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Symptoms not getting better

Posted , 5 users are following.

lucy73692
lucy73692

Hey, I was diagnosed with mypothyroidism in March, I was started on levothyroxine 50mg and then 4 month later was put up to 75mg. However, even with this, I am starting to feel worse than when I started treatment, I am suffering from exhaustion quite alot and my depressions symptoms are increasing. I do work a mixture or day and waking night shifts every week which means I am not able to get a decent sleep most of the time. I think taking a week or two off work may help me get rested properly but I don't know if my doctor will give me a sick note becasue of my siutation, any advice please?

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • marieC
    marieC lucy73692

    Posted

    Hi Lucy, Would it do any harm to ask?  It must be difficult enough just working shifts when you don't have any health problems.

    If your doctor is understanding, I think he ought to allow it, after all, it must be impacting on your health.  I'm not surprised you're feeling depressed if you are having sleep deprivation..

    if he doesn't , have you any holiday time you could take?

    • lucy73692
      lucy73692 marieC

      Posted

      Hey, i am due back to see him in a week so may ask, and sleep deprivation is an understatement, I have only had 6 hours sleep since getting up Monday morning and am sleeping at work tomorrow Friday and Saturday, which isn't easy, and no all of my holiday allowance for the year is booked in for the year 

      Thanks 

    • marey
      marey marieC

      Posted

      Good advice from marieC.

      Hope you can truly get the rest you deserve lucy. x

  • doreen75627
    doreen75627 lucy73692

    Posted

    I do sympathise with you, I have been on them since Xmas and they have not improved my well being, I had to take the levothyroxine at night as I felt so bad during the day, also no more energy level in fact worse if anything , the only thing is I wake up earlier but cant seem to motivate myself into doing work. I am going to tell my doctor when I see her next visit. Good luck to you.
    • marey
      marey doreen75627

      Posted

      difficult for you doreen. 

      I'm trying supplementation instead of thyroxin but am also enquiring about dessicated thyroid instead of the artificial brand...and then dose reduction...my TSH has gone back up but I'm feeling ok with experimentation. x

  • brewster121044
    brewster121044 lucy73692

    Posted

     Hello Lucy ,if you are feeling worse on levothyroxine perhaps your body is not converting it properly & you may be better on NDT which I take.You can find out about it on-line & there is a book called Stop The Thyroid Madness which takes you through all thyroid problems.It is a very good reference book.there is also a good group you can join on facebook.You have to learn to help your self because as you are finding out GP's are not very in touch with how to treat this disease
    • marey
      marey brewster121044

      Posted

      Hi brewster

      I'm a newby to this hypothyroidism section of Patient...could I ask you to spell out NDT please? Is it something which promotes the conversion of T4 toT3?

      The book tip is appreciated...I'll check it out. Would you say that the Facebook site is more proactive than this one? I like everything about this site so far so wasn't wanting to go further afield... but take your comments on board. I'm looking to work on alternatives to medication ....although I have to say I only need a low dose of thyroxin and it does seem to keep my TSH out. I'm ideally aiming for a reading of 1 or 1.5....currently its 5.1....which is not too far outside of the conventional parameters top level norm range at 4.5...but that 's apparently a skewed statistic....based on the sick and elderly (like me!!!!!!!!).

      Do people on here follow Dr Brownstein or have listened to 'The Thyroid Summit' ? Great to connect with you brewster...hope very much to hear more from you.

      Lucy I look forward to 'meeting' you....thanks for your question and the great responses you've elicited!

  • marey
    marey lucy73692

    Posted

    sorry brain fog typo...TSH down...not out.

    so thats down but not out!!

  • marey
    marey lucy73692

    Posted

    just listened in to the madness podcast....got questions....
    • brewster121044
      brewster121044 marey

      Posted

      Hi Marey,NDT stands for Natural dessicated Thyroid which was what thyroid patients were treated with & with great sucess until some one developed a synthetic tablet & since then 1950's we have all been treated with it but literally thousands of us are not helped by it & get better results with NDT.Unfortunately not many GP's will prescribe it as when they are training they are only taught about Levothyroxine. My Dr admitted he knew nothing about it & refered me to an Endocrinologist   & said if she would agree he would let me have it on the NHS.I had to wait 6 months for an appointment but was feeling so ill during that time that I decided to self medicate & bought NDT on-line from USA.I am so glad that I did as within a couple of weeks all my pain was gone & I could walk up stairs like normal something I have not been able to do for over 10 years.Do get the book it will explain all about the different kinds of NDT & as to your question about the Facebook site,yes I find it much more helpful than this one.I found it by accident & there is a waiting list as its a closed group but they are all thyroid sufferers & there is always someone on there that has had what you are worrying about & they are quick to answer your worries & are very friendly as well,please have a look with a view to joining its the best group I have found because its UK based.There are some good American groups but there treatments are not the same as ours so I would recommend an English group. You can put your blood test results on there & there are people who know how to read them & can tell what  you need ie more or less medication.Also you can go on and have a good moan if your having a bad day & people will give you words of encouragement when you need them most especially if you have had a bad Dr visit & come out of his surgery with no answers to your problem.Good luck & hope this helps you.They wont let me tell you where to get NDT on this site but you can get a PM from someone on the facebook group
    • marey
      marey brewster121044

      Posted

      thank you so much brewster...ok got it...NDT....natural desiccated thyroid.

      i spoke with my GP and attempted to negotiate with him for a way round this...he suggested going private initially...but he will consider my proposal... someone in another group...the LS Group...(that 's lichen sclerosus...another auto immune condition...though maybe hypothyroidism isn't necessarily considered to be autoimmune?) messaged me with the link to a UK site where purchase of the natural thyroid is possible...but a Doctor's signature is required.

      I asked about seeing an endocrinologist...the GP, aware that i'd like to try natural methods, warned me that an endo would just up my thyroxin and that would be that!

      Have just had quite a full set of results but not for antibodies which I need to have done...its all down to me thinking this through...but thats actually ok i prefer it that way but a bit worried for others. i can have more tests in 12 weeks he told me...meantime my thyroid could be being munched up if its also autoimmunity....great!!

      thank you so much brewster

      so like you i'll buy the product...it won't be from horse would it? i have been warned and keep horses myself...i could not bear that.

      so brewster i need to make a note from the message...gosh the brain fog..did you find it a struggle to think...and are you ok now on the NDT?

      HOPE YOU'RE OK LUCY ...sorry i seem to have taken over here...but i'm done!

      thank you again brewster

      best wishes marey

    • brewster121044
      brewster121044 marey

      Posted

      Hi Marey,no it's not from horses that's HRT.NDT comes from pigs & is a by-product of pigs that are in the food chain.I am mad on animals myself but whether we use NDT or not would not save the pigs.After 9 years of hell & no response from ,my GP except tablets for depression,every painkiller on earth & finally morphine patches,tablets for high BP & high cholesterol which I refused to take Statins for I bought my NDT. After only 2 months all pains gone ,good cholesterol has gone up,I have lost some weight & best of all given up the antidepressants & the morphine patches without side effects yet the Endocrinologist tells me its nothing to do with the NDT.I just nodded my head & told her that if she refused to prescribe it I was prepared to keep buying my own.Also asked her if she thiught I would be spending all this money on NDT if it was not working.I think that they will not give it to us because its dearer than the Levothyroxine that costs them about £4 a month.I still have days when I am tired & brain dead but how I feel now is 100% better than I have been for the last 9 years.Given the choices I would rather feel like this for another 10 years than have a pain filled life for another 20 years. Hope this helps you in your choices xx
    • marey
      marey brewster121044

      Posted

      i truly hope the pigs are well cared for...so diff being a farmer.

      that is a wonderful srory brewster...thank you so much! i've been given an address from a uk site for the NDT....just need a doctor's signature. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PASS ON THE details...someone kindly pm'ed me ... like you i'll pay for it....but ideally i'd like to address whatevers needed to come off...there is someone from new zealand on this site who's doing it all naturally...but maybe his is a mild case?

      i'm sorry you feel tired and brain dead....have you tried brazil nuts? i was advised to keep up with iodine (subject to urine test for levels), iron (the precursors as in fluorvite), selenium,,,,from brasil nuts from brasil and zinc.

      i've found that to be quite a manageable list. thinking of you andTHANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT.

    • marey
      marey brewster121044

      Posted

      brewster theres something you might enjoy on just for today....google the transformation nutritional summit ....enjoy . FAB is rather inspiring...let me know what you think x
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