Thyroid Disorder is KILLING Me!!! >.<

[4mom]

I want my life back!!!!!!!!!!! I am so tired that I cannot function nor do I care to function... And when I finally try to take my life back, it's just too hard. So here I sit. Fat, miserable, depressed, hopeless, dry hair, brittle nails, sore muscles and joints, etc... At the end of the day, it's all just too hard to deal with. HELP!!!

It all started with me about 3 years ago at 36. 130lbs, spent my whole life reasonably fit but never OBESE. 3 kids, full time union worker, just getting on track to improve my life.

I got pregnant. I wasn't unhappy but it was unexpected. Near the end I started getting shortness of breath, heart palpitations with slight exertion, and protien in my weekly specimen. Docs said maybe toxemia and bed rest for last 6 to 8 weeks.

OK. Everything was good. Had baby at home. Whole 'nother story. Had postpatum depression or so they said. They said could last up to 2 years.

So, there I sat for 2 years with all the HYPO symptoms supposedly postpartum.

Well, there I was. All 272lbs of me and they decided to test tsh. Guess What?????? I went misdiagnosed for 140lbs and 2 years that I'll never get back with my baby. I was a mess.

So, now Ive embraced my size and realize that there is work to do but nothing works. I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!!

Does somebody have any answers? Will it ever get any better? Because from what I've read here and there, I am almost resolved to never expect to be happy again. I'd like to say that you guys have no idea what it's like to be me but alot of people dont. They think thyroid just makes you fat and you could work a little harder instead of being lazy... Blah, blah blah

HELP

[starsofglass]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that...
There is actually a section on Healthboards for people with thyroid troubles... Maybe you'll find fellow sufferers there?

For what it's worth, you probably need to be better medicated, and then you should start to feel loads better... Sounds like you need a better doctor...

[Jon powell]

HI Dienne,
There is a thyroid board here. I go there too.
I have Graves Disease- hyperthyroid. I had surgery to remove my gland. I am now, hypothyroid. Since be dx'd I have done tons of research. It doesn't mean I know it all or more than the next person. Here is what I can tell you.

I completely sympathize with you. While I am different b/c I had graves first which docs take more seriously. I became hypo b/c of surgery. Which I am finally (a year later) starting to feel better. Why? B/c I switched docs. I was on levoxyl .150 mcg. Felt like crap. Depressed, weight gain, all the things you mentioned! I had enough. I switched docs, said my tsh of 4.69 (which was within range) was STILL too high and I am undermedicated. I started Armour thyroid b/c I heard good things about it. Thoguht I'd give it a shot.

The first course of action is to search the net. Read all you can about thyroid, find message boards, talk to people, whatever! You should get all of your thyroid test results. A lot of people know about them. You hopefully get your free t4 and free t3 tested. A lot of docs will only test t4. If that is in range, but in the lower end, it'll make you feel like crud. You need to be at the top 3rd of range for t3 and t4. Your tsh should be around 1. This is where people typically feel good.

Dont give up hope. Educate yourself as a lot do. Find a doc who will help you, even if you have to go through a few of them! It's worth it. If you can find a doc to prescribe armour- they are typically better informed and more 'open' to treatment- even if you are "in range" or "normal".

Good luck!

[4mom]

Thanx Jon... I'm so overwhelmed that I dont have the energy to go forward. I think I'll take your advice about docs though. Do you believe... when I asked my Doc what the cause was, she said, "What does it matter. It's not gonna change anything"?????
From my searches, I see that test info is vital but change for me is very hard. The panic and anxiety I sufffer now make it too difficult to move forward...but I think I'll tryThanx again,
DiEnne