A family member is getting tested for thyroid problems. Has all the symptoms for Hypothyroidism (at least according to many medical websites - will see the doctor soon). Anybody have information to share. Have drugs helped you, what problems has it caused, and have you gotten it under control. Any advice would be appreciated.
Yes! I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago at age 35. My doctor did the blood test to “humor” me, but I do have it.
It’s very manageable! I just take a daily pill and get blood tests every 3-6 months. I’m feeling very good these days. Just make sure they get your family member into a test range where they feel better, not just barely into the “normal” range.
If the family member is a child or teen, your daily dose will need to be checked more frequently as they are growing so fast and hormones (teens) but otherwise as stated…a tiny pill one hour before you eat each morning and that’s it.
I was diagnosed at age 9 and have dealt with this in every possible situation ever since. Not a big deal to treat, but should be taken very, very seriously. Take the pill every morning two hours before eating and with a full glass of water. Make sure to get the preparation prescribed by the doctor, and don’t let the pharmacist switch between generic and brand name. Get the proper blood tests regularly - often every three months in the first year or after a change, and alert the doctor to any changes in symptoms.
When it’s well-treated and stable, hypothyroidism is really no problem. But for some people (like me), being and staying stable is an elusive goal.
Diagnosed in early twenties but in hindsight probably had it much earlier as every time I came home from college I thought I had mono. Once I started Synthroid I felt much better after a few weeks. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos. You take a pill everyday since and yes, being stable is an elusive goal and every life change changes my prescription which does require physician monitoring. I am down to 2x a year with instructions to call if I think my TSH is running high (I can tell after all these decades).
For a disease, it’s absolutely no biggie. I was diagnosed immediately after the birth of S1 33 years ago. I take a pill every day. I get my blood tested every six months and occasionally my doctor adjusts the dosage.
I find it interesting that the pills come is so many strengths. This is one disease where they really can finetune your dosage to your exact needs.
ETA: Also, be aware that the “drug” they use to treat you is in fact simply replacing the natural hormone you used to have. When I first started taking it, I asked the doc if I could drink alcohol while taking it, and he responded that it’s simply replacing what’s there naturally, so you can do anything you used to do.
H has had it for years now. He just takes symthroid teplacenent daily and gets periodic blood tests. Inexpensive and very easy to treat.
My mom has graves disease and by the time they caught it, they had to kill her thyroid. No biggie. She takes synthroid every day and has very few problems related to the thyroid. (She has other graves-related problems.)
If they’re going to get tested for hypothyroidism, have them check for Hashimoto’s too to be on the safe side.
I think I’ve had some sort of thyroid problem for years, but in my 40’s was dx with Hyperthyroidism, ended up needing to have my thyroid removed. In pathology they found evidence of Hashimoto and found cancer.
Wish I still had my thyroid - if I new then what I know now, I would have tried more dietary ways to help heal my thyroid.
Anyway, be aware, yes, there are a lot of different medications - need to find the “right” one for you (or person dx). I was on Synthroid, but it caused intestinal irritation, found Tirosint (works great if you have intestinal problems, but is not covered by insurance).
I do not worry about taking my pill hours before eating - I take it when I get up and have tea right away. I figure my dosing is based on my labs which are taken regularly so I am dosed based on how my meds are working based on how I take them. Will need to do what works best for you (him/her). I tried to wake up and take it with full glass of water hours before I would have my tea (with milk) and found it was stressing me out too much.
There is a lot of information on the site, Team Inspire, can look for group under Hypothyroidism.
Best of luck!
My Synthroid directions specify waiting 30 minutes before eating and taking it with a full glass of water. I take it when I get up and it is almost 30 minutes anyhow before I am ready to have anything. Most of the time it’s an hour. No big deal really. My doctor started me on a low dose and gradually increased it until I got and have been stable now for a long time. This is one med we do not do any generics and insurance is OK with that. BTW- not treating it can be very serious. Decrease in energy, withdrawal from social engagements, depression and even suicidal tendencies have been reported. My mother was close to shut down when they finally diagosed her.
A lot of things can cause hypothyroidism-like symptoms. See what the test(s) says before going far into treatment options. And if you have a positive test result, then you need more tests to better understand the root cause, such as primary vs secondary. Treatment options differ depending on the followup tests.
I had hyperthyroidism (not hypo) awhile back. My TSH was ridiculously out of the lab range. It was kind of like the Stephen King book/movie thinner. I had to stop working out and try to eat as much as possible to maintain my weight, but I still lost weight at a rate of ~5lb per week. I could go outside when it was 50F outside while wearing shorts and shortsleaves and still feel hot. Things got better after was treated with PTU and later Thiamazole. I was planning to do the radioactive iodine treatment that gradually destroys your thyroid, so I’d be on medication for life. Fortunately, the issue spontaneously corrected itself. My endocrinologist thinks it might have been a temporary nodule of some kind. My TSH has tested normal for years since then.
I had hypo, then actual thyroid cancer (tho only stage one, biopsies were inconclusive and goiters growing) and had it removed.
So now a pill every day and 6 months or so blood tests. It took awhile to get the dose right but i think it’s good the past 6 months or so. It’s been 3 years (?) since the surgery, not a big deal.
It occasionally freaks me out that if I am stranded on a desert island without those pills I won’t live long. So there’s that, but otherwise, no biggie.
In 2011 my TSH was about 1.5, a few years later it was 2.6 and now it’s 3.5. Is that a normal part of aging? I’m still In the acceptable range so not diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
@Madison85 I think in general TSH level does increase with age. I was “diagnosed” with subclinical hypothyroidism, which is where they treat you before you’re actually out of range because it’s fairly predictable where things are headed.
I come from a family where 2 sisters and my mother had thyroid surgery and third sister took thyroid medicine so my doctor and I did not want to "wait and see."The choice might be different in different circumstances.
Since that time my dosage has increased somewhat. With my doctor’s cooperation, I tried cutting back to see if I might even be able to give up the meds altogether (remember, I was never officially out of range) but at a certain point my cholesterol started going up (the two are related) so I stayed at a certain dose which hasn’t changed for a couple of years or so.
For most people, thyroid conditions are no big deal but for some they are very serious. I only get my bloodwork done once a year but I would be fairly aware if I thought something was out of whack. A teenage niece recently had to have surgery and I think radiation, followed of course by pills for life. It was a lot to go through but she has blossomed afterward.
Yes, I take meds and have a lot of trouble keeping my levels correct.
One summer I was having the weirdest symptoms but never thought to get my thyroid checked.
When I did it was so non existent that my doc asked me how I got out of bed in the morning.
However, that was the summer I was walking and hiking 6-10 miles nearly everyday. So while fatigue
is a typical symptom somehow I missed feeling it.
Doc suggested I got a bum prescription.
Just saying that it is easy to correct but the patient does need to keep checking their levels.
I take mine first thing in the morning and have a cup of coffee. What matters for your tests and levels
is that you do the same thing everyday.
This is so important. You need to find out if there is an underlying reason for the thyroid problems. Usually there isn’t but if there is, it can be serious.
Dealing with this myself. Annoying to have the endocrinologist and my GP be two different people. Endo dropped synthroid dose a bit (new endo, did it based on a blood test, never met the guy and previous one wanted me at the low end of the range because I did have cancer) while GP wants me on statins (I am not taking them).
I need to see about coordinating care between them soon I guess.
Just had to have my levothyroxine dose adjusted and oh my god what a difference in the way I felt after six weeks on the new dose and my TSH level was back to normal. Amazing.
TSH was normal and so was all the rest of the blood work. They have a follow up with the doctor - don’t know what the issue is. (the symptoms screamed thyroid problem to me)
The fatigue, depression, hair loss and dry skin thst typify thyroid issues can be many things. I just got back from an appointment because I was feeling all those things and figured my dose needed adjustment. Turns out I had a non symptomatic bladder infection. 3 days now on antibiotics and I feel like myself. After 30+ years of dealing with Hashimotos i would have bet money on a rising TSH level. Thank goodness I have a smart practitioner who looked under a few rocks. Hopefully your doctor can figure out why your family member is feeling poorly.