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Original poster

thyroid or just tired??

40 replies

busybee123 · 21/06/2004 19:37

my mum has suggested I might have a problem with my thyroid. I am constantly tired, have no strength in my arms and legs (to the point where i nearly drop ds2) I find it impossible to lose weight (in fact i put 5lb on last week for no apparent reason ) . I have really bad mood swings, and my skin is really flakey no matter how much i moisturise. My hair is falling out like there is no tomorrow. HELP!!

OP posts:
suzywong · 23/06/2004 16:36

busybee123
I have just read your most recent post and your mum may well be right about your thyroid.

The arms and legs thing is the clincher.
I was hypothyroid (underactive) for the last 3 and a half years and I just put it down to post partum fatigue and kids not sleeping through, I kept thinking that if only I could get a night's sleep I would be OK, but that would not have been the case.

Make an appiontment with your GP today, she will send you for blood tests of your thyroid function and you should be put on Thyroxene. I started mine on Tuesday and felt a completely different woman by Wednesday.

There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sorry you are feeling this way but it can be remedied.

HTH

suzywong · 23/06/2004 16:37

sorry didn't read that you had already been to the doctor
Well that is good news!
Honestly, the drugs kick in almost immediately so you CAN get your life back.

Original poster
busybee123 · 23/06/2004 16:40

if its not thyroid then i dont know what else it could be. doctor said it might not show up if its borderline. what do i do then???? i just need and end to this!!!

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 23/06/2004 16:42

Glandular Fever? v similar sounding symptoms, may be worth getting tested. i hope not for your sake

suzywong · 23/06/2004 16:43

Demand it!! Weep. shout, tell her you can't cope.
Really, you so und typical, the arms and legs thing, I used to feel like some entity was sapping away my energy from my arms.
She must give you something, you could always ask another doctor at that practice for a second opinion.

Hang on in there busybee123, because if it is you thyroid and you do get the medication you need to get your energy levels back up to normal your life will turn around.

Keep me posted!

tiamaria · 23/06/2004 17:59

busybee123 - Sorry, my time is short just now, so I'll keep this brief. 1) company - can you "draw in" (ie become friends with) a Mum or 2 you know from the nursery? If you're shy, then I understand but perhaps you could try. 2) help with housework - Do you have any money spare to pay for some help? If not, could you barter, using your dh's skills as payment but deferred to a less busy time? 3) rest - Do your in-laws live nearby? If they do, could they take some holiday time and help you out?

I and a few other people I know, haven't got better soon after starting thyroxine. I don't want to go into my story in great detail (not least for fear of boring everyone!) but please don't get too disappointed if it is your thyroid is diagnosed but you don't start to get better straight away. Can you check the Mumsnetter meet-up threads to see if there's one near you? If there is and you "know" or like the sound of someone, perhaps they could be a new friend? Must dash. Take care. tm xx

P.S. forgot to say - "Can I be a new friend?" I'm a 60s baby (just!), 2 kids, 1 dh. Sound okay?

Original poster
busybee123 · 23/06/2004 18:52

suzywong thank you. i nearly dropped ds2 this afternoon....my arms just suddenly went!

tiamaria...i have tried desperatly to make friends with the other mums but they all seem to be 'too good' for my company and have even encountered a lot of bitchiness. I only live in a small village and everyone is so clicky. In laws work all the time. I have no spare money to pay someone to help either. I think if it is thyroid and i get it sorted then i will soon be back to my normal self....cleaning!!! i am just physically unable to do it at the moment. I always used to have all the housework done by dinnertime so i had the afternoon with the kids, but its takes me all day just to get the basics done ie food and changing nappies.

Thank you everyone for all your help. I think i would have put off going to the doctors unless you lot had convinced me...i will keep you posted...next step...blood test on tuesday morning!!

OP posts:
Honeypie · 26/06/2004 03:21

When my underactive thyroid was diagnosed the gp told me it would probably take a couple of months to feel a difference and perhaps another couple to get back to normal whatever that is. It was very underactive though. The main thing is that you will feel better and it is very simple to correct. The other 'perk' is free prescriptions if you are on thyroxine - you see every cloud ...

Original poster
busybee123 · 27/06/2004 16:10

I had a blood test today and should get the results by monday....fingers crossed!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
busybee123 · 03/07/2004 19:45

well what a waste of bloody time!! bloods cames back as normal......yet i still feel like sh*t!!! what am i supposed to do now???

OP posts:
suzywong · 03/07/2004 22:22

Oh you poor thing, so sorry to get your hopes up in my earlier post, very inconsiderate of my to do that, sorry.

May be it could be glandular fever as CD suggested.

I don't usually go in for cyber hugs but I hate to think of you feeling like sh*t and tired all the time (((((((( ))))))))))
hope you can work out what it is.

Rhubarb · 03/07/2004 22:49

Oooh, I feel the same way! Just had my bloods taken for over-active thyroid, as well as checking out my kidneys, liver, blood count, iron levels, glucose, etc. I've been losing weight like there's no tomorrow, my hair falls out too (but I put that down to pre-birth stuff), I get very, very tired, aches in arms and legs (but I did have some kind of flu virus a while ago, so it might still be that lingering on), sore eyes, sweats, etc. I'm hoping my bloods come back as normal, I don't like the sound of this over-active thyroid thingy.

Hope you can find the cause of what's happening to you. Did they check for diabetes too? Could be a virus I guess. My sympathies to you anyway, it's horrible isn't it? Esp when the kids want entertaining and you just feel like shit!

Ailsa · 04/07/2004 01:13

Rhubarb, I have ust posted on your other thread, when I first went to see my GP, he said that some thyroid problems are hereditary, and, some can start if you've had a cold, flu etc and some of the virus gets into the thyroid gland. This is most likely the reason for mine, as I don't know of anyone in my family with thyroid problems.

rosies · 04/07/2004 12:54

hi busybee,

did the GP suggest anything useful then? afterall, you still have symptoms of something... just because the blood test was negative for a thyroid condition, surely they cant just dismiss you?

the thing about blood tests, and i read this from a tricologist, is that they have acceptable levels that cover everyone (say between 10 and 20 as good levels). well, you may have come out at 11, which is ok as it goes but maybe not for you and what your body needs. did the doctor say you were well within limits or are they monitoring you?

mummytosteven · 04/07/2004 13:03

busybee - have you tried taking iron tablets - mild anaemia can make you tired and depressed, and can lower your thyroid function a wee bit? When you put on weight was it just before AF? As it does sound a bit drastic putting on 5lb in a week unless over Xmas/holidays time.

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