Living with hypothryoidism

joan mcquilken, 3 months

my 11 year old daughter was diagnosed with underactive thyroid 4 days ago.she has not yet been given any treatment as shes waiting to see a consultant. this weekend she has not been well at all. she feels sick,weak and exhausted. her neck has started to swell and i am reall worried.when she starts her meds how long will it be untill she starts to feel well again?

mary, 6 months

i just found out i had this thing and im really mad im only 17 i started loseing hair at the age of 15 and now its getting worst i would gain and lose weight its driveing me crazy i just got my first prescription yesturday and it hurts becuz im not sure if im gonna get my nice figure back and beutiful hair im ashamed of myself i feel veryy low but i dont show it i just want my old me back so tell me please what should i do i dont wanna stick with this the rest of my life.

Deb Phillips, 6 months

I have had this condition for 10 years now no one who hasnt had it takes it seriously, Even the Drs are blase about the weight gain pins and needles tiredness etc etc. I also put on 3 stone in weight after diagnosis and was told by my Dr was just over eating! despite running and going to the gym every day. Diet affects this condition and following a diet with little wheat and dairy does help to alleviate the symptoms it has worked for me and I feel a lot better now!

Caren Lewis, 7 months

Im a 37 year old mum of two teenage girls .I was diagnosed with underactive thyriod 9 months ago. Have put on 3 stone got no energy feel depressed. I feel sorry for my husband putting up with my moods . I just want to lose weight nothing works im so fed up xxany tips anyone ???

Dana, 10 months

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism around age 10. I'm now 23. I'm at 250 mg now. I was at 200. but I told my doctor I was extremely tired. So, he moved it up to 250. Which I think is pointless. If 200 didn't do anything, why would 250, ya know? Ive been on the 250 for almost 3 months now. With this. I get sick everyday. And I'm still tired. So maybe I need like 1000 mgs! But like in high school. I was fine. I had energy. I was never sick like I am now. I was on around 175mg. So, I dont know why I'm like this now. I also have PCOS. Which is POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME. It's sucks also. I have a cyst that will never go away. And I've gain alot since they told me I have PCOS. Ive been depressed pretty much all my life. And my doctor said if the 250 dont work out. I may have to be put on anti depressants. Which I dont want too. I'm not really that much depressed anymore. but I just think I'd try anything to get normal.. : [

doreen macdonald, 10 months

was diagnosed with a underactive thyroid at 14 yrs i'm now 52,well were does my story start!.had 3 chidren with no problems getting pregnant then at 46 had attrial fibulation caused by my over prescribed thyroxine had to get a cardio vertion coz my heart was beating too f ast, then had a stroke.my weight has varied for years,but I just have to get on with it,I wish they would find a cure for this horrible condition

Tracy, about 1 year

Hi, was diagnosed with underactive thyroid at three months old, I am now approaching 40 years of age, so have suffered a long time, I have three jobs, a dog and always active, used to go to gym five times a week, but due to back operation am limited to what I can do in the way of stomach exercises. I have been as low as 9 stone, but am now just under eleven, and no matter how active I am the weight barely moves, my sympathy to all of you who have the same problem. I have been on as high a dose as 175mg but now on 125mg, have blood test done annually, all seems ok at moment. I have learnt to watch what I eat, have reduced my drinking to one bottle of wine once every three weeks, so what more can a girl do.

Julie, about 1 year

I was diagnosed with an under active thyriod four years ago. I started off with 50mg of Thyroxine now on 125mg, what I would really like to know is how can I loose weight!! I am really getting fed up with the inability to loose weight. I am 45 years young*!* have a gorgeous partner (honest truth) and most people I meet who don't know me think I'm in my early to mid thirties, I verge on a size 8 to 10 but unless I starve myself cannot keep the weight off. I totallty understand it you guys out there think I'm out of my mind but I really struggle with the weight thing, any good ideas please!!!!

leanne, about 1 year

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

tina hughes, about 1 year

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.

Lianne Edmondson, about 1 year

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

Francesca Dammany, about 1 year

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

kaddy, about 1 year

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.

VALERIE, about 1 year

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

kay, about 1 year

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

Hannah Bennett, about 1 year

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!!

mandy smith, about 1 year

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

Kylie, about 1 year

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!

Beverley Thomas, about 1 year

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.

mavis henderson, about 1 year

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.

Tracey Mitchinson, about 1 year

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.

phil vaughan, about 1 year

could you tell me the maximim dose of levothyroxin your allowed

Ann Randell, over 2 years

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.

Joanne Michaelsen, over 2 years

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.