Calling all women in late fifties....Not having... - Thyroid UK

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Calling all women in late fifties....Not having thyroid probs!!!Not on hrt...

celticlady profile image
14 Replies

Is there anyone out there who doesn't have thyroid issues not on hrt-I know this is a big ask on this website but I just wonder how 'normal' women feel.Is it our age-I'm 57 but feel 77-I'm hypo on 50mcg levo. How does it feel when you reach late fifties-is fatigue normal? After all we have no oestrogen in our systems.

Does anyone have friends or know of women who fit this category who could input their feelings on being in this age group?

I'm trying to separate the hypo symtoms from the 'just getting older' symptoms.

Any help/comments appreciated.

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celticlady profile image
celticlady
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14 Replies

My lifelong friend, who I met in my class when we were 12, is 59 and the same age as me.She does not have hypothyroidism and drifted through the menopause effortlessly, without HRT! I've been struggling with my thyroid and with arthritis for years and years and i feel as if I've aged much more quickly than her. But she said to me the other day that she now feels exhausted, is slowing down now and wonders if she'll be able to work until she's nearly 66-which is when women of our age will receive our old age pension.OK if you are healthy.

I think age makes a difference to even the healthiest of people, but it sounds to me as if your thyroid is under treated, as 50mcg of thyroxine doesn't sound like much. Post your thyroid results-T4 and T3 in particular.Hypothyroidism, if under treated, makes us feel ancient! xx

Marz profile image
Marz

...they always say that if a GP blames your age that it is time to change your doc !! Have just received a new book - The Hormone Solution - Stay Younger Longer ( with Natural Hormone and Nutrition Therapies ) by Thierry Hertoghe. Looks an interesting read. Am not desperate for answers just love reading as much as possible......and I know others on this forum have consulted him.

At 67 I am feeling the best I have felt in years.....and its thanks to this site and the sybaritic lifestyle in Crete !! ..............

I am 60 and am on 50mg thyroxine, which I add is all I have ever been prescribed. I know it's not enough as my tsh is nearly 3 but the doctor says I don't need any more. It's a waste of time talking to them, all I am ever offered is antidepressants which I have refused. I don't feel depressed but I do feel shattered all the time even after a good nights sleep. My iron levels are fine, but B12 was a bit low so on that. I take vitD as well. I personally don't think it's age related as a year ago I was looking after my grandson whilst his mum was at work, I coped very well. She is currently on maternity leave but is returning to work in September, what worries me is how I am going to cope as I have no energy. I have had a chat with my daughter but as everyone knows childcare is so expensive especially with two under three year olds.I am seriously thinking of having private blood tests as our doctor only looks at the tsh.

unwell1 profile image
unwell1

I am also 57 years of age and feel older than my mother who is nearly 83! She has angina and has seriously more get up and go in her than I have had for the last five years. I am hypo with Pernicious Anaemia. I take150mg thyroxine, Folic, B12 replacement & HRT. I do believe if it wasn't for being hypo I would feel much better, not constantly weary. Prior to being diagnosed I attended aerobic classes for 25 years and worked out at a gym It all seems like a distant dream!!!! Last visit to my GP he asked if I was despressed.....I explained I was fed up to the back teeth of feeling ill...I was not depressed!! I can say that yes I am getting older, yes my hair is getting grey but I have a good family, work full time and have a very positive outlook and do not believe that GPs should focus on "depression". I also think that I do not compare favourably with women of my age....I need to be in bed by 9.30pm!!!!!!! I don't smoke or drink and feel that at this stage of my life, my sons are grown up, that I should be able to enjoy life......just wish I had the energy!!!!

Issy profile image
Issy

I'm 54 and feel younger than I did when I was 34. Much younger. Now being treated for hypothyroid.

Issy profile image
Issy

go look at people who are in their 70s and 80s who are still going strong - David Attenborough for one,

celticlady profile image
celticlady

Great if you can do what you love for lots of money and loads of time off! Usually supported by a good woman/housekeeper who does all laborious chores-you'll never see David queuing at Asda .

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to celticlady

Like :)

elayneg profile image
elayneg

Hi

I became Hyperthyroid in my fifties, sailed through the menopause with no symptoms whatsoever, the doctors wouldnt give me HRT,I think my body is now getting revenge for letting me of easy

lucylocks profile image
lucylocks

Hi

I am 58 and started with hypo 2 years ago initially starting on 50 mcg levo now on 75mcg

and I have felt alot more tierd and sluggish since starting with hypo, I thought I had got over all my hormonal problems after the menopause then I started with this, from the info I have received on this site it can take a while to get on the right dose and feel better, what are you TSH and T4 levels, this site says to feel well TSH should be below 1.00 I am presently 4.3 and struggling so I am back to the doctors

hblower profile image
hblower

Hi, I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, had surgery and radiotherapy, no chemo because of liver and other connected health problems, I will add that I also had a partial thyroid removal 2 months before noticing lumps in the breast, I am 67 , and well past menopause, apparently the growth was fed by estrogen which is produced by the adrenal glands which gets into fatty tissue, I am now on a inhibitor for estrogen, not very nice side affects, in fact the symptoms of the menopause but more severe, hopefully it reduces a risk of it coming back, most are on this for 5 years or more if it keeps working.

Best wishes Helen

wobblybee profile image
wobblybee

Hi, I'm 62 and have been diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia. I'm on this site

because I think some of my symptoms are Thyroid related. All I've been able to

find out is that TSH is 211 and within levels, that isn't reassuring.

My last period was 2004, I took HRT mainly because I thought it might help with

depression, stopped abruptly and hit a brick wall. PMT had always been a big

problem for me. I don't expect to feel super fit with the condition diagnosed but

I'm sure I could feel a lot better.

I don't know which symptoms were menopausal, which hypo. I put them all down to hypo as I've felt brilliant since levo raised to 50mcg a few months ago and all symptoms have gone. I feel as well as I did in my 30's.

I had to have a little nap this afternoon - and very nice it was too! I've decided that this is down to my age! ;)

Mgtiger11 profile image
Mgtiger11

Don't kid yourself, getting older isn't the problem, I'm in a worse state than my aunty, she is in her 70 s very active, goes dancing every other day, I on the other hand am over 60, have type 2 and now an underactive thyroid, 6 mths ago I fell and broke my wrist, that's when I found out I was anaemic, the actual reason I was feeling exhausted climbing stairs, after a transfusion and getting my arm fixed, the physio asked me to climb the stairs, wow it was amazing, no huffing and puffing, so you think you know the reason for tiredness, probably guessing wrong !!

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