anyone with hypothyroidism here?

Bobtoad777

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Yesterday the doctor pretty much diagnoses and confirmed what I feared I had. Which is a case of hypothyroidism.

Some of the symptoms tiredness, low energy, depression and others.

Before the doctor told me I was happily supressing these symptoms. Convincing myself that I didn't really have them. Telling myself I was just making them up.

Today now that I know I let go. I gave way to the tiredness, the depressive mood swings, the low energy. I cried from watching the Waltons on TNN. I didn't hold back I slouched around and did very little.

I have a nother bloodwork on the 23rd of January for comparitive study of my TH and T4 levels to come up with a plan of medication and treatment.

My question for others with Hypothyroidism. Does the medication and treatments help a lot with the depressive moodswings or will I have to go back to bottleing them up to live in "normalicy"? Also If you are willing to share what is your TSH Number?

Mine was a lovely 6.66 nice number for a christian guy eh?

Thank you for your time.
 
I don't know if this is anything at all similar, but I had half my thyroid gland removed a couple of years ago. I was put on thyroxine to compensate for the reduced output of the remaining half of my thyroid gland. The symptoms you've been suffering from were mentioned to me as something to watch out for as a sign of me being given an insufficient dosage. They did switch my dosage around quite a bit to start with, along with a lot of blood tests, to get the right balance and keep my thyroid performing at normal levels. After that it was just taking the tablets each morning, no sweat. I was also told that it would take several days of not taking the tablets before there'd start to be any effect, so there was no terrible panic if I occasionally forgot to take my tablet in the morning. Just as well, knowing my usual early morning rushing to work routine :)

I don't have to take the tablets any more as it happens. After originally being told I'd have to take them for the rest of my life, after a couple of years and quite a few blood tests it turned out that what was left of my thyoid gland had managed to "pick up the slack" and the tablets weren't needed any more.

I just looked up hypothyroidism at http://www.thyroid.org/patient/brochur5.htm and in my completely non medical opinion :) it seems like the same thing. So in answer to your questions, I've never felt any of the symptoms you've had so I'd guess the medication would sort it right out, and unfortunately I've no idea what my TSH number is.
 
Thank you very much for your thoughts and expressions. I guess whats hit me the most is that the invisiable wall illusion of perfect helath is chinked and I am not what I thought I was. it is good to know that medicine will help when they eventually get me on to it
 
No problem, I needed the post :) Seriously though, it was the same with me. I discovered a lump in my throat which had me panicking as you can imagine. Went straight to the doctors to have it checked out, turned out it was benign but it was filling with fluid and would keep having to be drained. So I had half of the thyroid taken out, which left me with a cool scar for a while which looked like I'd had my throat slit :)

Anyway, I was on the medication right from the start and I never had any problems or symptoms. From what I've seen it just seems like a balancing act to find the right dosage to keep your thyroid operating at normal levels.
 
a very delicate balancing act from what I am reading, but once it is found, from what I read it is very controlable and very easy to live with.
 
Not a big deal, Bobtoad. I've been on thyroid medication for 28 years, every single day. Only adjusted dosage once a few years ago, and that was to decrease it. Have no idea what my level tests at, I just get it checked once each year as part of my annual exam.
 
Thank you, I thinks its just this last month till i get medicated and begin some self changes that is getting to me the depression and lack of energy and get up and go
 
my mom has hypothyroidism and my dad had thyroid cancer and had his removed. both are on synthroid for the rest of their lives. they are functioning completely normally for people their age. my moms a bit moody but shes also going through menapause so it probably has more to do with that. in the beginning getting the right dosage down was a bit of a hassle for my mom but once they figured it out she has had no problems. it all sounds kinda scary but it really isnt that bad. i know alot of people that have gone through it and are doing wonderful now.
 
Hi there, Bobtoad. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1995. With me the tipoff wasn't mood swings, although I did suffer from the sluggishness and lack of energy. The real warning bell sounded when my menstrual cycle went buggy. My periods were always regular, but in early 1995 they began to run late -- first one or two days, then a week, then two weeks, until one month when it didn't arrive at all. That scared me enough to finally get my butt to a gynecologist.

He put me through all kinds of tests and almost as an afterthought had me get my thyroid tested. He thought hypothyroidism was a longshot, but still wanted to check it out. Turned out my TSH was around 30! (It's been 5 years, so my memory could be off.) I was put on Synthroid right away, and I've been taking one tablet a day ever since. My energy level and attitude noticeably improved soon after I began taking it. I can't tell you how relieved I was to know what was wrong and how to deal with it.

Once a year I get my blood tested, and my levels have been normal all the way. It's no big deal to live with hypothyroidism. The only time I even think about it is when I renew my Synthroid prescription. The biggest step is getting it diagnosed and treated properly, and it sounds like you've got that.

Good luck! Please email me if you need any support or if you have any questions.

[Edited by Ticklish Girl on 12-29-2000 at 12:09 AM]
 
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