Just wondering what made you guys start to think you had thyroid problems.
What made you ask for thyroid testing and what ... - Thyroid UK
What made you ask for thyroid testing and what were your first test results if you can remember?
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HappyH81
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I didn’t. Although for many years I’d repeatedly complained of tiredness and was diagnosed with post viral fatigue. An alert gp picked it up from exam at well woman check and did tests. Didn’t treat ...... but a colleague of hers did the following year by which time I’d aged about 10 years over 2.
I get that aged 10 years over 2. I feel like the last year and a bit i have aged 10 years. I feel i have to have a lie down after a shower.
That's just how I feel. Since being diagnosed and mistreated I feel like I've aged 10 years and my body looks terrible now.
Its just hard to believe why in this day and age it has to be a fight to be heard. Yes we may not be Doctors (well me anyway) but we are experts on our own body.
Going back to 1994!
I was feeling exhausted all the time, but I had started a new business at the end of 1993 and blamed that. I remember going on holiday, setting out for a walk and after 5 minutes saying I couldn't go any further! I mentioned it at work and was harassed by a member of my staff 
who had an underachieve thyroid until I went to see the GP.
No idea what the test results were, you couldn't have them in those days!!
No hassle with testing or increasing either, I think they were permitted to use their medical judgement in those days.
I never thought I did. I was getting colds all the time. And kept going down the doctors because it was getting worse for me to handle. I was never sick before that. One doctor said that I had the flu, the other one gave me antibiotics, the next one only listens, and the next one said you got the flu get out of here before you give it to me. The last one said why was I high in the front. I’d never seen it before or looked. She sent me for a thyroid test and they run two test. And found cancer in one half. I’d had the op and they found cancer in the second part. So I’d lost my thyroid due to cancer.
Oh Haze1975 that must of been an awful fright for you finding out you had cancer. Can you think if you had any other symptoms before the constant colds.
How are you now?
Just very bad colds, it was going on from 2012 till about early 2013 when the doctor sent me for testing. Two thyroid op because they wore hopefully that it wasn’t in the second half. But it was so they had to go back in. And radio Id treatment. Got the whole clear in 2014. 175mg for the rest of life now.
Have good days and bad days.
I am pleased to hear you have got the all clear. I had never heard of all the various illnesses and cancer of the thyroid until i came across this website. There just does not seem to be enough awareness of the thyroid and how important it is.
This website is pretty good. There are all people from around the world. The administration and anyone with knowledge of blood test will help you understand them. And people will help advise on anything you asked.
I’ve leanted from other post it over the last few days. That the brand of tablets that I take could be causing my ibs problems that I’m getting at the moment. And what a yellow card is as well.
It took two years for me to get diagnosed and that was only when I told the doctor I’d gained a huge amount of weight in a very short time that the penny finally dropped and they tested my thyroid.
I was constantly asking my neurologist if I had Parkinson's as I had tremors. He told me I didn't. Went to gp one day and asked her and she said could be thyroid and arranged tests. She was right. Can only remember one of the results and that was TSH of <0.01
I had a couple of years of biopsies due to thyroiditis which was very painful and large swelling in neck. Got all clear after two years. Had a few painful episodes so sent to endo and been on carbimazole for 18 months now. Dosage been reduced from 10 mg to 5 mg for past three months. Advised I should have radio therapy or thyroidectomy by endo in June and must make the decision this week to go on the list as I could not give her an answer immediately at the appointment in June. Never given blood results, only told they are erratic. Last three months had telephone clinic after blood tests and told all within range. Again I was pressed for decision by the endo nurse ahead of my appointment this week.
Everything was slowing down bodywise. Even a syringe by the nurse couldn't remove huge lumps of ear wax! Constipation, lump in the throat whilst trying to swallow meals, the odd joint pain too. I was able to function at work but in arriving home I would sit down on the sofa for 5 mins and wake 2 hours later sat bolt upright with my shopping bags still on the floor! It was a very worrying time with lots of different things happening to my body. It was a blood test to see if I needed It iron because if the fatigue that showed my desperate need for thyroxin! That was in 2006 and I'm on 150 mg and have felt great ever since. Sadly my daughter also was diagnosed soon after giving birth.
So, so nice to hear someone say they have felt great ever since in thyroxine. It's quite upsetting for those of us who aren't up to our necessary dose yet to see so many suffering and almost never hearing of those who feel great. Thank you.
"Just wondering what made you guys start to think you had thyroid problems."
I didn't suspect a thyroid problem.
I was very tired and having a very difficult time exercising......so I went to my primary care physician and told him that, and he ran some blood tests.
When the results came in, he told me that he thought my tiredness was because my TSH was elevated, and he wanted to start me on levothyroxine.
"and what were your first test results if you can remember?"
I think my TSH was around 8 or so. If I recall correctly, TSH was the only thyroid blood test that I received. He started me on levothyroxine based on that.
I was always cold and feeling tired with very dry skin. When I undressed it was like fine dandruff flying off me.I also had ridged nails. Basically put it all down to age (had just turned 60) then we went for a meal one night and the resturant owner who we know quite well asked if I had put on weight! !I was still wearing my coat at the time so he could only tell by my face!! It made me think and not sure why I thought of thyroid but went to the doctor and got checked and went right on to 100mcg thyroxine. Looked at some photos and saw that my face had gone from having cheek bones to being moon faced within 2 months and the strange thing was that nobody had noticed so I'm very grateful to him for pointing it out!!
Also forgot to mention palpatations abated last two months but now back and one so strong I thought heart was going to leap out which woke me at 4am couple of days ago. Now nervous at work in case rapid heartbeat/palpitation won’t stop and all confidence gone and only go out when husband is with me.
Constant fatigue that manifested itself through being asleep more than awake. I was working a permanent night shift in a casino at the time and a day off could mean being asleep for 12-15 hours in a single go waking only to have a small meal and going straight back to bed. Days on would mean sleeping near enough right to my shift, going to work, and being uncontrollably awake until about noon when I got home. Rinse, wash, repeat. I had also been a cancer caregiver during the end of life stage for some time before that, so I put the fatigue down to my body catching up with things with the added stress of shift work.
Initial bloods: TSH: 4.40 (0.50-4.50), FT4: 14.80 (11.00 - 26.00), FT3: 5.80 (3.90 - 6.80), negative antibodies all around.
Key markers: Total testosterone 8.20 (8.64 - 29.00), SHBG: 17.83 (14.00 - 48.00), LH: 5.60 (1.70 - 8.60), FSH: 2.60 (1.5 - 12.40), Uric acid: 431 (200 - 430), Triglycerides: 1.90 (0.10 - 2.26), Ferritin: 299 (30-400)
Received a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and secondary hypogonadism due to obesity and suspected insulin resistance from my endo. I was 21 St 9 Lbs at the time of the above reading. Received the standard go lose weight and everything will improve with some help from Victoza, so I had to dig deep to find the energy. I retested after losing three stone with a low carb/high fat diet and while my TSH had improved to 2.50, my sex hormones were still in the gutter. I decided to keep dieting.
I'm currently 17 Stone (-4.5) and awaiting the results of my most recent draw on Thursday. The fatigue persists a lot of the time, but it's fortunately not day-long sleeps and I'm sleeping a little more restfully nowadays. Having the testosterone levels of a geriatric man at 30 does concern me though. I'll be pushing for testicular investigations and TRT at my next endo visit if my values haven't improved significantly.
Back in Spring 1989, had a major allergic reaction to rice and onions. Had eaten several meals in one week with both as ingredients or as a side dish. Any way, was still tired even after nebulizer breathing treatment and Dr. ordered blood tests. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis diagnosed, but levels were not bad in late March. By mid-April, saw different Dr. as original one was on vacation. New one felt my throat and drew me a rough outline of a thyroid. Mine was 2.5 times normal size. I had a nice goiter going on. It had not reduced all that much by friend's May 20 wedding I was in, but nobody was there to see me! April, my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Mom also had been diagnosed as hypothyroid in February and me, 2 months later. Dec. 30, 1989 my dad passed, exactly 1 month from his 60th birthday, 8 months after diagnosis. 1989 was 10 years after Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, USA, nuclear accident. Radiation Contamination is all over Northern Hemisphere. Radioactive Iodine collects in the thyroid. Autoimmune diseases and Digestive Tract Cancers are result. Within 10 years of a Nuclear Incident, is when symptoms appear by. My dad said he'd had "gut troubles" for around 5 years and was seeing a practice of 3 Gastroenterologists. Smh. Be your own, best Health Advocate. Nih.gov great place for information. Except TMI, Chernobyl, Fukishima and all other nuclear tests, spills, bombs, etc. - doubt the powers that be will ever admit it. At least not in whatever semblance of life I have left! Be well...HUGs
I had terrible, terrible back pain. At the hospital they insisted I had a slipped disc, although it didn't show up on scans! The specialist refused to help me if I didn't accept an operation. After the op, I put on weight almost visibly - and I hadn't been slim beforehand! GP insisted I must be gorging myself like there was no tomorrow, and wanted me to see a nutritionist. There was a mix-up, somewhere, and I ended up seeing an endo, who knew instantly that I had a thyroid problem. The unfortunate thing was, she didn't know how to treat it once she'd diagnosed it! Another diabetes specialist!
For me it was the weight gain. I was an aerobics instructor at the time and suddenly the weight was just piling on. My GP at the time suspected thyroid issues but the 1st endocrinologist she sent me to had me in tears, telling me I was just a stupid woman who was eating too much! I rang my GP she sent me to a different endo who told me she was 99.9% sure I was hypo, she ordered the blood tests and it was Hashimotos.
That began years of trying to get the dosage right and over that time i got other symptoms like fatigue and hair loss, but the initial trigger was the weight gain.
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK
My first TSH test was done when I went to a GP with plantar fasciitis (at that time, undiagnosed as being PF).
The TSH was done only because I asked for it and as a "humour him" tactic by the GP.
That proved very important as later tests showed a neat line of escalating TSH from this point to eventual hypothyroidism diagnosis.
I turned an awful shade of yellow (truly), put on a huge amount of unexplained weight and my skin was peeling off in huge scales.
I was so tired I could hardly push my baby’s buggy.
A midwife friend came to visit, took one look at me and said “you need to see a doctor” - that was more than 22 years ago.
I languished on Thyroxine (T4) for nearly 2 years before finding a sympathetic doctor who specialised in thyroid problems. He diagnosed adrenal fatigue, prescribed a course of steroids and T3 and I felt like a new woman in no time.
I’m stayed on the steroids for a number of weeks before discontinuing and sticking with the T3 only.
Fatigue and depression were the main symptoms. But sometimes I got short of breath just sitting down. Air hunger I think it’s called this would last all evening but by the next day it was better. I had a very stressful job and was over weight and I smoked. I thought about going to the doctors many times but I knew what they would say. So I stopped smoking, demoted myself at work, and lost 3 sone in weight (hard but not impossible ). Still the symptoms stayed. I suppose I didn’t want antidepressants but I really at this point didn’t see any other option ( I’ve been on them before when I was 17 and I didn’t like the side effects, I’m 39 now). I was a mess.
Went to the doctors who prescribed sertaline and he done some blood tests. 3 days later I got a phone call from the doctors saying I was hypothyroid with a TSH of 11.78 and I was to start thyroxine straight away, I asked if I could stop the sertaline, he said he thought the depression was more than just hypothyroidism so I continued.
Fast forward 18 months I feel sooooo much better. I have stopped the antidepressants and feel good. I get sad though when I look back at the carnage it has caused to my life, my family and friends but I must look forward to future.
Thank you for listening xxx
I cannot remember why I had a blood test, but my old GP advised me I had an underactive thyroid and placed me on medication 2010/11. I tried to get old blood results from my them at my previous surgery but was told they were not available. Recently I found some old blood tests from Nuffield who used to undertake our works medicals and looking back to 2006, my TSH was 5.2 which was within their ranges so was never advised at the time and 'red flagged'. It was the only thyroid bloods they did. When I look back now I think I have had an under-active thyroid most of my life. When I found this site, the great contributors have started to help me transform the way I manage my health. Just frustrated now that Nuffield never picked it up earlier. Onwards and upwards!
I found out because I joined a new GP practice Sept ‘17. I had been feeling very tired all the time, aches and pains, weight gain, puffy face and eyes, I put it all down to menopause. I kept meaning to arrange my first GP appointment because I was so tired all the time but was too busy at work and too tired when I got home, or I would forget. 3 months after joining the new gp surgery, I was offered a physical health check including bloods which I had January this year. I received a call asking me to see the GP and was told I had underactive thyroid. I was put on 50mcg Levo, given minimal info and was not signposted e.g. thyroid uk. I found out at my follow up appointment (with a different GP) that my TSH had been 17, FT4 in range “but only just” and I think both antibodies were high, one >1000. That GP confirmed Hashimoto’s. Fortunately, a colleague at work also has under active thyroid and signposted me to thyroid uk, which I have joined and, this forum. At my request Levo was increased 6 weeks ago as I was getting up in the morning and drifting off to sleep while sat having breakfast! GP agreed to increase as although TSH in range in was high in range. Haven’t noticed much improvement yet but I am able to stay awake for my breakfast 😀.
Hello there. I have felt tired for years and had terrible sleep patterns so put it down to that. Recently had bloods done as routine as I have high cholesterol. I asked for a copy for the first time and noted my TSH was quite high (4.2) and the free T4 was quite low (11.7). There was a not to repeat in 3 months. 3 months later TSH 5.2, T4 not sure. Also really tight achilles tendons recently which seems may also be connected. I started delving myself. To be honest I thought to feel like this was part of the menopause and all normal for a 53 yr old. Having read posts on this wonderful resource, I think it is not normal to feel this way. That is my story so far, I am waiting for the full thyroid function tests thanks (hugely) to recommendation from our resident experts..There is a glimmer of light at the end of my tunnel
Hi there I started with over active many years ago and was the trembling that I first went to docs with after about 10 years I went under active and have been ever since, overactive I can only explain as feeling like your racing all the time it seems to speed everything up and under active is a whole new world with so many symptoms but I guess main one is the constant tiredness and body temp either freezing cold or too hot . With right meds you can sort it though just don’t be afraid to keep pestering your doctor not everyone falls into that “normal “ range they always mention when you get your blood results ,
Mine was found through having blood tests for bowel problems..... first of all it was border line, then another blood test 3 months later revealed i had an under active thyroid.... I would never had dreamed that thyroid problems can upset the bowel, but reading several articles about it apparently it can, I also have diverticulosis, so it’s probably a mixture of the two........ when I look back now, a lot of symptoms were there without me realising.... 😊😊
I had never thought about my thyroid until I'd bought an issue of What Dr's Don't Tell You.
In it was an article written by Dr Peatfield. After reading it, I believed it must be my thyroid giving me all these problems. I googled him, got in touch and made an appointment to see him.
Best thing I ever did & it has saved my life & pre-dominately my sanity! I had confirmation it was not all in my head and that there WAS a physical cause for the problems.
Better still I found this site & I'm getting better slowly but surely. I'm taking charge of my own health & self treating with NDT along with addressing vitamin & mineral deficiencies.
I didnt. I felt like I was having a heart attack and I kept getting sick alot with head colds one after the other it's like my body couldn't fight it off and I was just worn out from wanting to sleep. After lots of tests and constantly seeing the doc like twice a week, for about a month or more they finally found out I had thyroid problems along with graves and thyroid cancer. It's just something not known unless you're aware of this issue which 18 years ago I was not. Wish you the best of luck.
I had no idea, I went for a routine blood test as I changed GP’s and mentioned about thyroid problems in the family so they tested it.
2 weeks later my GP says my TSH is around 100 and I was put on Levo. I can honestly say I haven’t felt anywhere near as well since )-: and that was over 2 years ago.
For me I had issues like feeling dizzy a lot and I wasn't able to stand straight for a short time, I would feel that I'm about to fall. Also, my right hand shakes a lot and my feet heart so bad that I couldn't wear normal shoes. But after discovering my illness, another problem happen which is fast heart beat and it's the worst I'm gonna say.
My daughter noticed when I was talking I was breathless. Went to practise nurse who asked me to blow into a tube and told me I had the lungs of a 40 year old, I was 55 at the time, so I was happy about that.
I then felt exhausted in a morning when waking up, had severe constipation then started which itching on my chest. My daughter had recently been diagnosed with celiac disease so though I may have it. Doctor tested for that and thyroid, my TSH was 8.9 and T4 one point from bottom of the range.
I started on 50mcg levo levels checked eight weeks later, TSH had dropped to 2.6 so told meds. were working so carry on with the dose of 50mcg. I was left on this dose for 18 months before Doctor checked levels again and eventually raised levo to 75mcg.
I have been on varying dose since.
I asked for mine to be tested as I just didn't feel right I was gaining weight to for no reason my TSH was 4.9 so they said I was fine, a year later I asked for another test and had a TSH of 40 I was put on 100 of levo straight away
I knew there was something seriously wrong when I started going back to the gym after time off after a long and difficult childbirth 2 years before. I sporadically felt fluey which was made worse by excercise. But it came to the point where I would start to jog on the treadmill. Would start off all excited and determined to lose ‘the weight that had crept on’. Within in 5-10 mins it felt like a plug had been pulled. Literally zilch energy, I would be close to tears, drag myself home, crawl into bed and lie there for a few days feeling like I had the flu. Then feel much better and do it all again! It kept happening. Around the same time my hairdresser asked ‘what on earth had I been doing to my hair’ as my previous long thick hair was so broken and I literally had no length at the nape of my neck. Then I started to get all the classic symptoms. More weight gain, water retention, puffy face in mornings, hoarseness, scaly shins, my fingernails started to come away from the beds, hair came out in handfuls. I felt really low. I just knew it was thyroid as in a previous life I had abused my body, was anorexic for a year and over exercised, which developed into bulimia for a couple of years before I sorted myself out and became pregnant. In my anorexic days I jokingly said I would rather lose my legs than have a thyroid disease!! Well those words came back to bite me on the bum!
My first thyroid test was before they lowered TSH from 6.0. Mine came back as 5.85 -Borderline. My GP at the time, knowing me well put me straight on a trial of Levo which was like a lightbulb moment. When he put it on me permanently after the trial he apolgised and said he thought I might just be depressed after everything I had been through but was pleased it was something treatable like thyroid! Unfortunately for me, 3 months later I moved abroad for a year where they refused to treat me for thyroid continuing when I came back to UK and a new GP who also refused to consider I had a thyroid problem and went down the path of ME. That was 11 years ago and I am still trying to get treated properly!!
I never really thought about it but my husband and I had a battle over the central heating controls-well I was cold so I turned it up, he followed me and turned it down but he did recognise I had a thyroid problem. He was a university lecturer in Endocrinology! It was also his research subject so he frogmarched me several times to the doctors but my bloods were never bad enough. Then I had results which showed I was hypothyroid plus a message from the best doctor in the practice plus could my husband come along and explain things! Turned out he had just been diagnosed as well!
We went along with text books and went into my appointment. My husband did a quick resume of undergraduate lectures plus drawings and I sat there staring into space till I finally said excuse me I'm the patient! By then I was already familiar with the subject plus in those days I'd also been required to show slides in lectures as neat little 35ml slides weren't around then. Slides nearly 3"x3" were shown by using an epidiascope! So after this long discussion I was given NDT imported from Canada by the NHS. Undergraduates though, even at medical school only learn where it is, how it works and why and how it can go wrong. Symptoms are mixed in that really but nothing about what the medication does and how to treat as that comes from the clinicians in clinic or on the ward. I even went privately to that doctor when he left the practise and things continued well. At least he listened but I've since read letters he sent back to my new GP that seem very wrong then but thinking about it we still didn't know that much back then.
Before his early death my husband's research was with brain peptides and he worked with people around the world, USA, Ireland, Holland, Capetown Belgium London and I'm sure had he been around today he would be fighting our corner. But if I still felt like I did then we would still be fighting over the central heating dials!
I was out with my daughter one day and we were walking and I could hardly walk, my legs felt swollen and I was sort of lurching forward and could not figure out what it was. Had my thyroid tested and it was very high. I had a test for Graves disease. Then had my thyroid surgically removed. Now two-and-a-half years later still up and down on Naturethroid. Never stabilized yet but most symptoms are gone except for being way too emotional and sore muscles. I wish I had not had my thyroid out and had been able to have natural processes to correct it but it's too late now for that. I sympathize with you.
It never occurred to me . I went to my GP with a persistent cough, breathing difficulties and lack of energy. She thought it was just the tail end of a virus, but ordered an ECG and full blood tests anyway.
It hadn’t occurred to her that I’d be hyper, but when the results came back, it made sense of other symptoms - weight loss, rapid heart beat (it seemed normal to me, but she said it was thumping away and must surely be keeping me awake at night !)
My results (FT3 and FT4) were around double the reference range
I didn’t ask for a specific thyroid test, I went for a full health MOT at my doctors. I’d not long returned from a 3 year work assignment living in India, was struggling on many levels to adjust being back in the UK, a health hack I’d learnt from India was to get your bloods tested so went for it resulting in abnormal thyroid reading and high cholesterol reading.
Had fatigue, tests showed acute kidney failure, whilst in hospital waiting for kidney biopsy got chatting to a couple of doctors, explained my conditions and one asked if I had a thyroid test, I said no, they cancelled biopsy and I went back to my doctor next day for booked in blood test and told nurse taking bloods hospital said have thyroid test, confirmed hashi. On a side note i read up a lot on kidney and thyroid complications, told the doctor, at first dismissed my findings, by 4th and last kidney check up I had four doctors in the room asking me questions, they re tested some patients and five came back as same problems as me, kidneys tests looked like failure but was the thyroid making it look that way.
Ooh tell me more about the kidney connection?! I had a blood test once where the (if you have a thyroid problem I’ll eat my hat) GP hauled me into the surgery shouting I had the kidneys of an 80 year old! Scared the life out of me! Ordered another blood test in which they came back ‘normal’ and nothing more was said!!
My kidney filtration rate was dropping 10-15 pts on every 6 week blood test until down to around 39%, they couldn't quite work out how it was failing so quickly, they put a dye through me which didn't show the same as blood tests, after diagnosis of hashis, i googled a few things and found articles from USA, Norway and Japan showing posible connection as my kidney was on going still, 1st doctor couldn't work out what was going on, 2nd doctor I explained what I found although my kidney was getting better but it was dismissed, 3rd Dr started believing what I had found and wanted the websites I read it on, 4th doctor just shook his head and said I was correct and he'd never heard of connection, then they all popped info room for a chat, senior one said to me he had looked into it and for some reason after 1953 they hadn't been taught to check for thyroid when kidney issues and after retreating other kidney patients and finding link he was looking further into it and may write a paper, I gave permission to use my medical notes but never heard anymore, this was at kent and canterbury hospital, now thyroid 99% fine my kidneys are considered normal for my age and weight.
I was having major sweats which I thought was menopause. GP did bloods and was told i was a walking heart attack my Thyroid was so overactive. Put onto diffetent strengths of Carbimazole which I stopped after 4 months. 18 months later I was getting home from work at 4.30 set the alarm for 6pm ,slept and then as soon as alarm went off made supper for hubby and son, showered ,back into bed by 7.30 and battled to get up at 7 next day. Went to doc and discovered I was badly underactive so put onto Levo at 75mg. Was ok for 2 years and then weight started piling on. From 67 kgs to 83 in about 18 months. After 8 months of changing doses I'm now on 162.5. Was told by one of the GPs that 'we always overtreat an overactive thyroid" and "you will never be slim again"
Hi. I didn’t think I had a problem with my thyroid. I saw my GP because I was absolutely exhausted, so bad that just standing was tiring. Severe brain fog - trying to explain how I was feeling was hard. I remember talking to my GP ( who thankfully had known me for many years and knew I had climbed mountains etc) and I had to lean on his desk and support my head in my hand as I was too tired to think. These were the most obvious symptoms. I don’t look hypo, ie I’m 5' 4” and weighed at that time about 8st 12lb. My body temperature is below normal, and I had dry skin, thin hair and brittle nails. He arranged for a number of tests including thyroid. The thyroid test came back as borderline but thankfully he suggested trying Levothyroxine and eventually I started to feel better (on quite a high dosage which meant I got a bit unsteady on my feet sometimes ). I’m now on a lower dosage (75mcg). Another benefit has been that my AF is less problematic.
It was part of my diabetes checkup. I am a diabetic type 2 in remission. Diagnosed last December and started Levo in Jan. Finally on the correct dosage and brand of Levo, so much so, I have done 5.5 hours of ballroom dancing and a Sunday long run (10 Miles) this weekend! I literally have energy to burn and I feel amazing! X
My eldest daughter told me to get my health checked at the doctors. I thought it was an early menopause. I didn't recognise the symptoms as my mother had an overactive thyroid before she died and mine is underactive.
I had no idea about anything thyroid. I went regularly to the doctors over a 2 year period due to feeling so unwell. I had been feeling tired, weight gain etc for a couple of yrs before but put it down to my age and carried on. At the end of the long two yrs I saw a locum instead of my reg doc. I had myexodema and was given thyroxin 100 and had an endo appointment on the Thursday following. Never seen my reg doctor again as I was put under senior partner and thankfully regained my life, until a change of surgery that is 🤪but that’s another story
I didn't ask for the test. I had spent many years going to various GPs (several house moves) saying I did not feel well, always tired, gaining weight, ridiculously heavy periods.... The answers were "pull yourself together", "there's noting wrong, it's in your imagination", "you need to diet" and all the other unhelpful standard replies one gets. As far as the heavy periods went, initially I was told that my diary was "impossible" and then put on Danol and told I "might put a bit of weight on". Several months later, having gained 3 stone, had male pattern hair loss and whiskery facial hair, and a hair trigger temper, I begged to come off the medication. GP was furious and refused to treat me further (all of this now missing from my medical records I wonder why?). A couple of years later, with a new GP and I was sent to a gynae', who put me on a "last ditch" medication - mefenamic acid. It did nothing. The next bit of advice "have a hysterectomy". I was desperate, so I underwent the hysterectomy. I put on more weight, felt just as tired and rather negative about life. It took another 17 years and breast cancer before a GP took me seriously. He did bloods and found that my liver and kidneys were impaired. The first line of attack was that I must drink too much alcohol..... if only! Once I had convinced the GP that my alcohol intake is minimal and not a feature of each season, let alone each week, he ordered another blood test. I was called by the surgery for emergency medication - which I refused to be too bothered about at that stage as I was seeing the GP within 3 days. When I did attend the surgery the GP said they had never had a patient with the blood results I had, who was not already hospitalised.... TSH over 100 and T4 of 2. Immediately put on Levothyroxine and told "you will feel much better and lose all the excess weight naturally". The fact that six months after this I had put on another 3 stone and felt no better was (and still is) dismissed by GP and Endo alike. A friend, met on this site, helped me with NDT (which has been continually refused by both GP and Endo) and I felt a little better with this and have lost a whole 1 stone (so, only 6 more to go!).
Anyhow, top and bottom of this is, if I had not had breast cancer, my thyroid condition would not have been found.
I didnt realise at all, I had been getting more and more fatigue but just thought it was because of working and also having two kids and alwats being busy. The fatigue just got worse and worse but as I was also sleeping badly and had terrible migraines I put it down to that. I would sweep a piece of the floor and then have to sit down and rest, I did all the housework this way for years, getting worse and worse. Eventually went to dr in case I was anaemic she ordered blood tests, and I was just about to leave when I remembered that my mum had had a thyroid problem could it be that, at that time I had no idea it was hereditary. Dr immediately ordered thyroid test and came back positive TSH over 9, I had ultra scan and had Hashi and also Graves, several nodules but not cancer thank God. Dr said that I'd obviously had it a long time and looking back it fitted into place..always being cold, weight problems, I'd even had a hysterectomy at 40 to cure my really heavy periods since puberty, I also had fibroids, both symptoms of underactive thyroid. In the two years before being diagnosed I 'd put on 10 kilos eating the same as always. Looking back I coukd have had the beginnings of it in childhood as I went from normal 6 year old size,weight,to fat bloated 8 year old, in between these ages I'd had my tonsils out and also it was the beginning of my parents split up, Ive read since that lots of stress can trigger autoimmune diseases if you are suseptible. Anyway forward nine years from diagnosis Im now much better and learnt so much about vitamins etc, now gluten free on 75 Eutroxin (down from 100),and fairly happy with life at 70.
I had been feeling ill for years all the symptoms blood tests were borderline persuaded Dr to send me to endocrinologist. He didn't think I had hypothyroidism but put me on meds. Feeling alot better although I have had a pacemaker in plant as well now. Still not brilliant but getting there.
Wow, thank you everyone for your replies. I have not been diagnosed yet but have appointment on thursday to discuss my private blood tests and symptoms, which i feel have been getting worse.
Ive suffered with fatigue since my early 20s but put it down to burning candle at both ends and being a single mum. I had also went through bouts of dizzines and balance problems which the gp diagnosed as Labrynthitis.
I am now 37 and in an emotionally exhausting job. I am a support worker for homeless people with chaotic lifes.
The past year my fatigue is now sheer exhaustion. Sleep is all (where i sleep for hours) or nothing (insomnia) but regardless of my sleep i am done by 1 pm in the afternoon, by 4pm concentration and speech has evaded me, and my social life is gone as on my days off i want to sleep or just stay home.
I try to push myself and take my dogs out but one event left me feeling dizzy, shakey and disorientated.
For the past few months i have become very emotional at first i thought i was depressed. So GP prescribed Sertaline. This did not make me feel better. So returned in August and GP asked me to stop Sertaline and ordered bloods, and because he mentioned thyroid I remember my mum saying that the test is not always conclusive. So while waiting i started researching and came across this website and this forum.
My bloods from GP came back as normal but of course i only had TSH tested and B12. I decided to pay for the full thyroid check offered by medicheck and posted my results. So i have appointment with a Locum on Thursday which i am going to go armed with a bit more evidence.
Since stopping my sertaline my balance has been affected however it should be out my system now as i was not on it long, about a month and a bit. The last 2 days however my balance is really bad, im crying every day. My stomach has been really bad, constipation, trapped gas. Today my head is so hot and balance is terrible that i told work i need to go home. I am now in my bed. But i dont know if this is all part of my possible low thyroid/folate. Or have i got a virus?
I just want to be able to have some days were i have energy. Even after having a shower i need to lie down. Also my hair comes out in clumps. And my feet and joints are painful. But due to me powering through it i feel no 1 unlike you guys know how this feels as its not a visible disability.
Thank you for your time telling me your stories about your thyroid journey. Its been a saviour to my otherwise isolated world.
At first I was losing weight, lots of energy, but hair was falling out. then it switched to no energy, could not think straight. Found out I had Hashimoto's which at first was hyper then went back and forth between hyper and hypo. Also was told that a gluten free diet would help, easier said than done.
Im slowly attempting the gluten free diet. I must admit my bowel movements have improved last few days. TMI sorry.
Back in time 2007 I felt dizziness being overactive headache plus heart rate goes high whenever I try to catch up, whenever I go to Doc must of them said "you're okay" it's just a bad day, lol
Suddenly, a doctor advised me to get thyroid tests done, n yes diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, start meds on Feb of 2008 ( Carbimazole ) with monthly follow up and blood tests, things went well I felt much better right after that, I could put some weight on, could keep up with life friends gym etc, at Oct of 2010 doctor, said it's time for me to go off meds,
N get my blood tests done, a month after, 3 months and then 6 months, results were impressive n great
She advised me to get my lab tests done within each 6 months, which I diddn't do
The last lab test regarding Thyroid done in oct of 2011 I assume, it was great back in time which gave me a reason to not to follow up within each 6 months,
Starting of 2015 I started to feel awful once again, I said to myself nothing is wrong, probably it's just a bad day, day to day I was bearing with suchs,
Last month Sep of 2018, I felt my heart racing, swallowing, fever, pain, lake of power n stuff
Done lot of test, LFT - kidneyF - TD - blood tests
Then suddenly I said it might be my thyroid once again,
And yes, but guess what it's not hyper any more
I'm a hypo with 10.75 tsh result,
Wish me luck, I have an appointment with Doc
One Thursday .. Will keep him informed to do antibodies test , and see what it might be
Good luck with your appointment. Your 1st GP sounded very understanding and knowledgable about Thyroid.
Hope you start to feel better soon.
HappyH81 Thank you very very much, I would ask if those results could diagnose me a hypo, or is it a normal body reaction due to infection or whatever, and the enlargement goiter plus swallowing could be treated using herbs, I've tried hyper years ago for 2 years, 8 years off meds now, I'm afraid of being diagnosed with hypo, does it confirm that I am a hypoThanks alot for the support :))
So many things. My body was slowly ceasing to function properly. Everything was slowly down. The very obvious tiredness, ear wax building up, constipation, a feeling of a lump in the throat when eating and feeling generally unwell but not being able to put my finger on what the problem was! Some weight gain as well but had put that down to the fact I'd given up smoking 4 months earlier! I've always wondered
If the way I suddenly just stopped smoking one day may have, in some way kicked this thing off! Although I have an Aunt with it and now sadly, my daughter has it too which was diagnosed immediately after giving birth.
I had a fairly rapid onset of symptoms - increasing tiredness, muscle and joint pain, post nasal drip, back to back infections, neck pain etc etc. - which started me looking around for an explanation. I had suffered quite a sever period of depression a couple of years before and wondered if that was returning but found this to feel very different.
I knew that both of my parents were hypo which prompted me to ask specifically for thyroid testing but I really had to push for a diagnosis as my numbers were all within range.
Four doctors later, I was diagnosed and have now been on Levo for just over a year. I think i must have caught it in the fairly early stages as I have felt generally much better since quite low doses of medication. I am finding the need to increase, however, and have just gone up to 100mcg. Monitoring this currently.
It’s really heartening to read some of the positive stories on here and, horrible though it is to read about those who have had a hard time, there is some comfort in knowing that we’re not on our own in this.
I was getting fatigue and some other symptoms like parasthesia on and off, but if I remember rightly the main reason I went to see the GP was because of very heavy periods. I thought I was starting peri menopause so asked her to check my lady hormones. She checked my TSH and T4. TSH was in range but over 3 I think and T4 was 11 (range starts at 12). It then took about 8/9 months of feeling increasingly more unwell for my results to go out of range. Was then diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
Annoyingly, started to feel reasonably well after about 5/6 months on levo and I started to get symptoms of Graves’ disease which I was diagnosed with in May. Am now off all meds, feeling dreadful, signed off work and waiting for blood results done today to hopefully go back on levo. So back to square one really. Keeping fingers crossed that my bloods play ball. 👌
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