Diana Laxon
It first started to dawn on me that something was not quite right when I was 29, although for some time I did think that my inability to get out of bed was what I should expect to feel as I was fast approaching 30.
Happily this is not the case. After much nagging from my mother, I saw an osteopath who recommended I see my GP. I had the usual blood tests and, luckily in my case, antibodies showed alongside slightly abnormal thyroid hormones. Interestingly, the slightly abnormal meant I could tick virtually every under-active thyroid symptom. Not trusting GP’s generally, I asked to see a specialist - this was not a useful experience - with a junior endocrinologist telling me my abnormal weight gain wasn’t necessarily due to under-active thyroid.
I was put on Thyroxine which was absolutely useless – becoming toxic due to untreated adrenal insufficiency.
At this stage I was desperate and totally frustrated. I then saw Dr Barry Peatfield who immediately diagnosed adrenal insufficiency.
It seems clear to me that re-balancing hormones is a complicated art – adrenal support and natural desiccated thyroid replacement proved an excellent beginning. However it wasn’t until I took selenium that I turned the corner. Most recently I have started taking DHEA due to low levels.
Most women are concerned about their weight and I am definitely one of them. Before I had thyroid problems I was thin with a constant weight. Sadly that is no longer that case. Currently, I eat limited carbohydrates and have recently started swimming regularly.
I knew from my limited experience with NHS treatment of thyroid conditions, that my recovery was due largely to luck in finding the correct treatment. It fills me with horror that, had I not been persistent, I would now be very ill. It is because of this that I wanted to be involved with an organisation that could positively improve the diagnosis and treatment of the large numbers of people ill in the UK with thyroid and thyroid related disease.
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