hypothyroidism

My symptoms are"
Depression
anxiety
frustration
sleep disorders
fatigue, I wake up so tired I cry because I had to go to work, I am tired at work all day, and I go to bed tired but can't sleep.
weight gain even though I was watching what I ate, and exercising daily
headaches
joint pain
mental confusion
trouble concentrating or focusing on anything
I felt like I couldnt find words or would just feel like I was BLANK
stuttering was a new thing too.
crazy symptoms huh?

Your symtoms sound like mine. I am hypothyroid PLUS was starting menopause! Things are getting a little better now! I wish you better health!!!

Unfortunately for me, when my blood was tested for hypothyroidism, they also found I have a vitamin d deficiency. And....I also have eustachian tube dysfunction. Between the three of these I am just hating life right now. I have learned alot from these discussions though. I went back to see what my numbers were, and mine is 11.7, and my doctor said normal is between a 4 and a 5. A website I looked at said that any number ten and above must be treated by meds.

Holy cow! :noway: Your TSH=11.7! :noway: No wonder your symptoms are Crazy. :explode: My doc wants mine to be a 1 (I'm at a 2.0 now and feel great). New advice from Natl Assoc Endocrinologists say .3 - 3.0 as of 2003. Doc figures 1.5 is what normal people are. We hypos should be a little lower. Get those meds going, girl! IMHO, a goal of 4-5 is still way too high. If doc doesn't agree, find another one.

Unfortunately for me, when my blood was tested for hypothyroidism, they also found I have a vitamin d deficiency. And....I also have eustachian tube dysfunction. Between the three of these I am just hating life right now. I have learned alot from these discussions though. I went back to see what my numbers were, and mine is 11.7, and my doctor said normal is between a 4 and a 5. A website I looked at said that any number ten and above must be treated by meds.

My TSH levels are around 2.85 and my doc is still treating with meds. I developed post-partum thyroiditis in 2004 and it in turn became hypothyroidism. My doc told me that my levels were considered normal (0.3 - 5) but that if I truly wanted to see a difference in my weight loss we would need to get it between a 1 - 2. I'm currently on 75mcg of Synthroid and am awaiting the latest TSH/T4 results to find out if we need to adjust my meds.

Hopefully your doc can get your levels under control and soon all your hard work will pay off!!

Back from the doctor's... my THS or TSH (I forget exactly what it's called) was 3.8. He said he was prepared to start the medication today if I told him I've been feeling lousy, but I had told him I felt amazing since I switched to a gluten free diet in the last week or so since the doctor and I both think I have Celiac's. They did the bloodwork today to see if my antibodies indicate that I do or not. So, he said that I certainly need medication for the thyroid but it's just a matter of time. I feel better that I at least got to ask questions and better understand everything now.

I'm actually scared to look up the symptoms because I think it's one of those things where if someone tells you "you might get a headache" then suddenly you're so worried about detecting a headache that you start to actually feel one coming on.

The only things I would say that I notice about myself are that I'm craving (almost uncontrollably at times) anything sweet- and once I have 1 piece of candy, it's all over- I eat and eat and eat. I have never really liked sweets or had this problem. I mentioned it to him and he said it could certainly be the thyroid causing that. He said I had "quite an impressive level of antibodies" in my thyroid :laugh:

I'm really tired a lot, but I think I've always been that way. It doesn't usually interfere with my ability to get things done around the house, focus at work, etc. but boy do I hit the pillow and pass out instantly- same thing on the couch and I have never been one to fall asleep in front of the TV in my life.

Other than that, I think that's about it. Of course I worry that I've had symptoms for so long that I don't even know they're there because they're just "who I am". Oh well, for now I'm not really thinking about it. At some point, whether it's a month from now, or a year from now, I'll need medication. Until then, I'm focusing on the Celiac's and the major adjustment that it takes.

Thanks for your input/help! :flowerforyou:

can anyone tell me if massive nonstop headaches and pressue in the head is a symptom of hypothyroidism?

As I said before, it was thought at first that I had post partum depression. The day that I really knew something was off was when I had a headache all day. I also felt as thought my top was strangling me, and then noticed that my neck was swollen at the front (goiter). This just happened over the course of a day.

Just remembered- If you are thinking about getting pregnant and you are hypo, you should be monitered by your doc/end as well as anti natal. an under treated hypo can lead to misscarriage in the first 4 months of pregnancy. A history of misscariage can sometimes lead on to the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

I started at 25 mcg of levoxythrine (sp?) because my old doctor :grumble: was afraid to treat my TSH of 5.05 (a measly number compared to yours ). After 7 months, I'm now up to 150 mcg (with my new doc) plus 30 mcg time-released T3, which has helped immensely. :happy: I see the caution in not increasing your dosage too fast (heart palpitations and anxiousness), but I'd bet you have some big increases in your future. I'm not surprised that you're not feeling 50 mcgs - but give it at least 3 weeks. T4 is like a marathon, T3 is like a sprint. Will he retest again at 6 or 8 weeks?

Not sure about hypo and headaches.

You're not alone. You will feel better.:flowerforyou:

I think its nutty how different people need such different amounts, my levels were so high and I only need 50 mcg, thats the first level we tried and my levels are perfect from it, you weren't that high but you need such a high dose!

So true! Everyone's needs are so different. My TSH wasn't that high, but my thyroid must be pretty stubborn. Feeling great now, though.

zero tolerance for cold
tingling in hands and feet
circulation issues in my hands and feet

I didnt realize those were symptoms of hypothyroidism, I thought those were syptoms of me being out of shape! thats both good & bad to know, good because now I understand where its coming from, bad because once I get in shape I'll still have hypothyroidism so it wont go away... bummer...

Nikki: those are also symptoms of hypocalcemia (calcium deficiency). My parathyroids were damaged during surgery, so my body doesn't make any calcium. I have to take supplements to get my calcium. After my total thyroidectomy, there were times when I would be standing up and the entire bottom half of my legs, and feet, would fall asleep and I'd have to sit before I fell over.


eta: someone mentioned hemorrhaging during menstrual periods. I started having that problem a year after I had my son (I bled for five weeks). I'm convinced that my thyroid nodule began growing shortly after I had my son. I was pregnant with my youngest a year and a half later when my nodule was found at .5cm. It then grew to 4cm in 10 months. I still have the heavy periods (I have to wear overnight maxi pads during the day because even the Ultra Tampax aren't enough), but at least they're regular again and only last five to seven days.