New to Community

[Plantshack]

I’m a 74 year old woman & have hypothyroidism & want to see if there are people who may also have Bronchiectasis & Peripheral neuropathy with this condition.

[Jazzw]

While it’s lovely to meet you Plantshack, your post has landed in a forum for people with thyroid issues.

You might find more people with experiences to share in the British Lung Forum here: healthunlocked.com/blf

[Plantshack in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks! I just realized that I hadn’t even put in my post that I also have hypothyroidism. Thanks for the heads up. I am already a member of a community also about lung conditions.

[Jazzw in reply to Plantshack]

Ah! In that case, welcome aboard!

[Plantshack in reply to Plantshack]

Thanks!😊

[nellie237]

I have seen Bronchiectasis mentioned a few times on this forum, and loads of Peripheral neuropathy - so fingers crossed.😊

[Plantshack in reply to nellie237]

Thanks....good to know...need to get all the help I can like everyone else!🥴

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1975, more recently COPD and Bronchiectasis.

[Polly91]

This might sound a bit bonkers but I have been advised using a salt pipe with a drop of Lugols iodine in it can help with COPD and asthma. In the “old days” people used to visit salt mines for this type of “treatment”. I’ve also read that asthma is caused by vit C & iodine deficiency.

Perhaps regular dosing with vitamin C throughout the day & a drop of iodine (if found to be deficient ) in water might help ?

[M1ssmolly in reply to Polly91]

I have heard this from my Dad. He uses a salt inhaler and says that iodine is present in Indian Tonic Water and drinks that!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to M1ssmolly]

M1ssmolly

It's quinine that's in tonic water not iodine.

[M1ssmolly in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh yes! 😂😂 sorry I get confused

[greygoose in reply to Polly91]

People should not self-treat with iodine. There are protocols to be set up, and supplementing should only be done under the supervision of an experienced practicioner. Iodine could make hypothyroidism much worse.

[Polly91]

You are quite right Greygoose. Iodine is one of those supplements you should use under expert guidance. I have been using it for 18 months and it has been v beneficial but I am under the “care” of an iodine literate practitioner.

M1ssMolly- I think they knew a lot in the old days. Sadly with medical advances we have lost a lot of knowledge about natural medicines.

[tibble]

I am wondering if my Dad has peripheral neuropathy. Doctors have been struggling to get his thyroid stable for 19 months and he is getting weaker and weaker. He was a very fit 76 year old and is now virtually housebound. His hands nor legs seem to be working properly. He can't seem to lift one leg up off the floor to walk and he is very unstable, a bit like a drunk puppet on a string. He has had tests for both hands and legs but as his hospital appointments have been cancelled, we still do not know the results of these tests. He has also recently had a fall. This only began when his thyroid became unstable.

[Plantshack in reply to tibble]

Very sorry your Dad is going thru all this. Has your Dad seen a Neurologist? Sounds like he may need to see an Orthopedic Dr. also especially with his legs & hands being like that. Spinal Stenosis can cause those problems he’s having. If he’s under the care of a Neurologist, I’m surprised that dr. didn’t order a full Lipid Profile BW & MRI’s for his cervical & lumbar. Mine did & found out my problems are stemming from my neck & spine issues. Lots of inflammation in our bodies can also cause your thyroid to get messed up too! It might help if you’d have your Dad keep a log every day with what is going on with his body so he’ll be able to show his doctor. It’s just so easy to forget these things when you’re seeing your dr. Good luck to you in getting the help your Dad needs. Pls keep me updated on how he’s doing because he’s still young!😊

[tibble in reply to Plantshack]

Many thanks for your kind advice. I wrote to his Doctor asking that he be referred to an endocrinologist and instead, he was referred to elderly care, which he wasn't very impressed with, lol. They have done a breathing test, and tested reflexes and done EMG tests on legs and hands and also blood tests but he is due to go back to find out the results on 21st May, although he was told that his legs and hands didn't seem too bad whilst having the tests. The Doctor did say in his letter that it may be that his body hasn't caught up with his thyroid yet but that was 7 months ago.You have made me feel a little better because all I could think (if it isn't the thyroid) was Parkinsons, MS etc. I am glad that there are other options. It's awful seeing him like this when he has been so fit and active all his life and it has gone on so long that I am starting to lose hope that they will ever get him well again.

Fingers crossed that we finally start to get some answers.

[FancyPants54 in reply to tibble]

Did you get anywhere with your Dad's investigations tibble ?

I have horrible stinging feet and legs that won't move without pain and difficulty. GP not interested. I've put it all down to thyroid, but as meds increase I'm seeing no changes for the better so I need to know who to ask to see next.

[tibble in reply to FancyPants54]

I have just returned from visiting with Dad and attended his hospital appointment with him. The nerve activity tests on his legs and hands were o'k, he said they showed their was a slight problem but nothing to worry about. Physician is telling Dad that it is likely to be the thyroid making him weak but to give it time for his body to catch-up. This has been going on for 22 months so I hold very little hope that things will suddenly improve.I will say that he doesn't have any pain, like yourself, he has numbness and really weak and is dragging one of his legs.

And his GP's seem totally uninterested.

[tibble in reply to FancyPants54]

, just to let you know that Dad is a whole lot worse andI took him to the hospital where he finally got an Mri done, they are now saying that he needs surgery on his spine,neck area when I suggested an MRi to the consultant at the movement disorder clinic 3 years ago, he told me that it wasn't necessary. Now Dad has been told without the operation he could end up paralysed or in a wheelchairand apparently he would have had far more chance of improvement the earlier this had been done. Another totally ignorant Doctor (consultant)w ho kept telling him it was his thyroid and to give it chance to catch up.

[wellness1 in reply to tibble]

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad's delayed diagnosis and difficulties. It's shocking his symptoms went uninvestigated for so long and now he needs surgery. May I ask what the MRI showed? From your comment below, is it stenosis causing these symptoms?

I wish him all the best with his surgery and recovery.

[tibble in reply to wellness1]

Thank you.The surgeon never gave us a name for it, just tol us tha he would need a small cage put in the back of his neck but not to expect any improvement in his symptoms which was a hard thing to hear. He did say that any improvement would be a bonus so we are still living in hope.

[wellness1 in reply to tibble]

How terribly frustrating for your father and for you. He is lucky to have your support. I hope things go well for him. Take care.

[tibble in reply to wellness1]

Thank you again. Unfortunately, since all Dad's problems, I have now been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and living a 100 miles away from Dad, certainly hasn't helped our situation but I still pray that we get him some kind of life back. He is so disabled at the moment and has no kind of life, other than being housebound and immobile.

[wellness1 in reply to tibble]

I'm so very sorry to hear that. How difficult for both of you.. I hope your father's quality of life can be improved. Try to look after yourself as you face these challenges.

Take care.

[tibble in reply to wellness1]

Thank you so much. It is certainly a trying time.

[tibble in reply to Plantshack]

:ooks like you were right about the spinal stenosis.Shame the Doctors were so ignorant.