Hypothyroidism

Anya I am unfortunately not able to offer any advice for your daughter, but thank you for opening up this thread as I have learnt quite a lot myself. I was diagnosed hypo in my thirties, some 40 years ago. Along the way the thyroxine was upped to 100 and I am still on that. I feel really tired now but have put it down to a succession of chest infections over 4 months. I now wonder if it's thyroid related and in fact I'm just now waiting for blood results to come back. I didn't know about the other test and thank you to the gran who suggested that. Because I was diagnosed 40 years ago I was not back then given any information about brassicas and alcohol. I wasn't given any advice at all and have blithely gone along taking the tablets and having annual blood tests over the years. Brassicas, yes, I can manage without, but no wine.......??
It's tough for your DD working in secondary education and the demands that makes. I hope she gets to see an endo person quite soon, and it would be good if you could reopen the thread as and when she gets some help. Some of we grans probably put our lethargy down to age, but this thyroid discussion has shown that there could well be hormonal reasons for it. As someone else said, I force myself to the gym because I feel I must, but this tiredness doesn't seem to improve. I hope your DD gets the help she deserves Anya.

Hi Bella good news I glug wine and I am fine with that as long as I have it in the evening. If I drink even one glass at lunchtime I feel my eyes going.

I too go to Keep Fit at my best time of day early morning but make sure I have a quiet afternoon.

I have learned to accommodate the illness, but it is much easier now I have retired.

Anyone noticed that they have lost the outside edge of their eyebrows like me ? This is part of having an under active thyroid, as is having tinnitus as I do too.

Phew NanKate! That IS good news. Yes I stick to my vino with evening meal. Yes, eyebrows much thinner, and - no delicate way to put this - don't have to worry about underarms these days as nature took care of that. I too have tinnitus but it only bothers me when everything is quiet. Oh, the joys ........

It's not all people with an underactuve thyroid that suffer this terrible tiredness or have to cut out so much NanKate. Some do very well on Levithyroxine with minimal side effects.

I had read up on this and Janea's link sums up and reinforces what the literature and research suggests, ie that about 10% of those who suffer from hypothyroidism cannot efficiently process their medication by converting the prothyroxin T4 into the T3 neccesay to 'do the job' as it were. It's a genetic abnormality on some specific gene whose name and number escape me.

This means that they might as well not take the medication for all the good it does. I suspect that some more 'senior' thyroid suffers, might find their system less able to utilise their medication as they get older.

Brassicas, especially in larger amounts or raw, also inhibit the uptake of thyroxine so should be taken in small amounts, preferably cooked and not close to the time that medication is usually taken. Other research suggests limiting alcohol and foods containing gluten. But I repeat, this is only for the 10% mentioned above.,

It's a very interesting topic and we're all, in our family, on a sharp 'learning curve' but I'll certainly keep the thread open (or bump it) re new developments for the benefit of all

Thanks Anya

Thank you to the person who mentioned taking the Levothyroxine in the evening - will mention that to DD.The last time she saw the endo man he told her she was no longer producing any thyroxine herself but that it would eventually kick in again.
Anya she is also doing as your DD and taking walks and also going swimming often. She tells me the best thing she has found is the magnesium baths which she is having very regularly - stays soaking in them for 20 mins each time - seems it is a more efficient way of absorbing it than the pills.
She finds the weigh issue difficult - and try as she might almost impossible to lose weight and keep it off. She took 100mgs for 20 years and is now on 150 - although the GP wants her to cut it down but has agreed to her remaining on the higher dose at least until she sees the new Endocrinologist in Yorkshire

Been on 100mcg levothyroxine for a good 12 years and live quite normally. I must be one of the lucky ones.

When you say 'magnesium baths' Bez what actual magnesium compound does she use?