Frustrated...(hypothyroidism)

[theo1212]

  I don't know what the hell is going on with me.  I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid and started on generic synthroid on July 14th of 07.  My levels at the start of treatment was 15.6 (TSH).  I was on 25 mcgs of generic synthroid for a month then tested.  I had gone down to 8.  So they had me stay on that for another month then restested and then it had shot up to 17.9.  So they tripled my synthroid.  That was the end of November.  
  December 15th my levels were in the normal range.  TSH was 2.7  I was still having bad chest and abdominal pains.  I honestly feel worse now then I ever did before I wound up in the ER back in April the first time.  My medication was switch to the "brand name" Synthroid and I am still having all of the same symtoms.  I feel tired all the time.  Random chest and abdominal pains.  Feels like my whole digestion process isn't working right.  I had my cortisol checked and that was fine.
  Went to the endocrinologist and he tested for thyroid antibodies and those were elevated.  I'm so tired of feeling absolutely horrible everyday.  These doctors don't seem to listen at all.  People say to keep changing doctors I understand that but it isn't that easy when you are out of work because of this.  I don't feel normal at all and I don't even look forward to the next day because I know I will just feel the same.  Joints and muscles hurt too.  All of this **** started as soon as I started taking the thyroid medicine but the docs will swear up and down that it can't be that.  If I was hypothyroid at the time I went into the ER I should of just went home and not taken the meds.  They seem to have made me far, far worse.

[liljoe]

Living with any thyroid disorder IS horrible.  It wreaks such havoc on our bodies and the meds just never seem to make one feel "normal" again (whatever that is).  The endo doctors I've seen never seem very sympathetic and it's difficult for those who've never experienced it to understand.  I'm sure most of the time my family and co-workers think I'm being a baby about feeling so bad.  I simply don't say anything about it anymore unless I know someone has gone through it.  Some days are better than others but it's a pretty depressing thing to try and live with.  Wishing you well...

[tiredforever]

you sound just like me by the time I finally got diagnosed. (frustrated/angry/sick to death of it all)  I was very lucky as I went to a doctor who specialised in nutritional problems after being misdiagnosed with Crohns disese (for 10 years!!!!) & being in misery as you describe.  But the great thing about this doctor is he measured absolutely everything he could & has treated all my problems seriously.
Apart from my thyroid meds,  I get B12 shots every 2 weeks (started off every week) as I was so low,  I take BPEP pills (hydrochloric acid) whenever I eat protein as my digestive sytem had done itself in  and I was eating moosh basically, and also a concoction to aid my adrenal system along with minerals like magnesium etc to help with cramps and muscle pain. (oh and I eat a gluten free/lo GI diet too as I am gluten intolerant & lo blood sugar).
These are all things he has worked on with me and helped a lot.   Maybe you could find a naturopath/nutritionist (not sure of American terms) who could help with some of your woes while you are waiting for your body to find some normality?   I think the trouble is that the thryoid must affect so many things for some people and it just gets too much for our bodies to cope with.   I hope you improve soon  Cheers from Australia

[hitoyouto]

I too have had many of your symptoms and have justed wanted to give up but he is right some how you will get through it. Talk it out here there is agreat bunch of people to help you understand and manke you feel less afraid. They have did that for me.

[kitty9309]

I agree with AR that your TSH needs to be at least 1 point lower. Many people say around a 1 is where they feel best.

Hang in there!

[AR-10]

Just so you don't get totally depressed over my motivational speach, my version of Hypothyroidism is a little bit different than yours.

You will be back on top of things long before I am.
I know it seems like hell now, but it will get better.

[AR-10]

I understand what you are saying.

I've not been able to work since Oct.1st

This is a disease that is very, very frustrating.

I've been through the whole "find another doctor " conversation over and over with various friends. I've been through several doctors, too. It seems like progress never happens.

Depression and anxiety. Uncertainty and agravation. Coping with being unable to work. Constant chest pain.

The last time I saw my PCP, he said "I understand your frustration. It is robbing you of your life".

You know what? half the posters on this board are women who either have cancer, or had cancer and kicked cancer's butt.

They seem stronger than I.

The fact is you have thyroid disease.
The fact is without the Synthroid you will eventually die.
The fact is you probably still need to drop another point off your TSH before you start to feel better.  

The fact is it will be months before you REALLY feel better. It takes a while to let your body heal. My PCP told me it will take as long to heal as it took to go from "I'm sick" to "I found the TSH level I need".

I've been sick, very sick, for a year and a half.

My Endo (#3) told me last week it would take a year to get my levels stable.

My PCP told me two months ago it would be a year at least, maybe two before I was back on the horse.

He told me to file for SS Disability.

It sucks.

It takes a little time to wrap your head around it and adjust. I'm on here whining and bitching at least once a week.

But I figure if these girls can look cancer in the eye and kick it's butt, I can live through my little thyroid problem.

I've been to the ER a dozen times in two years.
I'm closing a business I've run for fifteen years.
I got lit up like a Christmas tree last week with radiation.

But I AM going to take my Synthroid.
I AM going to get better.
I AM going to change my life for the better and keep on going.

And so will you.

Just not this week.

But you will. You're younger than I, and you are stronger than I, and you got a handle on things faster than I. You'll be back to work a lot sooner than I.

You can IM me any time you want.
We can take turns depressing each other. LOL!!