Dianosed with a thyroid condition

I was wondering if anyone has thyroid disease? I was recently diagnosed with underactive thyroid and just started my round of synthroid and tests (while stateside). I read on a few forums about referrals and the process I will need to take when I move but was wondering if anyone has experience with the NHS and managing their thyroid. After quite a few years of being in London I am familiar with the NHS but never needed anything other than the occasional sniffle checkup.

I have the same condition.  I didn't take a "round" of meds though.  I am on them for life,  It's not a big deal though. 

When I came here and saw my GP for the first time, I simply took my meds from the states with me to show him and he wrote me out a prescription for the UK equivilent.  Once you get here, you will find that having a thyroid conditions entitles you to free prescriptions for ANY meds you need whether they are thyroid related or not.  Your doc will sign you up for a card from the NHS that you need to show when getting your meds and you won't be charged a co pay

While thyroid conditions are silent unseen diseases, don't be fooled into thinking it is simple.  I once quit taking my meds for a year because I didn't feel any better or worse because of them.  The doctor was quite harse with me when he found out.  He explained the me that the thyroid controls pretty much everything in the body.  Without the meds he said, if I had been in an accident and required emergency surgery, there would have been a much higher chance of me not surviving.

There is so much info out there you can google about the effects of the disease.  Take your pill each day and most of the symptoms should be kept under control.  Stop your meds and you will see a huge increase in them

aye by round I do mean the rest of my life, which is a bit of a bummer to me seeing I never took as much as an asprin before. I like to try and keep it all under control, the last few weeks has been hard with having headaches and soarness but getting through it. Will try and get full T4 copies of my blood tests to bring with me too

I've got hypothyroid - have been on medication since I was 13.... so 17 years.  My thyroid function is under control - have a blood test annually, and GP writes repeat rx so I can pick up at pharmacy once a month.  Easy peasy!

thanks for sharing your experience really brightens things up for me, have some bad symptoms now but hoping it all gets worked out and can get back to "normal"

It took a year of blood tests and different dosages of the med for my hypothyroid to adjust to a normal level.  I had a number of annoying side effects, but if you will stick it out, you will eventually adjust and come out on top.  I looked at the adjustment as a temporary inconvenience for a permanent improvement.  The consequences of ignoring a hypo or hyperthyroid are serious.  Hang in there!

Grave's Disease is in my family and my mother nearly died from it. She and my aunt did the radio active iodine and they will be on medications for life. They caught mine early so after about two years of managing my thyroid to normal levels, they took me off meds. Now I just do blood tests every three months to make sure everything is running ok.

I was diagnosed with Grave's back in college.  I so wish that I hadn't done the radioactive iodine treatment. : /  I'm glad to hear that yours is under control.

Its been a HUGE adjustment dealing with the side effects and also all the problems with my pituitary gland, this week I find out through an MRI how things are, seems I went a really really long time undiagnosed. On a plus I have been reading up on hypothyroid and just being in the know when it comes to side effects.

The Mayo Clinic has an excellent website - www.mayoclinic.com.  You may find helpful information there.

Quick related question:

Is it difficult to find compounding pharmacies for T3 medications there?

I also have a thyroid problem which I take medications for. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's back in 2003. My thyroid, however is NOT under control, so I'm a bit worried about my move to the UK!

Just adding a question here. I have Panhypopituitaryism meaning I not only need medication for Hypothyroid but I also take some other hormones. I'm looking at going back on my growth hormone (injectable) but I can't right now in the US as I have no insurance. My job offers no benefits and I can't be covered under my parents plan anymore. I'm trying to get on it through charity sources, but I won't be seen by an Endocrinologist until MARCH.

Anyway, I should be in the UK by next fall for grad school on a student visa and I was wondering what the process was for seeing an Endocrinologist. Do I just walk into an office? Do I need a referral? I have no doctor here really that could refer me. I'm confused as to how this all works. Also, I don't even know if I'd be considered exempt. My Panhypopituitaryism is caused by a congenital malformation of the brain called Septo-Optic Dysplasia, in other words, it's a birth defect and it's very rare. It's always been extremely frustrating to deal with having a rare disorder with gov't healthcare here in the US and I've been trying to apply for Disability so I qualify for Medicare since July and it's unlikely I'll get it (the lady who interviewed me for medicare said that they had cancer patients who had been denied medicare because their cancer wasn't bad enough).  I've been trying to apply for medicare because I'm currently paying out of pocket for my medications. It's around 250 dollars every three months, not so bad but I need to see a specialist for blood tests and to get my growth hormone, which costs thousands of dollars. I could only afford it on charity basis here and I'm very, very concerned about it there. Is a birth defect an exempt condition? If I don't get my medications, specifically my Prednisone, I can go into adrenal shock and possibly die. Does this count? I'm also blind in one eye. I'm confused as to how all of this is going to work and if I should get my medical records now or what.

Does anyone know about rare conditions or where to start with this? When I studied abroad for 6 mos, I just bought 6 mos worth of medication and brought it with me so I have no idea where to start. I'm looking to immigrate to England eventually, so this is more of a permanent question as well. My disorder isn't terrible. I just take Prednisone, Levothroid, and oestrogen via birth control (HBC is actually the most expensive of my pills) and, if I get back on it, a bit of human growth hormone every day and I see a specialist once every six months. But I still NEED to see a specialist. Especially considering I'm a very rare case of a rare disorder (not totally blind and free of learning disabilities). Anyone have any insight/advice?

My first GP appointment is on Wednesday and I will be sure to keep you posted. My thyroid is still out of control really, put on 2 stone in less than two months which... you can understand does not help. I am taking in copies of my blood tests and also want to talk to them about getting completely off anti-inflam meds. Which honestly I am only on because my US doctor saw no need to test for all my T's, only have results for my TSH and still have terrible nerve issues (pain my my joints, numbness, shakiness). I have come to find out in a very short period to time how hard this all can be.

I do not want to talk a mile a minute on Wednesday but I have to address my concerns and hope to get a blood test (there is a nurse that does blood testing right in the office) and if things aren't addressed in the first couple of months I am going to see about a Endocrinologist  ( which from what I heard is a referral ). Good luck ladies!

wandofmirkwood, when you come over you register with your local Doctor (GP). I suggest asking your doctor to give you medical records before you go, if not most ask for a written letter and transfer fee (15 dollars or something) with the name and address of your new GP. I am taking in my blood results to help them understand my progress. Once you have a GP, you can ask for a referral. Not sure about students but seeing Thyroid disease is a chronic condition all my prescriptions will be free (I think the same for you but not totally sure).

As far as prescriptions any GP will get you in ASAP, when I registered they asked me when my meds run out so they can work on getting me in and then issuing me refills, so I wouldn't worry about that.

With your condition I think that all falls under your medical records, if its in there then the GP office will take things from there.