I have had the symptoms of an underactive thyroid for ag...

1. Guest 4 June 2006 at 13:56PM
   • 7 replies
   • Rate this discussion. This discussion has been recommended 0 times.

   I have had the symptoms of an underactive thyroid for ages now. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries after forcing my doctor to send me to our local hospital for a scan. I had suffered for years with a variety of symptoms. I've been onto focus group websites and the website for the British Thyroid Association and I tick the box of every single symptom for an an underactive thyroid. Before I had my two children I was a size 10 airline stewardess, loaded with energy and enjoying life to the full. Since then, I have gained 4 stone in weight, have absolutely no energy, my hair comes out when I wash it and my body permanently aches all over. My problem is that because my TSH levels come back as normal after a blood test, my GP won't do anything about my problem. Just tells me to 'go on a diet' and have done with it. It has been proven in the States that you can have a normal TSH level and still be suffering from Thyroid problems - however the British GP's seem to class this as 'bad medicine' because it hasn't been proven and researched in this country.

   I am due to have yet another TSH blood test on Wednesday - and if that comes back as normal and my GP, yet again, refuses to prescribe me with any medication, I am thinking of resorting to purchasing the drugs from Europe online.

   [i:4a6e5d970b]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:4a6e5d970b]

   • Reply to this discussion
   • Follow this discussion
   • Report
2. Guest 26 June 2006 at 15:50PM

   As in reply to your email. i have exactly the same. i thought it was Underactive thyroid, but after various tests i was diagnosed with poly cystic ovaries. I have gained two stone in weight, lose my hair, and am very lethargic. I got the results back today and the result is normal. I also have been trying for a baby for 6 years with no such luck. I wonder if the thyroids can cause infertility. Then I may purchase the drugs from the internet.:roll:

   [i:ecdd17c950]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:ecdd17c950]

   • Report
3. Guest 16 July 2006 at 23:06PM

   It's vital you find a sympathetic GP - don't tamper with drugs from the internet, as you can end up with serious heart problems if you take too much thyroxine. Better to make a list of symptoms and take that to a doctor, who can supervise your care properly. Lots of GPs will be happy to take lists of symptoms into account. The TSH and T4 blood test figures do not always mean a great deal for most of us, as I understand they were originally based on healthy males rather than women, which isn't very helpful really.

   [i:822eae6871]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:822eae6871]

   • Report
4. Guest 25 August 2006 at 09:40AM

   I had 2 years of mental confusion, weight gain, absolute fatigue, cognitive loss, painful joints, puffy face, bloating, feeling cold and so on. I lost 2 years of my life, thought I had dementia. Diagnosed as depressed, lazy, fat, ignorant - like all of you who have \"normal\" blood tests. Anti-depressants made no difference - protests at lack of interest/action won the label of \"difficult patient\".

   Saw a doctor privately who was lovely, listened and made the diagnosis of underactive thyroid. First week on thyroid meds I lost half a stone, have recovered my mental acuity and energy - I feel I have my personality back at last. I would have taken this meds 18 months ago until an NHS doctor, with his shroud waving, warned me that I could have a heart attack if I took thyroxine meds without the TSH being in the UK range for underactive thyroid.

   In the USA, there is a realisation that the TSH thresholds are wrong and these have been revised downwards. Doing this in the UK would mean that many more people would be diagnosed with underactive thyroid, and, as anyone being prescribed thyroxine gets free prescriptions, this would mean that treatment costs would rise massively.

   I was a nurse for 20 years and believed that the medics knew best and would help me. The lack of help has cost me 2 years of my life.

   A way to test yourself for possible hypothyroid is to take your basal temperature - your temperature when you wake in the morning BEFORE you get out of bed or do anything. If this is less than 36.5, you may have hypothyroid. Mine was 35.3. Less than 35, you have hypothermia.

   For those on synthetic thyroid, the doctor I saw suggests that natural thyroid (armour) is more suitable to get a balance. He has a very refreshing approach - he believes that the patient knows what's best for them, how to alter the dosages etc.

   We are not stupid, we know how we feel, regardless of blood tests. I hope that this encourages people to take control of their illnesses and not to be browbeaten by doctors and blood test results.

   [i:c4acb958f9]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:c4acb958f9]

   This message has subsequently been edited by the Patient Admin Team to remove all reference to a specific doctor.

   • Report
5. Guest 15 April 2008 at 10:34AM

   Hello, I'd like to add my endorsement of the same private doctor -- he got me pregnant at nearly 43 for the first time in my life and after only 2 months treatment!

   I am now 13 weeks pregnant, have the NHS breathing down my back about how I am putting my GP into an \"uncomfortable position\". Really, not my problem since MY health and that of my baby is my number one priority.

   To make a long story short, we spent about GBP100,000 on IUI, IVF, donor eggs, immune therapy, IVIG, bacterial treatment, accupuncture, wheatgrass. I can't tell you the number of treatments and doctors we had. I tried everything from mainstream medical to alternative. I loved the yoga, accupuncture, herbs, etc, but they didn't get me pregnant. I hated the medical stuff, endless injections, tests, proddings, scans. I'll never forget the American doc who looked at me when I reached 38, having had unexplained infertility until then and said, 'Well, we know why you're not get pregnant.' 'Really? What is it?' 'Your age. You're eggs are just too old now.'

   I went to see the doctor, a giant among doctors in my opinion, because I was so tired and fatigued all the time. I was beginning to feel a dull ache in my groin, suffered from nightmares, had terrible skin, had icy hands and feet all the time, very low BBT and a heartbeat of around 45-50. I had been to the NHS docs and expensive private consultants, but all of them said my blood tests showed I was 'normal'. Of course, I knew I was not.

   Like the nurse who wrote earlier, I have some extensive exposure to the medicine. I also have a graduate degree and can think independently. It became clear to me that the doctors were all just spewing out protocol but not treating the patient in front of them, me. I was given a sympathetic and rather patronizing smile about how we all have to age.

   This doctor, by contrast, was wonderful. He listened to all my symptoms, asked many questions, looked at past blood test results, went thoroughly through my medical history and then examined me, taking pulse, doing Achilles heel reflex, doing standing and sitting blood pressure, among others. He then told me what he believed, but was not positive, was my problem. He asked me to do some additional saliva tests to confirm his suspicions.

   I was put on adrenal support for 3 weeks before beginning a small dose of Armour thyroid (for those of you thinking of just going straight to Armour, which is what I was going to do before I saw this doctor. PLEASE go see a sympathetic doctor who can tell you if you need adrenal support first -- if the adrenals are not working, just taking Armour will not work for you alone!). I felt instantly better. My brain fog lifted and my energy levels came back and my skin cleared up entirely.

   I saw him again about 6 weeks after beginning his recommendations. He told me I was doing well and that, if my husband and I didn't want to grow our family, we should take precautions. Of course, I laughed out loud! Didn't he know that my eggs were too old? I was about to enter menopause as I was 5 months away from my 43rd birthday and my periods had become shorter and shorter. Besides, we HAD tried for years with the guidance of some of the most expensive and ostensibly best doctors in the world and they hadn't succeeded, so clearly, this just wasn't something that would happen.

   He simply looked at me with the most mischievous smile and said nothing.

   Two weeks later, I conceived. And my Armour thyroid, the Nutri Adrenal extra and my 7-keto DHEA that he asked me to take cost less than GBP50 a month. Much cheaper than IVF!

   At 13 weeks pregnant, having passed my nuchal scan with flying colors (ie, such a low chance of Down's Syndrome that they aren't even recommending that we do amnio or CVS), I am proof positive of this man's gift.

   If you are at all in doubt, PLEASE book an appointment with either this doctor or another one I can recommend. If you live elsewhere, look at

   • Report
6. LellyM 3 June 2009 at 14:45PM

   I have learned so much today looking into Hypothyroidism.

   I have been overweight for most of my life and always struggle to lose any.

   Then end of last year I started to feel strangely tired. I actually fell asleep sitting on the loo at work (v embarassing) only woke up when my legs went numb. Also nodded off at my desk.

   Despite gettign a good 7 or 8 hours sleep I fet permanently tired and would nod off on the sofa.

   Went to see doc No1. he diagnosed Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (a relative of ME) and said I'd just have to get on with it.

   Great!

   Then 2 months ago I got very fed up and when I went to see a new doc for my BP tabs I disolved into tears in front of her (also v embarassing). She diagnosed depression and put me on prozac and orlistat to help lose weight.

   The orlistat isn't working. emotionally I feel better (less liley to cry, more calm) but physically I feel like an old woman not a woman of 42!

   I used to have energy and enjoy life but now i just want to sleep.

   Having done quite a bit of research I seem t have most of the symptoms of hypothyroidism so I will be asking for a blood test when I go back.

   I hope I am right as this could be the answer to my dreams (not feeling like crap all the time. Not much of a dream eh?).

   Lelly M

   • Report
7. GILLIAN BROUGHTON 10 July 2009 at 01:34AM

   hi i know how you feel , your gp may do a blood test and it comes back normal, and you still feel lousy . the best thing to do is go on the web ,THYROID UK , and pay 50 pounds for test, you get loads of info, ive suffered in silence for 20yrs dont waste your life its too short , there are other tabs as well as thyroxine.

   wishing you good health :D gill

   • Report
8. durlstonage 11 November 2011 at 17:24PM

   I had an under active thyroid gland for many years up to the point, the symptoms were difficult to cope with. Sleeping at my desk, shooting pains, puffy face, constipation, mental slowness, depression, weeping easily and fatigue. I started taking Levothyroxine Sodium 1 1/2 years ago. Since then my eye has become red and sore, I get very itchy skin, I get chest pains, Heart palpitations at night, insominia, so I had half tablet from 100 mcg to 50 mcg, within 36 hours I had cold hands and feet, chest pain, painful headache, moody, depressed, repetitive thought process.

   I don't know what to do!

   • Report