Thyroid problems

faw1tytowers · 31-01-2011 9:32pm #1

I was told I have hypothyroidism last year. I think I may of had it for longer but as I was pregnant I didnt pay heed to the symptoms. I would like to hear from those of you that are dealing with this. I am currently on 75mg electroxin. Do you still have symptoms? How you found out you had the illness? And how it effects you now? How it effects you. What other remedies you might have?

cyning · 01-02-2011 9:32pm

Hi! I am now on Levothyroxine sodium they think I'm resistant to T4s and Eltroxin. How long are you on Eltroxin? It can take awhile for it to kick in. For me I guess the main problems are weight gain, tiredness and dry skin and swollen eyes. I had Graves disease and had Radioactive iodine 7 years ago, and have been underactive for 4 years now.

There are a couple of very important things: decent GP and decent Endocrinologist. Ask questions... and research whats wrong. And MOST important ignore 90% of the stuff on the web: having a thyroid problem is a pain in the ass.... but fully treatable and easy to manage. I'm considered outside of the "norm" and its still manageable.

How did you find having the underactive thyroid and pregnant??

faw1tytowers · 01-02-2011 10:02pm

Well basically didnt find out I had it until about 3 months after having my baby. I had been complaining of being tired and not losing any weight after. Hair was still falling out in gone wild! I had anemia after and so alot was put down to that. Then one day I was in randomly and had a different GP and said I had pains in my hands. I had carpel tunnel while pregnant but this was getting worse. Thats when she said I probably had an under active thyroid.

From the day I took the first pill I noticed a difference. But then after a few weeks I felt the tiredness again and still no weight loss. They upped the dose. Said I have a calcium imbalance now. Haven't been able to get tested for about 6 months now as have had a run of flus and virus's in the house. Must go back soon. I seem to be losing weight, feel better in my self. The odd day I have complete slumps especially if I miss a dose.

In the future I would like to have another baby and it is worrying.. I will really have to get used to taking this tablet daily.

Its nice to talk to people who understand it. Felt so lost for so long.

cyning · 01-02-2011 10:42pm

Taking tablets is frustrating but after awhile its second nature! Trust me on that! I do think its important to get tested regularly: your T4s might be okay but if your TSH is out of whack it could lead to slumps etc!

There are other things that you can see with thyroid problems aswell: brain "fogginess" feeling down in the dumps etc.

Once your thyroid is regulated having a baby shouldn't be a prob: I know there's a few on here that will tell you that too! Its only when its unregulated that you would run into any problems: and even then they aren't very serious problems.

And it so frustrating when people don't understand: people can't understand why I sometimes have to go home early on nights out or why i get SO narky when now they know to let me go nap for 20 minutes and I'll be flying it again!

faw1tytowers · 01-02-2011 10:59pm

Oh sooo true! My OH is still trying to get used to that and we are adjusting! I always had mood swings and had taken the pill to regulate that. But now I am off the pill to see could they in fact of been related to this. I do get really down in the dumps.. like really down but as you say I can snap out of it just as quick. Quiet scary!

I still have to get my head around the tsh and t4s. My doc does explain them to me but I still aint quiet got the hang of it.

How about periods.... did your change in any way. Mine seem different, heavier I think. Oh and the brain is defo not what it used to be. Went back studying last year and my concentration levels are a joke.

dollydishmop · 04-02-2011 4:51pm

cyning wrote: »

Hi! I am now on Levothyroxine sodium they think I'm resistant to T4s and Eltroxin. How long are you on Eltroxin? It can take awhile for it to kick in. For me I guess the main problems are weight gain, tiredness and dry skin and swollen eyes. I had Graves disease and had Radioactive iodine 7 years ago, and have been underactive for 4 years now.

There are a couple of very important things: decent GP and decent Endocrinologist. Ask questions... and research whats wrong. And MOST important ignore 90% of the stuff on the web: having a thyroid problem is a pain in the ass.... but fully treatable and easy to manage. I'm considered outside of the "norm" and its still manageable.

Couldn't have said it better myself

I was also Hyper/Graves...and had a total thyroidectomy last year.
Since then, I'm on 150mcg Eltroxin...and 99% of the time I'm absolutely flying it! Wish I'd had the op years ago!

Have a great GP and an excellent Endo, who work with me (and each other) as a team...I wouldn't have it any other way.

faw1tytowers wrote: »

Haven't been able to get tested for about 6 months now as have had a run of flus and virus's in the house. Must go back soon. I seem to be losing weight, feel better in my self. The odd day I have complete slumps especially if I miss a dose.

Its very important to keep up the blood tests, on whatever schedule your GP or Endo advises.

Also, get copies of your bloods,and learn to read them for yourself....it can be extremely enlightening!

faw1tytowers wrote: »

How about periods.... did your change in any way. Mine seem different, heavier I think.

Oh hell yeah...mine used to be hell....but now my levels have settled a bit more, then so have my cycles. But trust me, if all the changes you have noticed is that they are just a bit heavier...count yourself lucky!

faw1tytowers wrote: »

Oh and the brain is defo not what it used to be. Went back studying last year and my concentration levels are a joke.

Something else we can all relate to...good old thyroid brain fog

Has got me into lots of messes, but is a great excuse to explain your way out of a lot of messes too :pac:

ChewChew · 05-02-2011 6:15pm

hi faw1tytowers... how long are you on eltroxin? I was diagnosed 6 years ago and am on 150mg per day although it did take years of chopping and changing to get that happy medium. Eltroxin has evened out my T4 and TSH levels, however, it has not helped many of my symptoms. Weightloss for me is not something that is non existant. I can't and have been told by my endocrinologist that I am in the category of those who wont lose weight so it is vital I maintain it. My energy levels are next to nothing, sleep is essential and the need for a min of 8 hours a night is a given. Hair loss is still a problem but the skin problem is very much under control! So It would appear, I am a lost cause

faw1tytowers · 05-02-2011 9:00pm

ChewChew wrote: »

hi faw1tytowers... how long are you on eltroxin? I was diagnosed 6 years ago and am on 150mg per day although it did take years of chopping and changing to get that happy medium. Eltroxin has evened out my T4 and TSH levels, however, it has not helped many of my symptoms. Weightloss for me is not something that is non existant. I can't and have been told by my endocrinologist that I am in the category of those who wont lose weight so it is vital I maintain it. My energy levels are next to nothing, sleep is essential and the need for a min of 8 hours a night is a given. Hair loss is still a problem but the skin problem is very much under control! So It would appear, I am a lost cause

Hi ya,

I am on eltroxin for a year now. started at 50 now on 75 and had my bloods taken again there this week. My hair is still falling out alot and not as manageable of as lustre as it used to be. Pains in my hands come and go. Skin is not too dry but not as it used to be but to be honest I am not one that moistures myself regularly. I have stopped putting on weight which I am happy with but not happy still being a size 18. Energy levels fluxuate but again certainly not what they used to be. Definitly have to go to bed earlier and have good nights sleep or else. Concentration levels dont last long and forget stuff all the time.. within minutes sometimes. I have only been seen by my GP not by any specialist. And I must get my head around the t4s and tsh. I will ask for my report next time as suggested that why I can see for myself. I have found myself googleing more now. I am currently doing a pharmacy assistant course and am finding out little things I didnt know. Its interesting. Something I have had very bad for the past 4 years since my first child is indigestion do any of you have that?

Dunnep · 30-03-2011 9:07am

Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone can help me out with this!
I'm a bit confused! I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid about 2 months ago and I have been taking Eltroxin 50 mcg's . I went back for blood tests last week and the Dr has told me to that my Thyroid function was a little low so I she is decreasing the medication to 25mcg's! Now I would have thought that if it was low with the dose I was on, that she would increase the dosage. I asked her and she said something about my TSH being high and the Eltroxin was regulating this. Can anyone explain it to me?
Thanks

dollydishmop · 30-03-2011 11:24am

Dunnep wrote: »

Hi,
I went back for blood tests last week and the Dr has told me to that my Thyroid function was a little low so I she is decreasing the medication to 25mcg's! Now I would have thought that if it was low with the dose I was on, that she would increase the dosage. I asked her and she said something about my TSH being high and the Eltroxin was regulating this. Can anyone explain it to me?
Thanks

Hi Dunnep

If your TSH levels were a little low it may indicate that you've tipped over to being a little hypER, therefore your GP will reduce the Eltroxin dose to hopefully bring your TSH back up a bit.

I know it is all very confusing to get your head around initially.

As a (very) simplified rule of thumb, think of it in opposite terms - when TSH is too low, you're high (hypER) - when TSH is too high, you're low (hypO)...

Again, a very simplifed explanation...but TSH is produced by the pituitary gland, to tell the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (t3 & t4)...if your T3 and/or T4 are high, the pituitary gland recognises this and produces less TSH.
If the pituitary detects insufficient thyroid hormones in your system, it'll pump out higher levels of TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more T3/T4.
Hypo/hyper~thyroidism, is essentially the thyroid gland ignoring the pituitary and doing its own thing regardless...and the pituitary will carry on producing varying levels of TSH, depending on the T3/T4 levels it detects, in the vain hope that your thyroid gland will cop on and do what its told.

Sometimes it all goes completely wonky, and they both go off the rails.

Welcome to the wonderful world of wonky thyroids

pinkjackie · 22-04-2012 8:40pm

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism number of years ago. Had bloods done recently and TSH is 5. Was previously on 75mgs Eltroxin now on 75 and 100mls alternate days. However, I have high blood pressure and have pain in the back of my head, with weakness, foggy head, muscle weakness etc. Just wondering if anyone else has problems with Blood pressure. Put on Atenolol 25mgs for one month and baby Aspirin - to have bloods repeated in 1 month.

cltt97 · 25-04-2012 8:39pm

You're better off posting in the "thyroid misery" thread, personally I never had problems with high blood pressure, but plenty other problems. There is a host of possibilities and a lot of tests that us hypos should get, so I would recommend reading through that thread..

Thyroid problems

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