Thyroid problems

Forgive my ignorance poly but what channel is this on?
It seems a bit evangelical

Sorry janeainsworth I have only just saw your reply. It was on the internet. Are you on Facebook? You can always link up there through the page "Food Matters". Evangelical ? Definitely not, more of a help yourself to improve your health. Also focussed on the difference of how Thyroid problems are treated in the U.K. compared to the USA. The main take away for me was the my symptoms are being treated and not the root cause. Well worth a watch if you have a Thyroid, Graves diesease.

poly this might interest you
drmalcolmkendrick.org/?s=treating+thyroid+patients+like+children&submit=Search
I know thyroid disease is treated differently in the USA. I'm one of the lucky ones for whom levithyroxine does work, but I know it doesn't work for everyone.

I know nothing of thyroid problems and after three blood tests and four doctors phoning with results am even more baffled .

May I ask you? Does it take ages to diagnose a thyroid problem?

No, ab a simple blood test revealed it in my case.I had to ask the GP to do one though, as I suspected I had an under active thyroid.Like Jane says Levithyroxine seems to work ( or help) anyway.
My symptoms, for anyone out there who may think that they have a problem, was unexplained tiredness, weight gain and losing eyebrows!

Rosesarered, I had a second on Monday, results given yesterday , well not results, just another test this morning and there will be another in four weeks , all I know is tests for folic acid, B12 and T.FT.

Am heading for size 8 from size 12 , hair falling out, not in clumps, muscle weakness and energy levels so low . I thought it was stress ! been a grim few months ,

Perhaps you have an over active thyroid ab as you are losing weight....has the GP mentioned that?

I thought that roses but the tiredness usually goes with under active.

If the GP does not seem to be doing enough Annie I would ask for a referral as they often take quite a few months. These hormones are quite a complicated process and many GPs do not have a great understanding of them. DD has had an under active thyroid since DGS was born but it was not picked up till after she had DGD three years later. Hers started as over active and then settled to underactive - it happened like that to a friend of mine too. DD goes to see an endocrinologist on a regular basis as she is on Levothyroxine and also T3 which not everyone can tolerate. If you are taking other hormones - such as any form of HRT they can affect the absorption of the thyroid hormone.

Rosesarered, this is what is so annoying, four phone calls from four doctors, three visits by nurses for the blood tests and no explanation apart from carry out another test . I ask what for and the reply - check your thyroid and check your vitamin deficiencies again. Now I have to wait for today's results which should be back tomorrow and wait four weeks for another test. I forgot,I have to see a nutritionist too. I thought perhaps over active thyroid but didn't know it would take four blood tests to confirm it, grrrrrrr

Fed up with trousers slipping down from waist , look like a child wearing mothers clothes

If they keep mentioning the thyroid test then I would certainly ask to see and endocrinologist - they are the people to help you and u derstand so much more about the interaction of hormones.

Anniebach I don't know how long it takes to diagnose a thyroid problem but when I first went to my doctor and had a test I was told I was borderline for an under active thyroid, my mother had an overactive, apparently it usually does go from generation to generation, anyhow the fact that mine was borderline meant the doctor was hesitant to treat me with thyroxine for some months her reasoning that once I started taking it I would have to take all the time as my thyroid would stop working naturally, in the end I was so fed up with the symptoms I insisted on the medication and have been lucky it has helped. Good luck

Welshwife, asking to see doesn't here , if they think I need to they will say

Tina, that could explain the ongoing blood tests

perhaps I will know tomorrow when today's results are back

On the other hand tinaf1, I tested borderline for underactive thyroid three or four years ago, and every test since then has shown normal. So you do have to be careful

Anniebach may I ask are you 'shaky'?

When I was first diagnosed with an overactive thyroid my hands were shaking, my heart was beating far too fast and I felt horribly anxious.....

Following radio active treatment (many moons ago) I now have the joys of an underactive thyroid

nanaK, yes shaky , legs are worse , just walking around the house my legs shake as if a had climb a difficult part of the mountain, and I can be curled up on the sofa quite relaxed when my body feels agitated, difficult to explain and yes anxious for no reason and irritable , moments when my vision goes odd and I feel but confused,

good grief I sound a whinger

You do not sound like a whinger at all

I recognise those symptoms, and remember very clearly how awful they feel

I can't understand though why a diagnosis is taking so long - just one blood test for me

Really hope that something is sorted soon for you

Thank you nanaK, quite a relief to know someone who has experienced the same , i hope for something definite tomorrow when I speak to the GP.

Damn awful symptoms aren't they

Was tested more than once Badenkate and each time same result borderline so no not normal, if they had been normal I would not have insisted on medication I did not need, symptoms we're very debilitating but doctor wanted me to carry on so in the end and after much consideration I decided if something could help I would rather take medication

Ah right tinaf1, I just went by your post which only mentioned one test. I can understand if you had several with the same result. I'm just fed-up with being tested for something which was obviously just a spurious result and I don't have any symptoms at all ?

No worries ? So if I understand right your GP keeps testing you in regards for thyroid problems even though you have no symptoms relating to hypothyroidism

Badenkate sorry

Poly580 Very interested in your link but sadly I,ve been too late! Would be very interested to know the different approaches between UK and USA.
Have PM'd you.

Sorry tina just seen your post. Apparently so, but he combines it with kidney function tests which I have because of medicine I take.