Help so close, yet so far away...

A website (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/) regarding the treatment (or lack thereof) of hypothyroidism was recommended to me by a friend (thanks Sandy!).  It explains thyroid issues better than anything that I have ever read before;  including why the treatment of T3 levels is so necessary, yet is so neglected by most doctors.  I had heard about this before but, because my knowledge of it was so limited, every doctor I have had since this mess started has been instantly dismissive of even discussing, diagnosing or treating my T3 levels and I always bow under the weight of their "superior" knowledge. 

I came close tonight to crying while reading through Stop the Thyroid Madness, because it felt like I was hearing for the first time that I am not totally insane about how crappy I feel for a majority of my existence.  I also wanted to cry because it seems like there is help out there, if I could only find the right doctor.  Finally, I wanted to cry because they have a link to a company that provides comprehensive tests that give you the full view of what is happening with your thyroid, but the damn thing costs $382.50.  With my current finances, it may as well cost $382,500.  I would give a kidney to have medical insurance again.  :'(

If you are reading this, and you are wondering if you may have hypothyroidism, this website has the most comprehensive list of possible symptoms that I have ever seen.  You can check it out here: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/long-and-pathetic   or see below where I have copied and pasted the list in its entirety.  There were many things listed there that I already knew about, but there were also quite a few new additions that I hadn't heard of but I'm totally experiencing, like shortness of breath.

I am determined that getting my thyroid levels under proper control will be a HUGE part of my recovery, and I won't stop until I can find a way to do it.

~Jenn

Here's the list:

■Less stamina than others


■Less energy than others

■Long recovery period after any activity

■Inability to hold children for very long

■Arms feeling like dead weights after activity

■Chronic Low Grade Depression

■Suicidal Thoughts

■Often feeling cold

■Cold hands and feet

■High or rising cholesterol

■Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise

■Hard stools

■Constipation

■No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows

■Dry Hair

■Hair Loss

■White hairs growing in

■No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows

■Dry cracking skin

■Nodding off easily

■Requires naps in the afternoon

■Sleep Apnea (which can also be associated with low cortisol)

■Air Hunger (feeling like you can’t get enough air)

■Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time

■Forgetfulness

■Foggy thinking

■Inability to lose weight

■Always gaining weight

■Inability to function in a relationship with anyone

■NO sex drive

■Failure to ovulate and/or constant bleeding (see Rainbow’s story)

■Moody periods

■PMS

■Inability to get pregnant; miscarriages

■Excruciating pain during period

■Nausea

■Swelling/edema/puffiness

■Aching bones/muscles

■Osteoporosis

■Bumps on legs

■Acne on face and in hair

■Breakout on chest and arms

■Hives

■Exhaustion in every dimension–physical, mental, spiritual, emotional

■Inability to work full-time

■Inability to stand on feet for long periods

■Complete lack of motivation

■Slowing to a snail’s pace when walking up slight grade

■Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others

■Handwriting nearly illegible

■Internal itching of ears

■Broken/peeling fingernails

■Dry skin or snake skin

■Major anxiety/worry

■Ringing in ears

■Lactose Intolerance

■Inability to eat in the mornings

■Joint pain

■Carpal tunnel symptoms

■No Appetite

■Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure

■Swollen legs that prevented walking

■Blood Pressure problems

■Varicose Veins

■Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear

■Low body temperature

■Raised temperature

■Tightness in throat; sore throat

■Swollen lymph glands

■Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisol–common with hypothyroid patients)

■Headaches and Migraines

■Sore feet (plantar fascitis); painful soles of feet

■now how do I put this one politely….a cold bum, butt, derriere, fanny, gluteus maximus, haunches, hindquarters, posterior, rear, and/or cheeks. Yup, really exists.

■colitis

■irritable bowel syndrome

■painful bladder

■Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime

■Dysphagia, which is nerve damage and causes the inability to swallow fluid, food or your own saliva and leads to “aspiration pneumonia”.