A Few Questions About an Underactive Thyroid

[mangoandlime]

Hmmm, not sure where to start really. For years and years I have suffered with really bad sore throats, around one every six weeks or so. I am constantly tired, my stamina is rubbish ie I can't exercise for very long, running wipes me out. I work twice a week in a fairly physical job and I absolutely love it but lately I'm using my off days just to rest. I'm getting really down, no motivation, you get the picture. Anyway, I have had blood test after blood test over the years to rule out gland. Fever and underactive thyroid, I do remember a few yrs ago a doc saying my result was borderline but then nothing else was said and I didn't think any more of it. The sore throats have continued and I've stopped going to the docs with my throats now as every time I'm told it's viral.

At the moment I'm so poorly, last night I didn't sleep, my throat is deep down sore and I feel awful. I saw a doc yesterday and she was good, told her I want to get to the bottom of this now, I'm having blood tests next tuesday and she mentioned underactive thyroid. I feel a bit if a div because I've only just realised the thyroid is in the throat, could this be the pain I have so much? Also I'm confused about the results, how do you interpret them? Should I ask what the results were of my last blood test in 2008. Looking at the symptoms the one about a third of your outer eyebrow missing screamed out at me! Along with loads of others. Funny as well hat at a family party my aunty told me to keep an eye on an underactive thyroid because it's in the family quite heavily on my mother's side.

I'm sorry for that stream of consciousness! Any help would be so gratefully received.

Are you me Leonie??! Feel the same lately. I know I'm - um - shh - peri-menopausal but surely it shouldn't make me this grim - and the face blotchiness is a nightmare at times

mango, just wanted to say that I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid about 3 years ago after a long, long run of horrible viruses including throat infections. For me this was one of my main symptoms, although my dr was quite dismissive of the idea that underactive thyroid could be causing me to get viruses. The end of my tether came after the worst ear infection I have ever had (ear was so infected that the whole of one side of my face swelled and one eye closed!) I went back to the Dr and demanded another test and they did then give me the thyroxine.

My TSH level is now just under 1 and I'm a different person; the viruses have all gone and I'm SO much more energetic.

I do hope your dr sorts this for you; my mum's (excellent) GP says that the TSH level should be suppressed to near 0 to be right. So levels of 3, 4, 5 could be awfully high for some people. My GP has got much better too and now medicates me on how I feel not on what the levels are saying.

Good luck.

CBTS, sounds like you have an excellent GP, there is hope! That's it really isn't it, go on the individual, not just results. I mustn't be thinking negatively though, maybe my results will be enough for my GP to take action. We shall see. My throat is killing me tonight, swallowing is painful, right in the middle of my throat, so I'm off to bed I think for another crap night!

hope you get some rest mango. I'd be interested to hear how it goes for you

I was diagnosed about 6 years ago with hashimotos (underactive), i was lucky to get an abnormal result early and therefore got thyroxine straight away. It made me feel better than i had straight away, i.e. hair stopped falling out, stopped crying all the time and getting drunk really quickly, but never felt as i had before, still couldn't lose weight, had really bad insomnia and was peri-menopausal etc. In the US it's now agreed that your TSH should be under 2 or preferably under 1 if you are to feel better, particularly if you're trying to conceive, it seems inconceivable that we are lagging so far behind on something that it is thought affects a huge proportion of the populationg. So a 'normal' result does not mean that you are OK, it may mean that you are underactive for you and need treatment. Doctors should treat the symptoms not the figures.

However, after 2 1/2 yrs of trying to conceive including fertility treatment and being told to give up and have egg donation, I decided to address the issue. Never got anywhere with GP or endocrinologiest as my results are 'normal' so ended up going privately and seeing an alternative doctor and was eventually prescribed natural thyroxine. The day i started taking it was as if the lights had been turned back on in my life, 3 months later i conceived naturally.

My results now show that i am underactive TSH

It started off like shingles - sort of a long patch of raised itchy welts (mm, lovely!) then disappeared and now keeps coming back, under my eye, on my eyelids and in other places - really dry, red and itchy - no discernible reason, not an allergy, really wierd - docs have no idea but thyroid problems were mentioned, as am also constipated (tmi!) exhausted etc. Now, after the two conflicting blood test results, I have virtually been left to get on with it. really frustrating.

Well that is odd as when my thyroid was at its lowest I had red itchy rashes on my face and my chin went bright red.Doc was thinking rosacea maybe,and I have a friend with an under-active thyroid who also has problems with redness and rashyness.Maybe there is a connection?

I went to the GP years ago because I was getting persistent headaches and various blood tests were done. One was a borderline thyroid I was asked to wait and go back a few weeks later for another test. This one had the same result and the Dr reluctantly gave me a low dose of thyroxine ie. 25microgrammes. Over a period of time I was tested every couple of months and now years later I can tell when the levels are low. I'm now on 175 microgrammes of thryoxine, which I believe is at the high end and at this level I feel ok. You would think that if I was borderline then I wouldn't need a high dose of thyroxine, so I have always be dubious about the tests.

As for sore throats I have suffered with them all my life ever since childhood, so I don't know if that's co-incidence or not. Even now I often have the rumbling of a sore throat and think it's going to develop into a cold but it goes away - this is almost weekly.

I know you're supposed to feel exhausted, but I'd just had three children in three years when diagnosed so anyone would be exhausted. Other side effects that I get are feeling the cold and very very sore eyes (apparently not making enough tears).

I hope you are diagnosed with something easily sorted. Fwiw if it is a thyroid problem it won't go overnight as they will gradually increase your dosage until it's right, which can take months. At least you will feel better.

I do think it's going to be a long old treck, Housewife. I'm certainly a realist if nothing else so prepared for the months of waiting until I feel better, if indeed I am diagnosed in the first place.

Had my blood test st the hospital yesterday, I'm going back to drs on Tuesday to see results/talk to dr. In the meantime an eye infection that I'e had since last Thursday has really flared up making me feel really bleurgh on top of everything else so I was precribed drops for that today.

Onwards and upwards!!

Hope everyone's feeling Okay.

Mango, like some others on here I have had years of thyroid issues due to Autoimmunue Thyroiditis. After my ds1 as born in 2005 I had radioactive iodine to zap my thyroid and I now take 175mcg of Thyroxine a day to replace the fact I cant make my own. A fairly extreme measure and not one I would recommend ! Given I tehnically dont have a thyroid anymore you would think that my dosage need would be constant but my 6 monthly blood tests show quite different results every time. I now know I feel best when my TSH is about 1. I was lucky to get a great Endocrinologist that I made my GP refer me to as I had private medical cover. He is based in North London and is called Mark Vanderpump ( yes really !!). Anyway, he was very good and to get thyroid issues taken seriously you really need to see a specialist as from my experience GPs have no in depth knowledge and can be more harmful than helpful. Good luck with it all and keep us posted.

Thank you mousemole. Actually I have come to ask advice from all of you experienced thyroiders! I have just rec'd my results. The range is 0.35 - 4.94 and my results are 4.3 (TSH)

The receptionist told me the notes said 'Normal, no action'. I am going to the drs tomorrow to discuss the results though. Guess the next thing is a referral, as discussed the other day.

Just feel I'm going to be hitting my head against a brick wall. My throat has been so sore for three weeks now, right in the middle of my throat though. struggling on at work is no fun. Luckily the eye drops are zapping the infection I've also had.

Just so flipping Tiiiired of it all!

Saw my dr today..as my test result was within range it's a nocando on the endo referral. She has referred me to an ENT specialist who I'll be seeing July 9. I spoke to his private secretary and he can see me privately on May 11. As it's a recurring sore throat problem at the heart of all this I doubt the insurance will cover it so I'll just wait for July, I think. Not much choice really!

Mango - your results are at the high end of normal. If my TSh was 4 then I would definitely feel 'hypo' - i.e incredibly tired and prone to picking up any bug that is doing the rounds. Google hypothyoidism to see if the symptoms match yours. Maybe have another blood test in another 6 weeks to see what the results are ? Interestingly in America they recently changed the normal range and anything about Tsh 3.5 is considered hypothyroid.

Thank you mousemole, yep I agree it is at the high end. Unfortunately my drs attitude was it's within range and in her words not even borderline! You can see what I'm up against. In her favour as I said at least she's referred me. She says ENT deal with thyroid probs also so I'll wait and see but not holding much hope. She isn't my usual dr, she was on hols last week so perhaps my usual will be more helpful, maybe I'll wait till I've seen the specialist. Just feel I'm in limbo a bit. Dh says he's coming with me to the app. He's really good at getting things across ! I just have a feeling I'm on a hiding to nothing though, really.

Oh yes, mousemole, all the symptoms are there for sure. Don't think I've ever seen the outer third of my eyebrows either!!

Mangoandlime: I usually do not feel great when TSH>1-2! At >4 I would be a wreck! Feel so sorry for you: ENT and thyroid problems??? Sounds to me like another GP who knows little about thyroid problems. Good your dh will come and fence for you though, and hope you get it sorted..

My GP was brilliant, fortunately..
I was diagnosed as hypothyroid by him in April 2004, after feeling wrung out, depressed, dry skin, weight gain etc etc etc. Cannot remember my TSH level, but it was way- way off. Since then it has turned out to be Hashimoto's (autoimmune) thyroiditis.

I also got those recurring rashes that coolma was talking about. Looked very much like hives (itchy raised red blotches). Initially did not think they were linked, but found out that they are: I saw a specialist in an allergy clinic, who told me that esp. during episodes of low thyroid function I may develop these hives. They are also autoimmune.
He did also say that low thyroid would make me more likely to pick up virus (throat) infections.

I have since tried to keep my levels within the normal range, but do not always manage unfortunately...

You know what...Honneybunny and mousemole..you have made me think that I should get a second opinion. I will see the ENT guy (if I can get in privately ie sooner) If not then I'm going back.

good for you mango - although an endocrinologist is definitely best for thyroid stuff. Undestand you want the sore throat things looked at. You'd be amazed what aches and pains disappear when your thyroid is in the right range.

Hello:

I would really appreciate some advice from people who know about thyroid issues -- mangoandlime, my sympathies; I hope you get an answer soon, and hope you are feeling better.

I am currently 33 weeks into my first pregnancy, generally feeling ok. My GP referred me for some blood-tests last week after I starting getting really horrid cramps in my thigh (not the common-in-pregnancy calf-kind, which I also get and have had since I was a kid, but can cope with). Calcium, magnesium etc levels all came back ok but the hospital told me my thyroid readings were low. My TSH was in the normal range, but my Free-T4 was low (10.3 compared with their normal range of 12-22).

I have never had any thyroid issues before. Does anyone know if you can become hypothyroid in pregnancy, much like you can get gestational diabetes? And if so, does it go away again afterwards, or do you have it for life? And do my results indeed suggest hypothyroidism?

Of course have now completely scared myself silly by reading google stuff about how hypothyroidism can cause mental retardation during the 1st trimester etc etc., which I know was a silly thing to do. Am obviously way past that point, but am now wondering if it's something I've had for a while which has gone undiagnosed.

Any advice greatly appreciated -- my GP is lovely but takes ages to get an appt with her. My midwife is completely dismissive and last time I brought up the cramps she told me it was just something I had to put up with.

Thank-you!

Found this thread when I searched 'under active thyroid' and am really grateful for the advice shared.

I feel very unwell - dead arms at night, sore throat, sleeping 10 hours is not enough, feeling 'unconnected' with what is going on.

GP mentioned hypo-thyroid and I am having fasting blood tests at 10.20am tomorrow. Hope it turns up something.

How are you now Mango?

I have ressurected this thread today (I was Mango&Lime!)

I came across this thread today looking for thyroid info, DH and I are going back to the drs tomorrow to talk thyroid again, yes, over two years later and I'm still feeling rubbish but without a diagnosis. I have gained a stone since January, my glands are throbbing and up in my neck and at the back of my legs, I've been poorly for over two weeks now. I've been in tears today because I've had to leave work two hours early (I've struggled on for the past two weeks, hate having time off) - This happens to me this badly twice a year but normally I pay for any 'good' day with having to rest up, no energy to exercise, I feel hopeless most of the time, Im totally running on empty...I bore myself with it all.

I just need some answers now but have this feeling I'm never going to get any, feeling defeated already! Thanks for reading...

have you looked at Dr myhil's site on chronic fatigue? Could you stretch to a private Dr?
Sounds like you really need some answers!