Hypothyroidism?

Question

After being diagnosed did the medication prescribed to you by your doctor make you feel normal again or did it make no difference? I need some reassurance, i just want to live my life again.

to the 2nd poster Just because a condition isnt life threatening or classed as serious doesn't mean it is not deabilitating. i have been suffering from

chronic fatigue
depression
hair loss
eye problems
weight gain
loss of periods
social phobia

for many years now without being diagnosed and believe me trying to look after a baby and small child every day can be very difficult and distressing when all you want to do is sleep and your doctor is just saying get more excercise and everyone around you thinks you are just lazy and miserable and nothing wrong with you. So unless you are a qualified doctor or have first hand experience of the many many symptoms you experience with this condition i suggest you refrain from judgement

Answer 1

yes it would......

Answer 2

I'm sorry you are going through this. You feel very much the way I felt for about a year! I was involved in a car crash a couple of weeks before my diagnosis, at the onset of the chronic fatigue. I was soooo tired all the time I could hardly stay awake during the day and with a 12 month old baby and a fulltime job, had no choice. They start you on a low dose and keep checking every six weeks until they reach the perfect dosage for you, so eventhough you already are taking medication, it does not mean that your hormone levels are what it should be. I also had terrible muscle aches and became depressed. Months after the labs showed that my thyroid hormone levels were normal, I felt awful. I went from seeing a Gp to an endocrinologist and it was not until I saw the second specialist that he bothered to listen to me an do more extensive lab work. It turned out my hypothyrodism is autoimmune related and basically my own body was attacking my thyroid and making me sick. It was also attacking my ovaries which caused premature ovarian failure (thus no more periods and now unable to have more children), and my pancreas making me insuline resistant. I now take glucophage and it has helped my metabolism a lot. I had gained tons of weight since my diagnosis and have been able to lose it all. We are talking about 32 pounds!! A nutritionist helped me by showing me what was the best way to eat for people with my pancreatic condition (by the way, its not diabetes at all) and I visited a rheumatologist for my body pains and a contrast MRI showed that I had general arthritis. My body's immune system was also attacking my joints and thus the inexplicable pain (which the first two doctors wrongly attributed to hypothyrodism). Once I started getting better, my depression went away and it has helped me deal with daily challenges better inlcuding my infertility. My new doc says that soon I need to start hormone therapy for my ovarian failure or I will be at risk for osteosporosis, heart disease and depression. And he is right because that is what happened to my mother when she had a radical hysterectomy at age 31 and no hormone treatment to go with it.
So my advice is that just because your doctor says you should be feeling fine because your "thyroide hormone levels are good" its not necessarily the case. Dont mind what other people think you should feel like. Its not their body. I thought I was going crazy for a few months there because my doctor said I was fine, but I wasn't and I felt very sick. So, search and search until you find the right doctor-- the one that will listen to you and do the appropiate tests. hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 3

I understand what you mean. Some people on here either have to give an unrelated answer, that has no meaning, a vague unresponsive reply, or you wonder if they know what they're talking about. Some have to write a shot book, and you know they got most of it out of a book rather then past experience or knowledge.

Synthroide0.05mg is what saved my wife's sanity and yes, it may have not been life threatening, but it was threatening in a health gain attitude, and a quality of life, that is just as important so, that shows people that some of these answers are not, or should not be taken per se.

The meds did take time to "take hold" and when she misses them, I can tell right away so it's important that you take them without fail.

Answer 4

Hon, you are living your life right now. Don't let your emotions run amuck, its all todo with the thryoid. Changes will come slow. It is a time consuming effort to get your dosage right. Each change takes 6 weeks to normalize your levels. Don't lose heart. If you feel like you are not yourself, you are having feelings and these, like almost everything else in your body, is controled by the thyroid. Have a doctor who listens to you and will work with you. Take a deep breath, think and focus and you should be able to reign in the wild feelings. Good luck

It is a cripling disease. Make no mistake about it. If you are not emotionaly stable, life blows

While your doctor may be treating your condition, he is not treating the whole you. I may sound crazy, but your environment has alot todo with your body, been there. Your home is where you are spending most of your time it sounds like.
I do not want to sound like an alarmist but I would recommend you take a good look around your house. My concern is hidden mold and other factors. If you have a crawlspace for example, have you taken the proper steps to prevent radon? It sounds crazy I know, but even if the 2 arent related, you will have the assurance of a clean home for your family. It will take your mind off the waiting. Your are not alone. My husband almost died from a thyroid storm. It went undiagnosed FOREVER.
I didn't kill him and he didn't kill me in the 2 years after while we were leveling HIS dose. Take heart. If you know you are having problems, that's the biggest step.

Answer 5

Hi there. I don't have hypothyroidism at all, but I do know a bit about how to relieve it naturally, if you're interested. Some of it will probably sound icky, but read all the way through and choose some things you're comfortable with.
Root causes are iodine deficiency, stress, poor diet, inactivity, pregnancy, hormone imbalance (especially estrogen/progesterone, cortisol/DHEA), surgery on or radiation of the thyroid, Hashimoto's disease and other inflammatory disorders of the thyroid, certain medications (especially lithium and synthetic estrogen), and failure of the pituitary gland.
With an underactive thyroid, it'll be helpful to consume plenty of sea vegetables such as kelp (also available in capsule form), nori (used in sushi) dulse, kombu, and wakame. Fish and sea salt are also good sources of iodine.
Essential fatty acids found in flaxseeds, walnuts, and fish are important for thyroid function.
Certain vegetables known as goitrogens may suppress thyroid function. These include kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, soy, and brussels sprouts. Cooking the vegetables inactivates the goitrogens, so that they are safe to eat.
Most tap water is full of chlorine and flourine, two chemicals that inhibit your ability to absorb iodine.
Hypothyroidism can also be traced to a deficiency of several other minerals, including zinc, selenium, and copper. A deficiency of the amino acid tyrosine is often present too. To make sure you're getting enough of these nutrients, include in your diet pumpkin seeds, beans, almonds, soy products, and fish. Plus, whole grains, fruits and veges. Drink plenty of water for proper hydration.
Go to the health food shop and look for Bladderwrack, a high potency multi vitamin, essential fatty acid supplements, Ashwagandha, DHEA.
For these you may need to see a naturopath or similar:Thyroid glandular, pituitary glandular, L-tyrosine, natural progesterone, Guggul.
A visit to a naturopath wouldn't go astray either way. There are plenty of natural ways to help your body help itself, without side effects.
Good luck :)

Answer 6

it makes a difference. it takes a few days to get in your systema nd begin working as it should but once you are on it you will have engery again and feel better.

Answer 7

How could you have a drastic lifestyle change just from an underactive thyroid? Did you gain 100 pounds and can't move?