Thyroxine and underactive thyroid

There's an article on the BBC about this. It seems to be talking about minor levels of underactivity and not about everyone with an underactive thyroid. I've been on thyroxine for over 30 years and my dose has only change once, to a slightly lower level, in all that time.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48265023

and the brain, memory, etc, and put at risk of dementia, Alzheimers. Been on increasing doses on thyroxine for 20 years.

Not treating it can affect other organs.

Its a horrid condition. Both myself and dd have to take thyroxine. I am getting more and more tired but maybe its old age. Yes i got free prescriptions before i was 60 but i couldnt have afforded the prescription otherwise. I was unaware it can affect bone density. I take 150 mcg.

That's interesting. I found that once I started taking thyroxine I felt a lot better. I am still unable to lose weight and have cold hands and feet....so maybe it's not effective at helping all the symptoms.
I have often wondered at the randomness of conditions that make you eligible for free prescriptions though!

I can't find the report. Where did you see it please terribull

As I understand it we do one less test than many countries, so actually prescribed for fewer people already. I would be very worried if they were to take it away but I can see that, as those on long term thyroxine get free prescriptions it would be a great saving to the NHS. Of course they wouldn't make us suffer to save money, would they?

aah! but higher doses can compromise bone density marye., I was told this by an endocrinologist soon after I was first diagnosed. My mother had osteoporosis in the final decade of her life. That endocrinologist suggested I take a lower dose, I was on quite a high one at the time and do load bearing exercises, which I do at the gym to maintain bone density.

The thing about thyroxine though is that there’s no harm in taking it so I’m happy to carry on and not risk feeling worse.

Oh that's very unfortunate Marelli. Of course 53 is an age when most women are experiencing some sort of menopausal symptoms which blur the lines, but maybe not in her case.

One of my daughters was born without a thyroid gland, Terribull, and has been on thyroxine from birth. Perhaps the fact that this completely replaces the hormone is different to being prescribed it for an underactive thyroid, though.
She's now 53 and does get very tired at times. Her thyroid levels are checked regularly, though.