If you are undiagnosed, how many times a month ... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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If you are undiagnosed, how many times a month do you visit your GP?

matt profile imagematt71 Voters

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16 Replies
trw99 profile image
trw99

i have another complant sleep apnea

i think that two are related, and that the thyroid starts the apnea and they both feed off of each other rand they also bring their friends like diabeties and high blood pressure.

Like so many other

alicea profile image
alicea

I find it amazing how many of us have to diagnose ourselves and then plead with them to test us to be told you are in the normal range , then battle with them for months , years until we are really ill and life is'nt worth living . There must be something wrong with a so called health service that allows this to go on .... rant over .

Bunny profile image
Bunny

I seem to have a really exceptional GP I had been on sick notes since Oct 2008 because of stress and depression relating to a work situation. When my symptoms worsened I went with hubby to see him and he was brilliant. He referred me too the Endo because of my symptoms even though he though my TSH was normal at 2.61. I showed him the Thyroid Uk chart on test values that puts that test result as, being over 2, into low hypothyroid.

I have been so pleased with my treatment and referral to Endo. I seem to be in a patch of the NHS where it works well!

Bunny profile image
Bunny

I seem to have a really exceptional GP I had been on sick notes since Oct 2008 because of stress and depression relating to a work situation. When my symptoms worsened I went with hubby to see him and he was brilliant. He referred me too the Endo because of my symptoms even though he though my TSH was normal at 2.61. I showed him the Thyroid Uk chart on test values that puts that test result as, being over 2, into low hypothyroid.

I have been so pleased with my treatment and referral to Endo. I seem to be in a patch of the NHS where it works well!

jules profile image
jules

Are there nhs alternatives to Levothyroxine? And does anyone have same problem as I do - being given different Brands of levothyroxine with each prescription? I have questioned this with pharmacies and been given different unbelievable answers. I would also like to know if their is any LINK between hypothyroidism and:- Degenerative disease of spine/Blood pressure/bi-polar/lack of concentration etc

Yes Jules there are alternatives, but many nhs doctors will not prescribe them. There is natural thyroid like Armour, and sometimes you need extra T3, the thyroid hormone which actually does the work in the cells, but must be for the most part converted from T4 (levothyroxine), since the thyroid gland does not produce much. Your gp MAY prescribe these so good luck. Yes it does matter which brand of levothyroxine you have as one may work better for you than another. If you look at the list of symptoms on the Thyroid UK website you may find some very surprising symptoms that can be caused by hypothyroidism including some you mention.

Jules, has your gp checked your T4 and T3 levels as well as TSH?

binky profile image
binky

I am waiting for the hospital results and then my GP is going to help me understand my test results. It would be very helpful to know the correct questions to ask.

anji profile image
anji

Hi

I am hoping someone maybe able to help

I gave birth 2 years ago - regular as clockwork on my periods got pregnant without a problem.

since giving birth I have had irregular periods - in the beginning about every 6 to 8 weeks and quite heavy.

had blood tests done about 18 months ago and a scan - all normal. last december though about going onto the pill to regulate - a big mistake - I came off them after 2 weeks - i was very heavy and then I bled for a month.

Then from January to July i did not have a period - I became severley anaemic and was on iron tablets in March for 6 weeks - but all normal now.

July first period. very small bleed in beginning of august for about 2 days, then another period end of August.

Now nothing again. Had another blood test to check I was ovulating as I want another baby, everything normal, but blood test said border line underactive thyroid - doc said will keep an eye on this and if not pregnant by end of this year we will take it further.

I have read that the results can differ in the day, and reading things under active thyroid can cause irregular periods, tiredness (which I put down to having a 2 year old and full time work!), dry skin but not very bad, fractured my thumb aswell, and also being 41 years old now!

Can someone help me and tell me if they think taking something will help???

thanks

<b>Updated on Sep 28 2010 10:53AM:</b> ps - had gestational diabetes, and also put on 2 stones in one year!

Brass profile image
Brass

I've replied to this question retrospectively... I was undiagnosed for many years and seemed to always be at the Dr's. I was told my thyroid was normal and after a few years of feeling dreadful and suffering classic symptoms I gave up and stopped listening to my body; I assumed they were right and I thought everyone felt like me and assumed I was normal.

Last September I was diagnosed with stage II Follicular Thyroid Cancer and my thyroid was removed - it was found by accident by my GP in France... I now wish I had listened to my body and not the doctors in the UK.

I have been told that I suffered from an hereditary thyroid disease and following my doctors advice, my sister and my cousin have both now been diagnosed with the same.

Haven't been back since Nov to docs, cancelled appointments - probably shooting myself in the foot but I refuse to have ME and I don't have ulnar & carpal tunnel in both arms - it hurts but I want to get thyroid sorted first (5 months after partial thyroidectomy).

CBAT profile image
CBAT

I've had to leave my job because I couldn't cope with the symptoms and work. I wish doctors would take overwhelming lethargy as a serious sign that you really are not well.

nadine1991 profile image
nadine1991

iv been to my doctors and asked them to do thyroid gland checks on me and they said the blood tests are fine and nothing is wrong but i read that sometimes it doesnt always come up in the blood tests. i refuse to go to my doctors anymore because when i went to ask for it my doctor was laughing in my face im so depressed about this because no matter how hard i try and what i do i cant loose weight im always tired, im gaining weight like its a game, i always feel run down even when i dont do much, i get pains in my joints, i feel restless, i struggle to sleep even when im nacured, i cant concentrate on things, my memory is going, i have alot of hair fall out when i brush it more than what your ment to have, i keep getting really bad headaches and iv been having a really sore throat and this has been for about 3 years now since i had my daughter before that i had no problems what so ever but since i had her i have gained 5 stone and cant shift it no matter what im only 21 so its putting my self confidence down alot if anyone has any comments of what they think could be wrong with me or how to help me please let me know as my doctors are about as useless as an old boot and i dont know how much longer i can cope feeling like this its so depressing

please no nasty comments

Scarfred profile image
Scarfred in reply to nadine1991

Hi hope you are feeling a little better . Reason for reply is your symptoms but down after birth of daughter. Hormones are very different when giving birth to girl. My symptom too started after birth of daughter had two previous sons. The diagnosed later with Grave. I have 3 other references to female child. Like to discuss?

BrecklandRanger profile image
BrecklandRanger

I too exhibit the usual symptoms of an underactive thyroid, but not having much luck in getting the fatigue sorted out. Just got my test results for the throid: 2.61 (range: 0.2-4.2).

Dr suggested depression, although I only feel down during the times when the fatigue strikes.