had enough...

[wornout]

I was diagnosed in 2006 with underactive thyroid and have been on 125mg thyroxine since then. I feel like crap - I have a diagnosis of depression since 2001 (post natal depression) this year alone I have been signed off work twice due to depression but I don't feel depressed... exhausted - I physically and mentally can't go on. The latest was last week and gp signed me off work for 2 weeks and increased my anti-depressants. I have been doing lots of reading about thyroid and wonder whether this is what is causing the problem. I am always tired, my joints ached, my scalp is flaking, my head feels weird, my right eye twitchy, and my left eye dry and flaky (I have eczema). Where do I go next to explore this further - I'm confused by the TSH4 and TSH3 levels, natural remedies etc. I can't go on like this anyomore...please help me.......

[Hidden]

Hi there - I hate seeing no replies! You are not on your own with this.

I saw a post saying to put your blood results here, perhaps someone can help you with the TSH, T4 & T3 stuff. How often do you get tested?

I asked my receptionist for my levels, she wanted to know why and who wanted them, I lied and said my osteopath. My TSH was 1.6 'normal' I don't know whether they tested T4 or T3 or antibodies, I doubt it. But I was definately not normal! I had an op and felt better for 3 weeks but today I have crashed and had enough too. Hang in there, hugs Jane x

[Julia]

Hi wornout, I really do understand what you are going through. I was diagnosed in 2005 started off with 125mg then have been on 75mg for past 2 years. I was prescribed with anti-depressants 2 years ago because my blood pressure went sky high and found myself crying all the time and felt weird, anxious. Even now I have really bad days, Ive noticed lately my legs really hurt/ache and is such an effort to walk sometimes. Im having trouble sleeping, just cannot switch off, have irratable leg syndrome to which my doctor said there is nothing he can give me for that, he prescibed sleeping tablets which I try not to take all the time as I know they are additive. If I dont plan how Im going to get to sleep ie, have a warm bath, take half sleeping tablet, then I just do not get to sleep until 3am in the morning then have to get up at 7am for work my mind is too active! I do feel sorry for younger people with thyroid disorders, Im 52yrs, my daughter, 22yrs old also has been diagnosed now with under-active thyroid and she gets so very tired and exhausted & has to work full time. I do hope you will experience some 'good days' and pace yourself best you can, but I know on the 'bad days' it seems like this is all we will experience! Take care x

[Hidden]

Why are you confused by the tsh, t3 and t4 levels? The way it works it that the TSH thyroid stimulating hormone is released by the pituary gland and it tells the thyroid to make t4 and a little t3.

T4 is a storage hormone which circlaes in the blood for weeks and weeks and when the cells need some energy, The store of T4 is raided and the T4 is converted by the liver and enzymes into t3 which the cells can use. T3 cannot be stored in the blood for very long (hours only) which is why we store t4.

Google depression and T3, If you can't convert the t4 into t3, it leads to fatigue and can lead to depression. Get your t3 measured (less than £20 with lab 21).

Also, sounds like you could have adrenal problems? Only way to tell is with a saliva test. £70 from Genova. Doc won't know or care about this one.

nel

[JimbobBrown]

Hi there wornout, i'm new to the site so I will say i'm in in awe of the amount of people who still feel bad even after "adequate" or "normal" doses of levothyroxine. So you are very much not alone there. I'm in the same boat as you, i'm on 100micrograms and still feel crap. I've posted a question to see if anyone has tried the t3 t4 combo drug and if it actually works, as my doctor refused to prescribe it. I'll let ya know if I get any results.

[JimbobBrown in reply to JimbobBrown]

Hi there, just heard back from someone and she seemed to think the combo therapy was working for her, says she feels better in herself. So it might be worth asking your GP for it. Armour or Liothyronine I believe.