Welcome to GoodToKnow

Other sites in our network: What's on TV, Now, Pick Me Up, Puzzles and Prizes
Branding_print

Living with hypothryoidism

Dr Susan Clarke, consultant physician on hypothyroidism

Thyroid conditions can go for a number of years without being diagnosed, because people just put it down to feeling tired and stressed. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include feeling increasingly tired, your skin and hair become very dry, your hair may start to fall out, your body temperature drops and your bowel may become underactive.
Dr Susan Clarke, consultant physician and specialist in thyroid conditions at Guy's Hospital in London

More help and advice

- Living with an underactive thyroid
- Tips on coping with hypothyroidism
- Get all the facts on hypothyroidism

If you want to comment on this article, leave a tip or a story, please fill in the box below.

3 months

leanne

i have just been for my blood test and it come out as my thyroid 24 when it should be 27 what does this mean?are underactive thyroids dangerous

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

3 months

tina hughes

hi i have an underactive thyroid, i used to d long distance running, have run 3 marathons and numerous 5 /10k and half marathons, but since my thyroid became ill i can only seem to train three times a week before exhaustion sets in.i used to train twice a-day so finding it very hard and depressing to not be able to do the things i used to do.i wonder if any one can advise me on any vitamin supplimentsthat might be of help.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

4 months

Lianne Edmondson

I've had an underactive thyroid for over ten years, I was originally diagnosed with depression and put on anti depressants which were obviously no good at all, put on an awful lot of weight and suffered with all the above mentioned symptoms, and was finally correctly diagnosed after going to the doctors again, and again!!!! I lead a perfectly normal life, I have 2 children and was monitored regularly during both pregnancies at a special clinic in the hospital, just an extra few appointments to what you would normally have. As long as I'm on the right amount of thyroxine I'm fine, I'm a member of slimming world and am steadily losing all the extra weight put on during pregnancy (and eating too much!!!!!), jus getting on with life! I wish everyone who has recently been diagnosed a happy life xxxx

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

4 months

Francesca Dammany

I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid at the age of 15 now 17, i do get times when i can get really depressed when the doctors keep giving the wrong mg's now on 50mgs. i find it soooooo hard to keep the weight off even though i can diet sooo hard for months and not a pound has come off. does anyone have any tips. thx. x

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

4 months

kaddy

how interesting to find this topic.am so happy to meet people with the same problems.i was diagnose with thyriod problems twelve years ago and am 37 years old now.av been on thyroxine 50grms.no dry skin but av put on weight.have 2 kids and thyroxin is helping me a lot with the tiredness.am living a normal life.wish you all goodluck.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

4 months

VALERIE

I have had an underactive thyroid for years Put on a lot of weight and just can not get rid of it i am 73 what do you advice to help me

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

4 months

kay

hi there. can anyone tell me if its safe to conceive whilst suffering with an under active thyroid gland.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

6 months

Hannah Bennett

I was born without a thyroid and so I will take levothyroxine for the rest of my life. There are times when I do forget to take my tablets and I become very tired and get mood swings. However, as soon as I take my thyroxine I see a vast improvement the next day. I'm at university now and before I went my mum was very scared of me forgetting to take my tablets, however I have found if I leave them near something I use everyday, for example, my laptop, then I nearly always remember to take my tablets. I also use a tablet box that has separate sections for each day so that I know if I have missed any. I go for blood tests regularly to see if I need an increase in my dose, just recently I went from 100mg to 125mg. I am 18 years old and lead a very normal life, I just have to remember to take my tablets!! Or listen to my mum nagging me on the phone!!

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

6 months

mandy smith

thanks guys for what you have all written above i have been going the doctors all the time, they found out i had an hyhitas herna ,helacbacter and polcystic fibroisis sorry for the spellings, but i am still depressed gaining weight have numbness in hands very dry skin and always constipated, i will ask the dr for a test has what i have read from all use, are all the syptoms i have got thanks

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

7 months

Kylie

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at 2 weeks old. I'm 19 now and have a normal life. There have been a few times where I have forgotton to take my tablets and I have been really depressed, tired, I have mood swings and my weight goes up and down like a yoyo but as soon as I start taking them again i'm fine! Its just remembering to take them!

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

7 months

Beverley Thomas

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1983 at the age of 28. I was living in Canada at the time, I was at deaths door with the disease, had hair loss, complete exhaustion sleeping nearly all day as if in a doped state my eyes were puffed up and my joints would spasm. I also had terrible mental fatique and could hardly string a sentance together. I could only eat baby food as everything else made me feel sick. My thyroid gland had nigh on disapeared. Once on the throxine my life started to change within two weeks the puffiness had gone and I was able to eat normally, I have been on thyroxine for 28 years! The symptoms and disease is more common than people realise. I have six monthly blood checks to maintain the correct dosage sometimes it needs to be increased or decreased. My life is completely normal so I hope this helps anyone who is worried about the life long effects.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

7 months

mavis henderson

is there anyone with advice on coping with severe angina and heart disease i have just been diagnosed and most people recommend exercise which i am unable to do at this time because of weight gain and tiredness and other symptoms of the hypothyroidism.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

7 months

Tracey Mitchinson

I have resently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, im 39. I am finding it rather hard to cope with as i have always been a active person. My dizzy spells keep me from doing things. i have no energy and when i have an attack the whole of my body goes limp, and I cannot do anything until it passes. I find it rather hard as I have 3 little sons, which they take alot of my energy. I am hoping once the medication kicks in I will feel a whole lot better. The thought of being on the medication for life really scares me as this is what is keeping you alive.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

7 months

phil vaughan

could you tell me the maximim dose of levothyroxin your allowed

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

8 months

Ann Randell

Just read the article about the lady who was diagnosed in her early forties, and is now 56yrs. Although I admire her stamina in running 25km per week, running is not for me,as when I try to do some walking to burn off the calories, I get aches up the front of my shins, but, she did mention that she found one session of strength bearing exercises per week very helpful, as I go to a ladies only gym three times per week, I'm going to ask my instructor about this, thank's. A.R.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

9 months

Joanne Michaelsen

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my early 40's. I never had problems with my weight as I always was a skinny person who could eat anything without the gain. But things did change with this disease - weight gain, very exhausted, dry skin, low body temperature. There are a number of articles which attribute weight gain to low metabolism or hypothyroidism. I have found that regular exercise (cardio, such as jogging, and strength training) is the absolute key to maintaining, and even losing, the extra weight at my age (56). I have managed to lose 18 kilos and am now at my normal weight of 60 k - a healthy diet of course is essential (lots and lots of veggies, salmon, tuna and pasta - no white bread or sweets). I guess I have finally learned that weight loss can only happen by getting more calories out and those you take in - just simple mathematics. I run now about 25 km a week plus one session of strength bearing exercise which gives me plenty of energy and curbs my appetite.

[Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

Please enter the characters in the image:

Elsewhere on goodtoknow


Join goodtoknow's Diet club now!

Enter your details below to get a free diet profile

weight

height

age

sex

Today's Top Competition

Win! Best of Creedence Clearwater CD

Win! Best of Creedence Clearwater CD

We've got 15 copies of Creedence Clearwater Revival to give away

Enter Previous winners



Story of the Day

'How I treated my psoriasis'

'How I treated my psoriasis'

Psoriasis is a common skin condition. Read how Emily Fisher turned to natural remedies to cure hers...

Read more Treatments for psoriasis

Today's Tip:
Relieving back pain

goodtoknow poll

Do you think smoking in films encourages young people to take it up?


  • Yes, it should be banned 38%
  • No, young people aren't that impressionable 31%
  • Maybe, if it was a character they thought was cool 32%


To visit other sites in our network click here:


To visit one of our associated sites click here: