So glad to find all of you!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2004
So glad to find all of you!
11
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 7:56pm
I've been searching for other people who feel the pains and frustrations I do. I've been checking thru some of the discussions and am relieved to see I am not the only one to have medicine but still feel like crap. I am hypothyroid and was diagnosed about 4 yrs ago, and still no relief. Finally seeing an endo dr and hope is there. Just wanted to know how many other people suffer with the extreme depression side of this illeness? I cry almost as much as I sleep, I can't hold down a job, force myself to make it thru daily chores and childraising is a challenge with 2 hyperactive, attention deficite disorder children (1 with oppositional defient disorder to boot). I am loosing my mind, I have no family, no friends and a boyfriend who works 6 days a week. Always alone, and when someone is around me....I'm either crying, or angry! I hurt from head to toe, headaches everyday, forgetful, blemishes, swelling, moodswings, and at times feel like just giving up. Someone please tell me that all this can somehow end. I am tired of hearing, "Oh you have a thyroid problem, no big deal, medicine will make symptoms go away, why can't you work...you get medicine right?" I've had symptoms since age 11 and no meds til I was 27 yrs old, let me tell ya I was soooo close to falling into that coma. Depression is getting the best of me and I need it to go away!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 10:25pm
Hi and welcome! I'm so glad that you found us! I hope that you've read some of the encouraging posts from others who felt as badly as you do now but who are feeling better and better! I think the endo is a good place to start. In addition to the regular T4 medication, it sounds as if a T3 supplement like Cytomel can help you feel better overall. Sometimes an antidepressant is the answer if the T4 and T3 don't work on their own but my own opinion is that it's best not to go that route unless you absolutely have to. Many of us have felt what you're feeling. You're not alone. And it is frustrating when everyone implies that a pill will make you better - but what pill, and how much of it, and are other things needed too? And how long will it take????? So for a lot of us, it's not an easy condition to deal with.

I used to be depressed all the time, always in tears, unable to deal with anything. I'm fine now because I finally found a doctor who cares enough to give me the medication I need. You are in an even more difficult position because you have so many challenges to face with your children. And you are facing it alone. Maybe you can find a good support group in your area, or a good church, or something that can get you out of the house and around some other adults. It isn't good to have to deal with everything all alone! In the meantime, you can have a cyber support group. We are here everyday and we really try to offer each other the support that we can't get outside of this board. We understand what you're going through!! And it will get better for you but sometimes it takes a while and it takes some effort on your part to get the help you need. When is your doctor's appointment? Cathy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 8:39am
Thankyou for your response. I really just needed to hear that someone out there has been down this bad and found a way out of it. I actually have a follow-up appt today and will get results from my last labs. Dr is going to decide today (I hope) whether or not to add the T3. He's mentioned that he feels my body has not learned to convert the T4 in my synthroid into T3 that he is considering either adding the other pill with the synthroid or dropping the synthroid all together and just using the other pill for awhile. I know I have a real negative idea about things at this point, I am just so very frustrated. He's mentioned the possibility of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and has already made sure it wasn't hashimoto's. I recently started seeing a pychologist to help me deal with my issues but he's just adding more conditions to the list like adult ADD and Bi-polar disorder. I am just feeling like the number of conditions I may have to face is overwhelming and really need a positive thinker around to help me look at the positive side when I can't find the strength myself. Thankyou for your support!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 9:12am

Oh Gosh Honey, sounds like you have the extreme end of it.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 9:29am
I know how you feel too. I have 5 kids and 3 of the 4 boys are add. One of them is actually ADHD with bi-polar, one of them is ADD with ODD like your child, and the other is ADD with Aspergers. The oldest may have add but since he has cerebral palsy with a history of seizures, they cannot treat with any type of stimulant meds. My youngest child is just a normal little girl who looks just like me. Just so you know, I am also ADD. I was diagnosed at 38 and have been taking the med concerta since then. It helps a lot. Once I started taking the meds a lot did change. I greaduated the following summer with my associates degree, this past summer (2 years later)I graduated with my bachelors degree in behavoral science. Last month I started on my masters in education. In 8th grade they told me I would never amount to anything because I never paid attention to anything and I was lazy and stupid. There is a good chance they were wrong. Good luck and remember to work at making them listen to you. Mary
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2004
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 11:05am
Thankyou, it's funny how it makes a person feel to know they are not alone. Had my endo appt yesterday and my labs proved dr theory. My body is not converting the T4 from the synthroid into usable T3. He switched me from my .125 synthroid to a med called Armour thyroid which has both T4 and T3 in it, I'll be on it for the next 8wks to see if that works. My next pyshc appt, Monday we are going to try out a new medication that the endo dr recommends that helps the depression and the muscle aches all in one pill. I am happy to hear you have had some relief from your condition with the proper meds, it's encouraging. I am not sure if I have to post reply individually so for now....a general thanks to all for the help and best of luck to all on their daily adventures!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 6:09pm
Hey - good news on the Armour medication. That may help you tremendously. Now I'm NOT a doctor and I'm NOT even an "expert" on this BUT, I have read quite a bit and also have had to deal with a lot of symptoms of my own. And I'm thinking that it might be best for you to wait about 8 weeks for the Armour thyroid to work before taking any other medication. I would consider this for two reasons. One because you want the thyroid medication to work without interference with any other medications. And two, it may take care of your other symptoms so that you wouldn't even NEED to take the other meds. It's just a thought but one that I would consider for myself if I were you. What do you think? Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2004
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 6:16pm
I agree, sounds like a good idea. Endo doc says he doesnt think my pains and depression is related to thyroid stuff but would be nice to see if there is a difference between the previous and the present meds. I get in a rush at times, just sooo ready for the pain and headaches to go away!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 2:21am
Hey there glad you found us!!!

Listen I have the pain and headaches too, right now I'm finding that each time my meds get adjusted (every six weeks) I feel better for two weeks, bad for two weeks and then they kinda adverage out for the last two. But each new doseage is better that the last so hang in there! Just out of curiosity, Where do you get your headaches? like where do they feel like they stem from, the worst of the pain? Mine are always the worst in the morning, and they hurt up the back of my skull, just wondering if they are the same.

Feel better:)

Michelle
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2004
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 12:56pm
Wow amazing, I have the same issues...I get new doses alot lately too. My doc puts me on them for 2 mos at a time, the first few weeks of the first month I always see great improvement then it gradually declines for for the last 2, til the last month which feels like I'm not taking anything again. My headaches are always at the bottom of my head, right where the neck meets...some days it hurts behind the temples near my hears aswell. Regular doc tells me its a tension headache because of the location and yes exedrin migraine and tension headache formula relieves it for about the first hour after taking them but I get tired of swallowing pills every four hours to make it thru the day. Because my head hurts so bad I become irratable and very sensitive to sound and light. As your doctor considered the fact that you may not be converting your T4 into T3 which is the reason my doctor found out with me. I have developed goiters and cysts in my thyroid because my body has been storing all this T4 it doesnt know what to do with. I had to have bloodwork... Free T4, free T3, and Lipid panel done to find this out. One of these measures the quantity of T3 floating around in the bloodstream, available to be absorbed. Just curious what are you taking now for meds and do you see an endo doc or what? Have a great day!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 3:51pm
AAAHHHH that is so my headache!!!!! it feels like if you could just squeeze the **** out of your neck the pain would go away ( if only for a minute) Wow I will totally ask my doctor about the T3 and T4 I go back to him on Nov.1 I am currently taking levothriod at .10mg and I see the regular doc. But I've only seen this doc once so we will see if I think he can handle the thyriod thing or if I need to ask to be refered to the endo.

How often do you get the headaches? I actually had not had one in like a month but last week they came back and I've had one almost every morning for last two weeks. Sometimes they last all day and spend all day in bed other days I take the BIG pain meds and sleep a few hours and the pain goes away for the most part. Excedrin only works for me if I take it at the early early stages of the pain, so because I wake up with mine if I wake up at like 3am and feel the tightness I will take 3 or 4 excedrin and I may or may not end up with the headache in the morning. Anyway I'm so glad to have found a headache pal LOL

Have a great day!

Michelle

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