hypothyroidism

[camjen1]

I was wondering what kind of symptoms people who have been diagnosed showed? I believe I have hypothyroidism but my DR says that I don't and doesn't test me. I just looked at some signs and symptoms and I have 5 of the mentioned which are

Weight gain
Abdominal bloating
Dry or thinning hair
Cold intolerance
Cold hands or feet
Depression

I'm gaining weight at a steady rate. :( My eating habits are weird but I do watch what I eat and I hardly ever indulge myself. When I went on vacation I came back 7 pounds heavier even though I didn't eat alot. I did eat lunch and dinner and occasionally a sweet item but I did eat far less then if I was at home. You would think also with all the walking I did my weight wouldn't have been affected.

Now this is where depression falls in. I'm getting a bit depressed because I'm VERY concious about my weight and the slightest increase sends me into the blues.

Lately, I have been getting cold and I always have a coat, jacket or blanket on.

The abdominal bloating is the next to worst symptom. It gradually inceases throughout the day and by night time I can barely bend over. I have tried water pills and bloating pills (also know as gas pills :) ) but nothing helps and the only time I get relief is in the mornings.

Now my hair! I'm still wondering why Im not bald considering the amount I lose in a day.

As some of you may know I actually diagnosed myself with diabetes and I feel as though I'm right about this situation. DR's in my area are hard to come by and I'm so confused right now.

[duck]

This pisses me off...Sandi, if you agree with me that MANY docs don't have a great grasp on diabetes, trust me that even more docs have less understanding of HYPO and HYPER thyroidism. And here's what kills me about docs like yours who don't think you have hypothyroidism:

IT'S A CHEAP F_&^ing TEST. With REAL thresholds. It doesn't cost them a ****ed thing to order the test and send you to take it. Double-u-tee-eff?

Get another doc. Also, there are "at home" test kits that are accurate; you can find them on eBay and any larger pharmacy chain.

[camjen1]

What is it that you have Duck? Hypo, Hyper?

Also what about the home test, do you know the name or which chains to get one from? I'm very tempted to go get me one.

[camjen1]

I found one by Biosafe but you have to order them and ughhhhh I hate waiting.

[duck]

I am hypo, and I was just telling my wife the other day about my ordeal getting properly diagnosed waaaaaay back in 1987. Long-story-short, basically there was about three doctors debating if I could be hypo because my symptoms were a bit weird, and what had them confused was that children with hypo basically present with inability to reason, are 'poor' students, etc., because of the lack of thyroid hormone(s). I, however, was head of my class. FINALLY, the head of Pediatrics comes in for a consult, and (since this was the US ARMY) she chewed out these other docs when she found out that not a single blood test had been run on me, and here they were openly debating whether or not they were right or wrong with their diagnosis. She sent me for labs right away.

My TSH was 19.5. The standard at the time was anything about 5.0 was hypo.

I felt better within weeks of starting the pills, but it took months to get the dosage right, and to be honest, I don't think we have ever gotten the dosage 'perfect'.

The Biosafe is the one I have seen at CVS. Whether you use that or convince your doc to test you, you'll have to wait.

Good luck with it; Dealing with hypothyroid isn't as life-threatening as dealing with T1, but at times it can be just as aggravating. It kinda becomes 'just one more thing' to deal with, but at least it can be handled with pills versus shots...and missing a pill isn't nearly the drama missing a shot can be.

[mwalt2]

My endo does a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test everytime I see him (every 3-4 months). I've never had a problem and always wondered why he order's the lab. He said that diabetics are more prone to have thyroid problems than non-diabetics. Your doctor should at least test you, especially if you ask for it:boxing:

http://journal.diabetes.org/clinicaldiabetes/v18n12000/Pg38.htm

[gettingby]

Sandi,
I'm gonna chime in here. I have hypothyroidism. My symptoms were as follows:
Intolerence to cold.
Brittle/dry hair
Fatigue
Get checked out soon. You will definitely feel better once you know.

[Dewey]

The symptoms I experienced were that I was often tired, had some weight gain & issues with feeling off (i.e. sometimes cold/sometimes hot). Although I haven't experienced dry or thinning hair (cause the only dryness I get is from bleaching or coloring the he** out of it, lol), I do find that it's harder to grow than it used to be.

[am1977]

I say it doesn't hurt to get tested...at least you will know what the case is. I've also heard that Diabetics are more prone to thyroid issues too :eviltongu, as it's an autoimmune issue as well(I believe :hmmmm: ).

In the past, I've wondered this about myself,, but every test I've had has come back negative. However, some of those symptoms really do apply to me, so I often wonder about if there's something else really going on. I guess it doesn't necessarily mean that it's thyroid, I'm sure a lot of those symptoms could be associated with other things too.

As far as the weight issue...I notice my own weight fluctuates A LOT. One week I can put on what seems to be several pounds and the next I drop it...and it seems to be an ongoing thing :banghead:. I assume it has to do with hydration and the effects of having your blood sugar swing from hi to low(and back again) like ours tend to do.I don't know if anyone else experiences that, but it can be aggravating :mad:.

Good luck with your testing and let us know what you find out :)

[duck]

I say it doesn't hurt to get tested...at least you will know what the case is. I've also heard that Diabetics are more prone to thyroid issues too :eviltongu, as it's an autoimmune issue as well(I believe :hmmmm: ).


You are correct, which is why what Sandi's doctor says makes me :mad: .

[Dewey]

Yeah, I agree with both of you. Am is absolutely right in that it wouldn't hurt to get the test, and it is indeed an accompanied auto-immune disease (almost a side-effect, if you will) of Diabetes (or, at least that's what I was taught).

I think some doctors' biggest problems lie within. They can't admit they might be wrong, and all too often want to treat the patient as a text-book case.

[KickStart101]

Okay, I'm just stating my story. I was dxd. with Hypothyroidism
in 1996, I had 17 symptoms. My Endo put me on meds for it after
testing(he showed me the test results). I was on it for 1 1/2 yrs.,
(found a small difference in symptoms).
I had dropped that Endo. Meanwhile I was off the meds. since they
had run out. I had been on a web site for RA for a while and one of
the Lads(he was over-weight) said he was jealous that I had had Hypo
and now didn't have it.(I had no symptoms of it at that time, so I figured
I was over it). I was tested a couple times since then and they said I
wasn't Hypo. (maybe I was in remission, which I never heard of
until I came upon a site saying Hypos go into remission, no one told
me that, if it's true). But about a yr. ago I was dxd. with it again so
there you go. I only gained about 10 lbs. and went back to normal
weight after being on the meds. My hands and feet are still cold in
our warm house, and I actually can't stand the cold even on the drugs.

[KickStart101]

Okay, I'm just stating my story. I was dxd. with Hypothyroidism
in 1996, I had 17 symptoms. My Endo put me on meds for it after
testing(he showed me the test results). I was on it for 1 1/2 yrs.,
(found a small difference in symptoms).
I had dropped that Endo. Meanwhile I was off the meds. since they
had run out. I had been on a web site for RA for a while and one of
the Lads(he was over-weight) said he was jealous that I had had Hypo
and now didn't have it.(I had no symptoms of it at that time, so I figured
I was over it). I was tested a couple times since then and they said I
wasn't Hypo. (maybe I was in remission, which I never heard of
until I came upon a site saying Hypos go into remission, no one told
me that, if it's true). But about a yr. ago I was dxd. with it again so
there you go. I only gained about 10 lbs. and went back to normal
weight after being on the meds. My hands and feet are still cold in
our warm house, and I actually can't stand the cold even on the drugs.


I have to add here that perhaps the drugs for Hypothyroid I am on
are working as they should, but I also have RA which also causes an
intolerance to cold, which RA drugs don't get rid of.

[camjen1]

I think some doctors' biggest problems lie within. They can't admit they might be wrong, and all too often want to treat the patient as a text-book case.

In my DR's situation I think it all stemmed from me telling him that I thought I had it which was a big mistake. Instead of me coming right out and saying I think I had it I should have thrown all the symptoms at him and let him guess what I had. My DR HATES it when you tell him what you think you might or might not have. Also what Am says he associated my symptoms with other things. I don't see why if my insurance pays for almost everything he would be so greedy.

This is also the same DR that diagnosed my son as having a rash from being in hot water all the time :confused: but in fact I knew it was chicken pox. I took him back a couple days later to show how he developed more outbreak and at that time he decided that the condition was chicken pox and it had nothing to do with what he had a couple days before. Yeah right just a coincidence! He couldn't admit he was wrong of course.

[gettingby]

:topic: but there are quite a few doctors out there who will never admit they made a mistake. One doctor's mistake almost killed me and he would never admit that he was in the wrong.:mad:
Ok, rant off !!!!!!!
I have to say that the doc I have now will send me for a second opinion just to see if he may have been wrong about something. I'm gonna keep this one. LOL

[seacomp]

but there are quite a few doctors out there who will never admit they made a mistake.
Gee, I wish it were only doctors who had that problem.:cool:

[gettingby]

Gee, I wish it were only doctors who had that problem.:cool:
:rofl: :rofl:

[Eri's mom]

I know someone who was dx'd w/ hypothyroidism and then Grave's disease, but she is skinny as a rail...then again, could be not eating and massive stress...we were originally told she had cancer, but, it turned out it is Grave's disease.

[stella117]

I was wondering what kind of symptoms people who have been diagnosed showed? I believe I have hypothyroidism but my DR says that I don't and doesn't test me. I just looked at some signs and symptoms and I have 5 of the mentioned which are

Weight gain
Abdominal bloating
Dry or thinning hair
Cold intolerance
Cold hands or feet
Depression

I'm gaining weight at a steady rate. :( My eating habits are weird but I do watch what I eat and I hardly ever indulge myself. When I went on vacation I came back 7 pounds heavier even though I didn't eat alot. I did eat lunch and dinner and occasionally a sweet item but I did eat far less then if I was at home. You would think also with all the walking I did my weight wouldn't have been affected.

Now this is where depression falls in. I'm getting a bit depressed because I'm VERY concious about my weight and the slightest increase sends me into the blues.

Lately, I have been getting cold and I always have a coat, jacket or blanket on.

The abdominal bloating is the next to worst symptom. It gradually inceases throughout the day and by night time I can barely bend over. I have tried water pills and bloating pills (also know as gas pills :) ) but nothing helps and the only time I get relief is in the mornings.

Now my hair! I'm still wondering why Im not bald considering the amount I lose in a day.

As some of you may know I actually diagnosed myself with diabetes and I feel as though I'm right about this situation. DR's in my area are hard to come by and I'm so confused right now.
I don't know how your doctor can say you don't have it when he/she hasn't run any tests. That's really ignorant/arrogant.

Thyroid problems run in my family. My mom was hypo, my paternal grandmother hyper. And I was hyper when I was two years old. Can you imagine having a toddler with hyperthyroid? That's adding insult to injury. My poor mom. ;)

Anyway, you should insist on getting tested or switch to another doctor. But your symptoms alone could be something other than hypothyroidism. Before I got diagnosed with diabetes, I was also tested for thyroid problems since weight loss, fatigue, hair loss could have also been symptoms of that. But my thyroid results can back normal--go figure.

The hair loss could be due to stress. The weight gain could be a number of things. I found I gained weight and had digestive problems when I switched from my regular birth control pill to the generic version. Alledgedly the same active ingredients and yet there was a difference. I have also gained weight switching different formulas of the pill.

I don't know how recently you were diagnosed, but I have had some issues with my weight since being diagnosed 5 months ago. I don't mind gaining back the weight I lost when I was sick--I haven't weighed 112 lbs. since I was 14 and it was scary! It's the additional 5-10 lbs. that I'm not fond of. I experienced swelling from water retention when I first went on insulin. My poor dehydrated body was clinging to all the water it could for dear life! Eventually it got a clue that I was no longer peeing every 45 minutes and the swelling went away.

I read somewhere that in regaining weight lost prior to diagnosis, the body initially stores excess fat to protect itself from starvation. Which, if you lost a lot of weight prior to diagnosis/treatment, is what happened while you were losing all that weight. Your body was starving. So it could take some time for things to adjust.

As for the depression, I also read that those with diabetes are more prone to depression than the general public. And who wouldn't be with a disease that is chronic and fraught with ugly complications should we let it out of control?

But you really need to rule it in or out with TSH, T-3 and T-4 tests.

[Aftiel]

Sandi,

My endo has my thyroid tested with every fasting BS test as well.

Might really be a good time to check out another Doctor. A Doctor who does NOT listen to his patients can really be dangerous.

- Aftiel

[camjen1]

Aftiel, my DR is a family docter of DO. I really don't expect him to go beyond diagnosing a common cold. Last visit I threw quite a few issues at him and you could see he was getting a headache from all the info and referred me to the Endo. You can't find Endo's where and if you do find one chances are they are an hour to two hours away. Also because there is hardly any endo's available it takes months to get in.

[klpants]

Camjen1

Definatley get tested!! I found I really had to make a case with my doctor and stressed how the tired feelings and depression were having an impact on my blood sugar control. The symptoms you describe are classic Hypothyroid symptoms, the main one I noticed was really tired aching muscles after erecise and a weight gain of about 7 pounds. Like you, I like to keep my weight in check as I feel extra weight has an effect on how I feel during exercise etc. I also noticed it was impossible for me to lose any weight (I compete in fitness comps so was monitoring my weight and insulin dosage very strictly)
So, be firm with the doc or as someone else suggested ask for another doctor. This is your health not theirs!!!!!!!

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/524955?src=mp

The link above shows how GPs seem to not take underactive thyroid seriously

[camjen1]

Well here goes! I called to set up an appointment with DR to insist on getting tested and I was transferred to the nurse who I know on a personal level. She said that I have already been tested and my levels were fine. I said ok well I'm going to pick up my lab results from the last 2 years and look over them myself. I picked them up and was shocked to find that they were basing my normal levels from a test that was done in 3/2004. All the other lab reports including the most recent don't have any T3, T4 or TSH testing. I know how to read lab reports and I'm far from stupid when it comes to results. Anyway another issue stuck out was that my RBC's were tripled then what is considered normal in my most recent testing. I also noticed slight elevations in RBC's from prior results. Now having elevated RBC's might or might not be serious but having triple the norm and elevated levels on every testing should have been discussed with me and perhaps further testing down.

[duck]

Oh, well lab results from two years ago are perfectly fine and dandy for assessing your current health, Sandi. Even if those conditions that concern you are not tested, results from two years ago, back before anyone knew what a Desperate Housewife was or when John Kerry hadn't been nominated to seek the Presidency have much relevance to your health today...

Wow. Good luck with all this. Don't take my sarcasm with you to your doctor's office, please.

[duck]

Oh--and it sounds to me like you need a good blood-letting.


:help:

[BriOnH]

Meanwhile I was off the meds. since they
had run out. I had been on a web site for RA for a while and one of
the Lads(he was over-weight) said he was jealous that I had had Hypo
and now didn't have it.(I had no symptoms of it at that time, so I figured
I was over it). I was tested a couple times since then and they said I
wasn't Hypo. (maybe I was in remission, which I never heard of
until I came upon a site saying Hypos go into remission, no one told
me that, if it's true).

My story is similar. Sometimes when I get tested I have low activity, and have been prescribed thyroid medication (I forget the name). I never took it cause I felt fine, and had no symptoms, other then SOME tiredness. Most of the time when I am tested for TSH my levels are normal. I wonder if the imbalance could be causing anxiety<?>. I know with HYPER it's a symptom, but wonder with a fluctuating thyroid from hypo to normal(or vice cersa) if it's a symptom.

[camjen1]

Oh--and it sounds to me like you need a good blood-letting.


:help:

LMAO...perhaps I can do it myself.:whistling

[KickStart101]

My story is similar. Sometimes when I get tested I have low activity, and have been prescribed thyroid medication (I forget the name). I never took it cause I felt fine, and had no symptoms, other then SOME tiredness. Most of the time when I am tested for TSH my levels are normal. I wonder if the imbalance could be causing anxiety<?>. I know with HYPER it's a symptom, but wonder with a fluctuating thyroid from hypo to normal(or vice cersa) if it's a symptom.

OOPPS. I made a typo error. I meant to say I had 10 symptoms not
17. Sometimes I have the lights off in this room.

I have a the whole list that I showed my Endo that originally dxd.
me. He looked at the list and said, "Yes, with Hypo you can have
several or many of those symptoms. I haven't seen a patient with
all of them though." It's a long list. The Hyper list is shorter. Ya,
for yrs. I felt okay except for the decreased appetite, intolerance
to cold and fatique.
But those are symptoms of RA. also.

Well, these are the closest involving the brain that I can find on the list:

1. Depression, mental impairment, poor memory, psychosis, placidity or
nervousness
Some of those are rough. I would be the placidity. Does that mean calm
or comatose? :D

That's an interesting thought about the fluctuating hormones causing
anxiety also. We should be able google that or ask the Doc the next
time we see our Doc's.

I'm back on Levo-thyroxine. I hope that you find the right answer for you
in that case. :)

[Georgia]

Crumbs Sandi that's **** of your doctor isn't it - I hope you get it sorted out & manage to get a test done.

I'm hyper & I've had 2 thyroid tests done this year, both of them in Feb, but the results never reached my GP or Consultant...so, where the heck are they?!! They have now decided to half my meds based on the test I had in December. I give up :rolleyes: