Hypothyroidism and holding a job.

[hypothyroidGirl]

I was wondering if im the only one going throught this but way before i figured out what was making me sick all the time and later on i found that i have hypothyroidism i had to stop working because i couldnt keep up with anything i couldnt concentrate i was always tired and really anxious my memory became a big blurr for me cause i would forget passwords and other important stuff. Whats everyone story?

[shaws Administrator]

I think many of us can relate to your story.

The fact that doctors used to be trained to recognise clinical symptoms and prescribe (even on a trial basis) but not nowadays, if they even think of doing a blood test (as it doesn't enter their heads most times).

If they do take a test and the TSH hasn't reached the magic number of 10 as per the guidelines people remain undiagnosed. Other countries prescribe when TSH is around 3+.

Click on my name if you want to read mine.

[carnation]

My story is I was very, very lucky. Had started to run my own business, and a few months in I started to feel very tired. I assumed it was pressure of work, but was fortunate to be nagged !! by an employee until I had my thyroid tested. I was then fortunate to see one of the GPs in my surgery who understood my problems. (some are less knowledgeable).

I did well on levo, with only a few episodes of not feeling brilliant, but it seemed to get harder to stabilise as I got older. A couple of years ago I found this site and sorted out poor vitamin levels, which has helped.

Sold my business in April after 21 years as it really was too much by then, and now work 2 days which I can cope with. But I am 61 so that's fine for me.

The point of the story is a good GP (if you can find one) and a lot of research can help you back to a normal working life. Hope you get lucky and get back to work soon.

[decembersignup in reply to carnation]

I can relate to what you say as I am a professional and business owner too. But when you cut down your working hours and say you will work two days a week people also forget that your utility bills, food bill etc do not get cut down with it, you are then trying to manage on a much smaller income.

[humanbean]

When I complained about my poor memory and severe memory loss the doctor said it was age-related and dismissed the subject completely.

I've improved things myself by fixing various nutritional deficiencies and treating my own thyroid, but I think permanent damage has been done. My brain simply doesn't work as well as it did even 10 years ago. I used to be methodical and logical and I could organise things when I had to. Nowadays I have problems following a recipe, and I often think my IQ has dropped by at least 40 points.

[hypothyroidGirl in reply to humanbean]

Poor memory has to be the hyroid because i was the brains of the family. I would love to read and study new things i use to love my life!!!!!!! And now i cant seem to read the way i use too. I forget some words like how to pronounce them, how to spell. Its gets scary how i forget everything my social the order it goes daughters birthday it makes me sad to think that what if one day i wake up with no memory.

[decembersignup in reply to humanbean]

Hello humanbean. I would love to know how you fixed your thyroid yourself and how you know your i.q. has dropped by 40 points. 40 points is a great deal and you sound far more logical and sensible than most.

[humanbean in reply to decembersignup]

I haven't "fixed" my thyroid, in the sense that it now works perfectly - it definitely doesn't. What I've done is what lots of people on here do - I self-medicate. And since levo made me feel poisoned, I've had to do my own thing. After trying NDT, and still having problems, I now take T3, which is working well for me. I still hope to be able to go on NDT again at some point in the future, because I think it is probably better for me in the long term than T3 alone is.

As for the rest, I have had to spend lots of money on tests and supplements and live like a cheapskate and a hermit to save money so I could pay for it all.

My comment about my IQ was a bit tongue-in-cheek. I've never tested it. Despite feeling a lot better than I used to a few years ago, when I look back on how I used to be able to do things I realise how much I've lost.

If you ever saw me in a kitchen trying to cook something, it is obvious that I am constantly forgetting what I must do next, I have "blank" periods where my brain seems to stop working altogether for a few seconds. If I want a particular bit of equipment or ingredient I try several different cupboards before I find it, and the effort that goes into creating a simple meal is far greater than it used to be because I can't do things in a straightforward, sensible fashion any more.

So, some parts of my life have suffered more than others. Perhaps if I spent as much time on housework and cooking as I do on the internet I would have improved. But I hate housework and cooking, and much prefer the internet!

[decembersignup in reply to humanbean]

I would very much appreciate knowing what you did to feel better exactly in the way of supplements or whatever.

[humanbean in reply to decembersignup]

I don't have any big, dark secrets. I take the obvious things - not necessarily all the time, I give myself a break from things every now and then, although not all at the same time unless I have blood tests coming up.

I take, or have taken and intend to take again at some time :

Vitamin A (a new acquisition - I don't know yet if it will help)

Methylated B Complex

Methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. I never take these on the same day, and I only take the second one about once or twice a week.

Vitamin C

Vitamin D

Vitamin K2

Omega 3 fish oil capsules

Garlic capsules

Iron (only when I know I need it)

Magnesium

Potassium

Zinc

Selenium

Co-Q10

Rhodiola Rosea

[decembersignup in reply to humanbean]

Thanks. I also take omega 3, selenium, multi vitamin mineral, have you ever had a problem with frequent urination? I can get a day here and there where it is literally non stop then it goes away till next time. The other thing I get a lot is this feeling very cold and shivery no matter how well heated and well dressed I am, but again that comes and goes.

[humanbean in reply to decembersignup]

I've never been affected by frequent urination.

But feeling cold was a permanent state of affairs for me before I got my T3 up to a good level which worked for me.

[decembersignup in reply to humanbean]

Glad to hear you feel better, think the frequent urination might be to do with adrenal problems. What do you take now to help, thyroxine, natural thyroxine? or just the things you mentioned before? are you very much underactive or just a bit otherwise?

[humanbean in reply to decembersignup]

I take liothyronine, and some of the supplements I mentioned earlier. I never take all of the supplements at the same time, it would be too much. I'll go a few weeks without some of them every so often.

[decembersignup in reply to humanbean]

Understand abaout not taking them all at once, am the same. Not heard of liothyronine will hae to research it, thanks.

[humanbean in reply to decembersignup]

Liothyronine is T3, the active thyroid hormone.

[decembersignup in reply to humanbean]

Thanks humanbean. Have tried the natural one from taiwan, with t3 as well as t4, but got different problems with that one if I kept on with it.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to decembersignup]

Don't think I have heard of any thyroid medicines from Taiwan.

[decembersignup in reply to helvella]

It is called thiroyd and can be bought through <an online source>. 1000 pills are about £35 delivered. Each contains t3 and t4, 62.5 mg per pill in total.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to decembersignup]

Thiroyd doesn't come from Taiwan. It comes from Thailand. I thought you had found something different.

[decembersignup in reply to helvella]

Yes you are right, I aplogise. It is from Thailand.

[BlueMundo]

I stopped working over six years ago. I remember my memory was so good years ago, pre Hashi, that when colleagues wanted help on a case they would ask me and say I didn't need the file as reference as I would know it off the top of my head. Fast forward twenty odd years of this condition and I can't even read a book! I just can't concentrate on it. Brain fog is awful.

[decembersignup]

Had same problem at the beginning, then that improved a lot with medication. But other symptoms of thyroid then came along that I had never experienced before. I am sure that taking the medication makes the thyroid lazy and it sort of shuts down and leaves a lot of the work to the medication and this is what causes it, so would much prefer not to have to take it at all and do my best to avoid it when I can. Some deliberately take a slightly lower dose than prescribed so that their thyroid tries hard to work and doesnt become lazy, others just lay back and hope for the best, which is not my way.

[Zephyrbear in reply to decembersignup]

Unfortunately, I don't believe the thyroid has the capability of being 'lazy'... It either works or it doesn't and what's the point of reducing your meds to try and keep a 'lazy' thyroid 'working'. It's not a muscle that can be 'educated'. It's a gland that is causing problems, the effects of which can be alleviated by replacment therapy. If you want to keep yourself feeling like crap, that's fine. I'll just keep taking my meds and feel well enough to have successfully gained a university degree at 60 and am now seriously considering going for a PhD!

[LindaC in reply to Zephyrbear]

Glad the hormones work for you: (so pleased I at least got my education before this hit me!). Well done you! Go for it!!

[decembersignup in reply to Zephyrbear]

I wouldnt have waited that long to do all that, did it all when much younger. Agree with your thoughts about the lazy thyroid theory, it is just that there are two schools of thought on it. As for the thought that if you take your meds you are fine, that is too simplistic for me and many others who felt awful, worse on the meds. Some switched to iodine, some to natural, some to a mix of both, some refuse to take any medication at all because they feel so awful on it. Am glad this is not the case with you, you are lucky.

[Pastille]

Lost my job on 22 Jan due to sickness. very unfair really. I have a case for unfair dismissal but cant even be bothered with that. Ive found another job which isn't great but pays the rent just hope I can keep up with it I struggle really as no one seems to believe me maybe I will just have to walk around with a printed bloods result and show people constantly !! My sister had thyroid cancer and had hers removed bless her and thank god she is fine but this just makes my family think god sort your head out your sister has had thyroid cancer. She doesn't seem to have the same symptoms though and even forgets to take her meds half the time. My meds are the first thing on my mind when I wake up. I never forget lol. Sorry for long reply, got a wee bit carried away there