thyroid problems: anyone with experiences?

[MaeBee]

hi,
i have tests due on tuesday but from my own research i am beginning to suspect that my tiredness/no libido/bleeding between periods etc is to do with hydothyroidism (spelling? i mean low thyroid!)
before i always justassumed that thyroid issues were related to obesity, so with my long battle to uncover my illness it never occured to me. i am a bit overweight but about 4 pounds outside my normal BMI so not enough to cause medical concern. but ticking off the symptoms one by one it really seems that this might be the issue.
anyone who can tell me, once diagnosed, what is it like? i have read that you have to have treatment for life sometimes, but does everything go back to normal? does a special diet help? what about booze?!
and please, might i want sex again? i can't even be arsed to masturbate these days...

i have had my thyroid removed, so now have underactive thyroid, i take thyroid replacement everyday, and will do for life. at first getting the dosage right can be tricky, it can take a while and need adjusting afew times, or you can get kucky and get the right dose first time. once the meds are at the right level it does make a huge change, and you do feel normal again. you are fine to drink on the tablets, i have never been given a special diet but obviously healthy eating and exercise helps to keep your weight down anyway, and i have found that despite the tablets i do still put on weight easily.

thanks nancy.
how long did it take to get the dosage right for you? can i ask why you had it removed?
and how does it affect your libido? sorry if thats too personal!

i had my thyroid removed because it was overactive and i was developing a goitre (very attractive growth around the throat!)
my care was under an endocrinologist rather than a gp and i was lucky to get the dose pretty much right first time, i felt better within a couple of weeksand probably felt properly normal after about 6 weeks.
rest assured your sex drive does come back. my thyroid problems made me feel so crappy in so may ways, i was so tired just couldnt be bothered with anything and once you get like that sex just goes out the window, once i started feeling more like myself my libido came back too. if you are diagnosed with it i would push for a referal to see an endocrinologist, some gps manage thyroid problems themselves, but i found that once i had seen the specialist my problems were dealt with much more quickly and effectively.

thanks nancy, my gp is a good friend of mine and she's really helpful! i have been back and forth from hospital anyway cos of this bleeding between periods/tiredness problem anyway, so they're used to refering me on.
better within a couple of weeks sounds good!

i have had hypothyroidism since the age of 11. I started off needing a very low dose, and now..... well, everytime i go to a new pharamcist, they say "wow, thats a high dose" lol!

totally agree with nancy, push for the endocrinologist - they are much more knowledgable in specific details.

I have a blood test every six months to check my levels, as they can go up and down. Yes the tablets are usually for life, but one small comfort - you are entitled to a medical exemption certificate so at least you wont have to pay for them

I don't really drink (through choice, not necessity) so cant offer advice on that one. As for libido - been single for so many years i have long forgot what all that is for anyway!!!!

thanks jetcat,
it all feels big and scary to me, but i've felt so increasingly run down and confused i'm just very keen for a diagnosis. of course, i could be wrong.
do you know if general run downness and poor immunity is connected to this? i never, ever used to get ill and then recently i seem to constantly be coming down with colds and sore throats and general malaise and all that.