Anyone have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?

[lucysdad]

Don't be so hard on yourself. I think your experience is very typical. I (this is Lucy's mom) was diagnosed in my mid- thirties after gaining lots of weight, suffering fatigue, loss of concentration, etc., but I blamed myself and just tried to diet and exercise, and will myself to be my old self again. When my hair started coming out in droves, I finally saw a series of doctors (general practioners). I suffered through their diagnoses and never even heard a name put to it until ten years later when I was further diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disorders. Now I finally see a specialist (rheumatologist) who has diagnosed a variety of autoimmune disorders for me in addition to the thyroid. I've taken many different drugs to treat them, but , honestly, I haven't felt well for ten years. I'm trying to learn to live with this and am seeing a counselor who specializes in chronic disease. Chances are you will be fine with a daily dose of Synthroid. But, you need to start taking your needs seriously. We tend to devote so much of ourselves to the needs of others. Start making your needs a priority, too.

 

[tigercat]

My Dr. finally decided to send me to a specialist but he really deals more with weight problems than anything else. He did some tests and an ultra sound and diagnoised me with Hashimoto's. He then suggested that I enter his diet clinic. My own Dr. put me on Level but that was it. When I complain of problems of pain or with being so tired she just tells me that it is stress. Like stress is the answer to everything and you don't need to look any farther than that. One Dr. actually walked into the exam room looking at my chart told me that I was overweight and that was my only problem and that was because my last kid left home and I was upset and sitting watching TV all day eating donuts, cookies, cakes ect. Funny thing is that I don't have time to sit in front of the TV all day, and all that stuff makes me sick so I don't eat it. And I was far from upset about my last one leaving home. He did come home and brought a friend with him. Oh well.
tigercat

 

[crz4mm2]

Lucys mom- I agree completely- we do put our needs last. I just thought that I was 'supposed' to feel that way, with everythign I had going on at the time
I would love to feel good again. I have tried some nutritional supplements and did feel better for awhile but now am back to being soooo tired. Of course, I was OFF the synthroid for two weeks prior to the testing I had done so perhaps that is part of it.

Tigercat- jeez. I don't know what to say, except find a new doctor! Do you know any heavy people that feel GOOD? I sure do. I see heavy/obese patients every day in my practice that feel better and have more energy than I do. How rude to make that assumption about you. I would never put up with that!
Yes, they do seem to use "stress" as a catch all diagnosis......

Here's to good health for all of us.

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by tigercat
When I complain of problems of pain or with being so tired she just tells me that it is stress. Like stress is the answer to everything and you don't need to look any farther than that. tigercat

Tigercat, have you seen a rhuemetologist (sp)? Sounds like you could have fibromyalgia.
Here's a link to some info about it.

http://www.fmnetnews.com/pages/basics.html#symp

It seems that the more I talk to people alot of them have fibromyalgia as well as thyroid disease.


Also, I'm curious how many are on synthroid and do ok with it. I used to be on it but always had a hard time with my levels. My Dr. did an experiment for me where he put a synthroid pill in water and a levoxyl pill. The levoxyl disolved almost immediatly where it took much longer for the synthroid. He said because the synthroid doesn't dissolve easy thats why I was having problems with my levels being funky. I've been on levoxyl now for about 18 years and my levels are pretty much always constant. The only time they seem to change is when my thyroid decides it doesn't want to work so much anymore

 

[phorsenuf]

bumping in case tigercat didn't read my reply

 

[tigercat]

Thanks for bumping phorsenuf. Not I didn't see your reply. I fell down the stairs yesterday and have really badly bruised my ribs so I spent time in the bath. I do have fibromyalgia as well. I also think I may have Chronic Fatigue as well. And allergies (or reactions to things) seem to grow every year. I am having trouble right now as well because there is a special meeting on Sunday and I was on the committee to put it together. I had suggested have it after 3 p.m. and then it could still end early for the kids to go to bed on time but the rest decided that it would be better to have it at 12. Now it is also a pot luck lunch and I know that people won't get there until about 12:30, and we won't start eating until 1 p.m. at which time I will have to leave for my nap. Now they are upset with me because I won't be there. AAAAAAGGGGGGGG. Oh well.
tigercat