Thyroid problems

[aimee-lou]

Hi all,

I think I've put this on before but I wanted to talk generally about my probs and see if anyone can help/share.

Since having Earl I was diagnosed (he was 4ish months) with hypothyroidism and my GPs have been doing blood tests and gradually upping my dose of levothyroxine and I'm now at the highest 'normal' dose of 150mcg per day and I'm not convinced that this is high enough as I still have symptoms despite being on the higher dose for 2 weeks now (takes this time to notice any benefit). I've been told today that I've probably had hyperthyroidism in the past, and the related condition of grave's disease. I've been told not to actively TTC until my dose has been stable for 2 consecutive blood tests, 6 weeks apart and there's no guarantee that I wont need another upping or 2 to make me stable.

I'm still having really bad symptoms. My hair is still falling out, and I have a really dry scalp. I still have massive mood swings, made worse if I forget to take my tablets. I'm losing weight still (have been for about 6 months now) and I'm starting to look really drawn and unhealthy. I'm always tired and really rundown, which I know could be due to the fact that I'm working full time and have had colds for the past 3 months solid virtually. I've also been told today that I have glue ear (apparently that can be connected) but that is affecting my hearing and my balance too!

Generally I'm not in a good way - and it's not made any better b financial stresses and hubby studying full time so I have to work and sort out shildcare for Earl - luckily hubby picks him up etc so I can work full days.

I've recently cut my hours at work, and I have made the decision to actually put myself first for once. My Dr today told me that if my health generally doesn't improve then she'll likely to give me a sign-off notice for work for 2 weeks recuperation.....she's my new GP as we moved 2 months ago, and doesn't know me, but she can tell I'm not good!

I just want to get on with my life, and not be ill/rundown. It's not much to ask!

 

[Fergie]

Granted i only take 100mg, my sis basically the same but my mum is on 600mg per day. All the symptoms we had were the same, weight gain, moodswings, scaly skin, dry scalp etc. I take it your GP checked T4 & T3 levels ?.

I felt permanently knackered !. I had the constant colds, general lethagy but now im settled with my dosage and i feel better than i did previously. But it has taken about 2 years to even out. I'd go back to your GP and take a list of how you're feeling and your symptoms to go through Xx

 

[aimee-lou]

Thanks for th reply!

My Doctor's appointment to get the latest test results back was yesterday. I had an inkling that I would need to go up as when they rang me to book the appointment they mentioned my function still being low.

My symptoms aren't as bad as they were, but it's all the other bits surround it that are getting me down, espeically the glue ear which is a right pain. I wokr in a call centre and it's making life very uncomfortable. I also have joint pain, my food tastes funny most of the time and I'm permanently knackered, which my previous GP just said 'Yeah, and, you're a Mum'. There speaks a woman who's not happy with her life me-thinks!

Thanksfully the Dr I have now also has hypo, so is basically a specialist in the field. I'm hopeful that she'll see me right. It just hacks me off that it's taken over a year so far and I still don't feel much better than I did before.

My mum and Gran oth have it and my Mum only takes 75mcg a day, ot sure about my gran.

I hope you're feeling well though, and that it's all going well for you. Thanks agian for the reply.

 

[Fergie]

Glue ear is horrible. I used to get it a lot when i was younger.

Not being funny but has your GP ever checked your VitB-12 levels ?.

My mum, sis and i all have deficiencies in this. It may be worth your time asking to be tested. I get an injection 1x weekly whereas my mum only gets 1x trimonthly. The symptoms of the deficiency make you feel just as knackered and run down as if your thyroxine needed doubled.

Hope you feel better soon X

 

[aimee-lou]

Thanks again - and thanks for the tip. I have been (rather dangerous I know) researching this online and I think you may be on to something. Not sure that my GP will test as they refused to test me for anaemia at this stage (want to get my thyroxine stable first) but I can't keep feeling this crappy. Hubby is going to try to get some supplements for me to try so we'll see if they may a difference. If they do I can try to pressure the doc.

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Fergie]

Lol .. i'm the same. Whenever i get a new symptom to my illness (i have chronic pancreatitis amongst other problems) i'm straight onto google !!. I've scared myself witless reading some of the stuff. According to google i should have been dead by now !! lol.
I'd ask your GP anyway. You never know they might surprise you .xx

 

[NIfirsttimer]

hey girls... just spotted this and popped in to say hi!
im the other end.. ive got graves disease which is a form of hyperthyroidism... i just got diagnosed around 8 or 9 months ago, and at that point i was in 'crisis' id been to the dr SO many times with various symptoms like weight loss, RACING heart, anxiety etc, and it was always attributed to other things, and it was only when i saw the top GP at the practise about something with ruby, that he spotted that my thyroid was really enlarged, and referred me for bloods, which showed that my TSH was totally turned off, and my T4 was sky high. he referred me on to hosp who saw me within a week, and carried out a radioactive iodine scan and some other tests, to establish if it was post partum related (and would resolve on its on in time) or graves, which is permament. it was graves.
i started on a titrating dose of carbimazole, and am now down to 15mg and maintaining relatively normal levels, which is awesome, and i feel SO much better!!!

anyway, that turned into a bit of an essay, so ill sign off now, but, HI!!!

 

[aimee-lou]

Hi NIFirsttimer!

My Dr thinks I had graves to begin with (apparently my eyes are the giveaway as it makes your eyes slightly protrude and I apparently have this.....I'm now slightly paranoid! lol) although I've never had any symptoms for hyper - only got the hypo symptoms after having Earl and my results were shocking according to my Doctor. He immediately put me onto the tabs and told me to go home and sleep! lol

I'm glad that the treatment is working for you hun! Good to hear that these things do come good.

 

[aimee-lou]

I've scared myself witless reading some of the stuff. According to google i should have been dead by now !! lol.

He he, same here! More than once lol

 

[4xmommy]

My gp acted like my T3/T4 levels were no big deal....and my midwife threw a hissy fit!! So to compromise they put me on levothyroxine...which did nothing. Hair was falling out. I was asleep on my feet. Could not lose weight!! High cholestrol....high blood pressure....extreme exhaustion!! Not good since hubby is unemployed atm! So i talked them into putting me on Armour thyroid! I know it is desicated pig thyroid, but it worked!! and i didn't have the neck pain after dropping the levo!!

Since then (that was a year ago)....our insurance has run out (we're in states) and my gp will not take the gov issued insurance! So i have run out of the armour. Also i have found out that I am a little over 2 months prgnt!! so I have a ton of excess weight to deal with, and i am sooooooooooooooooooper exhausted....*sigh*.........and my midwife has told me they want me to keep my weight gain to 10 pounds or less!! OY VEY!!!