Any Hypothyroidism sufferers here?

[Vixxy]

Hi,
I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in my teens. I dont think they ever told me why it had stopped working lol.
Anyways my last blood test before the current was in Jan 2009 and since around that time ive been having a lot of anxiety problems. Before that I was only really suffering with panic attacks, but for the past 2 years ish Ive been anxious most days and having a lot of horrid physical symptoms.
To be honest I thought I was just having another anxiety relapse due to a different AD.
I went to the doctors yesterday to get the results of my last thyroid blood test. My GP said my thyroid levels were fine, but that the TSH levels were low. She said this showed that my pituatry gland was being suppressed. So no Ive been given a lower dose of thyroxine.
Now I did a little research and one of the main problems with an overactive thyroid is anxiety, palpitations, tremors etc. All things Ive attributed to having GAD... now I wonder, do I have GAD or is this the meds that have been doing this?!

I would love to hear from anyone thats been in a similar position. Or if you have any advice etc.:yesyes:

Sorry for the ramble lol

[Clairalou]

Hey vixxy I could write a book on this :) I have an underactive thyroid which is quite bad I'm on a very high dose of thyroxine I find that when my levels dip my anxiety hits the roof also thyroid problems cause alot of other health problems which makes my ha worse as I don't know which is thyroid related and which isn't!
When my thyroid is stable my anxiety is easier to manage! My gp says the problems go hand in hand!

xxxx

[Vixxy]

Do your thyroid levels change?
Ive been on 100mcg for about 15 years now. Each blood test says that the levels are fine. Even this last test told me my T4 was fine, but the TSH was low. Theyve never even mentioned that before lol.
So this is the first time Ive had my dose changed since first diagnosis. I'll be swapping to 75mcg now.
What symptoms do you notice when youre levels change? or are you given a lot of blood tests that tell you?

[Clairalou]

Mine have changed alot recently and I have to have blood tests every 8 weeks. I always know when it's bad as my hair falls out, I'm irrational, emotional, exhausted, very anxious and I feel very frightend! I also get chest pain and migraines when it's really bad!
It's funny you don't normally associate these problems with an underactive thyroid but my doctor printed off a very large list of problems that happen when you have an underactive thyroid and most of them you wouldn't believe :)

What symptoms have you been getting vixxy? Xxx

[Vixxy]

Hi, wow where to start.
Ive been getting breathless when standing and talking. Although this is far less now than it was earlier in the year.
Palpitations.
Irritable. I fly from happy to being super annoyed by stuff that never would have made me annoyed.
Thin hair and not much of it
Dry skin on my face, hands and feet. No amount of moisturiser will stop it being dry ><
Exhausted. So much so that I actually cant face doing anything.
Emotional mood swings. some days I love my husband and want to be with him, others I just want to be alone.
Anxious.
Tired muscles and stiff joints in my legs and shoulders
Inability to sort out my temperature. I know its supposed to be one or the other, but I have a sensitivity to hot and cold!
My periods went from being 28 day cycle and heavy to now being as much as 42 days and very light. I put this down to coming off the pill 2 years ago, being stressed and my age.

Theres probably more stuff lol
Thanks for taking the time to reply to me :)

[Clairalou]

Hey vixxy,
I too get breathless frequently for no reason at all my skin is appauling and ive tried some of the most expensive moisturiser going and nothing worked i now use my little boys diprabase he gets for his excema and that makes it a little better!
Thyroid problems are hard as you never know when its going to dip and your symptoms are going to get worse.
What gets me down the most is i never know whether its just plain old anxiety or thyroid and it upsets me!
Im going to try from now on and not let things get to me as much or not to read too much into symptoms and definately no more DR GOOGLE!! :)
Take care hun and i hope your well,
Feel free to pm me any time im always around

xxxxxxx

[countrygirl]

I used to work as advisor for thryroid advice group and also have underacitve thryroid mysefl. The most important piece of advice we gave out was get your thryoid checked every 6 months. Nearly all GP's say come back in a year but a huge amount can change in a year and we always told people to insist on a 6 month check and any symptoms in between ask for it to be checked again - also dont accept your levels are fine ask for your TSH and T4 readings at every test and keep a record yourself so you can see how its fluctuating.

[Vixxy]

Thanks for the tip.

[ditzygirl]

Countrygirl is right - get your thyroid checked every 6 months. All sorts of things can effect thyroid and that can have some awful effects on you.

there are some really good books available re: thyroid, they contain al the stuff that the GP doesn't have time to tell you. You might find some books to read from your local library.
I didn't realise the seriousness of underactive thyroid - it runs in my family so wasn't too bothered but don't underestimate its power.

Sorry I am not trying to scare you but it is serious and GP's can be pretty lapse at keeping an eye on it.

[lucky]

Hi

I have been having thyroid problems. Mine is underactive but I am unable to tolerate thyroxine as it sends my pulse and blood pressure through the roof! I am seeing a specialist at the minute. He didn't seem to think that a lot of my symptoms are linked to thyroid issues but they sound very similar to yours, especially my periods. In fact, I have been told to stop trying for a baby until it is all sorted out.

I hope you get it all sorted. I am going to try thyroxine again in a couple of months but will have to go on beta blockers too to try to counteract the effects of it.

Take care

[Vixxy]

Hi, thanks for your replies. I thought that I had done a lot of research already, but it turns out that I didnt know as much as I thought I had.
All these years I had put a lot of my symptoms down to my anxiety. But maybe the root of my anxiety is actually my thyroid!
In regards to having a baby, if you get pregnant whilst your levels arent any good you can have a baby with cretinism. Which i think is where the brain doesnt develop! Quite scary! When I was told that I was only 14 (when i was diagnosed) so i thought "meh whatever!" lol.
I recently swapped doctors, so this might be why its been flagged as wrong now. Ive got to wait 6-8 weeks then have another blood test to see what it shows. Then ill make sure to ask for one every 6 months like you suggest.

[maddie136]

I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease but my levels are usually on the hyposide. I take levothyroxine. I usually feel okay with the exception of being very cold and having dry skin.