supplements should consider switching to a liquid supplement, as they don't give you constipation & are much better absorbed. Floradix is wonderful stuff. Also worth ensuring you take a good B vit supplement, as you need those too & women are often low.

bearskin - have you got that coming down with a cold sensation as well? My thyroid's swollen and the scan to see why is in 2 weeks - having requested 5 weeks ago - so get to the docs now... Mine's a butterfly shape above the notch in my collarbone, under where an adam's apple woyld be on a bloke.

PerAr6ua - My boss has just withdrawn my part time member of staff, so we're having to absorb the extra work, and have been doing this since Monday. I'm exhausted and don't know to deal with this. The lump is small and on the left side, just above my collarbone.

Polly - Thanks for the info.

Bugsy2 - Been taking a vit B supplement for a couple of weeks now, the paresthesia has been quite bad.

bearskin - feeling your pain... I've got to front a new service at work from next month, although it should mean I get to delegate some of what i've been doing, it's going to be hell doing handovers and definitions... I've started telling people 'no I can't' at work though, which is liberating but I hope doesn't put me on the redundancy hotlist...

just been back to docs and got latest thr result. Receptionist chirpily said 'all normal' and I nearly cried on her. Luckily this doc - not the usual one, is hypo himself so when I said I felt dreadful still he upped the thyroxine. I was trying to describe particulars if awfulness and ended up blurting 'I feel 10 months pregnant' which didi the trick. Can't use the falling asleep measure he's used to as thia whole thing seems to have nade my insomnia worse.

so, looking forward to upped dose helping, and starting a diet monday with a colleague, so shall be de-caffeinating and de-sugaring - eek!

Per - good that the dr is trying to sort things out for you, it's a bad state of affairs when they treat how you feel with scepticism. Have they shoved you up to 100mcg?

The diet sounds interesting, hope it does the trick for you

I'm monitoring this swelling thing on my neck; I found it when I was washing my face the other day, and am dubious at the moment about going to the dr's. My dh has had a feel (so to speak) and says it's swollen but not a lump IYSWIM.
I do have a blood test in two weeks though, so may wait and ask then.

Yep, up to 100mcg and scan for goitre swelling finally happening on Monday.

I'm not entirely convinced he is hypo though - as I've joked with DH that any time I've seen him about something his wife's had it too - think he might be using a shortcut to rapport iyswim - stuff diverse as migraine and low factor 1 blood count... But means I can look him in the eye and say 'obviously you know...]

Diet should be ok, although I tried to decaf today and hit my wall at 1. Double shot skinny latte with sugar and a double decker and I struggled through to 4.15 when I left work and sat in the car park and cried I was so tired... It's the Zoe Harcombe diet so doesn't mess with your OAP metabolism...

Do get your lump checked out though - earlier the better, and if it's your thyroid trying to make more thyroxin then that's a sign you need more thyroxin. Can you bring your bloods forward?

I'm idly wondering if they say I need my thyroid out, then should I take up scarf wearing, or get some piercing bars put in to accessorise the scar. But then I am on my third gin...

I've skimmed thread to see if you've mentioned this but just to be sure - you're not taking the thyroxine at the same time as the iron tablets are you? Doctor told me they'd bind together and thyroxine wouldn't work if I did that.

Good to hear that it's Monday for your scan! Your dr sounds like a decent bloke, maybe his wife's a hypocondriac though

Not heard of the Harcombe diet, but I think most of them do alter the metabolism to some degree...hopefully this will be a good one for you.

The tiredness definitely sucks. I'm looking forward to finishing work tomorrow (saturday) and having a day off.

The swelling is quite small, but noticeable to me. My dh couldn't feel anything on my neck at the start of the week, but does now. I just don't want to go to the dr's and have them not see/feel anything, but I am seeing a friend on Sunday who works in medicine and will get her opinion.

Do you get the shakes at all? I'm finding that I shake quite a bit - it was initially after periods of working hard, but it's getting more regular. I've had to buy some dextrose tablets/sweets to counter it.

Onfriday - was that question for Moths?

Hey Tarka - glad to have you aboard!

After reading through your post, it's good that you've gone to the dr's. I've got 2 dcs with 22 mths between them, but wasn't as tired as you are describing. Obvs the dry skin, intolerance of the cold, joint ache etc are definite symptoms of thyroid problems, but could possibly be anaemia?

Hope you get your test done asap, and back to feeling better too.

(just as a btw - depression can be caused by low thyroid function)

Hello all Tis PerArdua trying out a new name (Terry Pratchett fan).

Had the scan today - nothing to cause concern - a 'classic thyroiditis' apparently . Which is good, but the bastard should have gone down by now - so when the doctor's had the letter I'll ask if there's anything they can do to reduce the swelling - still feeling a bit throttled and sore after all of the prodding this morning.

Hope you get some answers soon Tarka - when's the test?

moth sorry you have been feeling so low. FWIW I have taken 100mcg of thyroxine for nearly 20 years - since having a subtotal thyroidectomy which made me hypothyroid by default. Started with 50mcg but it wasn't quite enough and after about 6 weeks it was increased. It's a part of my life, I have a blood test every year and the dose has never needed adjusting. It has never affected my weight, I have had two children who are now teenagers and am coping with the menopause.

You will find the right level (and you are lucky there are now tablets in 25mcg dose - these are quite new) for you and all will be well. Just wanted to tell a happy story.

Nice nickname! Erm, how exactly are you wanting it shortened?

Glad you had the test - I wonder what a classic thyroiditis is though? As a side question - is your lump tender at all?

did you want to call me wonderful or fanny? ;-) re thyroid - swollen and granular, bit bigger on the left and yes, a bit tender...

Well I did wonder, it just didn't feel right calling somebody fanny (it's not a nice word up here in Scotland)

Thanks for the info - it gives me something to compare to. Mine is a swelling, left sided only, and slightly tender but it's not a round lump and isn't granular. Hmmm.....