Untreated underactive thyroid

Hello Gemap81

I do feel for you as I know how unbelievably ill I can feel when my tablets were changed by a few mcg as my blood tests came back with different readings. I would be due for a blood test (taken every 6 months) if it came back "normal" my drugs would be lowered, then a few weeks later I would start to feel unwell, the next blood test would be a little lower than the last, so up would go my drugs again!! I believe the drugs were called Thyroxine or similar when I lived in the UK six years ago. I now live in Spain where they are called Levothriod. I seem to be happy taking 150mcg each day, it has been as high as 200mcg, and as low as 125mcg. I have persuaded my Spanish doctor to leave me at the 150mcg dose. He agrees, unless the blood results are very, very high or very, very low it is the best thing to do. Unfortunately who ever you ask, no one seems to have all the information to tell you what your thyroid, or the lack of it really does to you! Dry skin? yes, tiredness? yes, thining hair? yes. The list goes on unless you are treated, even that takes some weeks to kick in, so it does not make you feel better all at once. My skin is still very dry, and my weight has been an ongoing problem! but on the whole, day to day I am OK. I think it was easier for them to diagnose me, I had radiotherapy treatment, for breast cancer, which although they were very careful putting a block over my neck, it damaged my thyroid. The problem is, there are so many small things which could be caused by another illness, unless your GP understands the thyroid, it could take months to sort out.

The best way the UK doctor described the blood test to me was there is a range which is considered as "normal" but "normal" can be very different for different people. At the low end of "normal" I can feel very ill, but it still reads "Normal" Surely in this day and age, they can sort out a better test which is not so random?

Keep at your doctors, make a note of all the little things which are making you feel unwell, or different than how you felt last year,(one thing on it's own can be dismissed) I was very surprised to hear just what can be upset in your system because the thyroid is not working.

I don't know how old you are, but as soon as you start being prescribed a drug for your thyroid, you no longer pay for any of your prescripions in the UK!!

I do hope you get itr sorted soon.

Lettie

Doctors are a real pain when diagnosing Thyroid probs. All have different levels of TSH they go by.

Your TSH should be between 1.5 and 3.5 acccording to a specialist in Thyroid probs.

Think you will find some useful info on here

thyroid.about.com/cs/expertinterviews/a/raypeat.htm

although expect you have done the googling bit lol

All your symptoms indicate Hypothyroidism.

I had a reading of 6.00 last year and doc said it was normal but I disagreed strongly and pointed him in the direction of Dr Peat lol Strangely I had another one two weeks later and it was 1.5

Have you tried taking Kelp - you can get it from any health food shop - my daughter was hypothyroid when pregnant and the dr didn't want to give her levothyroxine, so I asked him if it was safe to take Kelp as she was suffering with carpal tunnel in both wrists which was extremely painful, and he agreed. She started the Kelp and within days the painful wrists became better. After she gave birth her thyroid levels normalised, but she does have high peroxidase levels therefore she could become hypothyroid at any time and needs annual bloods.

I have never heard of taking Kelp! I have been taking medication as I said above for 15 years, but never heard of carpal tunnel being a symptom! I know the lack of a working thyroid can cause all sorts of strange problems, which no one would think was related to thyroid. Because your daughter was pregnant, and had had no problems before, I wouldn't expect the doctor to prescribe Thyroxine or anything of that kind. Your daughters condition was temperary, and probably brought on by her pregnancy, so I don't think you can really compare conditions, but thank you for your letter, it is a strange condition, and anything which might help is worth a try.

I hope your daughter stays well, and has no need for medication.

Lettie

I know how you feel - keep on at your GP, it's like the saying "the noisiest wheel gets the most oil!" I had a borderline level and my GP was reluctant to send me but I kept on until I saw the consultant (don't get pushed into seeing a Registrar, always ask to see the consultant!) I was undiagnosed for nearly 5 years, don't give up

Lettie, my hypothyroidism was also brought on by pregnancy, but unfortunately didn't return to normal levels. Capal Tunnel is definitely a symptom as when my levels are out I also suffer with it, and eczema.

It took me 3 months of back and forth begging the dr for a thyroid test and he only gave in because I asked him to humour me - my levels were seriously out of order!

thyroid.about.com/cs/symptomsproblems/a/carpal.htm

The above site talks about the relation between carpal tunnel and hypothyroidism.

Thanks for your letters, but as I said I have never heard of carpal Tunnel as a symptom before, but it doesn't really surprize me! The Thyroid seems to control everything! It's strange the GP's can't usually tell you what the symptoms are unless you have them! Do you knpw what I mean? They don't say "your skin may become very dry, and will need constant aplications of cream, your mouth may also be dry, lack of saliva" They wait untill one or the other has been driving you daft, thinking it's not urgent enough to see a doctor, but when you do thats the answer, "It's your Thyroid medication need changing."

As the above letter says, keep at it, the symptoms are so vairied, but can ruin your life if you don't get it sorted. Keep going back to the doctor, insist you have a test, and if they say it is "Normal" ask what the reading is, don't be fobbed off, like the others have said "normal" can be very different for different people.

Good Luck

Lettie

I'm having exactly the same problem. Had 3 blood tests to date and all 3 came back as normal ! One gp on hearing my family history( mum had overactive thyroid & my dad has underactive and is on thyroxin) said that it's not IF I get problems but WHEN. Have put 6 stone on in just under 3 years and my eating habits are no different than they were 3 years ago. At wits end.

I can't comment on family history causing Thyroid problems, my Thyroid was damaged when I had Radiotherepy. There is not much more I can say, all my comments are above, but just keep pushing your GP. Go to him with all the other things besides weight problems, a lot of GP's think you want a quick weight loss pill which I know is not the only reason. I think when you go to your GP with all the other "little" problems, he/she will have to take notice.

Sorry I can't be more helpful

Lettie

Mine is from a long line of family history and was noticed on bloods, yet my sister who has loads of symptoms has normal bloods and struggles with her weight. Keep pestering your Dr - ask him for peroxidase test - this will show if you have the antibodies to become hypothyroid.

Hello Gemap 81

when I was first diagnosed with overactive thyroids I was experiencing symtoms for under active and so my doc had to perform the test about 5 times to endure the correct results - but now ever since having the thyoidrectomy - i show symptoms of an overactive thyroid and I have to take 200mcg everyday. So the symptoms aren't always correct unfortunately as we are all unique.  

 

Hi, I have only just had blood tests for an underactive thyroid..Having googled as much info as possible I can honestly say that I feel miss diagnosed for a few years. The symptoms I have suffered over 3 years go hand in hand with this. this last year my weight has ballooned so much but the distribution is very odd. I can hardly breath with the pressure around my diaphram. I am to see my Gp tomorrow and want to thank you for alerting me to wondering how I will be treated and I am determined to get the right asnwers and treatment.

It is the most destructive negative mind game that the symptoms of an under active thyroid can have. I have also had to repeat the diabetic test as my bloods sugars are now abnormal. This in my opinion goes hand in hand with odbesity. I had a Gastric bypass 2010, so can anyone explain how I can put weight on when my eating habits are good. My excersise has decreased because I am so very very tired.. I sometimes feel like my body is slowly dieing..

I wish all sufferes hope and keep smiling ,it is not us it our body letting us down, we now need to wake the Gp and NHS and stop them putting on a price that stops us getting better service and much needed intervention. I have read that other drugs fair much better but the usual medication mainly used i our health service is the cheepest, does that not make us the loosers and cheepen us as human beings..Smokers, drinkers get their help ??? our thyroid disfunction comes from no where and not self induced..good luck to you.. I will keep information regarding my follow up treatment  as and when   ....