Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

The endo i saw took one look at my FSh - declared it normal ie within limits even towards the high end therefore nothing wrong with my function!!! I tried to force the issue a little and showed him my list of symptoms, which he barely scanned - mind already made up- and again declared they weren't ALL consistent with low function. I tried again and asked about what about treating symptoms looking beyond simple FSH and t4 but no luck no explanation. Finally asked about adrenals and was told unless I have a moon face they are ok! So 6 months of waiting for nil further on as far as my symptoms go and no idea what next.

The positive is that my FNA shows 'normal' cystic fluid and nothing to be concerned about. can't believe how bruised I felt after though - a fortnight of stiff throat unable to lift chin. Still small price to pay for peace of mind. As its pretty large (3cm) he's offerred to remove it for cosmetic reasons - otherwise just keep an eye on it for changes.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Yes. This is common with Graves and Hashi. The burn before the 'burn-out'. You been tested?

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I hope no one minds me resurrecting this thread, but I remembered seeing it a while ago and wondered if any of you might be able to answer a couple of questions I have.

I went to see the doctor yesterday because for the past few months I have been feeling under the weather, but not able to put my finger on exactly what the problem is. My vague and varied symptoms include very heavy periods, tiredness (I actually mean feeling like I don't have an ounce of energy left, like I just can't move some days), feeling a bit low and snappy with the children, increased frequency of migraines (which I previously only had a couple of times a year), difficulty in losing weight (despite being very careful about calorie intake and eating a very healthy diet), and general aches and pains and a sort of fluey feeling, like I am coming down with a cold. I also think I have a slight swelling on the left hand side of my neck, although I am not 100% sure whether this is something new, or if it has always been this way but I have only noticed it recently, if that makes sense. I have been feeling like this for a good four or five months, getting progressively worse, but had been putting it down to being busy. I have two small children (2 and 4), have had visitors from the UK and have also started up a new business in the last three months!

Anyway, the doctor thinks that it is most likely that I have an underactive thyroid. I ahve to go back on Monday for a full set of blood tests (thyroid function, liver function, iron, B12, cholesterol, diabetes, vitamin D) and then I have to go and see her again to have a look at the results and see where we go from there.

I just wondered, if it is diagnosed that I have an underactive thyroid, what happens next? Is there anything that I can do myself at home to help myself get better, any vitamins etc that I could take to help? I do have a healthy diet, but is there anything I need to make sure I eat/don't eat to help? What about exercise? I used to exercise every day, but recently I don't have the energy. Would some exercise help, even though I feel tired, or will it just make me feel worse? To be honest, I feel so rotten recently, I am willing to do anything if it will help!

Sorry about the questions, but I was a bit gobsmacked when she said it could be a thyroid problem, so I didn't think to ask these questions at the time!

Any help or advice that anyone could give would be most helpful!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Sorry to read about your symptoms.

Don't panic until you get the results from the blood test. And once you have them, still don't panic. List the results on here, and some of the team will give you some suggestions.

BW
Ozzio

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Your doc sounds great! Will answer in depth tomorrow as sleep beckons!
Lots you can do.

:)

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thank you. Any help you can give would be very much appreciated!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Sounds very much like you have an underactive thryoid, so your doc sounds like he's on the ball. :)

For a start, don't take any vitamins or minerals before you have finished having blood tests as you need to get a good measure of just how low your thyroid is. Taking vitamins can affect the results of the test.

On the results of the tests, your doc will probably put you on a thyroxine drug, or T4 as it's known.
This will probably have a pretty immediate effect on your general feelings of crappiness but it will take time so don't expect a miracle fix.
You'll start on a low amount and bring it up every few weeks until you should be symptom free.

There are alternatives to taking a synthesised (created in a lab) T4, which are discussed in this thread and the old one. You should sit down with a cuppa and read through both those threads as they contain information on all the things you can do to help yourself. I'm afraid I can't repeat all of them in a new post cos frankly, there's a lot of stuff. :D
But the old thread is here:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=515648

Once you're on your drugs, start with the vitamins which are mentioned there - B's, C's, and minerals - Magnesium etc.

Yes you should exercise as that will help stimulate your thyroid. Start with gentle walking ... don't do anything strenuous.

Amongst the tests you have, you should have an antibody test for thyroid. If you don't have it, you need to request it because this would point to you not just having a slow thyroid, but having an auto immune condition (your immune system attacks your thyroid, put simply).

You may want to come off wheat completely as there's quite an established theory that a thyroid malfunction is the 'end result' of years of wheat allergy. Some of us here are wheat sensitive or gluten sensitive (not the same things btw) so you need to check that out. If you come off it for 6 or so weeks and see if it makes a difference to you, then there's your answer.

Re exercise - With a malfunctioning thyroid, your body will have experienced some damage to your organs... it's not serious in the early stages, but this is partially why hypothyroidism can take so long to fix. You need to accept you've got a bit of a climb back to health, but that's ok cos everything you need to know is right here in the threads, so get reading!

Another thing I mention in the threads is adrenal fatigue which goes hand in hand with your thyroid, so you'll need to treat that too. I've posted links in the thread. :)

Any advice you might need or anything you want to clarify, just post your questions and we'll try to answer them. There's quite a bit to get your head round but I'm sure you'll be fine.

Let us know your test results... just post them up and we'll have a nosey.
And when you get your drugs from the doc, let us know what they are and how much you're on...

Good luck. Better brew a big pot of tea. :thumbup:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Well the fact that your doc didn't diagnose depression and offer you some happy pills is a good sign as far as I'm concerned! (Been there, sacked that doctor pretty quickly.)

Just remember that blood tests are an indication, but symptoms tell the full story. Hopefully your doc is open-minded about that, but listen to your body, read all you can read, and take control of your own health.

TP is spot on about making sure you get the antibodies test, which is often not on the list. My other tests return "normal" but my antibodies score was sky high when I was first diagnosed.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thank you ever so much for the information. I tried to read through some of the other info in the part one and two thyroid threads yesterday, but my children seem to have taken a disliking to each other in the past couple of days, so I spent most of the day pulling them apart. They are two and four, goodness knows what they find to argue about! They are at pre-school/nursery Monday and Tuesday, so I will have some peace and quiet to do some reading!

I have been thinking about my symptoms since I went to the docs, and I would say that they have been present since I had our youngest in Feb 2008. I remember that a few weeks after the birth I had lost a load of weight and was manic with energy (I distinctly remember talking to hubby about it). In the almost three years since she was born, I have become slowly more tired and run down. Of course in this time we have completely redecorated the house (including a totally new kitchen), put the house on the market, came on a recci to Australia, sold the house, dealt with the visa stuff, moved to Sydney, hubby started a new business and was working long hours, then we bought a new house here and have decorated from top to bottom, we have had visitors for four months of the time we have been here and I have started a new business myself, which is keeping me busy. And of course I have two small children! So, I have been putting it down to being busy! I strongly suspect that there was more to it than that!

It is interesting that you mention wheat. I find that if I eat any bread, pasta etc, my tummy is horribly bloated (even more so than usual), so I had been cutting down and trying some gluten free things. That has been the case for a number of years, but it is only recently that I made the connection with wheat/gluten.

Symptoms I have include being cold, pale, I bruise fairly easily and they seem to take ages to heal, I lose lots of hair when I wash it and have mentioned to hubby that I feel it is thinner than it was (although it is very dark and long so easier to see when it falls out), constipation and bloating, problems with my periods, feeling so tired I can barely be bothered to move, things like holding my arms up (hair washing and putting up curtain poles) make my arms feel exhausted and like there just isn't any energy in them, I feel like it is hard to concentrate on things some times, and actually I feel less intelligent than I used to (sounds silly, but I am reasonably intelligent but feel that since I had our youngest I have 'brain fog'! Thought it was the constant repetition of nursery rhymes!), and I just generally feel rubbish! General aches and pains and tiredness. More than that I feel lazy and like I can't be bothered with things because I don't have the energy to do them. That is unusual for me, I was always one to bound out of bed at 6am to start the day!

Anyway, I am off to have the blood tests tomorrow and will book to see the doc after that. I won't let her fob me off with anti-depressants. I had a doctor do that once before, but I only took them for a couple of weeks before I decided that I wasn't depressed just grieving (my dad had died), stopped taking them and went to see a counsellor instead.

Again, thank you for the help. Once I get the results, I will let you know what they are and what the GP is going to do about it.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

It can quite often kick in after childbirth... it's fairly common. Bruising, hair loss, constipation, heavy periods, tiredness, yep, it all sounds familiar! :D

Anti depressants are often given in error. In fact, after childbirth it takes several months for the thyroid to recover and anti-D's are most commonly prescribed then. God forbid you should feel a little low after growing an entire human being by yourself for 9 months! :lol:

The doctor gave me anti d's too. They're fluoride based and can damage your thyroid ... great news eh? I remember my then husband and our marriage counsellor patting me on the back saying 'Ah, that explains it' as if my depression was the key to why our marriage was unhappy.
:rofl:
So funny the things you put up with at the time and then look back on and wonder what the hell you were thinking! :D I came off the anti d's too (much to everyone's concern :rolleyes:) and tried to get down to what the real problem was... and found it.

When I was diagnosed and got a script for thyroxine, my then husband said 'Well at least you can try these and when they do no good, you'll know it isn't your thyroid.'
It was like he didn't want to think it was my thyroid. Very odd behaviour. :blink: Your partner sound supportive so that's a good thing. You need one of those. I also have a supportive partner now. Comes to the doc with me if anything's wrong, checks up on me. Really, the difference when someone really cares for you is astonishing. Got through my illness without support of my then husband, so if you've got support, then you'll breeze it. :D

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Well, I had my test results yesterday and my liver, kidneys and thyroid all checked out normal! The diabetic check was also normal. The things that did show up were low iron, low vitamin D, low vitamin B12 and slightly raised cholesterol (my dad died from a heart attack, so there may be a familial tendency for raised cholesterol - something to keep an eye on).

So, had a long chat with GP about the results. She thinks that maybe I have been going overboard with dieting the wrong way (skipping meals and using meal replacements) which have firstly buggered my metabolism and secondly have meant that I am not eating a balanced diet (hence the deficiencies). She has given advice about getting those things back up to normal levels (actually, I got a bit of a telling off!). She then wants to see me again in three months to see how I am getting on and redo the blood tests to see if the changes I make have had any effect on how I feel. She did say that it could be possible that there is a sub-clinical problem with the thyroid that isn't showing up, but wants to try the obvious things first.

I am quite pleased that she is happy to see how I go for three months. There are a number of lifestyle changes that I want to make, and the doc has just given me a kick up the backside in to making them.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

What thyroid test did you have done? Was it just a TSH test or more in depth? You can still have 'normal' results which are 'within range' and still have a thyroid issue.
However, the other issues, esp the iron and B12 would account for the tiredness!

Yes I'm not surprised really.... you can also bugger your thyroid by very low calorie eating. Whilst meal replacements are ok here and there, for long sustained weight loss, you can't beat a nice bit of salmon and a heap of veggies!!! ;) If you've got kids, you've got to look after yourself... otherwise, who will?!

Sounds good and encouraging. See how you go then, and look after yourself. The last thing you want to give yourself is a thyroid problem to be honest. They're a sod. :lol:
Wise doctor ... so eat well, get some rest and see how the blood tests go next time. Let us know how you're getting on and good luck with it. x

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Did she check your haemoglobin levels? Your symptoms sound much like mine were (on reflection) and it turned out that I was severely, and I mean seriously severely anaemic. Still trying to get to the bottom of it but have had to have blood transfusions and iron infusion before I remembered what 'normal' felt like. We've kind of pinned it down to a massive fibroid which I've likely had since just after Tiddler was born in 1995 :eek:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Ouch Pen. You going to have that sucker removed then?

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Guess so. Don't see the Gynae until Feb but judging by the size, my doc doesn't think he'll want to leave it there. :blink:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

:( Should feel better once it's out. (Better out than in)

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Yet another visit to a hospital theatre - whoopy doo! It'll be the fifth time since Easter :blink: At least that should be the end of it. The mother suggested I should have the uterus out at the same time as I no longer need it! I don't think I replied to that one :blink:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hell no, only have stuff whipped out if it's causing you problems. I had the lot out at 35 (cervix included) and still have menopausal symptoms 13 years on, plus a whole lot of other shite to deal with that some doctors tell me is related.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

God she's a gem isn't she! :huh::huh::huh:

Exactly my philosophy too S. Keep it unless you don't have to.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hey. I just came in here from another thread I'd started relating to my Elderly father in UK who has Graves Disease - a HYPERthyroid condition. Now I note that most folks are writing about HYPOthyroid - and I do understand the difference. But just a couple of questions if anyone can help....

As he is on the anti-thyroid (which BLOCKS the TSH totally) and is on Thyroxine - can I assume that he is technically treated as HYPO? The doc has been raising his Thyroxine slowly - and we are up to 100mg. BUT the last raise (about 4 weeks back) seems to have started a storm. he's having panic, anxiety, sweats, headaches, eye problems focusing - infact his metabolism has now gone through the roof.

So in desperation I sent a direct urgent email to the hospital consultant who treats him to request he see my Dad again. My Dads own GP is USELESS (what you call a numbers man - he even told dad to get an eyesight test! What a joke...)

The hospital Endo Consultants normally just phone Dad up every 6 weeks and assess him verbally, along with the tests. The tell the GP what to prescribe. It's all a bit round-the-houses. I suspected that the last raise was TOO MUCH. Does that sound like a fair assessment? He is going back next week - and I hope they can do something quick - his quack NHS local GP is appalling. He's put dad on Anti-depressants (which may have been justified) without any counselling or anything.

Do they have meds that will knock his level back down quickly? I've heard they use radio-active iodine. If any one can give me some advice I would be eternally grateful. Thanks

Mark.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hi Mark
It does sound like he's on too much thyroxine. Poor guy!
I am not great on Graves and I don't think there's anyone here who is suffering from it afaik, but I can give you a link to follow up.

The 'about.com' thyroid board is very helpful.

Here's a link to the board:

http://forums.about.com/ab-thyroid/

There used to be a UK board but I think they've made it now international since I was last on it.

Prescribing over the phone doesn't sound like a very effective way to look after your patients, and it sounds like your dad may need to lower his amounts so he doesn't get more sick. Being that hyper can cause other health problems so it needs to be addressed quickly. I hope there's someone on the other board who can give you some help.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks a million. I hope they reduce the thyroxine next week - or we are better Dr's than they are! He did seem better on the lower dose - but did say he was a bit cold! But I think he was just normal - and could have stayed on the does he had before (which I think was either 50 or 80mg?)

Yes the 'telephone clinic' sounds a bit suspect - but I did listen in when I was home the the consultant seemed OK. He did answer all my questions. Trouble is that my Dad is 78 and gets confused or forgets to mention important things or forgets what he's told. This is where it falls a bit flat.

Fortunately I wrote them a HUGE urgent email addressing all my concerns - which they did read - and straight away booked him in face-to-face urgently at the hospital next week, so I hope they can lower the dose back to what is was. Yes he's been having a tough time over the past few weeks, and of course me too, as I'm constantly trying to deal with his panic and anxiety on the phone. His GP is a real joke.

I'll check out that other link - I think I might have read some of that before.

Cheers again.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

If he feels the increase is too much and it's making him ill, he can cut down himself, although I am not a doctor and would not recommend he doesn't follow doc's advice, but some thyroid people do that for themselves.
If he's taking 100's in one tablet, all he has to do is cut it in half = 50
Then half again=25.
He doesn't have to wait for the doc to tell him to take less.

Thyroxine (T4) can take about 7 weeks to get out of the system, so sounds like he needs to start cutting down immediately.

His anxiety will prob be linked to the thyroxine... too much makes your mind race and your heart rate go up... it's horrible when you're taking too much.

Perhaps somewhere in between his old dose and his new is ideal. Incremental increases are better ... if he was on 80, he should have gone up to 85 for a few weeks, then 90 for another few weeks... this way he wouldn't have got such a huge increase. Some docs do put the dose up by 25mcg at a time but that can be too much for some. It's a delicate balance.

If his anti-d's (I read your other thread) are fluorine based, this can actually detrimentally affect his thyroid, so it wouldn't be helping much.
A course of counselling is shown to be as effective for depressed people as anti-d's so he needs to accept some support from other people.

Age Concern in the UK do the visits for people. I used to do that myself for an hour or so every week.

I'm not a doc and would never give medical advice and it's up to him how he manages his health. I'm sure he's more capable of knowing what's good for him. Taking control of that is empowering.

Good luck!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks for that TP. You are a mine of information. I just had a development with my Dad though. He phoned me with chest pains - his heart was racing again. So he called an Ambulance and has just left for hospital. The good news is that the Paramedics said his heart seemed OK - but it sounded like his meds needed sorting out. They have still taken him away so they can do some more tests. I'm happy about that - else he would have had to wait until his weds appointment. So the issue has been forced now. They have a letter from me which explains all his recent symtoms - and our neighbour printed it out and gave to the Paramedics. So I'm waiting now to see what happens. A bit tense - but at least I know he is in good hands. Cheers for the Age Concern tip - I'll def be calling them soon as well.

Mark.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Yep, I had palpitations when I was told to take too much. Dropping it back down soon sorted it out.

Good on you for taking charge of your Dad's health; I did similar with mine last year when he lost a lot of weight and was scared to find the cause. When I went back for my planned trip I marched him straight to the surgery and I was emailing and talking to his doctor until we got answers. Had to do the same with Mum earlier this year as nobody was telling my sister a thing, and she's old school - doesn't challenge authority, the doctor is always right, etc.

Well they're not, so keep at them.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Yes you are SO right - especially the 'old school' not challenging the Dr's opinion. My dad would take a cyanide pill if the Doc told him to!!! He never questions anything! I'm hopeful now after hearing from you and TP that it seems the lowered dosage will be the solution. Lets hope the hospital takes the initiative. I still haven't heard anything more - so I guess he is still there. They might keep him overnight - which is a good thing.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Heart racing and palps is a sure sign he's taken too much though it can be an indication he's also low on some minerals too. Look up vitamins and minerals for heart health on google.

I hope the hospital gets to the bottom of it for you. Saying this, they may just send him home because he's stopped having chest pains, which happened to my mother - the cardiac guy told her it was nothing to do with her thyroid. Idiots!
Still, she is old school too and doesn't like to defy the doc. I happily am not old school to defying doctors comes naturally to me. :teeth_smile:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

They have him all hooked up for obs and will keep him there tomorrow as well. They've done a whole range of tests so It will be interesting so see what they get back. I'll check the minerals and see. He has been eating quite well recently (as the neighbour has been bringing him food because of the snow) but he does always eat well enough in my opinion - and I tell him all the time - and what to eat. But when I am not there to cook for him he does what he wants. Lets hope the hospital sort him out now. Thanks again, Mark.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

but he DOESN'T always eat well enough in my opinion....

Sorry my typos!!!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

:D Also if his metobilsm is racing he may not be absorbing nutrients from his foods so there's something else to watch.

Very difficult being on the other side of the planet. Let us know how he gets on.
Good luck.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I will do. At least he is in good hands for a few days :) Now for some sleep!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Things have moved fast.

Dad is still in hospital - BUT it seems he has a heart abnormality which may have caused the chest pains and palpitations. All the thyroid levels were normal. They have now taken him off the Thyroxine totally, and are tapering down the anti-tyroid meds - so they can see if he is improved. Apparently they keep you on the replacement therapy for 9-10 months (if you are hyper and have the anti-thryroid meds + replacement therapy). So lets hope that all works out now.

But now we need to see what the heart problem is - and there are a few tests being done now. To complicate things, he suddenly got VERY confused, delirious and totally out-of-character. Much like dementia but suddenly with no warning. I was shocked, but apparently they suspect he has a UTi which can produce very strange cognitive symptoms in the elderly because the bacterium crosses through the blood/brain path. Then when in the brain can cause havoc.

So doing blood tests and now a CT brain scan. So if positive result and treated with antibiotics, he could respond and return to normal soon. If too late, then he could stay this way - which is not a nice thought.

Looks like I'll be having an unplanned and expensive trip to the mother country coming up.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

My sympathies. Hope they sort him out quickly and he's home and happy as soon as. :fingerscrossed:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thank You - I do too :fingerscrossed:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Some adrenal fatigue information here:
http://www.hormone.org/public/myths_facts.cfm

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks again. I've been in UK for 4 weeks now. Dad is off his Thyroid meds (block and replace therapy) and seems to be doing well. A few more hospital appts for his memory/heart but generally he seems to have made a spectacular improvement since the weeks leading up to his hospitalisation. Ironically I have now slipped a disc a week ago, and am hoping to recover enough to make a delayed flight back to Oz on 13 feb. Lets hope I get on my feet as it's no fun being stuck here in the Motherland in this cold snap we are having. getting good (but expensive) Chiropractic and am crossing my fingers for a speedy recovery. It's a strange thing but dad is now having to care for me - and I think it is doing him some good having that responsbility and sense of purpose again. Funny old world eh?

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

**Just thought i would do an update**
Well we have been here in Melbourne for over 12 months and felt fine on the medication... then i had to re-apply for jobs and the stress sent me into those old feelings again and a very husky voice!!
So I took myself off to our bulk-billing doctor and after examining my neck he sent me straight for a CT scan and blood tests. He said he thought my medication was too high and make more appointments when i had the blood tests.
2 days later I was back in the surgery and he diagnosed Hashimotos due to the bumps on my thyroid but he still wanted me to have an Ultrasound. So the next day I go for the Ultrasound and go back to him.
This was all within a week!! In the UK I waited 8 weeks for an Ultrasound :sneaky:
With all the results he said I needed to take 125mg one day and 150mg on the next day to reduce my medication (Eurostix or something). I feel fine ATM...
I go back in March for more blood tests but this doctor is listening!!:thumbsup:
J x

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hey that's good.

How did he come to the conclusion you were on too much medication? Were you having hyper issues?

It's great to find a doc who actually hears you... really good! : )

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

The blood tests. I can't remember what he said but it was one of the 3 thyroid results that was not in the range. He said to adjust the medication and to return after a month and have more bloods done then see him again. I did that and I am back within the range and feeling much better :thumbsup:
Got to have more bloods in March. He seems to be keeping an eye on me and know what he is talking about - such a relief from that robot I saw in the UK!
Its all good :D

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

That's great. Glad to hear of someone with a switched on doc!