- your husband always as if it's TOM because your mood swings erratically all of the time
- you are accused of being lazy when the truth is that you simply do not have the energy to get your chores done
- no one seems to understand what you are going through
- people try to sell you on a "cure" for Hashi's
- someone sniffles near you and you end up with a cold that lingers for a month
- your thyroid swells up so much that it feels like there is constantly a hand around your throat.
- you have doctors who tell you that you don't need treatment because your TSH level is 5 which means that you are "normal"
- your elbows and ankles look dirty because of the thick layer of dry skin that no lotion can fix
- you try the same diet as your non-Hashi friend and while she is losing weight really fast each pound is a struggle for you and she accuses you of cheating on the diet because she thinks that you should be losing just as fast as she is
- when you finally lose weight and no one notices

The skin at my ankles and elbows is usually thick, dry and cracked which I think makes them look dirty. I have tried every solution I could find, but it never goes away. My endo says that thick, dry, discolored and/or itchy skin and scalp are common symptoms of Hashi's. I am hopeful that this will eventually get better.

Thanks! I have that dry dirty patch too, but my doc dismissed it. I didn't know it was due to my hashimotos!
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I feel you! I am so sick of being hot and cold, hot and cold! Taking a shower and then 5 minutes later being soaked with sweat. Peri-menopause sucks!

-When it is cold, you have to wear gloves all the time…and even then..your hands are never truly warm.
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^This. My hands are NEVER warm!

I went throught this all with my doctor almost 18 years ago and finally I was referred to a Naturopathic Doctor and the minute I walked into his practice he asked me if I was tested for low thyroid. He placed me on Natural Thyroid. I believe in the US it is referred to as Amour Thyroid, in Canada, it is just called Thyroid.

I also went to see a medical Doctor, who was the only one in my area who would prescribe this and he also put me on Natural Progesterone cream, which was made up at a compounding pharmacy.

Once all my hormones and thyroid stabilized, I went on the Isagenix Program and lost 60lbs - that was about 8 years ago and slowly the weight is creeping on.

I need to lose about 20 lbs to be in an okay range again, despite all the changes I have made, I am struggling to shed those pounds!

I was on Armour for about 8 months myself and felt better on that than on levo or synthroid. But feel even better on Westhroid-P. I do suggest to people to look at what they eat though as it might be a food you have an intolerance to flaring your Hashi's making weight loss very hard.

Hang in there!!! xo

Have you ever been on nature-throid? I am thinking of switching from armour? Or do you think Westhroid is better?