Diagnosed with Hypothyroid

[limewave]

I've just been diagnosed with hypothyroid. It came as quite a surprise. I went to see a new dr. about my bad back but, before I could be a patient, she had to do a full physical. I had bloodwork done last year on my thyroid and it came back normal. This dr. diagnosed me from noticing cracks on my heels and then running through a list of other symptoms: cold hands and feet, waking up at night, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss. She said I had all the classic symptoms.

The fatigue has been horrible. Every time I see someone they comment on how tired I look. DH is skeptical that my tiredness is from thyroid and he thinks (although has not outright said it) that I am becoming lazy. He doesn't understand that it takes every once of motivation within me to do one simple task. He said he gets tired too but he just pushes through it. I wish I could push through this . . .

Has anyone else had this problem? Does it get better with treatment? I'm worried I'm going to be really tired the rest of my life.

[Zen]

I would guess there are plenty of us here who have hypothryroid but such extreme fatigue from just that makes me wonder.
Did you get full blood labs?
Did she check liver function?

DH is skeptical that my tiredness is from thyroid and he thinks (although has not outright said it) that I am becoming lazy.
That doesn't exactly help matters:mad:

[Dianyla]

Has anyone else had this problem? Does it get better with treatment? I'm worried I'm going to be really tired the rest of my life.
Do a quick search on thyroid and you'll see a bunch of us here are working through some of these issues. I do recommend that you work with a doctor who can diagnose this properly with lab tests and adjust medication dosing conservatively. Even though doctors in the past have tested you and found nothing, the right tests should show a problem that explains your symptoms. I found my doctor via this link:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/index.htm

Oh, and give hubby a whack upside the head while you're at it. :rolleyes:

[LBTC]

I work with a girl who has been on medication for hypothyroid for a couple of years. You would never guess from her appearance or how she acts that she has any health issues at all.

My only other experience with thyroid disease was my dear cat who was hyperthyroid. Both my cat and my co-worker took drugs, possibly even the same one: tapazole. With my cat I know it took some fiddling with the dosages to get it just right, which was sometimes humourous to watch for us, but was probably not as much fun for him. At least you will know what's going on!

I'm glad you have a diagnosis, and I hope it is correct. Once you get the meds figured out you should have a normal energy level again!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[divingbiker]

The tiredness is very real--when my meds are off, I feel a deep-down-in-my-core exhaustion that can't be cured with sleep or "pushing through it." I'm at the point now that when my endocrinologist asks how I'm doing, I can guess at my TSH values fairly closely based on my energy level.

The good news is that hypothyroidism is well understood, and the treatments are fairly standard. Most people take T4/levothyroixine (aka synthroid or levothyroid) and for many that's all they need. I and several others on the board also take T3/liothyronine (cytomel).

Unfortunately, despite my thyroid being controlled, I still struggle with achieving a healthy weight. Just know that feeling good is possible, but it may take a few weeks for the medications to kick in.

[maillotpois]

Curious how old your kid(s) are and whether your symptoms started up after having a baby? Hypothyroid after childbirth is not uncommon - especially the auto immune stuff like Hashimoto's that may come when your immune system is in hyperdrive from childbirth, nursing, etc. That's what happened to me.

I pretty much decided I was just going to be tired and miserable forever once I had my daughter and was trying to work full time. A year later, an alert GYN noticed my large thyroid and ran tests. Within a few weeks of being on the correct dosage I was my old self again. 10 years later, all is well. I'm still on a little pill every day, but I feel SO much better!!

Good luck !

[limewave]

I have had the full lab work and have been officially diagnosed. Monday I have another appt. to talk about treatment. After talking to my mom, I learned that she has been on medication for hypothyroidism for almost 45 years and my grandmother had it too. Why she never shared this with me before . . . So, who knows how long I've had it, but the fatigue has definitely gotten worse since I had dd. I'll do a search of the forum and see what else comes up. I think I just need some encouragement as DH is so skeptical right now. Although, I can't blame him . . . he puts up with a lot :)

[Dianyla]

Oh good, I'm glad to hear you had full labwork. While I believe in the importance of symptoms, I get a little leary of docs who only go by symptoms without the tests to back it up. And that's too funny (in an annoying way!) about the family history. "Oh yeah, didn't we tell you about that?" :rolleyes:

My BF was also a little skeptical of things as well. As he is starting to observe improvements he is coming around.

[Triskeliongirl]

Happy to report that I am one of those doing very well with treatment. The fatigue is real. When my meds are off I end up on my office floor sleeping in the afternoons. Finding optimal treatment isn't always easy. They will probably start you on synthroid (T4), and slowly titrate up your dosage. It takes *time* to see results too. Even though T4 normalized my blood work, I needed a T4/T3 combo therapy to have my symptoms controlled. I think my mistake was letting my internist treat me, rather than going to an endocrinologist sooner. FYI, I do best with 150 ug of synthroid (T4) plus 5 ug of cytomel (T3). T3 is the active form of thryoid hormone that is made from T4. For some reason, that small amount of T3 that was added to my dosing makes a big diff (it was actually not really added but replaced 25 ug of T4 since it is 4X more active).

[snapdragen]

I've been on thyroid meds since I was 20 years old. When my levels are off I'm definately not myself. One friend described me as looking "gray" :eek: There was definately a lack of physical energy, and some mental sluggishness too.

[Zen]

Since I have both liver disease and hypothyroid tired = normal.
I wonder what I'd be like without the Synthroid? All day nap :eek:

[makbike]

I too suffer from hypothyroidism. I feel so blessed to have found a doctor who would listen to me, who would pay attention to my family history and who did not simply label me as a "depressed woman." I noticed a difference almost immediately once I started my medication and I continue to be amazed at what a positive difference it has made in my life.

[tricanada]

I too am hypothyroid and am on synthroid.

My case began with Graves disease (hyperthyroid) and through radio-active iodine treatment became hypothyroid and have been taking synthroid for 7 years.

I remember at first how devestated I was for having something wrong with me. Then after a bit of research found out that A LOT of women in particular have been through the same thing with very little side effects. Now through the medication, I don't even think of it as something wrong.

I hope all these posts help you in coming to terms with it. Once the synthroid kicks in, I am sure you will feel much better. Good luck.

[short cut sally]

I was diagnosed at age 37 or so with hypothyroid, by my GYN of all things. He had done some bloodwork as it hadn't been done in awhile at his office and noticed that my bad cholesterol was high, at this time I was strictly on a regimented weight loss and he said he found it hard to believe my cholesterol was high. He did a thyroid profile and levels were off. Once the thyroid was back to normal range, my cholesterol levels came back to normal levels also. He said he's diagnosed several hypothyroids by the cholesterol level..good thing, my drs office hadn't been telling me the results of my blood for the last 2 years, figured no news was good news. Needless to say, a new primary dr was in order.

[ehirsch83]

Like Shelly, it was my GYN who discovered my thyroid problem! She felt my glands thyroid and realized it was enlarged. I ended up having thyroid cancer and had a total thyroidectamy, but prior to having it removed I was yo-yoing between hyper and hypo thyroidism and I gained about 20 lbs(and this was my freshman year of college, so people kept trying to tell me it was my freshman 15 but I knew I wasn't eating that poorly!!).
I have now been on synthroid for the past 4 years, maybe a little longer. It did take my body almost a year to get evened out weight wise, and I do get tired still every once in a while.
Feel free to ask any questions, I will do my best to help with answers!

[teigyr]

I am also hypothyroid as is my mother. Isn't it amazing how we don't hear about parental health problems?!

I was diagnosed before I really had symptoms though I was often run down. I never know if it's because I don't sleep well, I don't eat right, or I'm just tired.

I'm on Synthroid. It isn't perfect but it makes a HUGE difference. When I went off it for almost a month (insurance/doctor snafus) my pants stopped fitting in a week. I was tired and cold...all the classic signs.

The adjustment to taking synthroid was brutal for me but I was in California in the summer. I would start sweating in really strange body parts; things like my forearms would break out sweating. I was in summer school with no air conditioning so that might've had something to do with it.

It isn't a "now I'm going to lose this weight I gained and life will be perfect!" pill either. My struggles are still the same but it makes it tolerable instead of impossible.

Your DH needs to understand that this is something you have no control over. You do so much and are active...and if anyone would have energy you would. Hopefully he'll read up on it and be supportive, that can make all the difference in the world for you mentally. If I was so tired and then got blamed, I think I would be in perpetual tears.

Good luck :D Get second and third opinions especially if they suggest something drastic.

[Haudlady]

I, too, am "hypo" (and still trying to figure out what it all means). I take synthroid, and feel much better (no longer experiencing the extreme sluggishness in the afternoon).

I feel like I still need to research and understand this, though... and (no offense to any in the medical field) am not feeling like I am getting many answers. A naturopathic doctor is doing a two hour talk at the adult education program, so I plan to go to that and hear what she has to say. I hate taking pills, but I can really feel the difference. So, I'm mostly going to listen to if there are other things I should also be doing (in addition to the pill)... like particular diet changes, for example.

I'm not dumb (really!) :o but sometimes I feel that way... all of the t4 and t3 and so-on is still very confusing to me.

Does anyone have any good books that I should read about the subject? I'm thinking if I read... and read... and read... then maybe I will be able to construct some intelligent questions to ask.

Thanks!

[btchance]

I'm also hypothyroid. Had to argue with my doctor to get tested as I'm too "young" and "should" be tired with medical school. Finally got started on levothyroxine, took a number of months to get straightened out with the lab values, and I'm still not perfect (some tiredness and cold intolerance but no more menstrual problems and hair not falling out, and my energy is better and I'm not quite as cold). Don't expect results overnight - it'll take a few months of labs and med changes, but after a while you'll notice - hey! I feel better. Keep after it - i'm glad they found a reason for your problems. PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!!

[mtbdarby]

Limewave - glad to hear you got a diagnosis. When you get a chance spend some time here education yourself: http://www.mediboard.com/

There is a ton of wonderful info and if memory serves me, there is a letter to your significant other out there somewhere to help them understand you are not lazy or crazy:D

I saw from another post you are on a restricted diet now - is that for this?

I went hyper after ds but I still have trouble stablizing my weight. I agree with others to feed your body well and excersize but don't worry about the scale for now.