New member

[Guest guest]

Hi,

All I can say is Dr. P got me well and I'm sure he will for you too.

Yes, I let pans boil dry too, but not as often!!

Subject: New member

I am full of hope from yesterday when I made contact the TPA and had

an email from Sheila. I have made an appointment to see Dr

Peatfield at the end of March and ordered some armour thyroid - I

feel very brave but a bit scared.

Today I left a pan on the stove to boil dry and it hasn't been the

first. What next. I am scared.

I am grateful in advance for support.

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing medication.

[Guest guest]

Hello Jane and welcome to the group. I was started on 25mcg and did see a difference straight away though its a tiny dose, it will need increasing but at least you've got a trial! If you have any queries just ask, there's a lot of knowledge here! We're a friendly bunch so feel free to join in discussions and post your own!

Keep reading the posts and that will help you to learn more about all things thyroid.

Best wishes and good luck on the levothyroxine.

Gill

good morning everyone, i have just been diagnosed as borderline hypothyroid and started on 25 mg of levothyroxine as a trial for 8 weeks, i've joined your group to listen and learn. regards jane

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[Guest guest]

HI Jane

Welcome to the forum and I hope you learn a lot and get a lot of support and help.

Can you post us your last thyroid function tests together with the normal reference range for each test and we will be able to check out how hypothyroid you were to make your GP (or was it an endocrinologist) give you a trial of thyroxine. 25 mcgs is hardly likely to do you much good, it is only a teeny amount and should be increased in about 6 weeks to 50 mcgs, and every 6 weeks by another 25 mcgs until you reach a dose where you start to feel much better. 8 weeks is not long, but see how you go. I doubt very much that a GP giving a trial of T4 would stop it after 8 weeks unless you were showing signs of hyperthyroidism, and I very much doubt you would be.

Read everything you can. Go the Files section from our Home Page and read what you can there. Anything you don't understand (and there will be a lot to start with) just shout.

Luv - Sheila

good morning everyone, i have just been diagnosed as borderline hypothyroid and started on 25 mg of levothyroxine as a trial for 8 weeks, i've joined your group to listen and learn. regards jane

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[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

Welcome to the list. Hopefully your treatment will go well and you

won't have some of the problems that can happen.

Subject: new member

good morning everyone, i have just been diagnosed as borderline

hypothyroid and started on 25 mg of levothyroxine as a trial for 8

weeks, i've joined your group to listen and learn. regards jane

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Hello Moira - and welcome to our forum where I sincerely hope you get all the help and support you need, and we promise to try to do everything we can to help you find your normal health again.

My diagnosis of hypothyroidism was made after yet another battle to avoid being diagnosed with depression. My husband and I almost begged a locum GP to give me a trial of thyroxine. He finally agreed and I was started on 25mcg - blood tests a month later showed my thyroid levels had dropped - so thyroxine was increased to 50mcg.

Did your GP never refer you to an endocrinologist? Did he ever give you a physical examination, palpate your thyroid, take your pulse, BP and temperature. Did he list your symptoms and ask if any of the members of your family had a history of thyroid disease or other autoimmune problems. Did he not check to see if you had any of the SIGNS of hypothyroidism (have a look in our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk and click on 'Hypothyroidism' and then click on 'Symptoms and Signs' and check these out against any that you are suffering. All of these should be taken into account when reacing a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, but sadly, all a GP does is to take a blood test, and if it is within the normal range, they tell you that you are 'normal' and it must be all in your head. Practically every member here has gone through the same thing and that is why they are here - like you Moira.Now I take 175 mcg. I have never regained my former energy levels. I still feel tired all the time and continue to suffer most of the symptoms I had before my treatment started, so am not as active as I should be. As a result my weight continues to rise. I have recently beeen prescribed medication for high blood pressure, which of course is in addition to the thyroxine, Arimadex tablets, zoladex injections and Omeprazole for acid reflux! I just want to feel 'normal' again!

For high blood pressure and high cholesterol, you can take high doses of Niacin and CoEnzyme Q10 which are much safer than the NHS prescriptions for high BP etc. Your weight is not increasing because of your lack of excercise, it is because with hypothyroidism, you have a very low metabolism and therefore, you are unable to oburn off the calories normal people can. Once you get on the right treatment, then you should start to lose this excess weight naturally.My current GP is a very kind and thoughtful person. When I asked him about Armour Thyroid - he'd never heard of it - but promised he'd look into it. He duly sent me a letter with enclosed print outs of the opinions of the BTA and BTF, and explained in a very kind way, that he did not believe this treatment either to be safe or in my best interests. He is one of the best GP's I've ever met - so I don't want to offend him - but I really don't know what to do next. I wondered about trying to get Armour Thyroid privately - but I wouldn't know where to start and I'm afraid of 'going it alone'. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am glad you have a very kind and caring GP - and this shows by the fact that he actually went on the hunt to try to find information about Armour Thyroid for you. However, the British Thyroid Association and British Thyroid Foundation have, in their Statement on Armour and synthetic T4/T3 combination therapy, both misleading and incorrect information, and sadly, doctors are handing out information to patients that is wrong. This is terrible, and leaves patients without a treatment that is both safe and effective, and doctors without any alternative medication to give to their patients who don't do well on L-thyroxine only.

Because we have had so many reports of doctors printing off the BTA/BTF Statements and giving it to their patients, I decided to respond to these statements with evidence through research papers and clinical trials ect and ask the BTA and BTF to update their Statements. I have sent copies of the response I have sent them to every NHS endocrinologist, every PCT (because they are responsible for funding Armour Thyroid if a doctor is happy to prescribe it) and many top class bods in the NHS and DoH and the Government. I have also sent it to many other thyroid organisations, associations, foundations and people who own thyroid websites or who run thyroid forums and asked them to put this information there so everybody can see it.

If you go to www.tpa-uk.org.uk and look in the right hand column under TPA-UK news - right at the top you will see the two responses I have sent to BTA. Please copy the one on Armour Thyroid and take it to your doctor, and if he is the kind and caring doctor you believe he is, he will sit and read it and hopefully, prescribe Armour for you because of the good evidence shown in my paper. I hope also, he will write to the BTA too and tell them that they are misleading both doctors and patients.

There are many problems that might be holding you up in getting your normal health returned. Look on our website under Hypothyroidism and then click 'Associated Conditions' and read about low adrenal reserve, Candida Alibans, low ferritin and also, do you have amalgam fillings in your teeth or had anything to do with mercury in the past.

Hope this information helps for the time being, but first, do take the info on Armour to your GP (it is a hefty document) and let us know what he says.

Luv - Sheila

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.22.13/1378 - Release Date: 15/04/2008 09:12

[Guest guest]

Hi,

The BTA stuff is factually incorrect, but they refuse to update it. See

the tpa-uk website for the letters Sheila has sent to them. Print and show

to your doc. Armour has been used for over 100 years perfectly safely- I've

used it for 8 years- I call it my magic pill- it works! A healthy thyroid

produces more than one hormone so to me it is irrational to replace only

one- T4- thyroxin- especially as it is T3- liothyronine which is the active

hormone. The conversion takes place mostly in the liver, but many of us,

especially those who have been on t4 for years, find that the conversion

mechanism no longer works so supplementation of the missing T3 is what is

needed.

Subject: new member

Hi. My name is Moira.

My current GP is a very kind and thoughtful person. When I asked him

about Armour Thyroid - he'd never heard of it - but promised he'd

look into it. He duly sent me a letter with enclosed print outs of

the opinions of the BTA and BTF, and explained in a very kind way,

that he did not believe this treatment either to be safe or in my

best interests. He is one of the best GP's I've ever met - so I

don't want to offend him - but I really don't know what to do next.

I wondered about trying to get Armour Thyroid privately - but I

wouldn't know where to start and I'm afraid of 'going it alone'. Any

advice would be greatly appreciated.

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Hi Carole,

Welcome to the list. When you've got your results post them with

you current symptoms and we'll try to answer you questions.

Subject: New member

Hello just a short introduction I have an underactive thyroid

diagnosed in 2000.

Regards Carole

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Your blood results are yours by law Margaret - so your GP will let you

have a copy of these, but please remember to get a copy of the reference

range for each test too.

Luv -Sheila

>

> ,

>

> I have a feeling I was told that some part of the thyroid gland had

> been left, and I certainly have never taken any medication for it,

> which I would have thought I would have had it been totally removed.

>

> I have no results whatever from the various blood tests taken.

> Margaret

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret,

You are entitled to you tests results under the freedom of

information act if the surgery is reluctant to give them. It seems usuallt

easier to see the doc in person and ask for the results and their ranges on

the spot( and write them down) as if you go through reception they can get

their knickers in a twist and sometimes ask unreasonable fees for

photocopying.

Subject: new member

,

I have a feeling I was told that some part of the thyroid gland had

been left, and I certainly have never taken any medication for it,

which I would have thought I would have had it been totally removed.

I have no results whatever from the various blood tests taken.

Margaret

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hello Lynn - and welcome to our forum. I hope you get all the help and support you need here and we will certainly do everything we can to help you.

When were you diagnosed as 'underactive' and how much thyroxine are you taking? Can you get hold of all your last thyroid function tests from your GP asnd post the results on this forum, but don't forget to also get the reference range for each test. A full thyroid function test consists of a TSH, Free T4, Free T3 and antibodies. Your doctor cannot withhold your results, they are yours by law. When you say that one of your blood tests showed 100 - can you tell me exactly which of the thyroid function tests this was please. If you are not sure, your doctor will be able to tell you.

Read everything that you can in our FILES on this forum. You can get there from the Home Page of this website and you will see FILES in the Menu. Read also all the information in our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk

Have you been referred to an endocrinologist? There will be a lot you will want to know about, so feel free to ask as many questions as you wish. It is all very confusing at first, but slowly, you will begin to realise that information is starting to sink in and you start to understand what is going on. There is a bit of short-hand terminology around, and if you are not sure what it means, just shout.

Luv - Sheila

Hi everyone iam new member, i have a under-active thyroid did have a over-active one had treatment, now on tablets for underactive still unstable doctor put my tablets up because when had blood test done it was showing 100 instead of between 5-9 felling poorly is this normal, i would be grateful for any support or advice Lynn

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.3.0/1505 - Release Date: 16/06/2008 07:20

[Guest guest]

HI Wynette

Welcome to our forum and I hope you get all the help and support that

you need. Can you post here your other thyroid function results,

together with the reference range for each test and tell us all what

medication you have been taking up to date.

You need to fully familiarise your self with exactly how you should

treat with Armour Thyroid. Armour contains ALL the thyroid hormones a

normal thyroid produces, so you need to take care with the T3 and T2

(and probably the T1) that is in Armour, especially if your body has

been without these hormones for some time. Please go to the Home Page of

this forum website and click on FILES in the Menu. You will get up a

long list. Scroll down until you find " How to Treat using Armour

Thyroid " and read every word. Follow the recommendations to the letter.

If you start on too high a dose or you increase the dosage too quickly,

you have get some problems, and quite possibly, quite frightening

problems, so DO make sure you know exactly what you are doing and do not

go outside these recommendations. If you have any questions, just holler

- and loud, and somebody will come along to help answer them. Many of us

have been through the experience of starting natural thyroid extract,

and if you feel that nothing is happening and therefore, you think

adding more would solve your problem, think again Wynette. Many of us

have learned the hard way, and suffered into the bargain.

I hope thios is the medication that will bring you back your normal

health, it has to many, including Moi! However, some people have

associated conditions that go along with hypothyroidism and they are

unable to absorb any form of thyroid hormone replacement, but we will

cross that bridge if we have to. Let's hope you are one who will just

sail through it.

Luv - Sheila

>

> Hello Everyone,

> My name is Wannette, I am a new member. As Sheila already knows I have

> had the mind-boggling experience of showing my low T3 results to my

GP,

> who says they don't treat that! yes, even in the face of all my

> symptoms and other lab results and my painstaking efforts to record my

> temperature! Anyway I have informed myself so it was no surprise.

So,of

> interest to all, I tried to buy Armour from Biogenesis, and it said it

> can't ship to my UK address. I have just tried International Pharmacy

> and it seems to have gone through okay...shall let you all know when/

> if it arrives!

> Wannette

>

[Guest guest]

It would be good to find out which test it was though, because it is the

reference range that intrigues me. Had your TSH been 100 - you are

extremely hypothyroid. Let us know what you find out Lynn.

YOu are entitled to go on, and on, and on Lynn, so don't worry about

what we think about you. We are all here to help each other and we all

understand what you are going through.

BTW - please can you remove some of the messages we have already read

and just leave part of what you are respondong to, as it causes great

frustration to our members who read and write direct from the website,

or who have opted to receive a Daily Digest. They have to scroll,

scroll, scroll.....

Luv - Sheila

>

> Hi Shelia, iam not to sure I think it was my TSH what was 100 iam on

75mcgs at the moment but iam going up to 100mcgs tomorrow, but i still

feel awrful iam still swelling up my eyes feel terrible, i feel very low

and tired i just dont know what to do with my self i just feel fat and

horrible. listen me i shouldnt be going on like this what must you think

of me. Lynn

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Wanette,

Welcome to the list!

new member

Hello Everyone,

My name is Wannette, I am a new member. As Sheila already knows I have

had the mind-boggling experience of showing my low T3 results to my GP,

who says they don't treat that!

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne,

Did you have Radioactive iodine? It seems that is can take longer

to stabilise treatment when this is used, coupled with the docs desire to

undermedicate. I'm assuming you are talking about TSH test? Should be around

1.0 and certainly under 5!

Subject: new member

Hi everyone iam new member, i have a under-active thyroid did have a

over-active one had treatment, now on tablets for underactive still

unstable doctor put my tablets up because when had blood test done it

was showing 100 instead of between 5-9 felling poorly is this normal, i

would be grateful for any support or advice Lynn

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne,

It can take a while to get stabilized

on thyroid meds. Levothyroxine ( T4) has a long half life which means

than any dose increase will take at least 25 days to fully stabilize in your

body, so don’t get despondent if you don’t feel better immediately.

Many folk take 125 or 150 mcg’s T4 so you may well need another dose

increase after this one. Depression is a symptom of hypo, so don’t think

you are going crazy- it’s part of the illness and should lift as you get

to optimum dose.

Subject: Re:

new member

Then a week later i

started feel really strange my eyes started to swell up really bad and my hands

and feet very tired wanted to cry all the time couldnt fuction properly. Then

when i went back to see him for another blood results thats when he said you

are very underactive started me on 25mcgs couple of weeks later i seemed to be

going worse so he tested me again thats when he said it was hundred put my

tablets up to 75 for two weeks and start taking 100mcgs tomorrow iam just

really fed up. Lynn

Luv - Sheila

Hi everyone iam

new member, i have a under-active thyroid did have a

over-active one had treatment, now on tablets for underactive still

unstable doctor put my tablets up because when had blood test done it

was showing 100 instead of between 5-9 felling poorly is this normal, i

would be grateful for any support or advice Lynn

No virus found in this incoming

message.

Checked by AVG.

Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.3.0/1505 - Release Date: 16/06/2008

07:20

[Guest guest]

Hello . I only found this site a few days ago and it's a mine of

information. I've been hypo for a few years but recently developed a

Goitre (due, in my opinion to my docs ignorance) and have been off

work for a week now because of the problems this has caused me.

Stick with this site, it's taught me a lot and the people are so helpful!

All the best, Cassie

[Guest guest]

Please get your adrenal function checked before the doc starts you on Thyroxine, your symptons sound like adrenal failure too. Be ready too for a long wait as this isnt a problem fixed over night with one pill, its a life time of treatment. I am nearly 2 years into my thyroid treatment and still not quite there as my adrenals were compromised and I didnt know until the other week when I paid for a salivary test, the doc wont offer you this as they dont recognise the connection. I am sure Sheila will be along to offer you more advice and help, you have come to the right place.

From: klross1969 <karen@...>Subject: New memberthyroid treatment Date: Tuesday, 15 July, 2008, 2:00 PM

Hi Sheila/Lee and all membersMy name is and I have just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. At this point in time I have no knowledge of the condition other that what I have read on different internet sites on the subject but am eager to find out how it will affect my life in the future.I am at the Dr's on Friday to look at the course of treatment that I will need and I have been refered because of my Goitre.At the moment I am feeling completely washed out and find it a struggle to get off the chair. HELP!!

Not happy with your email address?

Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at

[Guest guest]

Hello R,

I need to call you R because we have already a and we don't want to get you mixed up. Can you sign yourself R when you write please.

Welcome to our forum and I hope we can give you the help and support you need.First, please be aware that this forum has some very heavy traffic, sometimes, we have had over 2300 messages in one month, so if you opted to receive Individual Emails, please be aware that your Inbox might become over-whelmed with such a volume. You can opt to receive a Daily Digest (where you get up to 25 messages in one email) or you can opt to receive No Emails where you can read directly from the forum website. If you want to change your option, go to the Home Page, and at the top, just above the thick green bar, you will see "Edit Membership" and on the page that comes up, you can change it there.

Hopefully, being diagnosed with hypothyroidism will not affect your life unduly. You should realise though, that in most cases, once diagnosed, you will need some form of thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of your life - but this can be no problem if given the right type.

From what you state below, it does sound as if you could have an adrenal problem, and if this is the case, please insist that your doctor leaves any thyroid hormone replacement until after your adrenals have been boosted. Sadly, although there is a test to find out the state of your adrenals within the NHS, this test only checks to see whether you have 's disease or not, and does not recognise any shades of grey between normal and compromised adrenals. We have an Adrenal Questionnaire in the FILES which you will find in the Menu of the Home Page of this forum. Check this out, answer the questions and let us know how you score. If high, then I would recommend you get the 24 hour salivary test to see where your cortisol and DHEA levels lie at four specific times throughout the day. You can get the 'kit' from NPTech Services (now Lab21). You can email Ron direct at ron.turner@... or telephone him on 01223 395462. This is a private laboratory in Cambridge. You spit down four straws which go into test tubes at 8.00a.m. - 12.00 Noon - 4.00p.m. and again at midnight and they send your results back within the week. If you need to boost your adrenals, this MUST be done before you start thyroid hormone replacement, otherwise, your cells will not be able to absorb the thyroxine.

I would have a word with your GP about this, but s/he will probably not even know what you are talking about sadly. However, give it a try, you may have a more open minded GP and one who knows a little more about how the thyroid and adrenals are connected.

You need to get a FULL thyroid function test, which includes FreeT4, FreeT3, TSH and antibodies. Tell your doctor if you have anybody in the family who has a thyroid problem or who has an autoimmune disease - as it can come down through families.

You may not be able to tolerate L-thyroxine on its own and might need a T3 medication, but you will have to give the L-thyroxine a go first, as this will be what your GP recommends. Thyroxine is an inactive hormone, and it has to convert to the active hormone T3. T3 needs to get into every cell in your body to make it function. The aches and pains you mention could be because you are not making enough of this active T3 - but could also be because you have adrenal insufficiency.

I would recommend that you read everything about hypothyroidism in our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk and if there is anything you don't understand, just shout, and somebody will be along to help you.

Let us hope that you are going to be one of the lucky ones (this is the majority) who do well once they get on the medication that is best suited for their individual needs - and good luck.

Luv - Sheila

Hi Sheila/Lee and all membersMy name is and I have just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. At this point in time I have no knowledge of the condition other that what I have read on different internet sites on the subject but am eager to find out how it will affect my life in the future.I am at the Dr's on Friday to look at the course of treatment that I will need and I have been refered because of my Goitre.At the moment I am feeling completely washed out and find it a struggle to get off the chair. I have two beautiful young children (8 years and 8 months) so relaxing isn't an option. I find that my body aches all over and I feel hungry all of the time and unless I am eating I feel shaky and a little 'spaced out'. I just wanted to know if all this is normal and will it get better with the correct treatment. I am due back to work in a few weeks (after maternity leave) and can't face the thought at the moment.HELP!!No virus found in this incoming message.

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[Guest guest]

Hi , what your describing (shakiness, hunger, spaciness) is

hypoglycemia which seems to be common, this could be connected to

your hypothyrodism or adrenals. If you do a bit of research, you will

find that is essential to try to keep your blood sugar levels as

constant as possible, you will need to eat regularly (every two

hours). Have a look for low GI foods you already eat or wouldn't mind

eating and try very hard to cut sugar out of your diet. The evils of

sugar are well documented so it won't do any harm! I had awful

symptoms of hypogylcemia but much better after starting to treat

adrenal with NAE (Nutri adrenal extra) and making sure I ate really

regularly. I was walking around with glucose tablets because I found

that I'd suddenly feel extremely hungry, weak, faint, dizzy, nauseous

and if I didn't eat something I would either black out or get a

blinding headache. Having blood sugar problems means you are

forever 'up and down' throughout the day. I'd be happy one minute

then 'crash'. If I hadn't of realised that the way I felt emotionally

and the link to food I probably wouldn't have a husband and my

children with me still because I was a mess really. I have just found

out that Chromium 600mg daily helps hypoglycemia and weight loss so

giving that a go. The Nutri adrenal extra (NAE) has some in but not

large amounts. Have you thought about your adrenals and whether you

may have a problem with them? There's info and a questionaire on the

TPA website about adrenals. Hope this helps you. Ruth PS Can you ask

for an extenstion of your maternity leave? Thought you get a year

now? Just to give you a bit more time?

>

> Hi Sheila/Lee and all members

>

> My name is and I have just been diagnosed with

Hypothyroidism.

> At this point in time I have no knowledge of the condition other

that

> what I have read on different internet sites on the subject but am

> eager to find out how it will affect my life in the future.

>

> I am at the Dr's on Friday to look at the course of treatment that

I

> will need and I have been refered because of my Goitre.

>

> At the moment I am feeling completely washed out and find it a

> struggle to get off the chair. I have two beautiful young children

(8

> years and 8 months) so relaxing isn't an option. I find that my

body

> aches all over and I feel hungry all of the time and unless I am

> eating I feel shaky and a little 'spaced out'. I just wanted to

know

> if all this is normal and will it get better with the correct

> treatment. I am due back to work in a few weeks (after maternity

> leave) and can't face the thought at the moment.

>

> HELP!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi 2

Go to our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk click on 'hypothyroidism' and then click on 'Associated Conditions' and then click on Adrenals. Read the first article by Dr Peatfield at the top of the page that opens and you can see the adrenal/thyroid connection.

Luv - Sheila

>> Hi Sheila/Lee and all members> > My name is and I have just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. > At this point in time I have no knowledge of the condition other that > what I have read on different internet sites on the subject but am > eager to find out how it will affect my life in the future.> > I am at the Dr's on Friday to look at the course of treatment that I > will need and I have been refered because of my Goitre.> > At the moment I am feeling completely washed out and find it a > struggle to get off the chair. I have two beautiful young children (8 > years and 8 months) so relaxing isn't an option. I find that my body > aches all over and I feel hungry all of the time and unless I am > eating I feel shaky and a little 'spaced out'. I just wanted to know > if all this is normal and will it get better with the correct > treatment. I am due back to work in a few weeks (after maternity > leave) and can't face the thought at the moment.> > HELP!!> > >No virus found in this incoming message.

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[Guest guest]

HI Lorraine, and welcome to our forum where I hope you get all the help and support you need. Tell us a little about yourself and and are you here because of your own illness or because of your son. Either way, let us have a look at any recent thyroid function blood test results, and also show the reference range for each test, because we can do little without them. Your doctor has to let you have these, so don't be afraid to ask. Tell us also how long you(or your son) has been feeling ill and what diagnosis (or not) you have been given. I look forward to hearing from you, but meanwhile, do read everything in our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk and also go to the Menu on this forum, and click on FILES and LINKS - and you can even see what a few of us look like by going to the PHOTO'S section/.

If you have questions, just shout, and somebody will be along to help you.

Luv - Sheila

Hello sheila,

i am not karen!! my name is lorraine and my sons name is callum we live in belper derbyshire and my friend Gill slater put me on to your site,

thanks and kind regards lorraine hough.sheilaturner <sheilaturnertpa-uk (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

Hello R,

I need to call you R because we have already a and we don't want to get you mixed up. Can you sign yourself R when you write please.

Welcome to our forum and I hope we can give you the help and support you need.First, please be aware that this forum has some very heavy traffic, sometimes, we have had over 2300 messages in one month, so if you opted to receive Individual Emails, please be aware that your Inbox might become over-whelmed with such a volume. You can opt to receive a Daily Digest (where you get up to 25 messages in one email) or you can opt to receive No Emails where you can read directly from the forum website. If you want to change your option, go to the Home Page, and at the top, just above the thick green bar, you will see "Edit Membership" and on the page that comes up, you can change it there.

Hopefully, being diagnosed with hypothyroidism will not affect your life unduly. You should realise though, that in most cases, once diagnosed, you will need some form of thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of your life - but this can be no problem if given the right type.

From what you state below, it does sound as if you could have an adrenal problem, and if this is the case, please insist that your doctor leaves any thyroid hormone replacement until after your adrenals have been boosted. Sadly, although there is a test to find out the state of your adrenals within the NHS, this test only checks to see whether you have 's disease or not, and does not recognise any shades of grey between normal and compromised adrenals. We have an Adrenal Questionnaire in the FILES which you will find in the Menu of the Home Page of this forum. Check this out, answer the questions and let us know how you score. If high, then I would recommend you get the 24 hour salivary test to see where your cortisol and DHEA levels lie at four specific times throughout the day. You can get the 'kit' from NPTech Services (now Lab21). You can email Ron direct at ron.turnerlab21 or telephone him on 01223 395462. This is a private laboratory in Cambridge. You spit down four straws which go into test tubes at 8.00a.m. - 12.00 Noon - 4.00p.m. and again at midnight and they send your results back within the week. If you need to boost your adrenals, this MUST be done before you start thyroid hormone replacement, otherwise, your cells will not be able to absorb the thyroxine.

I would have a word with your GP about this, but s/he will probably not even know what you are talking about sadly. However, give it a try, you may have a more open minded GP and one who knows a little more about how the thyroid and adrenals are connected.

You need to get a FULL thyroid function test, which includes FreeT4, FreeT3, TSH and antibodies. Tell your doctor if you have anybody in the family who has a thyroid problem or who has an autoimmune disease - as it can come down through families.

You may not be able to tolerate L-thyroxine on its own and might need a T3 medication, but you will have to give the L-thyroxine a go first, as this will be what your GP recommends. Thyroxine is an inactive hormone, and it has to convert to the active hormone T3. T3 needs to get into every cell in your body to make it function. The aches and pains you mention could be because you are not making enough of this active T3 - but could also be because you have adrenal insufficiency.

I would recommend that you read everything about hypothyroidism in our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk and if there is anything you don't understand, just shout, and somebody will be along to help you.

Let us hope that you are going to be one of the lucky ones (this is the majority) who do well once they get on the medication that is best suited for their individual needs - and good luck.

Luv - Sheila

Hi Sheila/Lee and all membersMy name is and I have just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. At this point in time I have no knowledge of the condition other that what I have read on different internet sites on the subject but am eager to find out how it will affect my life in the future.I am at the Dr's on Friday to look at the course of treatment that I will need and I have been refered because of my Goitre.At the moment I am feeling completely washed out and find it a struggle to get off the chair. I have two beautiful young children (8 years and 8 months) so relaxing isn't an option. I find that my body aches all over and I feel hungry all of the time and unless I am eating I feel shaky and a little 'spaced out'. I just wanted to know if all this is normal and will it get better with the correct treatment. I am due back to work in a few weeks (after maternity leave) and can't face the thought at the moment.HELP!!No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.11/1553 - Release Date: 15/07/2008 05:48

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[Guest guest]

Hi Lorraine and hi Callum - because I hope your Mum let's you read some of the information in our FILES on the forum and also the information about hypothyroidism in our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk and I sincerely hope we can give you both the help and support you need. DO read everything you can, and DO look at the 'associated conditions' that go along with having a thyroid problem that are under 'Hypothyroidism' in our website. Ask loads of questions, and if none of the members or moderators or myself get back to you, then keep on shouting, because somebody eventually will be there to help you.

You definitely found the right man with Dr Peatfield, he is wonderful, and will do everything he can to try to find the cause of Callum's problems. Whatever his problem is, it should be diagnosed and treated now, and please don't let him be told that the NHS believe there is nothing wrong with him.

Luv - Sheila

Hello Sheila and everyone,My name is Lorraine and I have joined the group because of my son Callum. Callum has just turned 14 and has been poorly for many years. He has allergies, and a year ago had nasal polyps removed and was due recently to have more surgery to `clean his sinuses'. His G.P and the Doctor at the childrens hospital refused to listen to his other symptoms, such as his severe fatigue and lethargy, muscle pains, sweet cravings, feeling cold, headaches; he can't get out of bed in a morning. Possibly the worst thing for me to see was him coming in from school at the end of the day (only a 5 minute walk away) hanging around his friends neck as he simply didn't have the energy to walk alone.As good fortune would have it, a member of your group, a friend's mum, listened to my concerns and recognised his signs and symptoms and put me in touch with Dr. P. something I will be eternally grateful for. Before we got an appointment with Dr. P we had tests carried out with NPtech and our GP. NPtech results first:-SALIVARY CORTISOL8.00am 16.1 (ref range 12.0 to 33.0)12 noon 4.7*(ref range 10.0 to 28.0)4.00pm 3.9*(ref range 6.0 to 11.8)midnight 0.9*(ref range 1.0 to 5.0)SALIVARY DHEA SULPHATE8.00am, 27.2 (ref range 12.0 to 29.0)12 noon, 16.2 (ref range 7.5 to 16.0)4.00pm, 6.4 (ref range 6.0 to 12.0)midnight, 5.1 (ref range 4.0 to 10.0)THYROID TESTFree T3 6.8 (ref range 3.0 to 6.2)Free T4 17.6 (ref range 12.0 to 22.0)TSH 1.9 (ref range 0.4 to 4.0)NHS RESULTS:-THYROID FUNCTION TESTSerum TSH level 1.55 (ref range 0.3-5.5)Serum free T4 14.0 (ref range 11-23)Serum free triidothyronine level 6.7 (ref range 3.5-6.5)Dr. P thinks that Callums extreme fatigue is adrenal deficiency and he is now on his sixth week of nutri adrenal. I have joined the group to learn more and to help me help Callum.Lorraine xNo virus found in this incoming message.

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[Guest guest]

>

Thankyou for that Sheila. You are right about Dr Peatfield, after

seeing him Callum said to me " what a lovely man, he actually listened

and believed me " . Such a refreshing change to our normal Dr, who just

seems to say, " i don't know Callum, what am i going to do with you? " .

Tomorrow i see a new NHS Dr, i am going to ask him if he could test

Callum's growth hormones and blood sugar.

If anyone could suggest anything ask i might need to ask i would be

grateful. Thanks, Lorraine x

[Guest guest]

>

Thankyou for that Sheila. You are right about Dr Peatfield, after

seeing him Callum said to me " what a lovely man, he actually listened

and believed me " . Such a refreshing change to our normal Dr, who just

seems to say, " i don't know Callum, what am i going to do with you? " .

Tomorrow i see a new NHS Dr, i am going to ask him if he could test

Callum's growth hormones and blood sugar.

If anyone could suggest anything ask i might need to ask i would be

grateful. Thanks, Lorraine x

[Guest guest]

> >

>

> Thankyou for that Sheila. You are right about Dr Peatfield, after

> seeing him Callum said to me " what a lovely man, he actually listened

> and believed me " . Such a refreshing change to our normal Dr, who just

> seems to say, " i don't know Callum, what am i going to do with you? " .

> Tomorrow i see a new NHS Dr, i am going to ask him if he could test

> Callum's growth hormones and blood sugar.

> If anyone could suggest anything ask i might need to ask i would be

> grateful. Thanks, Lorraine x

>

Hi not sure if this right place to post this but was looking for some

advice on how to contact Dr Peatfield I am going to get ask for a

thyroid test from my gp, due to infertility problems and low Basal Body

Temp, always cold, cyst on overy. Was adviced by someone on Fertility

Friends to get Dr Barry Durrant Peatfiel to do a salivary thyroid test

and other tests. Just woundering if this is the person you refer to in

your email, if so could you pass on details of how to contact him, or

anyone else. I live in NI. Any help appreciated. Thanks bron