newly diagnosed with Hypothyroidism following routine bloods

[mumofcrazy]

Hi all, I was diagnosed yesterday after joining a new dr's surgery getting a medical and because i am 40 now I got the blood tests thrown in! first set came back with a query on thyroid, and so they repeated them and yesterday the dr called me in and told me teh results show hypothyroid - TSH 10.69 and T4 11.2 she asked whether i suffered from cold/dry skin/constipation/tiredness, yes is the answer to all of those symptoms, but my question to you experienced people is how come I have suffered from most of these symptoms all my life, except the tiredness, which I would now put down to being a single parent to 2 small and very active children, but the other symptoms I have always had (hair loss too) and my daughter aged 7 has teh same symptoms, and I just put it down to genetics, now I think maybe I should get her tested too. I don't think my symptoms would have sent me to the dr, I am actually quite shocked (as i'm sure lots of newly diagnosed people are) as I felt really healthy, which I know lots of people don't feel and battle to get a diagnosis, but I feel a bit fraudulaent taking medication (I'm on 50mcg for now with repeat tests in 3 weeks) but I guess the symptoms could have got worse over time and maybe they just diagnosed me early?

any thoughts appreciated from my long rambling message!

[Moggie]

Welcome aboard.

You could have been iron deficient all these years as this can cause both extreme fatigue and hair loss.

You need to ask your GP to check certain vitamins that can also be low in thyroid patients and these are VitD, B12, iron, ferritin (iron storage in the body) and folates as if any of these are low your thyroid medication will struggle to work properly.

Has your GP also told you to take your thyroid medication, at least, two hour before or two hours after eating or drinking anything (except water) as food and drink (including milk) can interfere with your thyroid medication. If you are taking anything with iron or calcium in it (including milk) this needs to be keep 4 hours away from your thyroid medication.

And if it was me I would definitely be asking them to check your daughter as thyroid illness can run in families.

Hope the above helps.

Moggie x

p.s. lots on here find night time dosing fits in better and your thyroid medication will absorb better overnight with no food or drink to interfere with it, as long as you don't eat, or drink anything except water, two hours before going to bed.

[mumofcrazy in reply to Moggie]

thanks moggie, I decided to take the medication at night ( but only from what i've read online and not from any advice from the dr!) as i wasn't sure I could cope without tea or coffee (with milk) in the morning, so night works better, but yes i'll be sure to not eat or drink 2 hours before bed, that shouldn't be too difficult, I imagine a chamomile tea won't do any harm?

I'll also get an appointment for my daughter, do you know if there is a different level of normal for children? i.e. my dr said that 0.5-5 was the normal range, but if my daughter showed up around 5 would that likely indicate borderline, or would dr's think that's ok?

i'll check the vitamin results at the next blood test. thanks

[Moggie in reply to mumofcrazy]

Firstly, you dont say how old your daughter is - this makes a big difference. If she is a teenager and has a result of 5 I would be asking for a trial of thyroid medication due to your claims that she is always tired etc.

Secondly, you need to start getting copies of ALL you blood results - it is your legal right to have copies so dont let the GP (ususally you'll get more resistance from the receptionist) tell you otherwise. They might charge you a small fee for these but in the long run it is well worth keeping a detailed log of blood, and any other tests, you might have done. I have, at least, two years worth of copies and they have allowed me to argue my case more than once - I'm sure my GP and Endo (short for endocrinologist who is a thyroid specialist) flinch when they see me walk in with my folder.lol.

Thirdly, your vitamins dont just need to be "in range" when you have thryoid illness but at optimal levels e.g. a typical B12 range will be approx 190 - 900 and for a thyroid patient his/her result needs to be, at least, 500 and nearer 700 for thyroid medication to be working at its best. That's why it is always important to get copies of all blood results, firstly so you can keep on eye on what's going on yourself and secondly so you can post results on here and ask for help/advise.

Its a good thing that you found this site so early on in your treatment as I know without it, and the lovely people that give their time freely to answer questions and advise, I would not be as well as I am today.

Moggie x

[mumofcrazy in reply to Moggie]

Moggie,

thank you so much for taking the time to respond in such detail, you are making me realise I have a lot to learn, but it's mine and my daughters health so worth it and I enjoy researching and being knowledgeable about health generally and specifically, so it's not something I will shy away from.

So I will request print outs of my last 2 sets of blood results, and keep a folder, and look up and check levels for all the important vitamins too.

My daughter is only 7, and i am jumping the gun with my questions, I need to get her blood tests and then come back and ask for advice when I know where she is at, I alwasy do this, try and pre-equip myself with information in order to be prepared, but I see that i have to educate myself about me and this condition and then I will be able to help her if necessary, now or in the future.

i am glad I found this site, but being informed is very important, i don't just accept what i am told, but need to fully understand and then challenge if necessary, especially the overstretched nhs who don't give anymore information than they deem is necessary, i'm much more of a pain in the ass than they will want!

[Moggie in reply to mumofcrazy]

You have the right idea as education is power - this is why my GP and endo know that can't get away with things when dealing with me (not that I know everything, but I know enough for them not to be able to fob me off with the usual "in range" or "normal"). The most important question I have learnt to ask is WHY - if I don't understand something I ask WHY, and I keep asking until I do understand.

Pain in the arse - yes.

In control of my treatment - yes

Feeling better than I would have done if I had left it down to the NHS - yes.

So education your self as much as you can, ask as many questions on here as you feel you need to and you will be well prepared for whatever this illness throws at you (and your daughter - although for her sake I hope she doesn't have thyroid illness).

You could also try this site, which is very informative.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/

Moggie x

[Lillly-Lou-la]

Hello mumofcrazy

I too was diagnosed this year, I was constantly tired but put it down to age (52) menopause, life, etc. would come home and couldn't even take my coat off. Had very dry skin and hair loss, but again just got on with it. My thyroid is destroyed and was told I was in the top 5% in the country with the count. So very surprising all round that I managed to function at all.

I am also adrenal insufficient so on steroids. I did feel better initially but lately not so good.

Hopefully you will begin to pick up and realise that you have probably been managing things for a long time!

I agree, do ask for your daughter to be tested.

Hope you feel better soon.

Elaine

[mumofcrazy in reply to Lillly-Lou-la]

Thanks Elaine, wow, it is surprising that you managed to function, but i guess us women just keep on going? your story makes me grateful that I seem to have been diagnosed relatively early (i'm guessing as my results not off any scale) , thanks for sharing and responding, gill