Carol Vorderman diagnosed hypothyroid

[helvella]

I've spent all morning trying to decide whether or not to post this. Not the basic story - that was an easy decision. But given the very few accessible sources - it was the difficult choice. Basically, Hello! or the Express. Hardly a wonderful selection.

Note, this article dates from 2022, but I don't know when she was diagnosed. Most health information I found regarding CV was about melanoma.

Carol Vorderman reveals health condition that caused secret bloating

Bloating led to an unexpected health diagnosis

18 Nov 2022

Carol Vorderman is known for taking great care of her health, regularly attending health retreats to stay on top form.

Given her investment in her wellness, it came as a surprise to the 61-year-old when she began experiencing severe bloating, despite eating well and working out regularly. "If I went for a walk, I'd come back and my calves were bloated. My ankles were bloated. I couldn't drop weight," she told HELLO! editor Rosie Nixon on the In A Good Place podcast.

hellomagazine.com/healthand...

I have not tried to find the podcast that was mentioned.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Funny this popped up on my feed earlier... seems she is the shining example of just pop a T4 tablet and everything is sorted 🙃

[tattybogle in reply to TiggerMe]

Give it time .. quite a lot of us would have said we were relatively pleased with Levo 6 months in.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to tattybogle]

To true!... this article is a couple of years old and nothing else seems to pop up about her... other than lots of over tight outfits 😬(grimace)🤣(LMFAO)

[RedApple in reply to TiggerMe]

Can't imagine she's going to tell the media world that she's self medicating with T3 though!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to RedApple]

No... that's the problem isn't it.... smoke and mirrors and dodgy outfits 😆

[JGBH in reply to RedApple]

I would agree with your comment.

[HealthStarDust in reply to tattybogle]

Really? I wish I was one of them!

[tattybogle in reply to HealthStarDust]

emphasis on the word 'relatively'

[helvella in reply to TiggerMe]

Someone mentioned CV having been diagnosed so I went to look. Search of forum didn't find any mention (though we know it is poor) so I thought it appropriate to post for info.

[HealthStarDust in reply to TiggerMe]

Mine too. Bizarre.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to TiggerMe]

The thing is Carol Vorderman has a brand or persona, she's a tv personality of sorts, and seems to me she's trying to hold back the advance of time and the best of luck to her. She's also apparently heavily into wellness and health.

So I guess, bearing that in mind, she isnt going to confess to putting on weight, hair loss, fatigue,dry skin, aching joints and all the other crap that comes with being hypo, even if she does feel them.

We know how misogynistic the media can be towards women, especially once the first bloom of youth is past. Maybe she doesnt want to potentially kybosh future work. Admitting you feel crap probably isnt the vibe she's going for lol.

And it is genuinely possible that she's well on Levo. Plenty are. We tend to hear from members whom for whatever reason dont get on with it, or who need NDT or T3 as well or instead of, but we tend to be the outliers, not the norm. People doing well on Levo aren't usually spending time on forums, trying to get better. Just my thoughts anyway.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Absolutely... I do find the ones that go a bit Barbara Cartland terrifying though.. I prefer the Helen Mirren's or French & Saunders of this world

[radd in reply to TiggerMe]

Or the Edina Monsoon's and Patsy Stone's 🤣,

[tattybogle]

prescribing thyroxine, which Carol has been taking for the last six months, which has made all the difference to her.

SEE: Carol Vorderman wows in minidress and over-the-knee boots

"I can't do without them now. They're amazing," she said.

Is she talking about the levo tablets , or the over-the-knee boots , i wonder ?

[nightingale-56 in reply to tattybogle]

It must be the boots, because we know that for most of us it is not Levothyroxine!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to tattybogle]

My moneys on the kinky boots!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to tattybogle]

Earworm alert 🚨

youtube.com/watch?v=1i9PWJh...(Not working as expected?)

That has pushed Tom Jones - 'It's not unusual' out of my ear which is just as well as I'm about to go out for a walk and I could do without the hip gyrations 😆

[tattybogle in reply to TiggerMe]

...

,,,

[PRJ20 in reply to tattybogle]

🤣🤣🤣

[Doris11 in reply to tattybogle]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Baobabs in reply to tattybogle]

Yes, wish I could have said the same about Levo. After a year gradually increasing my dose, my symptoms were worse. I begged my doctor to test my T3. It was poor but I had large amounts of T4 circulating. Thanks to this forum I realised I probably needed some T3 and yes, the rest is history.

[Baobabs]

Prior to my Hashimotos diagnosis I remember not being able to fit into my shoes and thinking how did my feet get fat?

[Fruitandnutcase]

Hmmm - not sure what to think of that 🤔

[HealthStarDust]

So strange. Just a few moments ago I was looking at a post by Agitator23 on CV diagnosis which lead me to looking it up.

The podcast, though I’ve yet to find it, was 60/61. She couldn’t get anywhere with the NHS so saw a functional medicine practitioner privately who told her she had low thyroid hormones.

[helvella in reply to HealthStarDust]

Thanks - I couldn't find that comment but it was why I went searching.

Appreciate Agitator23 mentioning the fact.

[Agitator23 in reply to helvella]

No problem ☺️

[pennyannie in reply to HealthStarDust]

So if she didn't get anywhere through the NHS and has sort help through a functional doctor she has likely been prescribed a brand of NDT - probably Armour as it's the most expensive and presumed ' the best of the bunch ' :

[helvella in reply to pennyannie]

Except the article refer to the doctor "prescribing thyroxine".

[pennyannie in reply to helvella]

Ah - Oh - Ok - didn't see that bit of the conversation -

and I'll just leave this out there - as even so - I'm not too sure we are ever told the truth anyway - a cynic- I may well be :

[HealthStarDust in reply to pennyannie]

The articles mention levothyroxine. But, who knows? They are not the best sources.

[pennyannie in reply to HealthStarDust]

Yes - I've already been ' pulled up ' by my comment by our resident Master at Arms - many lengths away from me down here in Cornwall where wellington boots are the order to the day and my product placement !!

Who knows - who cares - in the overall scheme of things ?

[RedApple]

Must have been the goitrogenic breakfast that triggered it! (joking of course 😊)

'The former Countdown star enjoyed a very small breakfast, consisting only of some broccoli, brussels sprouts and a cup of tea!'

hellomagazine.com/cuisine/2...

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to RedApple]

Oh wow... that's why she needs airtight clothing 💨💨

[Hedgeree in reply to TiggerMe]

🤔🤣🤣 ha ha!

[Zephyrbear in reply to TiggerMe]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣

[arTistapple]

I don’t watch much ‘celebrity’ stuff but you can’t always avoid it. On the few occasions I was subjected to seeing her (and I have no idea what she was like on Countdown) I thought there was something dreadfully wrong with her. I won’t say what but the fact that she is hypo is not a surprise. I think she has had a journey with Hashis some of us will be somewhat familiar with. greygoose i think it was, made a comment recently about ‘kitchen tables’.

[greygoose in reply to arTistapple]

Ummmm no, I don't think it was me. What about kitchen tables?

[arTistapple in reply to greygoose]

Someone chasing another around the kitchen table re: libido.

[YorkshireLass_1964]

It makes me really sad for all of us "normals" who don't get to experience the magic Levothyroxine seems to bring "celebrity's". Would be nice if they would use their celebrity status to highlight this horrible disease and do some good for our community. ❤

[HealthStarDust in reply to YorkshireLass_1964]

No that much as she didn’t get anywhere with the NHS and went private to a functional medicine doctor.

[YorkshireLass_1964 in reply to HealthStarDust]

So I understand but the likes of me can't afford to go private.

[HealthStarDust in reply to YorkshireLass_1964]

Nonetheless, she shares the experience with many of us being disappointed with the NHS.

[YorkshireLass_1964 in reply to HealthStarDust]

So she does.....

[DippyDame in reply to HealthStarDust]

Carol Vorderman is known for taking great care of her health, regularly attending health retreats to stay on top form.

I'm surprised the resident medics at these health retreats didn't suspect something was amiss

Look at her neck!

I'm also surprised that with her costly approach to health care and fitness that she even bothered to approach an NHS GP!!

I can't see her sitting for ages in an NHS waiting room with the "Normals" when she probably has private care available on speed dial

As I've said before, I'm a cynic!!

[HealthStarDust in reply to DippyDame]

I suspect your message is for someone else as I have not wrote what you have highlighted in bold.

Thanks.

[helvella in reply to HealthStarDust]

It is from the original post.

[DippyDame in reply to HealthStarDust]

Yes, the reply was meant for you.

You are correct....you didn't write the quote.

The quote is from the Hello article linked in helvella's post...I assumed you would have read and recognised it

You referred to the NHS and I responded.

[Baobabs in reply to YorkshireLass_1964]

Hear, hear

[Hidden in reply to YorkshireLass_1964]

I read back in 2016 that, when Hillary Clinton was running for president, she was required to make her medical records public and it turned out she was on Armour for Hashimotos. I was expecting the STTM to follow up on the story, but I think the news went unnoticed…too bad for thyroid patients worldwide😖.

[FallingInReverse in reply to Hidden]

Oh my gosh I never heard that! How does she lead such an active lifestyle… I would love to know her story!!!!

[helvella in reply to FallingInReverse]

I found this relatively recent fact-check that she has Parkinson's Disease (she does NOT).

But it discusses (superficially) earlier stories including her having hypothyroidism.

What is said makes sense and repeats what I recall but I do not know how trustworthy, or otherwise, this site is.

politifact.com/factchecks/2...

This might help in searching for more information.

[Hidden in reply to FallingInReverse]

phlabs.com/hillary-clinton-...

Of course, the ATA had to express concerns…

[DippyDame]

Ah well....seems the attention, as usual, is on Voderman and skinny frocks, not on thyroid disease.

I'm really not interested in the lives of so called celebrities unless they can use their position to do good works.....that would then be something to celebrate!!

[helvella in reply to DippyDame]

She is putting a huge effort into things she believes in at present.

It might actually be worth trying to contact her/her agent/management because she might find it something of personal relevance.

[DippyDame in reply to helvella]

She is putting a huge effort into things she believes in at present.

I wonder what they might be?

Sorry helvella but as far as this woman is concerned I'm a cynic....but I hope to be proved wrong!

I'm truly sorry she is unwell but I don't see her as (for example)The Face of ThyroidUK

I guess that's me on a lot of people's Naughty Step!!!

[helvella in reply to DippyDame]

The only reason I am not explaining is that they have clear political aspects and I am avoiding any mention so as not to turn this into a political discussion.

[DippyDame in reply to helvella]

Wise decision as ever!

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to DippyDame]

I used to be indifferent to her but she's said a lot of political stuff recently that has put her up in my opinion. I think she is trying to use her celebrity status for good, so fair play.

[DippyDame in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

She has become almost sensationally outspoken....but it gets the attention she seems to love.

Maybe I'm just a dinosaur!!!

[arTistapple in reply to DippyDame]

Me too.

[Rapunzel in reply to arTistapple]

Oh, me too. I'd be this sexy beast.... At least my teeth look good 😅

T Rapunzel

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to DippyDame]

If it does some good or highlights an issue then I suppose the motives dont matter in the grand scheme of things. Its a shame she cant do for thyroid what Davina did for menopause.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Ah, I’m sick of *celebrities* looking for bandwagons to jump on and envelope openings to attend and new causes to politicise to raise their own profile.

I may be wrong but I’ve got a feeling she has *reinvented* herself so often she no longer even looks like the person she started off as and I’m not sure how healthy that can be for your body.

I definitely would not want her popping up representing us as the face of TUK.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I dont disagree, I dont use social media or read newspapers or so called celebrity stuff. I've never understod the fascination with these people, ditto the royal family. It bemuses me that they are held in such high regard.

[DippyDame in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Hear hear!

Out of curiosity I did a search for CV in Hello mags...oh dear!!

[Calceolaria]

She has strong convictions and I approve of them. It would indeed be great if she took an interest in this tedious ( at the least!) condition.

[greygoose]

I had no idea who this woman was, so I had to google her. She's a very funny shape, isn't she. Doesn't look quite real. Looks nothing like a kitchen table. Or a kitchen anything, come to that. But I guess that's more down to the plastic surgery than the Hashi's.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to greygoose]

She's a mathematician who won Rear of the Year a few decades ago and it went to her head 🙃

[greygoose in reply to TiggerMe]

Rear of the Year? Good lord! 🤣🤣🤣 What a claim to fame! I almost won Barmaid of the Month once, but I was working in the wrong pub. Don't know what that tells you but I thought it was worth mentioning.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to greygoose]

Oh, you chien noire you 😆

[greygoose in reply to TiggerMe]

Don't you mean cheval noir? Why would I be a black dog?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to greygoose]

😄 whoops! Well it could have been worse! 😅... 40 years since CSE fail I forget they do that whole feminine, masculine bit too 😏

[greygoose in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes, that is still a problem even after 50 years! I've almost perfected the technic of pronouncing just the 'l' and swallowing the a/e so no-one is ever quite sure if I got it wrong or right.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to greygoose]

Oh un/ une for me - well plus le and la. Trouble is the French tend to pronounce it quite distinctly rather than my mumbled ‘n’ followed by the word I’m not sure of.

[greygoose in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Well if you don't know if it's le or la, you're not going to know if it's un or une, are you. lol But, in my experience, the French don't really care. You're just another crazy foreigner to them. And, in my experience, if you have a good accent you can get away with an amazing number of grammatical mistakes and they won't even notice. They're too dazzled by your accent!

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to greygoose]

I have a pretty good accent although when we were in a cafe on Ile de Re years ago the cafe owner wondered if I was German - must be my Scottish vowels.

You’re right the French like if you can talk to them in French even if you’re not perfect.

I can carry out conversations on a lot of subjects, make telephone calls in French and I have even * the pinnacle of my success* (my standards are perhaps not that high) I have ordered a meal from a drive through McDonalds. I must say as they don’t do GF haven’t eaten one for over ten years.

What I’d love to do better is to gossip with people in the queues at the markets. Years ago we had a French student living her, his mother called when he was out and I spoke to her for a while. When he came back I told him she had piled and what she said. A couple of hours later he said indignantly ‘How do you know what my mother said? She does not speak any English? ‘ followed later on by ‘You did not tell me you can speak French!’

[greygoose in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

lol Yes, they do tend to think everyone with a foreign accent is German. don't know why.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to greygoose]

How weird!

[Bollieforme]

thanks for sharing. The more celebs get in the media with thyroid problems the better in my view. We need a voice!

[Jumbelina]

I follow Carol Vorderman on twitter. I first came across her 2 years ago and she is excellent at drawing attention to some of the worst excesses of our current government. She's an intelligent woman but, even so, possibly finds that people pay more attention to what she says if she wears tight clothes- maybe she is just being realistic and putting her assets to good use. It sounds as though she has the same problems as most of us on here so I feel for her. She has a voice and knows how to use it. It would be marvellous if she used her voice to speak up for all the women who are ill served by our Health Service and forced to pay for proper medical treatment for thyroid conditions. It is a prime example of sex discrimination in health. Carol may already be on this forum- in which case, hello Carol and thank you for all you do to hold the government to account.

[BB001]

The Express article is more revealing as it mentions she attempted to get a doctor's appointment...Having no luck, she told HELLO! editor Rosie Nixon, on the In A Good Place podcast, that she went private.

express.co.uk/life-style/he...

Once the mum-of-two saw a medical expert, Vorderman learned that her thyroid levels were lower than they should be.

This implies ft3 and ft4. No mention of TSH. Or am I reading too much into this?

In my view, she's lucky she went private, it's likely she wouldn't have been diagnosed for years on NHS as it's likely her TSH wouldn't have been high enough, and her fT3 and fT4 wouldn't have been tested.

[helvella in reply to BB001]

I suspect you are right that FT4 and FT3 would not have been tested, initially, but I suspect TSH would have been tested in almost any circumstance.

If her TSH was significantly high, like over local reference interval, she might have had FT4 on NHS.

[Hidden]

She is lucky to see symptoms disappear on T4. Levo made fluid retention worse for me.