Hypothyroid - Introducing Myself
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| Thu, 08-24-2006 - 11:26pm |
Hi - I'm 31 and was diagnosed 4 weeks ago with hypothyroidism. I was always pear-shaped, but have pretty much gained several pounds a year since high school and gained about 35 pounds in the last year. I'm at 220 pounds at 5 ft. 4. I pretty much feel like I'm literally dragging my ass around every day ;) My libido is pretty much non-existent (not so great for DH) and I feel like I've been depressed for years, but have been seeing a therapist for about 6 months now.
Symptomatically, I started having episodes of vertigo and sort of everpresent feeling of dizziness in mid-July. For a while now, I've felt like I could happily sleep hours past my alarm every morning and am just generally run down.
I stopped taking my hormonal birth control about 3 months ago (what was the point?) and my primary care physician thought that being on hormonal birth control might have masked the hypothyroidism from showing up in earlier tests (I've had the bloodwork done a few times over the last few years but always came up as borderline). When they ran this recent test, my TSH level was 6.3 if I remember correctly.
I'm on .5 mcg of generic levoxyl. After 4 weeks, about the only change I've noticed is that I'm not having vertigo anymore. Everything else is still the same. I know that it will likely take a while, but after reading some of the posts here, I'm concerned that at 220 pounds, I may have quite some time to go before I'm at a sufficient dosage!
My mother (69) was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a year and a half ago. My symptoms have been much more severe than hers were. No one else in the family has been diagnosed, although my older brother has been feeling dizzy lately and is having an MRI done to investigate something related to crystals in the inner ear.
I have my first appointment with an endocrinologist tomorrow morning. I expect he will draw more blood and just ask more detailed questions than my primary care physician did.
My therapist recently discussed with me the possibility of trying medication for my depression and anxiety and I'm torn about that. On one hand, I'm leaning toward trying to find the appropriate dosage for the thyroid condition first, since that could affect the general feeling of malaise. But, if that may in fact take months to get right (maybe more?) I'm not sure I can wait that long to start quietting my anxious, self-defeatist thougths. It's interesting how something that has just gotten a little worse over time suddenly becomes intolerable. I just need to get out of my own head.
Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself. I have a lot of hope that treatment will help alleviate the general feeling that my life has been sliding down hill for a while. I hope to gain some more insight from tomrrow's appointment and will share what I find out.
If you're still reading (I do ramble on), thanks.
Sheryl

Hi Sheryl,
Welcome to our board.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your story.
Hi Sheryl,
I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum...I'm hyperthyroid. I was diagnosed in January and have been on antithyroid meds since February. I can't help you out too much, other than support, just wanted to say hi and welcome!
Terra
Hi Sheryl,
I wanted to respond to you (I haven't yet read the other posts, so I'm sorry if I repeat what they've already said). I just found out in June that I'm hypothyroid myself. I had a baby in May 05, and haven't been able to lose that last 10 pounds in over 4 months. But, that's not what took me to the dr. I went to my OB who ran bloodwork. Anyway, she had recommended Wellbutrin for the libido issue...but I was hesitant to take an anti-depressant for libido issues. She asked about my mood, and I told her that I had felt down, but I seemed to be doing ok at the moment. I told her I'd rather try herbal remedy for the libido before turning to the AD. Anyway, my TSH came back at 19.5!!! That was pretty high. I had noticed I was extremely tired, my hair had been coming out...but I attributed all that to just being a mommy and having recently stopped breastfeeding. My OB told me to see my GP. After telling her all my symptoms, she went ahead and prescribed me 25mcg of Levothyroxin. She said I probably was gaining weight or not able to lose it with my thyroid being out of whack. Yep...that was me. So, she referred me to get an u/s done of my thyroid. And she'd see me after I got those results back.
I was still complaining of my symptoms 4 weeks later...I was having more 'bad' days. She drew more blood and my TSH had gone up to 20.5! Sheesh. She put me on 50mcg of the Levo and referred me to the endo for the u/s results. The u/s was normal, but she wanted the endo to look at it anyway. So, I just went to that appointment on Tues (you can read that post below).
Know that you aren't alone. I'm on Wellbutrin now to help level me out until my thyroid gets under control. I plan to stop it when it is normal again. Just because you are on an AD doesn't mean you've failed. It can aid you while you get through this (plus, I've heard that Wellbutrin helps you lose weight...).
We're here for you if you need us!
Shannon
DS Jack Forrest 05/05/05
When was the last time you were tested? It's possible your levels may need to be adjusted again if you are still feeling the symptoms. I don't know about the dizziness - that's not a symptom for hypo as far as I know. And for the anti-depressants, maybe you should switch brands?
Good luck!
Shannon
DS Jack Forrest 05/05/05
>>I don't know about the dizziness - that's not a symptom for hypo as far as I know.
You know, I forgot to mention that my endocrinologist said that the dizziness and vertigo I experienced were probably some virus I had picked up. I'm not sure how a virus explains why I still have dizziness 5 weeks later...
I wonder if hypothyroidism has some effect on blood pressure? Ginger, what is your blood pressure typically like? My is definitely on the low end of normal.
Sheryl