Hypothyroidism and cognitive function...

[Tony63]

I'm trying to find positive stories of Hypothyroid people who still manage to study or have a career, I desperately need inspiration! Does anyone ever return to 100% brain function? Is it really all doom and gloom?

[greygoose]

I have a friend who had half her thyroid removed, long long desperate struggle to get thyroid hormone replacement despite the obvious signs that she was declining rapidly, finally got the right treatment and went on to get her PhD in... I forget what, and now works in research at a leading university. A sucess story, I think!

For myself, modesty forbids me to blow my own trumpet, but I would say my brain function is 100% most of the time. Still get little blips from time to time but then my case is complicated.

Hope this helps, Grey x

[PinkNinja]

I have struggled with lack of brain power over the last few years but I seem to be improving now that I am on a better treatment. I am holding down a full time job in a primary school - you really need your wits about you in a classroom full of 6 and 7 year olds!

I don't feel quite up to studying again yet but maybe one day soon. Bear in mind I also have young children so that doesn't help, lol!

Many people do reach their full "brain power" again with hypothyroidism. It can take time but note all the little improvements. It helps to keep you going on this long journey

Carolyn x

[Mrsmoon]

For years I worked part time (9.5 sincevhaving my children) and always felt terrible on my days off but put it down to lack of focus on my none work days. I then took up a full time job due to my husbands ill health. Within months of taking on the job which I loved I was working in the day and going straight home to bed.

I somehow managed to get a promotion and am doing well. I often worry about my lack of brain power but somehow manage to pull it out of the bag.

[Jackie]

Hi , When my thyroid is OK brain 100% besides being old and all of my friend`s brains not! ! have Hypo and have problems! However, there are other causes, which I suffer from and sometimes cause the same fuzzy brain etc. Once your thyroid is stable your brain should be as sharp as usual. In fact, you may well find it better as you were probably Hypo for years before you knew!

Best wishes,

Jackie

[helvella Administrator]

There are several papers on this general subject area. The papers tend to talk about various form of psychosis but there is mention specifically of cognitive issues.

This is a brief description about how the impact of hypothyroidism appears in some works by A J Cronin (The Citadel, Dr Finlay's Casebook) who was himself a doctor:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

This is what I consider to be a turning-point paper by Dr Richard Asher:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

And a paper which clearly followed in the tracks of Dr Asher:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/152...

Many people make remarkable recoveries. Some, very unfortunately, continue to have some degree of problem.

Rod

[DeniseR]

I managed to get my Photography degree through some of my worst hypo times. Quite a lot of it was practical but still a lot of writing and I did struggle with a 10,000 word dissertation. However, I still did better than most(mostly younger lol)people and got top of the class with a first! Now going on to do an MA and trying to build my own business.

Sometimes I just can't focus on anything and I have learnt that there's no point trying until my mind's in the right place, then I have to cram it all in! lol

My main issue is my awful memory, I have to write everything down and sometime do feel stupid, even though I know I'm not.

If I can achieve feeling like this, then anyone can!!!! x

[Hansaplatz]

A year or so ago, I did, so I can say it is definitely possible. I've had a bit of a fluctuation in my health relating to my thyroid and adrenal's in the last year, stuff going down the pan, but on the positive side before that happened I did manage to get my T4 dose just right back in 2010, which lasted for 2 years - during that time I had a full time demanding job, exercised, dated, socialised a fair bit, did gardening too. If you can get to the correct dosage it is possible to get to how you would naturally be.

[Zephyrbear]

After my fantastic endo put me on my present T3/T4 combo regime I have returned to University (at the age of 58!!!) to study for a BA Hons in History and Creative Writing and, according to the tutors am heading for a First!

[Clarebear]

I can't claim anything too amazing, but I managed to work part-time through the worst of it as a Management Accountant. On bad days I really don't know how, as my memory was completely shot and I felt dizzy/suffered with vertigo most of the time. Any way I am now feeling sooo much better and am enjoying(ish) work again xx

[moonlily]

Hi don't give up hope on your brain. I've just retired from being a school chaplain for 7 years in a College. when I was 49 I decided to start studying again as my other half had to finish work due to illness. I was diagnosed with Hashi's when I was 40 and had terrible brain fog days and still do sometimes. But I studied part time distance learning while working in a mundane office job (filing answering phone etc.) and obtained a BA in Divinity (Theology) then went on to do a PGCE (Teacher training). Everyone said I was too old and no one would employ me. But I learned too that if I couldn't think of a word I could substitute another mostly . But I had to sleep a lot when I came home then stay up late to prepare work for next day. But thanks be to God, I was given a job that just suited me as a college chaplain.

If I was having a really bad day I would sit for a little while if I had free time, and pray in the chapel which would give me time to get my brain back together a bit.

The worst thing was not being able to remember names. So made lists and lists of names in the back of my notebook and hoped I could remember who was who . Also someone taught me a good trick if you meet someone new to think of a picture to fit their name. So Julie the dinner lady had bright eye shadow she was a jewel, and Lisa the teaching assistant had a nice little smile. So you guessed it, she became Mona Lisa. Mr Lyon had a wild mop of hair so he was easy. Mr Hood became Robin. etc. The problem came with the new cohort of

year 7 students, 150 of them I just couldn't think of pictures for all of them. So I called them ducky or sweetheart.

I think the Levo 125 MG and multi vitamins with D and B + minerals helped me, plus the under active thyroid made me slow and ponderous and calm most of the time, so that was no bad thing for a chaplain. I had to think before I spoke because often I couldn't remember what I was going to say. So I think everyone thought I was a thoughtful eccentric, ponderous type, if a little mad.

Best Wishes with it all. You might surprise yourselves. You never know what you can do until you try. After all we are not the sum total of our thyroid problem as irksome as it is, There is more to us than that. Take a leap of faith and have a go at something new.

[Hidden]

I'm still teaching, but notice when my meds need upping as the schoolday becomes more difficult.

Before being diagnosed a year ago I was on the verge of becoming too ill to work - many physical symptoms including brain fog by midday...

it took almost a year to get well, then a dose of flu' in January and the old symptoms returned in a few days.

My recent blood test confirms I need meds raising. Two days after the increase in meds and the symptoms are easing off... and I'm multi-tasking in the classroom again and still up after 6.30pm!

I'm learning to listen to my body - but to answer the question - a career, yes but I have to watch my symptoms like a hawk and get on it as soon as there's any deterioration!

[Tony63]

Wow! Thank you all so much for your uplifting answers! There should be a section on the forum just for such stories to show people that hypothyroidism isn't 'the end'!

[Hidden]

webofstories.com/channels/5...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/get_in...

Louise

x