From the article: I'm Tired, I'm Frustrated, and I GIVE UP!
Have you tried everything to live and feel well, but it seemed like nothing was working, like nothing would help? Did it seem that no matter what you've done, no matter what doctors you saw, or medications you took, you were still feeling tired, depressed, or struggling with symptoms like weight gain and hair loss? Have you ever reached the point where you felt tired, frustrated, and ready to give up trying to ever feel well again? What helped you get past that point? What did you do to overcome that difficult time? I welcome you to share your thoughts, ideas, advice, and stories with your fellow thyroid patients! Share Your Best Ideas
Giving up - Ellen
- Ellen, I'M where you are now. My worst symptoms are depression, memory loss, foggy head, confusion, fatigue, weight gain and headaches. I NEVER have a good day, not since June 2011 when my Hypothyroid symptoms started. I have 'melt downs' almost everyday where I cry uncontrollable and cry out to God for relief. I have an occasional good hour or two, here and there, the rest of time I feel like I have a unrelenting case of the flu. I had a subtotal thyroidectomy in 2009. My doctor removed 5 large benign nodules. After surgery, it was 1.5 years of bliss. Then, WHAM! Severe hypothyroid symptoms! It took two months to diagnosis my condition and 8 months to work me up to 50.mg of Synthroid. I'm sick as a dog every single day. My life has come to a halt. NO ONE understands. I GIVE UP. I actually want to spend the rest of my life in a nursing home some days because I feel that sick. So, though not very encouraging I too give up. I've had enough! The doctor's say they have to up Synthroid slowly and won't consider any other test or treatment. It causes me severe frustration and disappointment daily.
- —Guest Shelley Crocker
Right There With You...
- Thank you for expressing something I've been dealing with this month. I've been diagnosed with hypothyroid for 4 years and I'm lucky to have a good doctor. I still have all the symptoms. I'm so tired after a job where I sit at a computer all day that I nap when I get home. I try to walk my dogs, but I can't play with them the way I used to and feel guilty about it. I have gained 50 pounds that won't come off. I have tried Weight Watchers, Zumba 3 times a week, weight lifting and hula. I'm getting married in July and I can't fit into the dress I bought a year ago that fit then. I take 100mg Synthroid with 25mg Cytomel and B shots, Vitamin D supplements and I eat a healthy diet. I want so badly to just say 'screw this' and slack off for a bit, eat a cupcake and... I just may! It is important to know that accepting that we have this debilitating disease isn't giving up and that you do what you need to do to make it through the day and keep yourself sane. You are not alone!
- —Guest Lisa Kelekolio
Forty One Years of Hashimoto's
- I am a 62 year old woman who was diagnosed at 21 years old with thyroid disease. Back then all I was told was that I would have to be on thyroxine all my life and that it would allow me to live a normal life. It was thirty nine years before anyone told me I had Hashimoto's, an autoimmune type of thyroid. Now, forty one years later, I was told only prior to Christmas by my Rheumatologist (whose husband is an endocrinologist) that if my thyroid is being treated I should have no symptoms. However at this stage I have high blood pressure high cholesterol, arthritis both psoratic and osteo, osteoporosis, reflux disease, a Hiatus hernia, depression, extreme tiredness 24/7/52, chronic constipation, asthma, a heart murmur and irritable bowel syndrome. The one thing I do have as well is pigheaded determination to live my life to the fullest. My determination is the only thing that has gotten me through all the above symptoms and many other ailments like period problems, menopause, migraines and allergies.
- —Guest Kerry Anne Sullivan
Best Defense
- 1. Patients must learn to speak on "number numbes" in the lab results since doc treat based on those results. 2. Do lots of research on ALL of the symptoms associated with the disease 3. Learn about ALL of the medications to treat the disease. 4. Get "the numbers" on real people on where they feel the best and this is the range you need to reach. 5. Become more informed than the doctor about the disease. 6. Locate a chart of the Blood test ranges and the OPTIMAL ranges. 7. Join a support group or speak with someone who has dealt with the disease longer than you have. 8. Read many medical books, such as Mary Shomon's 9. Never discuss your personal emotional problems or your symptoms will be blamed on your emotional problems. 10. Discuss SYMPTOMS only at each visit 11. Write down each & everything you need to discuss & the doc's response. 12. Ask for each & every (paper) result from the doc to able to discuss symptoms & numbers.
- —Guest Monarch59
Best Defense
- 1. prepared a list of symptoms 2. doctors talk numbers, patients speak of symptoms so I learned to speak on both levels 3. Told doc to test the Frees ONLY. 4. Told doc to be Consistent to check the FREEs ONLY, and not the Totals 5. kept a record of Bp, resting heart rate 6. They were no longer going to tell me "you're within range"! 7. I am going to be in OPTIMAL ranges 8. I have a Malfunctioning thyroid 9. The thyroid is never going to produce what I need due to being MALfunctioning 10. NEVER disclosed emotional personal problems. 11. Only discussed MEDICAL symptoms 12. Reminded them how the symptoms were worsening 13 Kept record of daily "memory" problems 14. reminded them that my numbers R still too high & not in the OPTIMAL range.
- —Guest monarch59
Thyroid
- I highly recommend getting a heavy metal test and a vitamin and mineral deficiency test. Also read Detoxify or Die by Dr. Sherry Rogers it was life changing for me!
- —Guest Charlotte
I Feel Comforted
- I am heartened to read about hypothyroidism and the dilemma it poses for all us suffers. I have gained new perspective from this forum. Especially the fact that hey man, I am not alone in this! Just being able to identify with the symptoms everyone posts makes me feel normal. I have found two things over and above everything else that made a positive impact on my health: One is EFT (emotional freedom technique) and the other is message of a master google Go Big Coach. These two techniques have helped me get a grasp on my hypothyroid condition. As for diet, I have juice of 1 apple, 1 beet root and 1 carrot first thing in the morning. I eat roughage later with a little flaxseed oil to help with constipation and dry skin. Hope this helps!
- —Guest zubedah
Thyroid
- Ellen: That was a a letter that reminded me of myself so many times before and probably again in months to come. What I have to say to you might change your mind. I have 11 children, 30 grandchildren and I am 50. I got very overweight (like 17 and a half stone - don't know what that is in pounds). I lost 3 stone. Over the moon I put back on 4 stone. I again lost 4 stone and I put it all back again. Now I have lost a stone! You can't give up just like that. What about all of us? We are all here for you and you for us. When I had a bad day I would keep eating. Now, I go for a walk. Ellen, in the past ten years my father, mother, father in law, mother in law, 2 sisters, brother, 3 nephews have all died. Nothing to do with thyroid. I suffer depression. Please believe me, I have felt like giving up more times then you will ever know. Then to be suffering with the thyroid, there are times that I am so tired and sore that I will not get out of bed. Ellen, we all have to go on. A lot worse is out there and it helps to know.
- —Guest wyn
Coping with a Hypothyroid
- I have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroid. It was the missing piece in my puzzle of symptoms. To be honest I was happy because I now had an answer to my many health issues that plagued me for a very long time. The first thing, and the most important thing I did was research. I had to know what I was up against. The one thing that I very quickly realized is that I had to make a change in my life. It was time to start listening to my body because it had been crying out for help for such a long time. I am classed as morbidly obese. How was I going to tackle losing weight, never mind maintaining weight with a sluggish thyroid? I relished this challenge. Two of the key elements to losing weight is, as we know - eating and exercise. Basically, I know that the energy I put out of my body has to be greater than the energy I put in. I do minimum half hour excersise a day. I read food labels. I do not have sugar, wheat and soy. I drink plenty of water. Lost 6 kilo in 3 wks. I am happy.
- —Guest Tina
Chemicals
- The fact that I have a computer to look up "RAI" treatments, Hypothyroidism vs. Hyper. and the such, has been the best help for me and to me. I felt the time I accidentally had Chlorine bleach go up my nose into my sinuses launched me into hyperthyroidism. I had been diagnosed with Hypothyroid a year before, it was such a low dose of Synthroid that I had to take. I found out my medically needy grandson would be under my care, I had to clean everything with bleach. So my sinuses had gotten a good healthy dose of chlorine. About a year later I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. This is the worst disease, my eyes do not work with each other anymore and have been "bulging" since December 2009. I had RAI and am now finally on Synthroid 100 mcg. I no longer have any thyroid. I just recently have felt almost "normal". I read a little about lead poisoning and thyroid disease and want more information. Just hang in there you will feel better.
- —Guest El
My Solution To Hypothyroid-ism
- I am the first one in my family to have hypothyroidism, I must say it was very difficult for me to be born with thyroid problem, to not eat but still be fat, to feel tired, and to start losing hair eventually. All those years I didnt know of my situation I thought it was the hair products. As I kept getting older and things started getting worse. I started losing hope, then my mum suddenly came home one day and told me she met someone at the gym with my condition, and the only solution she could offer me was "excercise" ! At first I thought it was stupid and was reluctant but I must say within 5 months of working my hair fall has reduced noticeably, I'm much thinner and I feel better than I felt all my life. It also gives me hope. Yoga is the best, swim if you can find a way to protect your hair other than caps, aerobics or dance makes your calories burn really fast and weight lift time to time. I hope this helps :)
- —marzuka
I've traveled your road, too
- Ellen, Along with hypothyroidism ( total thyroidectomy/ '08) , Fibromyalgia & pre-diabetes, I am also blessed with bipolar disorder. The symptoms overlap, so I never know for sure which illness to curse. I finally found a doctor who works with a compounding pharmacist to create a prescription just for me; as the one pill fits all made my life hell. She concentrates on my T3/T4 levels, as well as TSH. She has adjusted the formula numerous times, and the last formula was the prize I've wanted for so long. In 4 weeks, I've lost 25 lbs., and feel really well. If you can find a doctor who does not practice one-pill-fits-all, a compound might be the relief you seek. My compound has been adjusted 8 times, but finally we've found the magic numbers. I hope you find a doctor willing to work w/ a Compounding pharmacist. For me, it was a true miracle. Linda, age 60+, former weight 205, 65" height.
- —Guest L_G_M_W
Keep up the fight
- I have been dealing with this for 17 years. I have high blood pressure, High cholesterol, I do not have my thyroid levels under control. I have been taking different meds for several years. I have gained weight. Lost weight. I work out. Everyday...at least 30 minutes. I took my BP the other day, and it was 140/70 and my heart rate was 40! I had gone to the doc on Monday and my readings were 180/90 and heart rate of 71, so she gave me a beta blocker...and that always held my heart rate low...but not 40...I called my doctor. We talked she said to monitor my heart rate...over the weekend and I have no dizziness, or confusion...I still worked out yesterday and I have taken my BP and it is been lower....I started taking a different dose of Cytomel...and my TSH was almost 29-which should not be any higher than 5.0. I do not know what to do anymore either...but I watch what I eat...and do not have sugar or caffeine...I need help, too...
- —Guest Louise Cutler
Armed with Medical Information
- Because I did my medical homework well, I am now feeling great. My doctor has done everything I have asked. After 5 years of going thru the storm, I am now feelin normal. I no longer have HYPO symptoms. I don't know if she would have helped me if I would have left it ALL up to her but she has certainly listened to me through all of this. By keeping track of the thyroid blood test numbers and knowing the OPTIMAL ranges, blood pressure and resting heart rate numbers it was a good defense to get what I needed. Understanding everything there is to know about this disease and my body has become my best defense. I spent 6 months doing a lot of research to prepare me for my next doctor. Even though many things got neglected during this time frame, I find it was well worth it. I'm feeling the benefits of all that time and energy spent on researching. I believe that if everyone keeps an optimistic attitude, all things are possible. Maybe even no longer feeling HYPO.
- —Guest Monarch59
Armed With Medical Information
- My best advice that I can give that worked (s) for me is I armed myself with tons of medical information and use that for defense. I used their best medical knowledge against my doctor so she could give me better treatment. I went in with 3 pages of well-prepared notes. This was my 5th doctor and I was set that this would be the last doctor. Page 1 list all of my 19 symptoms and read each one to her. It listed things that were no longer going to be done and the 3rd were things I wanted from her. 4th was a graph that listed all of my numbers such as the TSH, Uptake T3, T4 FT4 since I was first diagnosed in 2004; and the 4th was my brothers numbers, who doesn't have thyroid disease. I told her such things as The old lab ranges are NOT going to be used on me. I don't want to be told "your within range; I want and need to be in OPTIMAL ranges with my numbers. The blood tests ARE going to be constitent.
- —Guest Monarch59
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