Anyone with underactive thyroid?

[babysteffee]

Been on thyroxine for underactive thyroid for just over a year and medication is getting me so stressed... levels up and down until they stayed on 200mcg. Memory is terrible and I forget to take the tablets, and to go back to the docs for more. Tablets make my heart beat really loudly which worries me, and make it extremely difficult to get more than an hour or twos sleep a night, literally lying awake for about 5 hours. When I don't take the tablets I feel tired/withdrawn/unable to concentrate on anything and stress makes everything ten times worse, so always trying not to get stressed... weight is increasing or staying the same whatever. I've talked to my doctor and had my tablets reduced 6 mth ago but he says there's nothing more he can do.

Seriously considering trying something like Alvidar or Thyax, has anyone tried these?

actually it IS bloody awful isn't it
it's a shite illness as people just think you're a tired bad tempered dozy cow

I know what you mean about losing the plot Ivor, I had to stop drving, I just didn't trust myselfat the wheel. I went to MN meeting at 10am in the morning and dh had to drive me there and hung around discreetly, but we thought it was just because ds2 was a baby and had me up three times a night.

Hey - hands up who has nearly strangled someone who has told them "oh you should get your head down for half an hour - you'll feel much better" GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRR [angry

Actually I'm terrified about long term side affects but wise people like suedonim and JJ tell me the benefits outway the risk.

loss of bone density, artificially accelerated heart rate

I am hoping that the rest of my life IS going to be a prolonged amount of time

SW-you were up early this morning!
I wonder what the effects will be when I start the menopause-can't effing wait!!
Most of my female line all start really early and ir cripples them so not looking forward to trying to cope with both!

I live in Australia, dropinthe

yeah that's interesting point, do you reckon you would look in to complimentary therapies. Are you talking about loss of bone densitiy?

I have already started doing weight-loading exercises for my spine, wrists and hips and if I could bear the smell I would be drinking a lot of soya milk... will have to gear up to that one

Derr!! You sound up on the whole thing SW.I have only found out a month ago so don't know the long term implications.What would be the effects of low bone density??

Osteoporosis and knackered bones, basically, dropinthe. I'm another one with underactive thyoid, and it concerns me, too.

oh are you WWB, didnt know that

but do you know what, I personally feel that the benefit of feeling human again outweighs the possible side effects. I wouldn't go back to how I was for anything

So should we all be on calcium tablets then?

I drink shed loads of milk!

JJ told me to leave it half an hour between taking your thyroxene and drinking milk as the calcium inhibits proper absorption

so how has your life changed since your diagnosis drop?

Absolutely, suzy.

Perhaps we should be taking calcium - I do try to make sure I include lots in my diet but I never manage to take as much as I'm sure I should!

Mental note to buy calcium tablets tomorrow ...

yes me too

right let's do a calcuim tablet acquisition check in 48hrs

Is yours Hashimoto's syndrome? Did you develop it before or after PG?

It hasn't changed yet as the Thyroxine hasn't kicked in yet.Only known 5 weeks and my reading has decreased from 17 to 14 in that time on 100 mgs.Up to 150 mgs now.
I am waiting with baited breath for this miracle 6 week mark that signals the change in my life!!!

After pregnancy ... those hormones have an awful lot to answer for.

What is HASHIMOTOS SYNDROME PLEASE?

It's an auto-immune problem where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, and either irreversibly damages it, or destroys it completely.

oh you will feel it kick in drop and when you do you will be very very happy

Yes WWB mine too, family history and then PG with ds1 brought it on, or killed it (the thryroid, or 'roid as I like to call it). I didn't know I was ill, just thought I was tired new mum, went on to have ds2 and when he was 9 months it was diagnosed by accident over something routine by a doctor who was not my usual gp. I never had a problem with my weight or feeling cold just the the zombified exhaustion and the diminished mental capacity - very common to new mothers and the PG. Those bloody PG hormones you are right, they just tip your endocrinology right over the edge don't they?

I've stopped taking the thyroxine altogether now, and ordered Thyax today. I'm gonna try it for three months and see if it's any better (I have told my GP this and he agrees, as the thyroxine is getting rid of one lot of symptoms and giving me a different set - and he can't prescribe Armour).

Good luck to everyone waiting for blood tests and I hope you all get sorted.

Sorry forgot to mention this - does anyone go to bed at night and lie awake for hours feeling so overwhelmed about everything? The poor concentration and memory is nothing compared to this, and I think the exhaustion is caused by lying awake for 5-6 hours.

oh no, I don't get those feelings, how unpleasant for you, hope the Thyax does the trick

i have hashimotos syndrome, im so tired all the time...