12th January 2006
HI Dienne,
There is a thyroid board here. I go there too.
I have Graves Disease- hyperthyroid. I had surgery to remove my gland. I am now, hypothyroid. Since be dx'd I have done tons of research. It doesn't mean I know it all or more than the next person. Here is what I can tell you.
I completely sympathize with you. While I am different b/c I had graves first which docs take more seriously. I became hypo b/c of surgery. Which I am finally (a year later) starting to feel better. Why? B/c I switched docs. I was on levoxyl .150 mcg. Felt like crap. Depressed, weight gain, all the things you mentioned! I had enough. I switched docs, said my tsh of 4.69 (which was within range) was STILL too high and I am undermedicated. I started Armour thyroid b/c I heard good things about it. Thoguht I'd give it a shot.
The first course of action is to search the net. Read all you can about thyroid, find message boards, talk to people, whatever! You should get all of your thyroid test results. A lot of people know about them. You hopefully get your free t4 and free t3 tested. A lot of docs will only test t4. If that is in range, but in the lower end, it'll make you feel like crud. You need to be at the top 3rd of range for t3 and t4. Your tsh should be around 1. This is where people typically feel good.
Dont give up hope. Educate yourself as a lot do. Find a doc who will help you, even if you have to go through a few of them! It's worth it. If you can find a doc to prescribe armour- they are typically better informed and more 'open' to treatment- even if you are "in range" or "normal".
Good luck!
There is a thyroid board here. I go there too.
I have Graves Disease- hyperthyroid. I had surgery to remove my gland. I am now, hypothyroid. Since be dx'd I have done tons of research. It doesn't mean I know it all or more than the next person. Here is what I can tell you.
I completely sympathize with you. While I am different b/c I had graves first which docs take more seriously. I became hypo b/c of surgery. Which I am finally (a year later) starting to feel better. Why? B/c I switched docs. I was on levoxyl .150 mcg. Felt like crap. Depressed, weight gain, all the things you mentioned! I had enough. I switched docs, said my tsh of 4.69 (which was within range) was STILL too high and I am undermedicated. I started Armour thyroid b/c I heard good things about it. Thoguht I'd give it a shot.
The first course of action is to search the net. Read all you can about thyroid, find message boards, talk to people, whatever! You should get all of your thyroid test results. A lot of people know about them. You hopefully get your free t4 and free t3 tested. A lot of docs will only test t4. If that is in range, but in the lower end, it'll make you feel like crud. You need to be at the top 3rd of range for t3 and t4. Your tsh should be around 1. This is where people typically feel good.
Dont give up hope. Educate yourself as a lot do. Find a doc who will help you, even if you have to go through a few of them! It's worth it. If you can find a doc to prescribe armour- they are typically better informed and more 'open' to treatment- even if you are "in range" or "normal".
Good luck!