I feel like no one understands

[CarleneWebber]

I am 27 and a mother of one son and a step daughter. I am morbidly obese and have tried everything to loose weight. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism then later undiagnosed. I am depressed about my body and constant fatigue. My husband and I are constantly fighting about my lack of drive and my inability to get things done.He feels it's my lack of want to make him happy, instead of the severe tiredness and fatigue. I was 1st diagnosed with thyroid disease in 2002. I began taking synthroid but did not feel a big change in my fatigue. I gained 30lbs from 2000 to 2002 and felt miserable. I made an appointment to re-evaluate my dosage and was scheduled to see my doctor after my return from Disney world, EXCEPT, the day after we returned I discovered I was pregnant. I went ahead and saw my doctor who then undiagnosed me with hypothyroidism and took me off my medication. My O.B.G.Y.N said that it was possible the baby was supporting my thyroid. Within a month of giving birth I lost 25lbs which brought me back to 200 lbs my pre-pregnancy weight. I then went on depo shot and began to consistently gain 2-3lbs per week. My doctor then retested me for hypothyroid and yet again told me I did not have hypothyroid. Of course each test was done by a new doctor. I now weigh approximately 258 lbs. I am depressed and I am not living my life any longer. I have no medical insurance because I can not afford it and I am not the mom I want to be. I don't know what to do. Just typing you this letter is taking every ounce of energy I have. I am tired of being called a hypochondriac and i can't take being misunderstood any longer. I will not deny I have had bad eating habits and lack of exercise, but I have had multiple trainers and have followed my regiments perfectly and still I DON'T LOOSE WEIGHT! I am just tired! PLEASE TELL ME WHATS GOING ON! I can't live like this anymore.

[CarleneWebber]

I am finding the board very supportive. Living for so long without, the support is very refreshing. I think that the depo really messed up my hormones and along with the thyroid as well as my diet, I just totally lost all control of my body and it's reactions to things. I think for along time I was in denial. I thought it was "ALL" me. I didn't realize the affects the depo and the untreated thyroid was having on me all around. I hope to start a long process of tests with a doctor very soon. I am beginning to believe that the thyroid really is the biggest issue and there is truly something wrong with my body, It's not all mental. For a long time I felt like I was lazy and fat and unproductive. I just couldn't figure out why I couldn't get going. I'd drink three rock stars a day and when they'd wear off I'd feel miserable. I still go through these times but I know now that it most likely isn't lazy Carly, it is the hypothyroid that I haven't been treating. I hope to find some answers soon. I have contacted my old doctor and asked what I need to do to get all my old records. Hopefully when I go to the (endo) it will help him best determine what next steps I should take. I also will ask for the tests that Karly122 suggested. Thanks for your support and sharing your experience with depo. I really think that shot should be band. I have many friends who went on the depo and had similar or more severe problems that you and I have. I think the shot is more dangerous than affective and no one really knows the consequences of it in the long run! Here I go getting all passionate about something LOL! Anyway thanks again.

[mommy2two2008]

Hi Carlene - I just wanted to share a little something.  I was on the depo shot when I was 16 for 9 months (am now 30 with 2 kids) and I went from 110 lbs to 160 in about 2 months.  I was forced to stay on it for 9 months b/c I would never stop a cycle (saying it that way to be nice to the men here) and if I did, maybe for a day and then whenever I would pick anything of any weight up (like a laundry basket) it would start up again.  Anyway, I went from that shot to the depo lupron which did not work either for the never ending cycle.  I was about 160-170 when I stopped all of those shots and my weight finally went down.  The more I am reading about thyroid issues, I find that it could have been a problem with the thyroid all along, I am just not sure.  Now I do have some sort of thyroid problem (which has yet to be determined b/c my bloodwork does not match my symptoms), and I went from 130 to 140 in 1 month and am doing nothing different than before.  All of this to say, the shots can do a lot of damage for some people, alternatively, they can help some (have a sister in law that swears by them).  Stopping that shot is the first step and then working toward the solution for the thyroid now.  This board is great and is wonderful to support.  Best wishes to you.  I hope you find answers soon. ~K

[CarleneWebber]

Thank you so much for the info. I find it so cool that you are Karly with a K an I am Carly with a C! Anyway, I will definitely follow what you said and ask for exactly what you told me to. I hope to go to my old doctor tomorrow and get my patient files to take to the endocrinologist. Maybe my files from the doctor who originally diagnosed me with hypothyroid will shed some light on everything. I will keep you all informed on what I find out! Thank you so much again! Just knowing there are others going through what I do        is comforting.

[Karly122]

Hi again.  First, find out if thyroid disorders run in your family.  It is stongly suggested that thyroid problems run in families, so if anyone you know of (mother, aunt, grandma, great grandma, etc..). Woman tend to get thyroid disease more often than men, but do find out about the males in your family also.  If it runs in your family, make sure to tell this to your doctor.  When you see your doctor, ask him to check for thyroid antibodies. Tell him you would like another TSH, free T4, and free T3.  Get your prescription for these tests and bring it home with you.  Now, it's time to find a lab.  You want to use a good lab that uses the new scale for TSH.  The new scale is 0.3-3.0.  (the old was 0.5-5.0) It was changed because so many thyroid disorders were going undiagnosed.  The pink pill you were speaking of was Synthroid .25mcg.  This is the lowest dose, and when I was on it, I didn't feel a thing either. Try to see an endocrinologist if you can.  They have far more knowledge than a general practioner, or a gyne.  
Wish you well,
Karly

[CarleneWebber]

I cried when I read the responses from you all. I am clueless when it comes to t4 ect. I have applied for health coverage through the state but that takes forever. I don't know what the dose was but I do remember it was a tiny pink looking pill. I did go off of depo about 9 months ago because believe it or not I was never told about the side affects till my last shot! I had no idea that the sudden headaches, chest pain, weight gain were all side affects of depo and I was never told I needed to be on calcium supplements either. Along with my thyroid issues being on the depo got to much for me. I hope to find some kind of help soon. I would love complete advice on what to ask my doctor to look for when I go to see him. What test he should give me ect. Thanks for the support I really needed it.

[nellster]

Happy thoughts being sent your way.  There are many who understand.  One thought, many states offer healthcare to those who cannot afford it ( should be available to all as healthcare is so expensive, millions are without) please visit a social service agency in your town and see how they can help.  Also, check with the social service office at your local hospital, they may be able to give you advice on how to gain healthcare.  

Stay positive and please keep us posted.

welcome to the board.

[ChitChatNine]

Did they do antibody testing for autoimmune disorder of the thyroid?  I ask bcz you may be shifting hypo to hyper and when they say normal you may be "more hyper" than what is normal for you .. just a shot in the dark as I read your post.

Stick around here .. We understand where you are at and where you are going ... WELCOME to the THYROID Community!

See if you can get copies of the labs for when they said you were hypo, etc.  Important to see where the #'s went in this regard from Dr. to Dr., too ...

Cheryl

[Karly122]

Hi.  I'm sorry to hear how you are feeling.  I, too, was labeled a hypochondriac by one doctor, and it's horrible to hear this when you KNOW something's wrong with your body.  I, also,  went on the Depo shot.  It made me feel suicidal, and I ate constantly and gained a lot of weight.  I know that after I took that ONE shot of Depo, I got a thyroid problem.  I would either find a new doctor, (an endo) or go back to the old one and tell him of your symptoms and ask him to run a thyroid panel on you along with thyroid antibody tests. Make sure they test your free T4 levels.  This is the amount of active T4 circulating in your blood.  From personal experience, I would never go on the Depo or any other birth control again.  They really mess with your hormones.  I know you said you have no insurance, but this is your health, so somehow or another, I would get that money. (Can you ask your family?) It is very clear that a low thyroid makes losing weight very difficult, and that Depo shot is only contributing to the weight gain.  I would stop the shots and let that stuff leave your system.  I would then focus on finding out what's going on in my body.  As far as your husband, (please forgive me), he sounds a bit insensitive. He is your partner, so he should be the other half working to get you better.  For the time being, he can take care of his own needs. (forgive me again).  
I, too, deal with the no sex drive and my husband used to bother me about it.  He is more understanding now.
One more thing, it may be that you didn't feel much different when you started the thyroid medicine because it was probably a low dose, and not the correct one.  Can you tell me which dose the doctor started you on, and how long you were on it?
Good luck to you and keep us posted.
-Karly