chickencam Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I had a phone call from the doctor this morning of course when I was out taking YD to school, and then had to wait over an hour for him to call back with me on tenterhooks as to what he wanted. I had a bloodtest to check my thyroid function after being referred to the ENT clinic by my GP with problems with a lumpy sensation in my throat which he though was caused by excess stomach acid. The consultant i saw said that the GP was correct in his diagnosis which was not a suprise because my Dad and Gran both had similar problems. he also said that my throid was enlarged hence the test, this was back at the beginning of January, he also referred me for an ultrasound and needle biopsy on my thyroid which I had 2 weeks ago they didn't need to do the biopsy because the consultant said that although my thyroid was enlarged and had lots of nodules on it there was nothing sinister. I have a follow up appointment next Monday for the results of the ultrasound but didn't think that there would be a problem because i had taken no news to be good news on the bloodtest, but aparently the results had gone by some circuitous route - the GP's words - to a hospital consultant who had then sent them to my GP. Sorry this is going on a bit but I was wondering whether anyone else on here has this problem and if anyone has a child with it because I am now wondering about my son. He is a lot more lethargic than he used to be and gets loads of headaches, is a bit overweight and complains of the cold more than he used to. I took him to the doctor about 10 months ago and he said it was just a busy time in his life, I told the GP who rang me this morning this and he suggested getting him in for a bloodtest. My Gran had an underactive thyroid and other Grandmother who died when I was a baby had an overactive one. Ok deep breath it's all off my chest now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Well it does sound as if there is some sort of familial link. I would get your son checked out....better safe than sorry and if it can be nipped in the bud etc.... My sister has been on thyroxine for years for an underactive thyroid. It took a while to get the dose right, but once that was sorted she has been fine, so I'm sure you will be too. All the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 It can be hereditary, but it's fairly rare in children I believe. It's more likely to hit in your forties, and much more common in women. My mum had hypothyroidism, and my sister was diagnosed last year. I was diagnosed with 'sub-clinical' hypothyroidism about three years ago during a routine medical, and since then I have had blood tests every six months. After the last one, I've been told to go again in three months time, so I guess the levels are falling - might sound odd, but I can't wait! They will only treat you (in the UK, at any rate) once your blood chemistry reaches a certain level so although I feel tired a lot of the time, have no energy, and have various other symptoms, my doctor can't prescribe thyroxine until it's fallen below the level. Of course, it might not make any difference, it might just be middle-age creeping on! It's certainly worth getting you son checked out, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hypothyroidism is very common & it can take a while to get the dose right, the up side is you'll never have to pay for a prescription ever again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 26, 2008 Author Share Posted February 26, 2008 I had put down a lot of what I was feeling to middle age, so I am going to very disappointed if i don't start to feel super human when the levels are stabilized. I have been reading up a bit on this today and now realise that is why I am a bit overweight and constantly constipated despite a heathly diet, so i will expect big improvements in this area too A lot of the symptoms described are very familar and very like James is complaining of too, so we will see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 My neice has it (an under active thyroid) she is 16yrs old and was diagnosed last summer. My sister wishes they had noticed 'things' earlier - her eyes 'bulge' a little, slightly enlarged neck, tired and constantly needing to snack. Its also as you know one of the auto-immune diseases - which can be hereditory (sp?) and in this case rightly so as my sister when younger had a problem with her Para-thyroid and now has Rheumatoid Arthritis. Its well worth asking for a blood test to be done on your son, my neice, has still not got it completely under control, but has been assigned a 'mentor' who phones and sends texts to check she is taking her medication and check she understands the results of the regular blood tests etc. Very modern Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I'm glad to hear your positive view Liz. At least you now know for sure what it is and can take steps towards controlling it. I hope that you can put your mind to rest about your son too. Take care Hon. Shall we start a club for exhausted middle aged old bags? I have to say that HRT helped me immensely..... once they'd realised what the problem was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 26, 2008 Author Share Posted February 26, 2008 Still got HRT to look forward too, whoopie do although my mum got away with that one and came out the other side with less migraines and feeling better than she had for years so maybe this is some good genetics My parents keep moaning about whether or not they should have had children having passed down various conditions like migraine, exzema, poor circulation and now thyroid problems, but myself and the children would have missed out on rather a lot if they hadn't and of course hubby wouldn't have this cronky but delightful family As for the 'old bags' club I thought we already had one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 26, 2008 Author Share Posted February 26, 2008 the up side is you'll never have to pay for a prescription ever again This is definately a silver lining for this cloud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid a few years ago, it took me a good few years to go for the test as I thought it was just having young children, and constantly on the go Eventually they got the thyroxine dose right, and now just have to have blood tests every year or so Glad you have a diagnosis, and you'll soon start to feel more like your old self Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 26, 2008 Author Share Posted February 26, 2008 It is hard when the syptoms of something are just the same as being busy or getting older. My dad thought he was just slowing down until he had a massive heart attack a few years ago, it turned out that a childhood infection had left him with a narrowed artery which had just got worse over the years. He felt so much better when they had put a stent in and took to walking in the hill and mountains again like he had in his youth. I would advise anyone who feels constantly tired to get themselves checked out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 My genetic inheritance includes hypothyroidism, diabetes and glaucoma. Still, both my parents lived to their late eighties, and two of my grandparents reached 90+ ... so I should have plenty of time to get used to all the illnesses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 I have an underactive throid, had it for over 6 years now. I take 100mg of thyroxine daily. In April 05 I developed throid eye disease due to Graves disease- I can't wear contacts any more I still see a consultant annually as to have thyroid eye disease with an underactive thyroid is rare, compared to an over active thyroid. When Ethan was born they rushed though the "heel prick" tests just in case he had a thyroid problem -he hasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 27, 2008 Author Share Posted February 27, 2008 How does the eye problem manifest itself? I have loads of floaters in front of my vision and find it quite hard to focus on things close to me I had put that down to my short sightedness changing with age. First thing in the morning it seems to take my eyes ages to wake up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 My eye problem started with double vision- I have prisms in my glasses lenses now to stop this. If I were you I would get to either the optician or the orthoptic dept at your local hospital quite quickly ( I went to A&E, as double vision can be a sign of other problems like high blood pressure). If you are developing TED (& hopefully you are not) then it's best to get it sorted sooner rather than later- steroids can be given to reduce the inflammation, but I couldn't take them as I was breast-feeding at the time. I use viscotears eye drops at night as I get dry eyes, due to my eyeballs protruding . http://www.tedct.co.uk/ http://www.btf-thyroid.org/ Here's a couple of websites that you may find helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeyaholic Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid last year (or the year before). Whilst my dose is now correct in terms of blood tests etc. I've had to see an endochronoligist as i still have a lot of the symptoms. Still ongoing unfortunately so still absolutely shattered most of the time and I'm only 22 ah well. It's funny you mention floaters in your eyes as a couple of years back I had to go to the hospital for an eye examination to find out what was causing the same thing (I'm not a hypochondriac I assure you lol ) the dr said it was something to do with when your eye replenishes the liquid inside it, it can sometimes leave a residue behind (or something to that effect) - theres not a lot they can do about it but its harmless anyway so just got to live with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Hi Liz I just wanted to wish you all the very best and hopefuly you get it all under control very soon. I don't know - if it's not one thing to worry about it's another! Thanks for your kind thoughts on my thread too Love n hugs Jue x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Having looked at the eye links I don't think that I have that problem, I also had a thorough eye exam in November including the new bit where they take a photo of the retina and all seemed to be well. Thanks for the advice Jules it is something I will watch out for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 just been reading the thyroid info on the site that Jules gave me and it also mentions pins and needles in the hands which I have had on and off for several years now. I am wondering how many other things that I have been feeling are down to this and how long I have had it. I am so glad to have been diagnosed took the first tablet this morning so hopefully this is the first day of the rest of my better life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Keep us posted, chickencam. Glad to hear you are now on medication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Hi Liz, I'm sure once you've been on the thyroxine for a few weeks you will feel much better - I've been known to describe it as a wonder drug I've been on Thyroxine for about 13years so far and whilst it doesn't stop the tiredness and cold feeling (I think my dosage is too low at the moment)it does improve it a lot. Jule, thanks for the links I didn't realise about the pins and needles in my hands and thats been driving me crazy lately, me thinks I need to talk to my GP again Patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 With a family history of underactive thyroid going back three generations I am REALLY paranoid about this and get my bloods done once a year as per doctor's advice. Reading up on alternatives I take sea kelp and iodised salt. Countries such as Japan who eat loads of sea-weed and countries which have introduced iodised salt have almost zero incidence of thyroid problems. Take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 29, 2008 Author Share Posted February 29, 2008 am i right in thinking that eggs contain iodine as a trace element, obviously I have been eating more of these over the last 6 months so they might have helped a bit. I have always felt the cold but the last few weeks it has been horrible a really creepy cold feeling even when in bed. I had a good day yesterday got a good amount of cleaning and tidying done but I am paying for it today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...