About Me: Female, 50, London, United Kingdom, member since Jan 2011
Mother, ex-ballerina (danced professionally in ballet), recently resigned from work since my diagnosis has made me feel very unsure of myself, lacking in confidence. Lately I feel my health has deteriorated since I get more tired than I used to and can't walk up a grad
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[More]ual slope the way I was able to 6 months ago so that's niggling at me. I was a very healthy individual, rarely having to visit my family practitioner until my diagnosis of CHF two years ago - dilated cardiomyopathy was the cause. Quite a shock!! I was fitted with a 3 lead biventricular device in July 2009 after episodes of syncope and VT.
Update - diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis in April 2011. My own family practitioner refused to refer me to an endocrinologist and prescribed me Levothyroxine in February 2011, after deciding I was hypothyroid. Felt worse on Levothyroxine and was being hassled by both him and my cardiologist to take antidepressants because of my lethargy and low mood. While visiting Germany with my husband (who is German), he decided to take me to an endo' there. Necessary bloods were done along with an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland. Clear indication for Hashimoto's. The endo there wanted to put me on Prothyrid - a German T4/T3 combination but I didn't want to take Levothyroxine (which was the T4 component) and so he prescribed Armour thyroid. Feel much better - my mood is better although I cannot seem to control the weight gain. I have put on a whopping 16kg in a year!!! I walk each day for at least an hour and stick to routes that are flat because I get fatigued so easily otherwise. I am careful with what I eat - very low carbs, lots of veggies and fruit, protein from fish but the weight just doesn't budge!!! SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!
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