Exhaustion

[Gill71]

So I’m 54.. I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid in 1973 when I was 2 … I'm was quite a skinny kid and always felt ok after medication was stabilised. Had blood tests every 3 months for years then 6 months then yearly .

Fast forward to 1995 when I had my eldest son. They lowered my dosage, then they continued to mes about with it till present day. I’m currently on 100mcg, I am absolutely knackered. As soon as I get in from work I nod off, I fall over all the time. Balance is rubbish. Cold all the time, Constipated most the time. Skin dry & itchy, hoarse voice. I just feel like crap atm. I’ve just got of the phone and the Gp is sending me for blood tests. I’m worried though that they will say it’s too high again . If I feel like I do now then I’m going to be totally Zombified on a lower dose.

I feel like a hypochondriac but I know when my dosage was higher I had hardly any of these problems. The gp even laughed when I said I’ve been on them for years so I think I know when I it feels right..

Look forward to getting to know you all..

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Do you have any recent tests from GP you can add

Just testing TSH and dosing by TSH is totally inadequate

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you taking if any

peri-menopause or menopause often upsets thyroid levels

I’ve just got of the phone and the Gp is sending me for blood tests.

Ask GP to test TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

And also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 ideally annually

Poor balance…..often linked to low B12

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

IMPORTANT

ALWAYS test early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

or test privately

Thousands of U.K. members test privately to make progress

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

[Obsdian]

You could fo a private thyroid panel with sonwhere like medichecks or monitor my health. Then you could get advice here and then approach your GP prepared.

[jgelliss]

My Sympathy for you. You sound like your having many of the Hypo thyroid symptoms. Can you fire your current Dr and move on to a Dr that is a Great listener and thinks out of the Box. In a perfect world it would be Great if Dr's would treat the Patients instead of some paper. I would suggest if possible to visit a pharmacy and ask them for a Referral. They know since they dispense thyroid meds from Dr's.

I'm sure Great Members will try to Help you too.

Sending you Hugs for Happy outcome.

[MochasAndMusings]

At 54, like myself, you'll also be in the menopause to add to the mix of symptoms, a lot which mimics hypo symptoms. It can be difficult at our stage in life to distinguish what's causing the fatigue as the menopause can cause that. If you're optimally medicated, and have sufficient vitamins, it could well be menopausal related. Make sure you're optimally medicated first.... An increase, a trial with another type of hypo therapy etc and take vit D, B12 and iron if need be. Good luck!

[HandS]

I’d request (insist) on seeing a Consultant Endo - or see one privately if you can’t see an NHS Endo. From my long experience trying to get a GP to listen is same as banging hour head against a wall.

[Carna]

I was fine on Levothyroxine until the menopause and then many symptoms came back. I am now on T4 and T3 and things are much better but not perfect. I had to find a private Endo before my GP would listen to me.