The Hypothyroid gardener

[ladylottie]

This is a really interesting thread. I've suffered hair-loss for years - put it down to DHT, but the treatments don't seem to make much difference, and now I'm not on the pill, and have had a hysterectomy, I'm still losing it. I had my thyroid tested and was told it's normal, so I put my lack of motivation down to laziness (I am lazy, I know). Thankfully, I get fitter and more motivated when the days lengthen. My heat problem, however, is the opposite - I'm usually too warm (freezing hands and feet) and the summer heat just drains me of energy. I'm completely fine in these freezing temperatures, though. Thermals on under my clothes, and off I go. Weird innit!?

G4 - Might be worth getting fully checked out (T3 T4 and TSH) as I am the same as you despite having an underactive thyroid. It's all very weird, no wonder really that some doctors get confused, the symptoms are mix and match sometimes between under and over active. (But not all the time - that's what makes it all so difficult!) And that's when your tablets are supposed to be balancing it. The whole thing is a balancing act if you ask me!

[polo]

Always ! I'm always cold, hands especially, but I also sweat when I'm cold, weird huh?

Two sheds - exactly the same here. Moving from cold to hot is the worst. Its as though my whole temperature regulation is broken. Dont feel overly cold though

[lottie dolly]

Thanks for posting this up Jules,HOW VERY TRUE,it affects every function the body has to offer,also understand more about the t'3 4ext,i have no idear what mine are,but next visit to the surgery i will ask for them to write it down for me,i have an anuall blood test around christmas time,about time i had more info from draculars den,

[SlugLobber]

Yes, I suffer in the cold weather, but I exhibit Raynauds symptoms, so that alone makes me dress like a polar explorer. I have sealskins gloves and ski gloves, the latter being better for me. Sealskins are expensive and highyl recommended, but my fingers are like ice despite wearing them, so I disagree with the masses who say they're fantastic! Exercise helps with this, so when I'm up to it, I make full use of the gym/garden!

[VirginVegGrower]

Well the day to visit the docs dawned. He took bloods for TSH, hormones, B12, vitamin D but can't/won't take separate TSH antibodies, T3, T4. Could be perimenopausal, could be the weather. Yes and it could be that the sky is pink and the moon is made of cheese...God give me strength! I don't visit the Dr's much at all. I have kept a diary of how often I have three day headaches and everything else, ticked the symptom sheet from the Thyroid link I gave to you all. He didn't want to see it! I am going to go ballistic if I get told "normal" on Friday. I will be demanding to see my notes. Even a basal temp of 34.6 taken whilst under a duvet didn't give him cause for concern. Under 35 is considered hyperthermia/cancer conducive territory.

[julesapple]

This is what we're up against VVG. I bet they do say borderline on Friday. I took a magazine article into my doctor and I think it was the worse thing I could have done - he sneered at it and me - even though it was a Nursing mag my SinL sent to me.

Jules

[lottie dolly]

What a horrible DR,if it does come back normal,be sure to ask if you have whats called,a composating 1,as another gland in the body,[think head,]will help you out,or so i was tolled,BUT,it also is weakening to the system,demand to see a specialist at the hospital,i had several years of nonsence,till i got google and spoken to other sufferers,your levels DO change between blood test,only the GP's will dot admit it,only the specialst,good look,you have my sympathy

[VirginVegGrower]

I know, I know, I went with a tick list from thyroid UK and it was a bad move on my part. Well of course I really want to be found hypothyroid don't I? Pill popping and feeling sh*t for the rest of my natural? Yep - tick! I think they know so little about the endocrine system, that as GPs they feel threatened when you can tell them more than they know. It's easier to blame it on time of life, depression (my mum got told this), etc.

[lottie dolly]

I know, I know, I went with a tick list from thyroid UK and it was a bad move on my part. Well of course I really want to be found hypothyroid don't I? Pill popping and feeling sh*t for the rest of my natural? Yep - tick! I think they know so little about the endocrine system, that as GPs they feel threatened when you can tell them more than they know. It's easier to blame it on time of life, depression (my mum got told this), etc.

the trouble is,by the time you get a proper diagnose,you do feel depressed,because you cannot find a way out the flipin maze,some peeps think,it'll be fine wonce you start on meds,but ut does take a while,like me other here have quoted 4 years,and yes,you probobly right about feeling threatened,i now have a good 1,at last

[VirginVegGrower]

My mother struggled on through ten years of feeling like this. HRT, migraine pills and anti depressants later they discovered it was her thyroid.

[ladylottie]

Well the day to visit the docs dawned. He took bloods for TSH, hormones, B12, vitamin D but can't/won't take separate TSH antibodies, T3, T4. Could be perimenopausal, could be the weather. Yes and it could be that the sky is pink and the moon is made of cheese...God give me strength! I don't visit the Dr's much at all. I have kept a diary of how often I have three day headaches and everything else, ticked the symptom sheet from the Thyroid link I gave to you all. He didn't want to see it! I am going to go ballistic if I get told "normal" on Friday. I will be demanding to see my notes. Even a basal temp of 34.6 taken whilst under a duvet didn't give him cause for concern. Under 35 is considered hyperthermia/cancer conducive territory.

What a horrible experience! As Julesapple says, I too suspect that on Friday they will say you are just borderline. Don't let them get away with it, you have too many symptoms. And if they aren't doing all the tests then how can THEY be sure anyway? I'm SO grateful that I have an understanding doctor.

I'm due to have my 6 monthly blood tests on 29th Feb followed by the visit to the doctor the following week. This thread has really made me start thinking. (Rare I know). Because up until a couple of years ago and certainly after I was first diagnosed, the doctor used to tell me what my T3's & T4's were but he hasn't for ages. Why? And more to the point, why haven't I asked for the results?

So when I go for bloods on 29th , I will ask the nurse if she will be doing all the tests (TSH, Hormones, B12, Vit D, Free T3, Free T4 and TSH Antibodies). And if she can't do them, when I see the doctor I'll be asking him for all my readings and why no T3's & T4's etc. I'll post on here what happens to me.

It's not right that all us sufferers should just have to put up with feeling awful when for the sake of a few more tests we might get better treatment and even start to feel normal!

Why is it that I suspect it's all down to money and the cost of the extra tests

[ladylottie]

My mother struggled on through ten years of feeling like this. HRT, migraine pills and anti depressants later they discovered it was her thyroid.

Yes VVG, the problem is, that some of the symptoms ARE the same as the menopause and migraines. It takes a good doctor to see further than the obvious when the treatments given aren't working.

[julesapple]

A few years ago, a routine eye test revealed that the BH had Pigment Dispersion Syndrome ( or Krukenbergs Spindles) and the optician told him to go and see our GP so that the GP could refer him to the eye hospital. He gave us a form to show to the GP. So the BH made a doctors appointment and we went to see the GP. The GP said he'd never heard of it so he wouldn't refer us! I was gobsmacked at this dismissal, and the BH (a very, very, mild man) got mightily cross. We made a fuss at reception and the senior GP was sent for. She had heard of PDS and we were referred to the eye hospital very quickly as it can cause blindness if left untreated.

I had much the same treatment when I went to the doctors about my HT, so the next time I went I took my magazine as proof. Why doctors are quite so sneering about self-diagnosis I don't know - it's not as if they know everything about every ailment known to man - you'd think they would be happy that some of us have used our common sense instead of treating everyone they see as if they were hypochondriacs.

Keep badgering them VVG! by the way, did you mention your mother to the idiot doctor?

Jules

[julesapple]

Why is it that I suspect it's all down to money and the cost of the extra tests

That's just my theory too!

Jules

[VirginVegGrower]

A few years ago, a routine eye test revealed that the BH had Pigment Dispersion Syndrome ( or Krukenbergs Spindles) and the optician told him to go and see our GP so that the GP could refer him to the eye hospital. He gave us a form to show to the GP. So the BH made a doctors appointment and we went to see the GP. The GP said he'd never heard of it so he wouldn't refer us! I was gobsmacked at this dismissal, and the BH (a very, very, mild man) got mightily cross. We made a fuss at reception and the senior GP was sent for. She had heard of PDS and we were referred to the eye hospital very quickly as it can cause blindness if left untreated.

I had much the same treatment when I went to the doctors about my HT, so the next time I went I took my magazine as proof. Why doctors are quite so sneering about self-diagnosis I don't know - it's not as if they know everything about every ailment known to man - you'd think they would be happy that some of us have used our common sense instead of treating everyone they see as if they were hypochondriacs.

Keep badgering them VVG! by the way, did you mention your mother to the idiot doctor?

Jules

Yes and I've mentioned both my mother and maternal grandmother for the last four years of dragging myself to them for a yearly test. The symptoms are increasing, both in number and also in severity. You would think that they would get the message, wouldn't you. As I'm typing, I am freezing and my hands are like ice...