General Chat

Hi Linda Hope that you get that call, and you do not have to wait too long for news Liz

Hi Ken and all recent contributors I saw my Dr this afternoon, well.................... progress of a sort. I thought I was coming away with a prescription for apetite supressants, but he listened to me. I told him of the continuing stuggle with weight, the loss of hair and my feeling so low. Well after the weekend he is phoning an endocrinologist with all I have told him and hopes to ring me Tuesday. If I don't hear from him I'm to ring and talk to him on Thursday. So here's hoping. Regards Linda

Hi everyone, I hadn't even heard of Hasimoto's until last week, I thought that my thyroid levels had finally gone to pot. But had appointment with nurse for diabetes check and she explained what was what, Doctor just said thyroid was bit off! Good thing is that the nurse also has Hasimoto's, so thats a good start. Weight gain - know too well bout that -seem to have lost a small amount - but levelled out for while now. Ken hope all goes well. Liz

I found the support on the TPA-UK (Thyroid Patients' Advocacy - UK ) absolutely brilliant. It should be towards the top of the list if you google it. Definitely try them if you have a thyroid problem or have symptoms which make you suspect you have. They have a moderated message board for members to share experiences and advice relating to thyroid issues. Thanks to their support I'm much closer to finally getting a proper diagnosis after 8 years of being told my symptoms were in my head, even though my blood tests results indicated my thyroid is indeed struggling! Other posts in this thread tell stories so similar to my own, it is worrying to think just how many folk are soldiering on without help. Good luck to all of you!

Thanks for your words Ken, somehow somebody understanding makes you feel a little better, that your not alone. It is a fight, but I'll let you know how I get on on Thursday. Best wishes to your daughter too. Ps I was diagnosed over 17 years ago Linda :o)

I also have Hashimotos disease, (produce the antibodies to attack my own thyroid gland). I've been diagnosed just about 4years now and I'm on 100mcg of thyroxine. Mum was feeling rough a couple of years ago and so I suggested she gets her blood test done and she's come back with the same condition. Plus mum has a relative that died of a very aggressive thyroid cancer (mum was adopted so we only found it out this year on researching her birth family). So now we are aware of this we will have to keep an eye on things which is a bit worrying. Mum and I have also had IBS and both had our gall-bladders out due to gallstones. I'm now on a wheat-free, fat free, dairy free and yeast free diet due to allergies and suffering from Spinchter Oddi Dysfunction, to do with my gall-bladder operation. SO now I'm having to watch what I eat very carefully but had no idea that foods could affect the thyroid function, so I'll have to look at the book 'The Thyroid Diet' that was mentioned in Feb'06 on this thread. Before I was diagnosed I was shattered, leaning on the school fence at 3pm and trying to sleep almost and wondering why the other mum's weren't so tired. I had Post-natal depression twice for a short while, which can be linked in to the presence of the thyroid anti-bodies being present. I put on about 1.5 to 2stones and my hair keeps falling out but it is so thick it does not show but it is in the bath and I know it is not as thick. I'm more scatty than usual and do forget things now. Apart from the hair keep falling out I think I'm on the right level, I try and get a blood test at least once a year now but if I feel rough I go back and ask for one. re. Viv - I'd ask to see another doctor - I would not wait for the thyroxine to be prescribed - I'd challenge my doctor's reasoning. Never realised so many people on here have the condition. Claire

Ken I wish your daughter well and hope that she gets the help she needs now. Other symptoms I discused with a friend, who also has an underactive thyroid, last night were: Loss of eyebrows Loss of eyelashes Loss of bodily hair( no need to de fuzz !!!!!!!!!!) Dry itchy skin And this is a lady who is still slim and doesn't have weight issues. Oh well back to the Dr on Thursday and see what he offers this time. Knows I am at slimming classes again and I've managed to loose 1 and half POUNDS in 11 weeks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So far I think the next offer is appetite suppressants well I'll do my best, but they diddn't work last time. He has said if they don't work then I might be advised to see an endocrinologist ( a Dr who deals with the glands ) Why can't I see him asap. Time is wasting. I was checked for diabetes, menopause, pitruitary gland and the thyroid remains the same !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot shift the weight no matter how hard I try. I'll update on how I get on Linda :o(

Thought I would up date this thread - with my update (if that makes sense)? 4 weeks ago - blood test - for my diabetes 6 month review, 6 weeks ago - blood tests - because I had not had a period for 17 weeks - and it was not down to being pregnant. Got a call from Doctors - asking me to make appointment - not urgent. Of course - I started to worry!! Find out that I had thyroid problems, too many antibodies attacking the thyroid. Been put on thyroxine - low dose for just over 2 weeks now. Back to the doctors next week - to have check. Also found out that I'm pre menopausal (?spelling) When I went for Diabetes check - the nurse was great - she said that the name for the antibodies attacking the thyroid - is Hashimotos disease -...(which according to info I've read) is a auto immune disease. The antibodies kill of the thyroid cells and eventually you will become hypothyroid. Hashimotos what a great name!! So looking forward to a great time with the hot flushes and tiredness, that come with the above!! 2 websites to look at www.thyroiduk.org/ www.btf-thyroid.org Liz

Scandalous the way this illness is not diagnosed properly. I still think that is my trouble but have had numerous tests and the doc still says no. The fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome ruin my quality of life. Little or no treatment for that only painkillers, and/ antidepressants which don't make a scrap of difference and so I have stopped taking them for a month now. Wish I could wave a magic wand and we could all feel good again. Off to bed now, night. Liz

thanks LL, sorry I didn't reply sooner but i had gone to bed for some buch needed rest lol, LOuisa

Louisa, If you ever feel you can't say how you feel on here you may PM me. Again that goes to anyone else with these problems. LL

thanks LL, I get upset because as you can see from this thread so many women have gone through hell and back just to try and feel 'normal'. And like any disease you think you are going mad, but once you do get diagnosed all of a sudden heaps of people say 'oh yes I have that '. Thank heavens for places like this where we can talk openly and receive/receive so much support. ((((hugs to all)))) Louisa

Hi Louisa, Apart from my thyroid problems, I have Fibromyalgia and pernicious anemia. I was being treated for yrs at the hospital for Osteo-Arthritis, and was fed up of being treated like I was making it up. After an off the cuff remark from my doctors 'understudy' at the hospital, I put pen to paper, and wrote to the main consultant. To cut a long story short I told him I could think of better things to do with my time than sit for hours on end in a hospital waiting room only to be treated like a fraud. It worked!!!! They had me in hospital quick as a flash, for 2 weeks, kept a close eye on me, and, thats when a 'Chinese' doctor was brought to my bed, ran some tests, and told me I had Fibro. I had never heard of it. So, I was brought a leaflet to my bed and told to read it. That leaflet could have been wrote about me!!!! Every symptom was there. What I am really trying to say is DON'T give up. No matter how much of a fraud they make you feel, keep pestering them till you get what you want. That goes for anyone else reading this too. LL

thanks Lady Lucan, now I am depressed lol 9only joking) For 12 years I kept telling doctors something was wrong and got no help. It was only when I had two miscarriages in a row that my GP found me a new gyno that tests were done. I suffer from an under active thyroid and have polycystic overies. i have found that even though the thyroid meds have fixed my thyroid levels my insulin levels stay high. So I don't end up with diabetes I have to watch what i eat and drink. i was also told to make sure I eat when I wake up and drink warm water to help wake up my metabolism and eat small amounts often to keep the sugars constant. this helps with the fatigue too. Louisa

Oh another symptom Ridges on nails

Ok for all you people with an UNDER active thyroid these are the symptoms you may be suffering:_ weight gain Husky voice Dry hair/skin thinning hair (comming out when you comb) Feeling the cold more than normal cold hands/feet difficulty losing weight even when dieting poor memory and concentration dont sweat much depression mood swings PMS Low sex drive headaches Frequent infections Ie colds, sore throats and chest infections face looks bloated bags under eyes yellowing of palms of hands/feet movement and thinking is on slow side need more sleep joint stiffness dizzyness Nasal congestion There may be more, these are ones I know and as a suffer have most of these symptoms. I was diagnosed about 10 yrs ago. Anyone wishing to copy these symptoms feel free. LL

I have an underactive thyroid, diagnosed about 20yrs ago, have had to have 2 re-tests done this year with another one next month as thryoid level has gone up, perhaps explains why I feel tired lateley and cant be bothered to do anything, didnt know we had to follow a diet, my weight went up from 8and half stone to just over eleven stone, cant get under the eleven mark. jean

Nudge for Betty Linda :o)

As one hitting 50 :((( But 18 in mind :))) I have had problems with my thyroid for the last 10 years which the doctors recognise but as I am 'within normal limits' for the thyroid function tests are reluctant to treat. I also have a thyroid goitre which although not pronounced enough to require surgery still prompts any doctor who sees me, for any reason, to say 'You have a goitre...Did you know?' Grrr.... Yes, but only for the last 10 years :((( Chris

Waiting to see my doctor today, I read in a magazine that sometimes the thyroid can be just borderline so doesn't show up on a blood test as low - the article said 'in this case, try taking Sea Kelp tablets which will help by introducing iodine.' Showed my doctor cos it said about the husky voice, and weight gain, tiredness etc and she didn't think my taking it all that time would have made any difference to my blood tests. I think that it might have but her. what do I know? I am only the patient! Letter from hospital re CFS still hasnt arrived, apptmt was Jan 24th.