Assembled by Mary Shomon, Your Thyroid Guide
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Dear Oprah,
I was just recently diagnosed as having hypothyroidism. It took my doctor a while before I was diagnosed. In 1999 I started having many problems with my monthly period. When I contacted my OB/GYN he wanted to do balloon therapy on me (burn the inside of my uterus with a balloon filled with very hot water). He said that this is a new procedure that would slow my bleeding down, or stop it all together. Since I was not planning on ever having any more children, I agreed. I felt better for a few months, but by summer of 2000 I was miserable again. A hysterectomy was scheduled in May. I had to take a week off prior to my surgery because I couldn't walk upright without being in severe pain.
After the surgery I felt much better. By winter of 2000 I started having some strange symptoms. The symptoms were gradual.
I am a foster care social worker and work with abused children, so a lot of these symptoms were those of stress. My hair started falling out. My husband would make comments about all the hair on the bathroom floor. My skin was so dry that it hurt. I started having cramps in my muscles (legs, hands, arms). At times I would travel to see a child in another county and would have to stop on the side of the highway, my legs were cramping so badly. My hands started drawing up and cramping. My hands and feet felt like ice.
I started having dizzy spells and nausea. The first time I became dizzy I had to be off my feet for 4 days because I couldn't even walk. I was told by the doctor that it was an inner ear infection and was given medicine, told to lie flat on my back.
After several trips to the doctor and several dizzy spells, I went to see a neurologist. I knew that something was wrong and knew it wasn't an ear infection. He told me that I had a virus and gave me some medicine. I started to gain more weight even though I was trying to diet. I put on 30 more pounds, I was already 40 pounds overweight!
The governor wanted all of the social workers to get a degree in social work so I started my master's degree by taking two classes at night and some classes on weekends.
I thought that all of these symptoms were from STRESS!! I started feeling extremely tired. I didn't feel like I had any energy at all. I kept going. I started getting depressed. The depression gradually worsened. I have been on an antidepressant for migraine headaches, and still I was getting depressed.. One night I was suppose to go to class - I just couldn't go. I went to my doctor's office, but instead of seeing him I saw a nurse practitioner that is in his office. I told her that I just couldn't function anymore. I couldn't concentrate on my job or classes. It took me forever to do any homework. On the day that I saw the Nurse It was warm outside and I had my sweater on. She asked lots of questions and one of them was how long has it been since you have had thyroid test? I never had, so she took some blood and found out that I had hypothyroidism.
Now I don't know if hypothyroidism could have had anything to do with my problems with my monthly period, but since I have been researching on the internet I have read that it is one of the symptoms.
I feel like I have been through hell, and still not back to normal. I am still having symptoms, but blood level according to the doctor is fine. I am still working full time and taking classes for my master's degree.
I feel as if I can barely make it some days. Right now I start my day by waking up at 6:00. I work until 4:30. When I leave work at 4:30 two nights a week I travel 45 min. to get to class. I stay in class until 9:00. It then takes me another 45 min. to get home. I have to go to the main campus on some weekends. On the days I don't have class I study. I am still having trouble concentrating, having cramps, and memory loss.
Oprah, this has affected my life in many ways besides work and school. My family has suffered as well. I have learned so much from the web site http://thyroid.about.com on this condition. When I was home sick a week or so ago I saw your show. You were mentioning some of the same symptoms of hypothyroidism but no one mentioned hypothyroidism. I suffered way too long!! Please Oprah please do a show about hypothyroidism so that others may not have to suffer like I did. I love your show will pray for you. I know that you do so much for others. Thank you Oprah!
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