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Aug 2013
5:54pm, 18 Aug 2013
26,670 posts
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Velociraptor
Hypothyroidism certainly can be life threatening if left untreated for long enough. But so can hyperthyroidism. Diseases of hormone overproduction can be every bit as dangerous as diseases of hormone underproduction, which is what makes the free prescription regulations so anomalous.
In reality, very few prescriptions are paid for (something like 90% in England are covered by some sort of exemption from payment, and of course all prescriptions are free at the point of collection in Wales and Scotland) and anyone who does pay and needs any medication continuously can pay a one-off yearly fee that is good value.
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Aug 2013
3:15pm, 19 Aug 2013
8,076 posts
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GlennR
I pay the yearly fee and it really is excellent value. I'm not sure that everyone is aware of the option.
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Aug 2013
3:26pm, 19 Aug 2013
944 posts
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Dirk
Yes I have an underactive thyroid as well. Was identified on my 33rd birthday as I was getting more and more tired every day without seemingly doing any more. This was also before I became a runner btw. I am told it's more often women than men (my mum has it too) but men can get it as well clearly. I only put on half a stone and wasn't heavy anyway so didn't impact on my weight too much at all but have heard of others who put on significant weight before they realised why. My mum put on 2.5 stone.
I went straight onto 100mg daily and have been on that ever since with yearly tests. As long as I remember to take the tablets I am fine, but if I run out and leave it for afew days i do notice the difference from not taking them.
I am now 39 and for the first time my levels were not right at my yearly test (too low) so have to have a re-test in 3 months...
...and I get a medical exemption btw so don't have to pay for the tablets.
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Aug 2013
3:35pm, 19 Aug 2013
325 posts
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M1nty
My experience for what it's worth...
I was close to multiple organ failure in 2005 before hypothyroidism was diagnosed. I could hardly speak or move, my hands and fingers were virtually useless and I struggled badly to walk. For months before that I'd suffered increasingly at work with being terribly irritable (even worse than normal!) and fell out with colleagues and management - permanently ruining my chances of a promotion to the Board. Once I was diagnosed and started taking Thyroxine it took up to 12 months to recover to a point of some normality.
Now I'm more or less fine - I'm on 175mg per day. Apart from stiffness after driving long distances, probably the most intrusive side-effect is that I put on weight very easily  However, I did manage to complete the 95 mile West Highland Way Race in June so it doesn't really affect me day-to-day these days
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Aug 2013
4:19pm, 19 Aug 2013
62,774 posts
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Hanneke
Currently being tested for hypothyroidism... The last 8 months I have been on a sliding scale and like someone says earlier: really cold, skin feels papery and thin, I am increasingly tired and lethargic but worst of all I am so stiff and my muscles ache and are so weak that I am crawling around like a 90 year old
I really hope it is something simple that can be solved, as I am fedup feeling like this. As id being exhausted from nothing isn't enough, the sore limbs stop me from sleeping properly as well, which doesn't help matters. Seeing the GP on Thursday for the results...
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Aug 2013
6:54pm, 19 Aug 2013
235 posts
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Running Duck
Minty - that's interesting what you said about your hands. I didn't have the other problems that you did, but I did, and still do have problems with my hands and fingers. I too am extremely stiff after driving and look like a very unfit 90 year old getting out of the car, but I have put this down to old age!
Hanneke - I hope that you find the answer. Don't be afraid to ask for another blood test as sometimes the first one doesn't always show the full results. I sympathise fully with being exhausted and the muscle aches.
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Aug 2013
8:21pm, 19 Aug 2013
4,065 posts
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Trin
M1nty... how on earth was it not picked up before you got that bad?
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Aug 2013
8:54pm, 19 Aug 2013
517 posts
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mags
Interesting about the sore limbs and stiffness, I am underactive and never really attributed my stiffness / pain to my thyroid but maybe it is related.
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Aug 2013
9:13pm, 19 Aug 2013
326 posts
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M1nty
Running Duck - I also had pins and needles in hands and feet, aches and pains in my arms and then piled on the weight and was desperately tired all the time. And Mrs M can confirm I was very irritable!
Trin - it was very gradual at first, and I suppose I - and perhaps those around me - thought it was stress-related or otherwise explainable. Being a bloke I didn't naturally think, "do I have a medical problem, should I go to the doctor?".
The defining moment when I realised there was something properly wrong was attempting a cycling weekend with the family when I couldn't keep up with my two little girls going up a mild incline! Then I deteriorated rapidly and after admission to hospital the consultant said I was close to having irreversible organ failure. Oops.
To many people, hypothyroidism is a mild, innocuous discomfort, easily treated. But like many diseases if not treated it has the capacity to cause real harm. So, if anyone has any doubts - please go and get it checked out.
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Aug 2013
9:40pm, 19 Aug 2013
4,022 posts
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Cuddy
I went for my blood test and then called my GP practice to get an appointment with the Dr who diagnosed me to tell him the good news that my taste has come back but that I'm knackered again (two naps a day, really??). Except that he's not available for 3 weeks...ha.
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