Hi everyone, First of all I have had a suspicion that I had a thyroid problem the year I went to the doc for my usual annual physical and gained 30 pounds in one year! with NO real change in diet and lifestyle. I was 21 and NEVER even had a reason to step on a scale to see how much I weighed because I was thin. Anyway, the doc thought I was just being lazy and making bad food choices...anyway, I fought really really hard over the following 5 years to get that weight off...when i got married at 25 I was at a very healthy weight for my frame. About 10 pounds off where I was before I gained weight at 21. I then had two babies and of course fought with pregnancy weight etc. to try and get back down to a normal weight again. I never really got there....anyway, I started to develop other symptoms that I couldn't ignore like depression, severe fatigue, irritability, intolerance to cold, dry skin, dry brittle hair...so on and so on....doc decides to treat me for an underactive thyroid even though test come back *normal* anyway, I was only on the SYNTHROID for a short time before my doc decides to move away to another country and do something different...a new doc takes her place and tells me that my thyroid is fine and treating me for it is a waste of time....and bad for my health. So, I get fatter and sicker...and go back numerous times over the years telling her SOMETHING is wrong with me...I knew my own body and my own metabolic system and this once very vivacious woman was now turning into an old, old heavy sick woman. Nope, she decides I am clinically depressed and I get on Zoloft and sent to counselling...of course it doesn't help...and I get told to change meds and go on Effexor...well, it has been 4 years of hell...I thought at one point I was going crazy and maybe bi-ploar...got mentally tested by specialists...nope, I am very *normal* in that department...keep on with the meds and see more shrinks....so of course I gain more weight...and now I sit at oh about...210. This is someone who use to weigh a very healthy 130 and I am 5'5. I also work out like crazy, eat 3 square meals, and two healthy snacks, I watch my fat, my carbs, my refined this and refined that...I also stopped eating after 6pm at nite....and I am down 1 pound in a month! yep, one pound. Well, I am now so sick that I am taking up to 3 hot baths a day (I can't work anymore, as I can barely take care of my kids~hubby works thank god) I finally get another test taken yesterday....and guess what???? my TSH is now 67! It was 3.62 in September!!! ggggrrrrr!!! Now, what do I do? I seeing my doc on Monday...demanding to be treated for HYPO. and I switching docs too!! I am already booked to see a new lady doc on Wednesday. I want OFF the Effexor~as most anti-depressants make you fat...and I need to get my life back...I have been going through HELL health wise for 14 years!!! Any comments, support, advice, would be greatly appreciated...I need some hope that my life is gonna turn around here soon.... Hugs to all...
GET MAD and find a doctor that will listen to YOU. I had my third child in 5/2000 and had my tubes tied. I have been complaining of being tired and slugish, gaining weight etc since then. In 9/2000 it was found my thyroid was low and put on sythroid. They never tested t3 or anything else, just t4free. Long story short come to find out I have an autoimmune problem and and that is why my thyroid is probaby is off. I too was told to go on Prozac last Feb. I was depressed, I need a job (hello my job is taking care of 3 kids.) and seek therapy. Well I went to therapy and 4 visits (out of pocket) later she told me you seem to have all your eggs in the basket, you seem more hormonal then anything. Get a new dr. At this point Im pissed about not feeling any better, no energy, just didnt give a damn. Took myself off Prozac, three weeks ago. And Im seeing a new highly reccommend endo next week. Im looking forward to having the correct testing done and find out whats going on. Dont give up, unfortunelty you have to do most of the dr's work in researching things and bring it to their attention. I just got tired of being a guiena pig and started on this site and found some great help. good luck
Hi Paula,
I am so sorry you had to go through years of hell trying to get help. If you read most of the posts on this board you will find you are not alone. It seems more and more that women/men are being misdiagnosed for years. I have been hypo for 5-6 years, at least since I was diagnosed, who knows how long before that! I agree with sam that you need a good doctor who will listen to you. Your TSH is so high that a doctor should be able to diagnose you now. Just to let you know, you are not alone and this board supports everyone so much!
Take care and God Bless
Hi, see if you can get an appointment with a good endocrinologist. They order all of the blood tests to find out what the real cause is and do all the thyroid work-up tests, not just TSH. Good luck and I hope you get the medical help you need! alvina
This is my first time to this forum. I can't tell you how validating it is to hear so many familiar stories. I have had various thyroid "issues" for 14 years now. Had it out in two separate surgeries. I have been suffering the effects of an ineffective T4 treatment. Constantly being told that my TSH indicates that I am slightly "hyper". How can this be?! I am constantly tired (I am a single mom of 3 young children). Have been battling extreme depression off and on for years. Like many of you my therapist suggested that I go on anti-depressants. I went to see someone about a prescription and they told me that they thought I was bi-polar!! I decided not to take anything because the thought of gaining even more weight due to the anti-depressants would have put me over the edge! I am a huge health nut. I run 5 miles daily, and I weight train. I am a certified personal trainer and I know tons about nutrition. I eat sensibly - exercise constantly 5-6 days a week. Yet I still can't lose and actually gain if I even look at a cookie. The worst part is the depression though. I can't afford it. I t scares me to think that I may fall apart and make my children suffer even more. They need a sane, healthy, awake mother. I can't do that right now. I finally got pro-active and made my endo do a free T3 test. IT WAS LOW!! She put me on a small dose of Cytomel. It seems to be working. I'm not sure anymore. I'm so desperate to find level ground. I am constantly afraid of getting my labs done. I don't want them to tell me that I'm fine when I know that I am not. Any recommendations for good endos in Boston, MA area? Sorry so long winded. I'm just so glad to find that I am not the only one!
I am going crazy with my weight gain. I never had a problem in my life. I am 5'1" and I weighed 95 pounds. After I had my son in 8/03 I can not lose the weight, I am now jumping from 135 to 140. I have been on Nutra System, and other crazy diets. I have had my thyroid tested twice already and they keep saying it is normal. I don't think so. I have many of the systems both my sisters have thyroid problems. The oldest has Hyper (Lucky) just kidding, The other has Hypo. I am not crazy they put me on Paxcel, then Lexapro, and now I am on Wellbutrin XL. I am looking for an endo because I am tired of what my doctor has to say. I am in Rhode Island, I hope you find someone soon as I hope I do.
Take care and God Bless,
Maria
I wish all of you luck and God bless.
Cathy
My mom has had hypothyroid since I was born and I know that it is something that is hereditary. My symptoms are sever fatigue, alot of joint pain-mostly my hands and left knee, brittle nails, brittle hair-hair loss, brain fog-I cannot remember alot of things,,even stuff that happened last week, tons of migraines, and I have irregular periods...sometimes it wont come for months, cannot seem to lose weight, I do not eat that much that I should be 188 at 5'2".
When I went for my first bloodwork I had a yeast infection and was on monistat..when I went back a week later for the TSH my yeast infection was gone...Dumb question I know but could a yeast infection have altered my bloodwork to result in abnormal thyroid levels??
Any info, that could be offered would be greately appreciated. Again I am a 34 yr old female with asthma, mitral valve regurgitation and sleep apnea. %-) %-)
most docs have no idea what is going on unless they themselves have gone thru it. Most doctors get their license and certificate thru school, not experiences....so this already tells a lot. I had to go thru a lot of doctors b4 i found the one that was willing to listen to ME and about what i was experiencing. Most doctors don't care about your symptoms, all they care about is handing down what they think (which is a rerun of nonsense in their mind) and u the bill....it's just a paycheck for them. But after jumping thru hoops and fighting thru the crowd to find a doc worthy enough to take the time and listen to whats going on with u...those are the ones willing to dig deeper to find a cure. Too bad u don't live in East TN...Hector Vega is an excellent doc willing to go beyond what most docs don't have.....patience and willing to dig deep to find a cure.