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Could I be Hypothyroid?
Hi all, hope you can help.
I am a 47 year old female. I've been feeling **** for a couple of years now. I have/had the usual symptoms: lethargy, brain fog, forgetfulness, feeling cold, weight gain, constipation - and although my hair isn't exactly thinning, my eyebrows have virtually disappeared. My periods were mega heavy back then, but I have had a Mirena coil fitted to combat that and now don't have peiods at all.
A couple of years ago I read up on my symptoms and was relieved to find that there was something that explained my symptoms - Hypothyoidism. Knowing my GP would fob me off, I got my bloods done privately and my TSH was just under 4. Although the UK normal range guidlines are 0.5 to 5.0, I understand the US levels are 0.3 - 3.0, so I thought that I may be hypothyroid. I went to the GP armed with my results and my list of symptoms. Yep, she fobbed me off saying that my 4 TSH reading was withing the normal range and my symptoms were, wait for it..... Empty Nest Syndrome!!!!! My kids at that time were 11 and 14, but they didn't need me as much now and I was feeling 'empty'. Absolutely laughable.
I argued and argued and she conceded as much as to arrange a brain scan for my memory problems. This I had and was clear.
Fighting the losing battle that is my GP I basically gave up on her and just continued on with life, but it really is hard.
I don't ever feel good at all, I used to have boundless energy, now I never want to go out and do only what I absolutely have to do. After a good 8 hours sleep, I rise at 6.30am and am tired by 10am. I eat healthily, I really do and I don't drink or smoke. My memory is shot - I constantly search my brain for the most simplest of words and fight to remember what film I watched last night. I go to the gym three times a week because I HAVE TO, to fight being overweight, but I can't lose a thing despite working hard at it. I am always constipated and feel bloated, as wll as fat. I was always 8 stone, after I had my kids, my weight naturally sat at 9 stone. I work harder at weight loss now more than ever and I weigh 12 stone!
It's reached a point today where again I feel tired for no apparent reason and I am going to TRY and get my GP to listen again. Are GP's any more sympathetic now when they were a couple of years ago? And as well as describing all of the above, any tips on what to say to get a decent response.
Please help. Thanks,
Sharon
I am a 47 year old female. I've been feeling **** for a couple of years now. I have/had the usual symptoms: lethargy, brain fog, forgetfulness, feeling cold, weight gain, constipation - and although my hair isn't exactly thinning, my eyebrows have virtually disappeared. My periods were mega heavy back then, but I have had a Mirena coil fitted to combat that and now don't have peiods at all.
A couple of years ago I read up on my symptoms and was relieved to find that there was something that explained my symptoms - Hypothyoidism. Knowing my GP would fob me off, I got my bloods done privately and my TSH was just under 4. Although the UK normal range guidlines are 0.5 to 5.0, I understand the US levels are 0.3 - 3.0, so I thought that I may be hypothyroid. I went to the GP armed with my results and my list of symptoms. Yep, she fobbed me off saying that my 4 TSH reading was withing the normal range and my symptoms were, wait for it..... Empty Nest Syndrome!!!!! My kids at that time were 11 and 14, but they didn't need me as much now and I was feeling 'empty'. Absolutely laughable.
I argued and argued and she conceded as much as to arrange a brain scan for my memory problems. This I had and was clear.
Fighting the losing battle that is my GP I basically gave up on her and just continued on with life, but it really is hard.
I don't ever feel good at all, I used to have boundless energy, now I never want to go out and do only what I absolutely have to do. After a good 8 hours sleep, I rise at 6.30am and am tired by 10am. I eat healthily, I really do and I don't drink or smoke. My memory is shot - I constantly search my brain for the most simplest of words and fight to remember what film I watched last night. I go to the gym three times a week because I HAVE TO, to fight being overweight, but I can't lose a thing despite working hard at it. I am always constipated and feel bloated, as wll as fat. I was always 8 stone, after I had my kids, my weight naturally sat at 9 stone. I work harder at weight loss now more than ever and I weigh 12 stone!
It's reached a point today where again I feel tired for no apparent reason and I am going to TRY and get my GP to listen again. Are GP's any more sympathetic now when they were a couple of years ago? And as well as describing all of the above, any tips on what to say to get a decent response.
Please help. Thanks,
Sharon
I feel bad for you UK people. Even in the US, it is hard to get treatment for "subclinical" hypo.
Your waiting list is horrible, though. If we wait a couple of months, we think it is a long time!
Your waiting list is horrible, though. If we wait a couple of months, we think it is a long time!
Hi. I also live in the UK and know just how hard it is to get the GP's here to look deeper into anything or to take you seriously especially with the thyroid. And no, I have to warn you things have not improved in the last few years. I've been suffering for 9 months now and have finally got an appointment with an Endocrinologist tomorrow. My TSH is 4.6, which as you say is classed within the normal range here in the UK whereas in the USA its up to 3! It's not fair is it. I reckon we should move to the USA! But everyone here has given me the strength to keep on pushing and getting the docs to take me seriously. So that's what I've done. So you must do the same, insist on being heard and ask for a referral to a medical consultant preferrably specialising in endocrinology. The waiting list is a nightmare though! But keep going. It sucks here in the UK, we deserve better.
The dissapearing eyebrows is a big tip off, as well as your other symptoms, of hypo.
It was one of the first things my endo looked at when doing my exam. I said, Well my levels were never above 6, doesn't that happen when the hypo is severe? " He said not necessarily.
He also believes that the upper limit of normal should be 2.5. Here is a good link on the subject:
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/90/9/5483
Empty nest syndrome? Give me a break! What would they tell you if you were a man? Not that, I'm sure.
It was one of the first things my endo looked at when doing my exam. I said, Well my levels were never above 6, doesn't that happen when the hypo is severe? " He said not necessarily.
He also believes that the upper limit of normal should be 2.5. Here is a good link on the subject:
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/90/9/5483
Empty nest syndrome? Give me a break! What would they tell you if you were a man? Not that, I'm sure.
Empty nest syndrome, eh? I guess that's a nicer way of saying it's all in your mind.
See if you can get the doctor to run a TSH, a Free T4, and a couple of thyroid antibody tests.
Your last tests showed you as sub-clinical, which means you were slightly Hypo, but not enough to treat you according to the doctor's guidelines.
If thyroid antibodies show up, the doctor may decide to treat you. I mean this in a good way, but I hope your TSH is over 5.0 this time. At least then you may get a diagnosis and start treatment.
See if you can get the doctor to run a TSH, a Free T4, and a couple of thyroid antibody tests.
Your last tests showed you as sub-clinical, which means you were slightly Hypo, but not enough to treat you according to the doctor's guidelines.
If thyroid antibodies show up, the doctor may decide to treat you. I mean this in a good way, but I hope your TSH is over 5.0 this time. At least then you may get a diagnosis and start treatment.
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