how did you know?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-1999
how did you know?
7
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 12:19pm
For any of you that are hypothyroid - when did you suspect things were not right? I've gained 15 pounds this summer and I haven't been dieting, but I haven't been pigging out either. I just started back on weight watchers 1 week ago and I don't think I've lost anything - I was excited to see the big first week loss, but didn't get it. I have noticed being more tired than usual, but maybe it's just in my head.

I have a gyno appt. on 9/16 so I was going to ask then and get a test since we're also trying to get pregnant. I guess I could call my family doctor earlier and get a test. I'm just wondering if I'm just fat (LOL) or if there's something wrong. Would you wait until 9/16 or go early? How much does hypothyroidism affect getting pregnant if it's treated?

Thanks!

Andrea

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 3:46pm
Hi Andrea,

I'm not sure how many of your questions I can answer since I was only diagnosed hypothyroid in December. But I've been reading lots of info on this board, and I know there are people here who have been dealing with this a lot longer and who know more!

Anyway, I never suspected anything until I went to my doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome. I have always been overweight and it seems as though doctors assume if you are overweight you must be hypothyroid! I swear I had been asked that so many times and the tests always came back negative. But not this time.

After my diagnosis, I came here and read about all the symptoms and realized I had been having the classic ones (fatigue, depressed, weight gain, tingling fingers, feeling cold, etc.) for several months.

Anyway, I'm still not quite myself. Although after several months of synthroid most of the symptoms are gone. I haven't tried to lose weight because I've been so discouraged about how hard it can be for someone who is hypo. But the people who post here say it can be done with persistence and patience. I don't think I'm that patient! haha!

Personally, I would wait 'til the 16th, but that's me. I think if you are concerned you should call your doctor and try to get an earlier appointment. They are supposed to be there to help you!

As for the fertility thing...I think being hypo can affect your ability to get pregnant but not permanently. In other words, I think once you are regulated on thryoid medication, it gets better. But again, I'm not an expert on that. Many people on this board can help you!

Mostly I just wanted to say "HI" and welcome you here and hope things work out for the best for you!

dazed

Dazed
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Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 7:42pm

Hi Andrea,


Dazed has given you some great answers.

 

Calley7

Avatar for goestrogen
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 10:43pm
I can't answer many of your technical questions, but I can tell you that I just "didn't feel right" for a couple months before I was diagnosed. I hadn't seen a doctor in many years and finally made myself go. I felt really stupid telling the doctor my super-vague symptoms (headache, nausea, fatigue). I was convinced I was just under stress at work and didn't have any physical problems. I'm too young and healthy, LOL! My doctor ordered a blood test and the rest is history. I was diagnosed hypo less than a month ago and tomorrow I find out if I also have Hashimotos. We'll see!

I'd say since you are trying to get pregnant its probably not a bad idea to order a comprehensive blood test to check for a variety of things. I don't think waiting the 3 weeks to mid-september will hurt, though if they can see you earlier that might put your mind at ease more quickly.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 10:58pm
Hi:

I was in a similar situation to you, (weight watchers and all--LOL), and unfortunately, I didn't really suspect anything was wrong until my 2nd miscarriage. I thought that the fatigue and hair loss was stress and the weight gain was just a sign of being in my 30s instead of my 20s. After my miscarriages, I asked my OBGYN to test for thyroid (it runs in my family), and that's when I got the diagnosis. Defnately get tested if you can. And then, it's really just a matter of getting the right dose of the right medication, living healthy, and you can move on with your life!

Dee.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Tue, 08-24-2004 - 4:48pm
Well for me it started with my hair...it was splitting really bad and falling out! I was also in this weird daze/fog... not feeling good! My Dr. said, "oh you're just depressed because you are getting a divorce but I'll check some things..." I knew it wasn't because I was getting a divorce! When my results came back hypo, I was SHOCKED! I had no idea what was wrong but.... anyway, that was many years ago! I remember the moment I thought the synthroid starting working for the first time! It was 3-4 weeks after I started taking it and my mental fog vanished. The rest of my symptoms took more time to clear up.

Sherry

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Tue, 08-24-2004 - 9:44pm
Hi and welcome - I felt bad for about 2 years before I realized I had a serious problem. I was thinking it might be perimenopause - I was about 42 at the time. It was my weight gain and my inability to lose it that drove me to get some answers but once I found out I was hypo and started reading about it, I realized that most of what I had been feeling was related to my thyroid and nothing else.

My opinion is that I would go for the test sooner if you can. Why wait for things to get worse if you don't have to. And they will get worse!

As for getting pregnant - you will need your TSH level to be in the normal range, 1.0 to 2.0 for the best chance. Many doctors will keep you at about 3.0 or a little higher or lower but the closer you are to that 1 to 2 range, the better everything will be.

I was thinking about it today and I've lost about 25 pounds over the past two years since I've been on medication.I couldn't lose a pound or an inch without it. But it is the latest medication that has taken me to that real normal range - my last TSH reading was 1.8, that has brought me back to what I looked like before this whole mess started!! Actually, I look better since I've been working out consistently and eating right for the past two years. So it can be done! It's really not much harder than it is for anyone to lose weight - it takes the same dedication. I think the only time it's easy to lose weight is when you're about 18 and you can lose weight just by not eating for a few days!! LOL! But that's not the healthy way to do it.

Hope this helps! Cathy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2003
Tue, 08-24-2004 - 11:06pm

Hi Andrea--


I was diagnosed hypothyrodism with Hashimotos in November of 03--so almost a year ago.


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