Hypothyroidism- please share what has helped you.

[NormasArse]

Hi, I’ve just been diagnosed with an under active thyroid, but I’m wavering about taking thyroxine because it’s a lifelong thing.

I do feel crappy all of the time. I sleep more than I’m awake, and after a day at work, I’m often too tired to drive straight away, and need a nap in the car first.

My neck feels constricted and I have all over body pain. I’m also concerned about the rise in my cholesterol.

When I’m not working, I try to walk and swim every day (some days are a write off though).

Alcohol is a complete no now- it makes me really tired, and often sick. That’s not a problem though- I can live without it easily- it’s just showing that something has shifted within me.

My concern is- what if it were suddenly become unavailable, or we moved away from the NHS?

Is there a natural way to get my thyroid to work properly again? Or at least something that means my dose would be minimal?

TIA.

Why o earth are you wavering??

I was diagnosed
straight on thyroxine
6 weeks later felt myself again
It just replicates the deficient hormone

I was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid and had all your symptoms. Before diagnosis I thought I had something severely wrong with me due to my extreme tiredness,weight gain and accompanying depression. Levothyroxine cured all of that - I felt better, lost quite a lot of weight and got my energy back.

Your GP will monitor your thyroid levels regularly to check that you're on the right dosage. I've been on it for over ten years now and it's been amazing. You just have to make sure you take it at the same time every day and on an empty stomach - and wait at least thirty minutes before you eat anything, to give time for your body to process it.

You will never be able to get your thyroid levels up through any natural means - not going to happen. Do yourself a big favour and take the medication you're offered. If you don't get your thyroid levels stabilised it can lead to serious health problems.

As the PP said, take the Thyroxine. It will take a few weeks to kick in, and the GP may need to adjust your dose. But all your symptoms will improve and you will be much more like your old self.

There is no reason not to take it.

If (unlikely) it becomes unavailable, then you end up back where you are now, but have been feeling well up to that point.

Also, you will be entitled to a NHS medical exemption card and get free prescriptions, so it won't even cost you. Speak to your GP reception about completing the form for this.

Hypothyroidism is not something caused by your lifestyle and thus you can’t improve it, it’s a medical condition. Levothyroxine provides you with the necessary hormones which your body can’t produce naturally. It also doesn’t usually have side effects, it will just put things back to normal for you.

It’s insane to not take the medication offered if you are deficient in something as vital
as thyroxine.

You are risking your health even more by not taking it.

Ir’s not perfect and can take time to optimise your levels but you need to make a start asap.

There is no natural way to fix this.

my DD has this.

you can feel shit or you can take the drugs. Thems your options.

Thanks everyone, for the kick up the bum 😂

Im seeing the Dr on Wednesday morning, so I’ll sort it then.

Does it make the fluid go away too? My face is so puffy.

Agree with all previous posters, have the same exact experience - weight gain, extreme fatigue and depression all cured with medication. You’ve been given good advice here OP, definitely take it as the condition is serious if not treated properly.
I also do lane swimming and walk everywhere, same as you. Please take the medication. It will take a little while but it will change your life for the better.

yeah, take the meds. Levothyroxine is a common drug with lots of generic producers - a situation where it wasn’t available really isn’t going to happen.

On Levothyroxine for over 20 years; stable minimal dose until 5 years ago when bloods revealed dose needed upping slightly. Not taking the medication can cause systemic issues such as increased blood pressure, depression, cold intolerance and weight gain. Not taking it will be a serious mistake.

You definitely need medication but thyroxine doesn’t work for everyone. I was on it for 4-5 years still feeling awful as my body wasn’t converting the active hormone. I’ve since gone private and it’s changed my life .
I don’t think you realise how bad you’ve been feeling until you get the right treatment

I’m taking a supplement at the moment which claims to help the conversion. I know I’m not taking the thyroxine yet; I thought the minerals in the supplement might help anyway.

What are you on instead of thyroxine?

Been suffering for over a decade. I do take Levo. If you find the cure/help for puffy face and body to let me know!!!

Liothyronine most likely.

You have to take something if you have overt hypothyroidism OP. Whether you take thyroxine or liothyronine or both, you have to take something.

In most cases in the UK, hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune condition, where your immune system targets and destroys your thyroid. You won't regain that function and it'll only get worse over time. Take the meds!

Why don’t you spend some time reading about the condition and thyroxine

and then say whether you still think you’d like to avoid taking

I have. Strangely enough, it was the Dr who was hesitant at first. He said once I was on it, that would be it for the rest of my life. It was him who made me stop and think.

The other Dr wanted to start me on it.

You can see why I was questioning it.

I took thyroxine for 17 years but the last two blood tests have shown I currently don’t need it so I’ve stopped. Another friend had the same experience so I think there are cases where it’s not a lifetime requirement. Plus you get free prescriptions!

Wow! I’m wondering why the second Dr was so reluctant now.

I had an appointment with the Dr who had ordered the blood tests. After the second lot, she phoned and asked me to make an appointment, but then she was ill and I got a locum. He didn’t want to prescribe it.

You do have to take it for life if you have the autoimmune variety, which is what the vast majority of people have.

So, it is stemming from an autoimmune disorder, apparently. I went to the Drs on Wednesday, but I still haven’t been prescribed anything, as the Dr has referred me to an endocrinologist. She thinks they may just email and ask her to start the meds, but she’s erring on the side of caution, as to which ones and what dosage.

I’m actually looking forward to feeling human again.

You can see why I was hesitant though- the Dr doesn’t seem confident in it either!

Thank you for all the replies, and hope you all stay well and full of energy!!

What are your actual TFT results OP?
Do you have overt or sub-clinical hypothyroidism?

I was shocked to get the diagnosis and accept that I'd have to be on medication for the rest of my life, but there's no way round it, you HAVE to get the medication, there's no natural way of treating it. I've had no side effects, I just take it first thing in the morning, wait half an hour before eating or drinking anything. I used to have really cold hands all the time, now I don't, result!