Can't believe how insensitive some are.

[Cindy40]

I guess this is more a venting session than a discussion question.  I told my sister today I had been diagnosed hypo.  Her reply was, "Well, now maybe you can lose some weight".  Not, how are you feeling?  What are the symptoms?  She did not ask one question about my condition or medication.  My mothers comment was, "exercise dosen't help if you continue to eat."  I can kind of overlook my Mom, she is 81 and has a lot of physical problems and I know she really dosen't understand.  I had kept a lot of my symptoms to myself because I didn't think anyone would really believe me. So what if I feel really tired and my muscles and joints ache?  Well, I'm just really hurt and dissappointed.  I think some don't think this is a real disease.I think they think it is a excuse for being fat and lazy. I had to take an extra Buspar when I got home today just to settle down.

I am really glad I found this site and know there are other people who know what I am going through.

[blksapphire]

Oftentimes because of their lack of education and ignorance they cannot cope with what is going on with you and make light of the situation.  I've seen it over and over and over and it is just awful; not an excuse but a reason.

You what I tell people now who gives me foolishness!  I tell them to take a walk in my shoes for awhile and THEN come back and talk to me.  Until then, shut the hypohe\\ up.

People always finds reasons to belittle others when its something they don't understand.

Get those earplugs..and get thick skin.

Take care
Terri

[tashan]

really the situation you are fixed with is really insurmountable.its really very difficult to go about convincing everyone because they wont come to realise it until they are in our situation not even our family members.my answer to your question-just do what you wish without thinking of others ;consequences will be good because god can't be so remorseless.enjoy your life buddy!!!

[I_LOST_MY_APPETITE]

I wished that everyone that makes a comment about losing weight to a HYPO person should experience what we GO through!

[Cindy40]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement and even the venting sessions.  It is helpful to know others go through similar things.  To Jax190:  I have thought of the same thing about work!  I can just see a boss saying, " Oh yeah, your thyroid is out of whack, take as much time as you need."  I now realize that this road is going to be longer and much more twisted than I ever imagined.
I am grateful for all the fellow passengers.

[peggy64]

Sky

I saw where you have issues with your sister too. It is amazing how families can be so unsupportive.
If I did not have these friends, I don't know what I would do. I have gotten so much encouragement, understanding and support that it has really helped me in so many ways.

I really believe the drs don't know that much about it therefore, they just brush it off as depression, or mental issues.

Peggy

[skymax2000]

My sister and family too! They think the answer is eat better and exercise. People in general, I find, think thyroid disease is funny or some sort of hoax.

[moojy]

Sign on my refrigerator is:
"Forget about dieting!  Don't punish yourself.  
Rich, poor, fat, skinny...Life is the same."

[peggy64]

I know what you mean! I had to take a sabbatical from my sister. She just thinks I have low self esteem, was telling I should not be thinking that way, kept on and on. I tell you she upset me so bad, I just don't really talk to her anymore. When she calls I just tell her I am fine, and get off the phone. I can't take the stress.

Jax, your comment is so right on. I tried to get my husband to read some of the posts to get a better understanding and he didn't want to.

It really hurts because we so want our family to "understand" as that is one of the human needs, to be understood. I have been praying that God would help me to relinquish my expectations of being understood by my family. Expectations are real defeaters, and then by focusing on our unmet expectations, that slows down our healing process. Those emotions are killers to our adrenal glands.

alright, now that the sermon is over, I will pass the offerring plate, ;c)

[jax190]

just wanted to add,  the only people who understand thyroid problems are thyroid sufferers for something that can affect so much and make you feel so bad it is so little understood by others (can you imagine the boss i cant come in my thyroid is playing up) it is great to share with others that know. i know my husband thinks a thyroid is nothing and you should be happy energetic and less greedy!  if only

[SoccerLA]

I have been through almost 10 doctors in the past 2 1/2 years to figure out what is wrong with me. One told me I was gaining weight because I was eating too much salad dressing and prescribed a whole grain, low calorie diet. 6 months later I found out that I was allergic to wheat/gluten. I started losing weight but then gained it back. My GI doctor told me I was the first person he had ever seen who had gained weight on a gluten free diet. A few months later I found out the weight gain was due to PCOS and another doctor (not my gynecologist) told me that I would have no chance of losing weight with this condition and the only help would be for me to have a baby (I'm only 22!!!).

I went to a nutritionist, who put me on a low carb diet. Not only did I not lose any weight but I started getting dizzy and dehydrated because I work out and play sports and my electrolytes were out of balance due to the lack of fruit in my diet. In February, I finally found a doctor who took me seriously. He found out I had Hashimoto's and put me on Levoxyl. He then made me go through numerous blood tests, urine collections, a growth hormone test (which cost $1200 because he doesn't accept insurance), and 2 MRIs!!! He didn't monitor my thyroid levels and I ended up having heart problems. In addition, he made me go off my PCOS meds because he didn't think I had it and I ended up developing more cysts in my ovaries. This doctor is only accessible through email because he "researches all day". Over the past month or so, he hasn't given me the results of any of my latest tests and didn't answer my emails about my heart problems.

A week ago I found another endocrinologist. Medically, he was fine. He said my Levoxyl dose was way to high and said I needed to go back on my PCOS meds and that he would monitor my thyroid levels every 6 weeks. But then when I mentioned the fact that I haven't been losing weight despite the Levoxyl and insulin medication, he made me cry. I told him that I eat 1500 cals a day of unprocessed foods, no red meat, and no refined sugar or flour and he said "Wow you eat a lot". And I told him I worked out intensely 3-4 days per week, played soccer, and work out with a trainer. His response was that I need to work out less, that lifting weights will make me fat, and that the only weight I will lose weight is if I just eat protein and vegetables. I asked about the lack of fiber or calcium and he said that those weren't important.

So yeah thats my rant. Hopefully, one day I will find a doctor who doesn't think it's my destiny to be fat and that I will be able to return to a body that I am comfortable with

[utahmomma]

I am sorry.  Unfortunately thyroid conditions are usually "invisible" conditions and people don't take us seriously.  Go ahead and VENT!   We all do.

Utahmomma
papillary carcinoma
(yes, thyroid cancer is a "real cancer")   :-)

[anree]

Unfortunatly even spouses can be insensitive!  We are taking pills for 'this' so that means we should be 'normal' all the time. I just wrote a journal entry venting about my husband! Some days I think my depression comes from other people assuming things about me and my body!

[ChitChatNine]

I am so sorry this happened.  I tell people to buy imaginary earplugs and wear a thick alligator skin.  But you shouldn't have to do this..

Oftentimes because of their lack of education and ignorance they cannot cope with what is going on with you and make light of the situation so THEY feel better.  I've seen it over and over and over and it is just awful; not an excuse but a reason.

C~

[redheadaussie]

Hi, I know what you mean...I had my sister ring me the other day and tell me that Hashimoto's Disease was something I looked up on the internet....that my pre-cancerous thyroid was an attention seeking excersise, and that my inability to have more than a couple of hours awake each day was me being lazy and a victim and that I must like staying on welfare coz it is easier....My mum did say to me too before I had my surgery, "Oh well, at least now you can lose some weight" (I'd gone from 100 kilos to 85 kilos over 18 months but I didn't know I was hypo at the time and it was freakingly impossible to shift that weight for over 3 years!)
   So, as I often say on the group, there is just not enough information about thyroid conditions to the general public, until you get ill then you personally know about it.
   Hang in there, have a good old vent and know we are all here for you. Who else can you turn to!, but your medhelp family!