Who are you with THYROID???

[stella5349]

As a refresher for members and an invitation to ALL -

How did you come to the thyroid board here at Med Help?  Let us know what conditions you have and what you went through so far.

Do you have a parathyroid disorder? Do you - or did you - have cancer and have had your thyroid removed? Are you autoimmune and struggling?

So many - visit here and a thread like this is so important to know what's up.

We as Leaders and members would like to know what has brought you to this board so we and others can direct you to the best resources available.

Thanks and Happy Health!

NikkiP/Stella

[artfemme]

Hi there, artfemme here.

I came across this forum while researching hypothyroidism and my various symptoms online after getting little medical help. I had every worsening symptom of hypothyroidism, yet my TSH was in the lower level of the normal range, so I was told that I must have some other medical problem or problems to explain all my symptoms and in addition probably needed psychiatric help. My hair fell out in bags and I gained 40 lbs without eating any more that usual. The outer edges of my eyebrows were missing but I was told I was "just getting older." In addition, my endo, a middle aged woman in not-very-good-shape, told me that anyone would kill for curly hair like mine. She said this while thumbing through a magazine as I enumerated my worsening symptoms, which started to include disorientation, depression, and panic attacks.

This made me very angry and finally after a year of continued complaining, during which I DID go to a shrink who did not help me, my endocrinologist deigned to feel my neck and discovered that my thyroid was enlarged. I was sent for an ultrasound, which showed nodules, and put on a small amount of Synthroid.....not because I "needed it", but simply to try to keep the nodules from growing. I was never given FREE T tests, only TSH and total levels. The fact that my TSH had gone from it's usual .89 to double that was considered inconsequential.

I ended up hospitalized after a panic attack that lasted for 4 days. That's when I decided to fire my endo, do my own research, and ask my primary to prescribe T3 in addition to T4, which helped immediately but could easily have not....I was just guessing, which is a pretty unsafe feeling. Thank goodness it worked and cleared my head enough that I could do my research and find this forum. (I also lost 15 lbs. in 3 weeks.....obvious myxedema, which I was also told I did not have. I have gained it back in 3 weeks when my T3 is lowered)

I have spent 6 years trying to recover my health and am only just now on a dose of 2 thyroid hormones that brings my FREE T4 and FREE T3 into the middle and upper levels of the Bell Curves and reduces my symptoms. I have been through 5 endocrinologists and used my extensive scientific research, printed out and taken to my primary doctor, to get her to help me deal with what is an obvious conversion or tissue resistance problem when endocrinologists would not. Finally, she believes me....as all my CBC and metabolic panels and blood pressure have normalized as well with the only change being thyroid hormones.

Through all of this, I could not have been as strong, informed, or persistent without the help of the members of this forum. Just knowing that others have the same symptoms and have gone through similar struggles with not only their health but also with their doctors has given me great solace.....in addition, I have received invaluable support from the members in learning how to read my labs and in how to evaluate them as well as tips on scientific articles and other sources of information that have helped me enormously and saved me research time.

I absolutely feel that Med Help has helped save my life. I continue to post questions, and do my best to give back by sharing what I have learned with others.

[sjb140]

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in December of last year. I don't think I really noticed any syptoms other than the hot flashes and my legs hurting but I just put that off to menopause and fibromyalgia.
I had RAI in March and still have to take medicine for hyperthyroidism.

I found this forum by searching for information about Graves and weather or not I would still have it after the hyperthyroid was taken care of.

[catseyes250]

  i have just read your,letter to the forum+i am also new to this site and so pleased that i did because i have also been diagnosed with hyperparathyroiddism because had a blood test that showed i have a high calcium count, i have had a blood test,  and now have to wait 2weeks for the result, i really dont want to have the operation to resolve this complaint but would rather see if medication will help, hope that you find the right treatmet that will help you.!!

[Barb135]

This is a very old thread and many of the persons who commented on it, no longer participate in the forum.

In order for us to help you better, why not start a new thread of your own, and post your lab results, with the reference ranges, since those vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report. We can then help assess your situation and offer suggestions.

To start a new thread, click on the orange "Post a Question" button at the top of the page, type your question, then click the green "Post a Comment button just below your post.

Sounds like you are having hypo symptoms.

[m1wtlwt13]

I have had thyroid diease for 17 years and know nothing about it i just go in and do the blood tests and take the medicine but lately i feel so hormonal my tests keep coming up abnormal and had a piturary test done was high had mri done no tumor but i have breast milk ( i am not  able to get pregnant my tubes are tied ) so when there was no tumor my doc said nothing then the last time i got tested abnormal again but this time low (wouldnt that indicate hyper well im far from that i have no energy depression fatigue  fat hair loss bladder infections all the time and more ... the first one said tsh was 22.120(abn:h) and she did not change my dose it is at .175mcg now i did again and it is 0.037(abn:L) so another doctor put me on .137 mcgs now iam doin another one and i will see tuesday but i dont have insurance so i go to a sliding scale clinic i get insurance in june i just wanted to know am I doing something why would it change back and forth i just wanted to see if anyone knew anything i cant belive i just started learning bout this thanks

[jfancher]

To: More Awareness Needed
I love this sight so far.  I can relate to most of the stories here.  I'm always looking for things I can do that are "outside the box" to help improve how I feel  Its hard to understand why GP's don't notice the signs of hypothryroidism more often and refer to endocr.  It took several doctors to find that my underactive thyroid was at the root of all my health issues.  It brings me to tears when I realize how many years I spent suffering and miserable - always hearing there was nothing wrong.  We all have to be pro-active about our health and keep pushing until somebody listens when we say "I know my body and I don't feel right".  Been on prescrp for 4 years now and changed doctors because I still have symptoms.  Tested for TPO antibodies for the first time and now confirmed with Hashimotos.  I was interested in suggestions on diet and nutrition that may help.

Thanks for reading.