thyroid misery

Dempo1 · 02-08-2020 10:55pm

Deja Boo wrote: »

I did yeah, awhile ago, and she suggested it was probably a side affect from the medication, then she dismissed my complaint...

Do you see a specialist consultant?, might be worth discussing with them. I've heard of ear aches, primarily caused by Thyroid inflammation, I'd really press GP of specialist for advice. Just a thought, have you researched the specific med your on, I'm on 2 different tablets and 2 for secondary issues caused by Greaves, you might see if it's a known side effect that your having.

Deja Boo · 02-08-2020 11:50pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

Do you see a specialist consultant?, might be worth discussing with them. I've heard of ear aches, primarily caused by Thyroid inflammation, I'd really press GP of specialist for advice. Just a thought, have you researched the specific med your on, I'm on 2 different tablets and 2 for secondary issues caused by Greaves, you might see if it's a known side effect that your having.

No specialist consult was offered as an option, just dismissed. Any hearing test they require will come out fine, it's just this obnoxious ringing all the time. Thanks for the advice, I shall ask once I find a new GP, my last one left practise due to covid. I had not looked into the medication side affects, as she said it was a requirement I take it religiously... but I shall, thanks

Deja Boo · 03-08-2020 7:44pm

@Dempo1 - I just made an appointment with GP. Thanks for suggesting it, I wouldnt've thought to ask again.

Dempo1 · 03-08-2020 7:48pm

Deja Boo wrote: »

@Dempo1 - I just made an appointment with GP. Thanks for suggesting it, I wouldnt've thought to ask again.

Good, I'm am curious though, you mentioned GP prescribed meds, have you actually seen a specialist, my journey started with standard blood tests that worried my GP, from there I was sent to a fantastic specialist in Portlaoise, basically he manages medications etc and my GP does the prescriptions. Good luck with GP

Clare Kat · 03-08-2020 9:29pm

Deja Boo wrote: »

My thyroid medicine seems to've caused tinnitus... and I don't mind saying, it's driving me up.the.proverbial.wall (and worsening!)
The loud, endless ringing is so much less tolerant than my (tremendous) thyroid exhaustion and if I could (ever) get off the blasted medication, I would!

.

This has nothing to with your medicine and everything to do with thyroid dysfunction. Your medicine needs to be adjusted by an actual ENDOCRINOLOGIST. Don’t mind the GP’s, not specialized to deal with this. Best of luck and sorry you are so uncomfortable.

Dempo1 · 03-08-2020 9:37pm

My thoughts also but it doesn't seem like there is an endocrinologist involved, hopefully OP will get the issue resolved and medication adjusted

Clare Kat · 03-08-2020 9:44pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

My thoughts also but it doesn't seem like there is an endocrinologist involved, hopefully OP will get the issue resolved and medication adjusted

So important. This is a country is a joke how they deal with medical issues! Wouldn’t get a plumber in to wire my house even though he might be handy in that line. Need to get the right person to manage the problem.

Dempo1 · 03-08-2020 9:57pm

Clare Kat wrote: »

So important. This is a country is a joke how they deal with medical issues! Wouldn’t get a plumber in to wire my house even though he might be handy in that line. Need to get the right person to manage the problem.

Agreed, my clinic appointments now moved to telephone consultation because of Covid-19, based on blood tests but first one actually worked out fine but I feel for those requiring cancer screening etc, just seems the hospital system has come to a grinding halt

Clare Kat · 03-08-2020 10:36pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

Agreed, my clinic appointments now moved to telephone consultation because of Covid-19, based on blood tests but first one actually worked out fine but I feel for those requiring cancer screening etc, just seems the hospital system has come to a grinding halt

It was bad pre-Covid but by God it’s so much worse now. Delighted to hear that you have an endocrinologist, which is so important. Not sure how anyone can assess a patient via telephone consultation. Even if they use facetime unless they have XRay vision how can they pick up on things??? You are so right about cancer screening, etc. Too many administrators, not enough feet on the ground from what I can see.

New Home · 04-08-2020 12:29am

I was told that in the local hospital the waiting time for rescheduling a visit with a consultant is at least 9 months, as they're down to 1/3 of the pre-Covid staff, and that's a phone appointment, too.

Clare Kat · 04-08-2020 10:33pm

New Home wrote: »

I was told that in the local hospital the waiting time for rescheduling a visit with a consultant is at least 9 months, as they're down to 1/3 of the pre-Covid staff, and that's a phone appointment, too.

That is ludicrous, I’m afraid this has very little to do with Covid and more with poor management

New Home · 05-08-2020 12:41am

Clare Kat wrote: »

That is ludicrous, I’m afraid this has very little to do with Covid and more with poor management

Same as for the cancer screening, do you mean? :rolleyes: I know... Now, unless 2/3 of the endocrinology outpatients dept is in isolation with Covid (or suspected Covid), or unless it's due to distancing requirements, there's no reasonable explanation.

Dempo1 · 05-08-2020 6:26am

New Home wrote: »

Same as for the cancer screening, do you mean? :rolleyes: I know... Now, unless 2/3 of the endocrinology outpatients dept is in isolation with Covid (or suspected Covid), or unless it's due to distancing requirements, there's no reasonable explanation.

It is an appalling situation and I can't get my head around why they essentially closed down hospitals when they could have and did isolate special wards to help Covid19 patients, indeed hospitals still check temperatures of anyone visiting them today. I had the misfortune of breaking my ankle on the middle of all this, saw first hand a large Midlands Hospital in the middle of the crisis, ambulance called etc and whilst the majority of staff brilliant a few clearly didn't want me there.

I counted 3 patients, including myself, it was just surreal. Discharged (actually, thrown out essentially) and had to make my own arrangements to get to dublin in 2 days to a private hospital for the actual operation as no general surgery being done at public hospitals.

I couldn't fault the private hospital, the Hermitage but still cannot figure out why it was needed.

My post opp checks done back at Midlands hospital and it was shocking, again staff either just stressed or lacking in any interest, XRAYS needed and surgery wound checks needed. Such was the lack of any attention to detail, pins were not fully removed leading to secondary infection and what should have been a 6 week recovery will now be 12 weeks.

Mine is just one experience and I fear I'm not alone, in the mean time, waiting lists have sky rocketed and specialist clinics that we need, Thyroid etc have all but stopped functioning. It's a very very worrying time for many and it really is not getting much if any media attention sadly.

Clare Kat · 05-08-2020 9:43pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

It is an appalling situation and I can't get my head around why they essentially closed down hospitals when they could have and did isolate special wards to help Covid19 patients, indeed hospitals still check temperatures of anyone visiting them today. I had the misfortune of breaking my ankle on the middle of all this, saw first hand a large Midlands Hospital in the middle of the crisis, ambulance called etc and whilst the majority of staff brilliant a few clearly didn't want me there.

I counted 3 patients, including myself, it was just surreal. Discharged (actually, thrown out essentially) and had to make my own arrangements to get to dublin in 2 days to a private hospital for the actual operation as no general surgery being done at public hospitals.

I couldn't fault the private hospital, the Hermitage but still cannot figure out why it was needed.

My post opp checks done back at Midlands hospital and it was shocking, again staff either just stressed or lacking in any interest, XRAYS needed and surgery wound checks needed. Such was the lack of any attention to detail, pins were not fully removed leading to secondary infection and what should have been a 6 week recovery will now be 12 weeks.

Mine is just one experience and I fear I'm not alone, in the mean time, waiting lists have sky rocketed and specialist clinics that we need, Thyroid etc have all but stopped functioning. It's a very very worrying time for many and it really is not getting much if any media attention sadly.

Oh my God, what a truly horrible experience. So... there were 3 patients, the staff were largely uninterested, thrown out to head to Dublin for operation, very poor post-op care leading to a wound infection and longer recovery time. So sorry to hear this was what transpired, but I hate to say it this is largely par for the course here in Ireland and they can blame it on Covid/lack of beds/ poor staffing etc.. the list is endless and unfortunately it all comes down to one thing.... POOR MANAGEMENT! I have spent numerous months traveling back and forth with family members to hospitals both in the West and also in Dublin, doesn’t make a blind bit of difference. The care or lack thereof is atrocious!!! When you ask to speak with a manager you are redirected from Billy to Jack and back to Mary-Anne, but nobody is actually in CHARGE so therefore nobody has to bear responsibility for anything. They all keep passing the buck as they stand there all defensive always with clipboard in hand mind you. I have been a critical care nurse for over 30yrs in the US and to be honest I feel as if I stepped back in time. The nurses have absolutely no autonomy, continually defer to the doctors ( who look like they are about 12!), and are basically handmaidens. Sorry about the rant. Hope you are doing okay now and your infection is clearing up. No excuse for shoddy care. It’s 3rd world medicine in a 1st world country.

Dempo1 · 05-08-2020 9:56pm

Clare Kat wrote: »

Oh my God, what a truly horrible experience. So... there were 3 patients, the staff were largely uninterested, thrown out to head to Dublin for operation, very poor post-op care leading to a wound infection and longer recovery time. So sorry to hear this was what transpired, but I hate to say it this is largely par for the course here in Ireland and they can blame it on Covid/lack of beds/ poor staffing etc.. the list is endless and unfortunately it all comes down to one thing.... POOR MANAGEMENT! I have spent numerous months traveling back and forth with family members to hospitals both in the West and also in Dublin, doesn’t make a blind bit of difference. The care or lack thereof is atrocious!!! When you ask to speak with a manager you are redirected from Billy to Jack and back to Mary-Anne, but nobody is actually in CHARGE so therefore nobody has to bear responsibility for anything. They all keep passing the buck as they stand there all defensive always with clipboard in hand mind you. I have been a critical care nurse for over 30yrs in the US and to be honest I feel as if I stepped back in time. The nurses have absolutely no autonomy, continually defer to the doctors ( who look like they are about 12!), and are basically handmaidens. Sorry about the rant. Hope you are doing okay now and your infection is clearing up. No excuse for shoddy care. It’s 3rd world medicine in a 1st world country.

Thanks for that much better now

The US, wow, I worked and lived in Baltimore, Marland, USA for 3 years, loved it.

Clare Kat · 05-08-2020 10:02pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

Thanks for that much better now

The US, wow, I worked and lived in Baltimore, Marland, USA for 3 years, loved it.

Delighted to hear that you are feeling much better. I visited Baltimore Maryland several years ago, beautiful place. I can understand why you loved it.

Galbin · 06-08-2020 9:35pm

Deja Boo wrote: »

I did yeah, awhile ago, and she suggested it was probably a side affect from the medication, then she dismissed my complaint...

Eltroxin is a replacement hormone. It's not technically a pharmaceutical drug, so one should only get side effects if they are over replaced or deficient in other nutrients needed for thyroid to work properly. If you were overreplaced, you would likely have other symptoms such as high heart rate, anxiety, weight loss, insomnia etc. Do you have those too?

It sounds like you need to get a full thyroid panel run and see where your FT4 and FT3 are. Ferritin, B12, Vitamin D would also be very useful. Sadly, for some very odd reason, most endos are not good with thyroid and tend to keep their patients on super low doses. They also don't like T3, which is the active thyroid hormone.

In your shoes, I would see about finding another GP or going to one of the recommend thyroid doctors.

Dempo1 · 06-08-2020 9:43pm

Galbin wrote: »

Eltroxin is a replacement hormone. It's not technically a pharmaceutical drug, so one should only get side effects if they are over replaced or deficient in other nutrients needed for thyroid to work properly. If you were overreplaced, you would likely have other symptoms such as high heart rate, anxiety, weight loss, insomnia etc. Do you have those too?

It sounds like you need to get a full thyroid panel run and see where your FT4 and FT3 are. Ferritin, B12, Vitamin D would also be very useful. Sadly, for some very odd reason, most endos are not good with thyroid and tend to keep their patients on super low doses. They also don't like T3, which is the active thyroid hormone.

In your shoes, I would see about finding another GP or going to one of the recommend thyroid doctors.

Excellent advice, as it happens I've most of the symptoms you mentioned apart from anxiety, I'm guessing it's the type I have, Greaves.

So important to have an understanding GP and it was my GP who suspected Thyroid issues and requested an ultrasound leading to an excellent Endocrinologist. Unfortunately clinic now closed and telephone consultations for the foreseeable future but at least I can bloods done in gp surgery which are then emailed to clinic.

New Home · 06-08-2020 9:46pm

Galbin wrote: »

Eltroxin is a replacement hormone. It's not technically a pharmaceutical drug, so one should only get side effects if they are over replaced or deficient in other nutrients needed for thyroid to work properly. If you were overreplaced, you would likely have other symptoms such as high heart rate, anxiety, weight loss, insomnia etc. Do you have those too?

It sounds like you need to get a full thyroid panel run and see where your FT4 and FT3 are. Ferritin, B12, Vitamin D would also be very useful. Sadly, for some very odd reason, most endos are not good with thyroid and tend to keep their patients on super low doses. They also don't like T3, which is the active thyroid hormone.

In your shoes, I would see about finding another GP or going to one of the recommend thyroid doctors.

Having said all that, it's not 100% thyroxin, there are other components in the medication (e.g. bulking agents, etc), that in some cases may cause their own side effects (e.g. lactose for lactose intolerant people or wheat starch etc in caeliacs).

I agree with getting a eecond opinion and an endocrinologist's one, too.

Galbin · 10-08-2020 3:03pm

New Home wrote: »

Having said all that, it's not 100% thyroxin, there are other components in the medication (e.g. bulking agents, etc), that in some cases may cause their own side effects (e.g. lactose for lactose intolerant people or wheat starch etc in caeliacs).

True. Are you lactose or wheat intolerant, OP? Do you have any other symptoms of under/over active thyroid on that dose?

Jen44 · 12-08-2020 11:05pm

Hi All, looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism around two months ago. I went to my gp as I was wrecked and having heavy periods. She did a TFT and my TSH was 15. She tested for antibodies and said they were very high. I’ve been started on eltroxin 100mcg and after 6 weeks she checked again and the TSH was still high so she’s increased the dose to 125mcg. My question is really to ask is anyone else having joint pains? I have awful joint pains, the back of my knees and elbows a my hands feel very tight in the morning and sometimes it affects my shoulders and hips too. I went back to my gp today but she was away and I saw another young doctor who I think thought I was mad. She looked at my joints and said they aren’t swollen which I knew myself. But regardless they are very sore at night. She gave me a blood form to have arthritis antibodies next week but said it could be just the higher dose of eltroxin hasn’t kicked in yet. Anyone else experience the same?

TherapyBoy · 13-08-2020 2:11am

Eltroxin is a drug that works very slowly, I’ve heard before from an endocrinologist that it can take a period of 6 weeks after you begin taking it before it starts to affect you. Same with a dosage change, it could take the same length of time before you see any change in how the drug is working. Might be worth giving it another couple of weeks to see if it starts to help you.
If you’re unsure about whether the drug is doing you any good it also might be worth making an appointment to see an endocrine doctor or thyroid specialist, they might be more familiar with your symptoms/medications etc than your GP. Your GP would be able to help you with a referral.

Jen44 · 13-08-2020 7:42am

Thanks for getting back to me. It’s mad I was just started on the tablet and not given any information so I didn’t actually realise the impact hypothyroidism can have on you physically. I was kind of given the impression take these tablets and you will be grand again. I was taking the tablets every morning with a big mug of tea so I’ve started taking them now on an empty stomach having read it online so hopefully that might help. The joint pain is really starting to get me down. I’m only 37 this isn’t something I thought I would be dealing with till a bit further down the line

Dempo1 · 13-08-2020 8:01am

Jen44 wrote: »

Thanks for getting back to me. It’s mad I was just started on the tablet and not given any information so I didn’t actually realise the impact hypothyroidism can have on you physically. I was kind of given the impression take these tablets and you will be grand again. I was taking the tablets every morning with a big mug of tea so I’ve started taking them now on an empty stomach having read it online so hopefully that might help. The joint pain is really starting to get me down. I’m only 37 this isn’t something I thought I would be dealing with till a bit further down the line

I wish you well in your Treatment, I've a different form of this illness, Graves Disease to be precise and Joint, muscle pain is a symptom I endure albeit not as severe as your own. My meds are different due to high blood pressure and cholesterol issues related to Graves but I believe joint, muscle pain may not be directly related to eltroxin, more a symptom of your illness. My pains are mainly around the back of my legs and knees and I use Difine gel which is prescribed and it helps, I'm not sure if this would help your own joint pain but as previous poster has stated, you may need a referral to an endocrinologist, I'm assuming you've already seen one. I'm 53, diagnosed two years ago, it does take time but once your meds are perfected to suit your particular condition, daily life will get easier. There are some very knowledgeable people on this thread who are extremely helpful. Take care in the meantime

Curlysue76 · 13-08-2020 11:42am

Jen44 wrote: »

Thanks for getting back to me. It’s mad I was just started on the tablet and not given any information so I didn’t actually realise the impact hypothyroidism can have on you physically. I was kind of given the impression take these tablets and you will be grand again. I was taking the tablets every morning with a big mug of tea so I’ve started taking them now on an empty stomach having read it online so hopefully that might help. The joint pain is really starting to get me down. I’m only 37 this isn’t something I thought I would be dealing with till a bit further down the line

I feel your pain, joint pain, tiredness, the list goes on. Thyroid Ireland is a good fb page for lots of information as well.

Jen44 · 13-08-2020 12:03pm

Thanks a mil everyone great to talk to people who have experience.

Cuttlefish · 17-08-2020 6:36pm

Not a great day today folks have pains in both wrists and ankles and just achy all over, is this due to my underachieve thyroid??
Feel as though I have gained weight in recent weeks too. But depressed at moment apologies

Dempo1 · 17-08-2020 6:52pm

Cuttlefish wrote: »

Not a great day today folks have pains in both wrists and ankles and just achy all over, is this due to my underachieve thyroid??
Feel as though I have gained weight in recent weeks too. But depressed at moment apologies

Don't apologise, I understand muscle pain can be a symptom, others have more expertise than I, weight loss rather than gain is normal so diet important. Have you seen your GP /Endocrinologist recently? always good to talk so make contact if anything for a check up, chat etc. Chin up, try stay positive, easy to say I know but meant sincerely

Cuttlefish · 19-08-2020 5:08pm

Hi there me again...oh no here is another moan post I hear you say!!

Anyways here goes...besides joint pains I have started to get pain across both shoulder blades and find it keeps me awake at time.

What would happen is that when moving during sleep the pain will wake me a dull aching pain however also have it during the day. I initially thought it was due to gardening chores as this has happened a few times but now I know it ain't from exertion

Dr. Google :-) says there is a link between hypothyroidism and frozen shoulder

Now it may not be that at all but want to know people's thoughts and before people suggest yes I will be talking to my GP soon. Be has mentioned I get my bloods checked so will take that opportunity to talk with him further

Anyways anyone else have similar shoulder pain?

dinky earnshaw · 05-11-2020 9:13pm

Hi folks,
My other half has been on nature thyroid for a couple of years with great results. She rang her pharmacist last week and apparently it is no longer available. He told her he would provide a similar medicine. Today he rang to say he couldn't source it but was still making enquiries.
Unfortunately shes on the verge of running out.
She's emailed her doctor and is awaiting a call back.
Have any of you had a similar experience or have any ideas where it or a replacement can be sourced ?

thyroid misery

Comments