DR HILARY...DR HILARY...DR HILARY...DR HILARY...

DR HILARY'S DIAGNOSIS

“Thankfully, Roxanne’s overactive thyroid is well under control, but before it was diagnosed it must have been hell. Her symptoms, such as weight loss despite eating more, are typical of hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland becomes excessively active and produces too much of the thyroid hormone, thyroxine. This acts as the body’s thermostat and controls the speed of metabolism. With too much on board, every bodily function will work flat out.

After Roxanne’s diagnosis she would have been given a beta blocker tablet to slow her heart rate as well as an anti-thyroid medication, such as carbimazole, to reduce the levels of thyroxine in the longer term.

As often happens, after about 18 months to two years, Roxanne’s thyroid gland then started to behave itself again. Now all she needs to do is take medication and have regular blood tests to make sure her thyroxine stays at the correct level. This means she can look forward to a completely normal and healthy life.

To find out more, go to www.thyroiduk.org.”

‘My thyroid made me so low’

EVERY WEEK A CELEB ASKS OUR FABULOUS DOCTOR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THIS WEEK IT'S ROXANNE PALLETT, 25

“My problems started with not feeling like myself, and then I became hyperactive all the time. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. My heart thumped constantly and I couldn’t sleep. Despite eating five meals a day, I lost weight.

Within weeks, I’d dropped from a size 10 to a scrawny 6 and from 8st to 6st. My breasts, bum and hips had virtually disappeared and my racing heart felt like I’d run a marathon.

Then, six weeks after the symptoms started, I fainted at home. When I came round, I was lying on the floor but I couldn’t move. Luckily, my mum found me and insisted I went to the doctor.

My GP said I had an overactive thyroid which was speeding up my metabolism. I was prescribed medication to calm my heart and bring my thyroid down to a normal rate, but it slowed it down completely. I started gaining all the weight I’d lost and then some more, ending up at 8st.

To make matters worse, people started saying how fat I was, which was really hurtful. My Emmerdale costumes stopped fitting me and I felt self-conscious because I had to do loads of sexy scenes wearing lingerie.

I had no energy and felt tired and sluggish all the time.

It took nearly two years, but eventually my metabolism stabilised. I finally feel normal again and I’m back to a healthy size 10, but I still have to take a tablet every day to maintain my thyroid and get a blood test every three months.”

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