Under active thyroid

teddysmum

bspm1 wrote: »

Having had Hypothyroidism for 24 years, visiting the Hospital yearly for blood tests which normally leads to a change of dosage of Thyroxine, I have never heard of Eye Disease from Hypothyroidism.

I have googled and it does say that Thyroid Eye Disease can happen if you have Graves Disease (I do) but that treatment with Thyroxine will keep it at bay, it is not a notifiable condition that the DVLA make us aware of.

https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving

I cannot see how you would qualify for PIP either Mobility or Care when it states that it can be a temporary condition.

I'm surprised that you have to go to the hospital for blood tests as mine is done at the same time as the annual checks for diabetes related items and nay change in levothyroxine made by a GP (had the dose doubled just once in 10 years).


I have a friend who takes Levothyroxine as she has no thyroid but her eyes are not affected and she's a regular driver.

GlasweJen

It sounds like early days, have you seen an Orthoptist to see if a prism prescription can merge the two images together and make you see single again? Even if it doesn't help now it might help when you start responding to the treatment.

Thyroid eye disease is fairly rare, have you been put in touch with the british TED foundation? I think their web page is BTF-thyroid and they'll have information about the DVLA and the process of being allowed to drive again. Usually you need a binocular visual field test called an Estermann if your double vision can't be controlled and you need to prove you've had time to adapt (6 months +). You need to do the test in a dvla approved facility not just get your optician to do it off your own back.

bspm1

teddysmum wrote: »

I'm surprised that you have to go to the hospital for blood tests as mine is done at the same time as the annual checks for diabetes related items and nay change in levothyroxine made by a GP (had the dose doubled just once in 10 years).


I have a friend who takes Levothyroxine as she has no thyroid but her eyes are not affected and she's a regular driver.

I go for a check up at the Hospital every year and have done for 24 years unfortunately. I also go to my GP 6 monthly for a blood test. I sit with different patients every time and get annoyed that they get discharged with their blood tests then being done at the Doctors, you would not believe how many say 'oh im checked and my dose never changes' then they get discharged from the Hospital.

I asked the Consultant this exact question several years ago, he said it was because I had Graves Disease, which is a slightly different type of Hypothyroidism and needs to be monitored more closely, which is why I suppose I have 6 monthly blood tests. I originally started on 250 mcg daily, can't really remember how it changed yearly but can say that in the last 5 years it has ranged from 200 mcg daily down to 50 mcg daily and back up again.

I had my Thyroid removed as I was Hyperthyroid 24 years ago but even though it has been removed it still somehow produces T3 and T4 apparently (this is the Graves part I think) but who knows.

I too drive and can see no reason why the OP will qualify for PIP with an under active thyroid.

Tigsteroonie

bspm1 wrote: »

Having had Hypothyroidism for 24 years, visiting the Hospital yearly for blood tests which normally leads to a change of dosage of Thyroxine, I have never heard of Eye Disease from Hypothyroidism.

teddysmum wrote: »

I'm surprised that you have to go to the hospital for blood tests as mine is done at the same time as the annual checks for diabetes related items

My GP cannot do blood tests, I have the choice of one local clinic or going to a local hospital for bloods to be taken. Fortunately the clinic is near me, but presumably not so near for others. The results and prescription then come from the GP.

bspm1

GlasweJen wrote: »

It sounds like early days, have you seen an Orthoptist to see if a prism prescription can merge the two images together and make you see single again? Even if it doesn't help now it might help when you start responding to the treatment.

Thyroid eye disease is fairly rare, have you been put in touch with the british TED foundation? I think their web page is BTF-thyroid and they'll have information about the DVLA and the process of being allowed to drive again. Usually you need a binocular visual field test called an Estermann if your double vision can't be controlled and you need to prove you've had time to adapt (6 months +). You need to do the test in a dvla approved facility not just get your optician to do it off your own back.

I think the OP is more interested in whether she can claim PIP rather than going to the trouble of controlling her eyesight,I may be wrong though.

We shall see.

Sncjw

I have an under active thyroid. Does yours affect he ability to care for yourself, make meals, do personal hygiene and walk further than 100 metres?

merrydance

Hi Glaswejan, I did have a prism on one lens when I was first diagnosed in June. On my visit on Tuesday the consultant took it off and said I did not need it anymore as my eye had got a lot better. Then she did a series of tests which I thought I was sailing through, only at the end she said to hold off from the driving and let the DVLA know.

merrydance

No bspm1 I thought of the extra expense of bus fares and taxis but if I can claim a free bus pass from the council that would be great.

merrydance

Sncjw My sister is deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other, she can do all the things you mentioned in your post and still gets Pip

poppy12345

merrydance wrote: »

Sncjw My sister is deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other, she can do all the things you mentioned in your post and still gets Pip

Claiming PIP totally depends on how your conditions affect you. You won't get PIP because you can't drive.