Are you a Hypothyroid patient? If so......?

Question

Can you please let me know how long you have been with this disease and what your symptoms are and what medication you are currently taking and do you think the meds work? I am sick and fed up with this horrible disease and what it has done to me and my life. It would be nice to hear from others who are suffering. Also, have you found a good doctor to help you?

What is Hypothyroidism?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck, which produces thyroid hormones, or “chemical messengers,” that signal cells throughout the body to increase oxygen use. The two key thyroid hormones are L-triiodothyronine (T3)—the more biologically active thyroid hormone—and thyroxine (T4)
Hypothyroidism occurs when there is an inadequate secretion of thyroid hormones, resulting in a slowing down of the body’s metabolism. While low production of these hormones results in hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), high production of these hormones results in hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).

Answer 1

I've been diagnosed hypothyroid since 2000, though I believe I was hypo longer. My symptoms were; weight gain and difficulty losing weight, IBS with constipation, dry skin, dry thiinning hair, sensitivity to light, ridged finger nails with no moons, hairloss from eyebrows, fatigue, mood changes, muscle and joint aches. I'm sure there were other symptoms, but I can't think of them offhand.

I started on Levoxyl. It did nothing for my symptoms, only lowered TSH. After almost a year on Levoxyl, I asked to see an endo. I wanted Armour, but he refused. He did give me a small amount of Cytomel with the Levoxyl and it helped some of the symptoms.

About 2 years later, I decided I wanted Armour and I looked for a doctor to put me on Armour. I found one, but she was a lousy doctor so I had to look again. It was easier to find a doctor this time because I was already on Armour. Once I found a doctor who would adjust the dosage by free t4 and free t3 (not TSH) I became almost symptom free. I still have the ridged nails with no moons, but that's about it.

A great thyroid website is below

Answer 2

Perchlorate chemicals in milk and produce found to cause thyroid deficiency
It's recently been discovered that perchlorate -- a solid rocket-fuel chemical component -- can be found in minute amounts in milk, fruit, vegetables and drinking water supplies nationwide. This is according to a startling new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) performed an analysis showing 44 million American women who are pregnant, thyroid deficient or have low iodine levels may have increased health risks due to perchlorate exposure. Perchlorate can lower levels of thyroid hormones in women, causing possible issues with proper fetus development and with later infant development as well.
In response to the CDC study that was just released, Renee Sharp, an EWG analyst with a history of studying perchlorate, said, "The Pentagon and defense contractors, who are responsible for much of the perchlorate in drinking water supplies, have lobbied hard against federal standards, arguing that perchlorate posed no threat to healthy adults … this new study shows that even very small levels of perchlorate in water or food can have a marked effect on thyroid levels in women. We can't ignore this serious public health issue any longer."
Most perchlorate made in the United States is used by the Department of Defense to manufacture solid rocket and missile fuel, with smaller amounts of perchlorate being used to make fireworks and road flares. In addition to these common uses, perchlorate is also a contaminant of certain fertilizer types that were widely used in the early part of the 1900s, but which are now in very limited use.
Tests by the CDC and independent researchers confirm that many Americans -- determined out of a sample of urine tests from 3,000 Americans -- are carrying levels of perchlorate in their systems well above levels known to lower thyroid levels.
More than 1,000 tests by government and independent scientists conclude that US population is being widely exposed to perchlorate, both in water and in the food supply.

Answer 3

Hey could you tell me what the disease entails. My dad has oesteoperosis, he has to much calcium in his kidneys, there are a few things wrong with him. I recon it has something to do with that, but he will never ask the doc about it.