Does anyone here have an underactive thyroid?

bank_of_slate

I'm back at the doc's for blood tests on Wednesday!
I've asked the GP to refer me to an Endocrinologist because I haven't felt 'right' for ages!
...Linda xx

sexyjessie599

Hi I have been taking thyroxine for a long time and think the more you read about things on the net the more worried you will get,it will take a few months to get right and then bob's your uncle.
Can I just say to everyone that it is very dangerous to take st Johns wort when taking thyroxine or any other thyroxine based medication.

SoozyJ22

Can you explain more about the St John's Wort and thyroxine please jessie?

DrFluffy

CrazyCat wrote: »

Hi - I've had an underactive thyroid for about 20 years and know exactly what you mean. When I'm feeling a bit down I take St Johns Wort for a few days until it levels out again - helps no end.

Do your GP and endocrinologist know you use JSW? It's basically natural prozac, but makes the enzymes in your liver that breakdown toxins etc less active, so can really affect the way your body deals with other medications, which can be life threateneing (if a drug is in your body to a greater concentration, as JSW is slowing its breakdown, it is easier to push yourself over the safe limit.)

I'm not doubting the effects of JSW, but given it's natural, a lot of people do not realise that it can actually be dangerous, and never mention taking it to medics...

SoozyJ22

So does that mean that taking SJW as well as thyroxine could push you more in the direction of making you hyperthyroid rather than making you hypothyroid?

sexyjessie599

SoozyJ22 wrote: »

Can you explain more about the St John's Wort and thyroxine please jessie?

Hi all I know is my endo told me not to take it because it can be toxic in some people,I could take it and be fine but you could become very very unwell.
He recommends that none of his patients take it as there is too much margin for error in the blood results.
Hth.
Jessie

gingababe

Ok, my blood test results have come back, I asked the receptionist if I could book an appointment, she said "no need results are ok", To which I asked if I could have the results, she advised me that she wasn`t able to give them to me, that was up to the doctor, so I again asked for an appointment so that I could discuss the results... I was told no available appointments & ring after 0815 in the morning......

Can pull my hair out as I`m losing tooooo much
Will post later when I get more info..

melbury

Originally posted by TomsMom
Go to your appointment on Wednesday and discuss with him what you have mentioned about you having these side effects on the generic brand but not on the Eltroxin and could you please go back on Eltroxin for a trial period to see if the side effects disappear.

Your best bet is to calmly discuss this with your GP. If he wont budge ask him for a referral to an endo. If you're still not satisfied you could always go the private route but be prepared for big bills for consultations.

[/QUOTE]
I went to GP this afternoon armed with my bit of paper about the Eltroxin, he said he had looked it up in his book (apparently they have a book of available drugs that is issued every month or something) and it was definitely NOT in there anymore. He said he would give me a handwritten prescription for it so I could go on a hunt around to see if any pharmacists had it. Lucky for me the one where I live had just five packs on the shelf of which I got four:T I wouldn't hand over the prescription until they had checked. Trouble is doctor wouldn't change my prescription on their database to Eltroxin just in case it wasn't available and then I could end up with nothing. But I have got two months supply now, so hopefully that will be long enough to tell if it agrees with me more than the generic one.

When I went through all of the symptoms that I have been having since my dose was upped to 75mcgs - i.e. sweats/hot flushes, aching joints, tiredness and headaches - he says that is obviously due to the menopause having started.:mad: Now I know for sure that I wasn't suffering from ANY of those symptoms prior to going onto the thyroxine, so that did make me a bit cross, it would just be a bit too much of a coincidence. These doctors seem to want to blame everything on the menopause. When I saw the endocronologist he said that thyroxine doesn't have any side effects whatsoever because it is not a drug it is a hormone replacement, but from everything I have read there are loads of people suffering from side effects - we can't all be starting the menopause. I just hope that switching over to the Eltroxin will make at least some of them disappear.

I have to keep taking the 100mcgs dose now for two months and then go back for another blood test.

Honestly, I really felt that I knew more about the subject than he did, which is a bit scary and makes me wonder why it is him earning the £110,000 per annum salary:rotfl:

TomsMom

Glad you got the Eltroxin Melbury. Hopefully you will be better on these, at least you've got a couple of months' trial to see if your symptoms disappear and hopefully prove your point. I will try and find out if there's a problem with Eltroxin, hope not.

Don't forget to keep a diary, write everything down so that you can report back any changes next time you see your doc.

Shame docs tend to blame menopause for certain symptoms. I had something similar when I first became hypothyroid. I was in my twenties with two young children and - you've guessed it, I was told it was because I was a young mum with young children so of course I was going to be tired, and it took two years before my GP even thought of sending me for a blood test, and only then when hubby had had enough of me and marched me down to the surgery and demanded my GP "sort me out"!

tweetyshells

Well i am now nearly a week in on my lower dose tablets and i am soooooo tired .
Roll on 6 weeks time and hope they let me put my tablets up again.

Anyone know if i was over medicated would it affect fertility? I always thought that if underactive it would affect is but according to nhs direct its overactive that cant cause infertility.
We are trying for baby no2 so really want to do whats best to help that aswell as me.