Please! Exhaustion, Scared, Newly diagnosed Hypothyroid

[heelsdown]

I've had increasing fatigue for almost 4 months now. After 3 months of tests, mostly related to my mitral valve prolapse and heart murmur grade 4 out ot 6, I was diagnosed Hypothyroid. My general pract has been testing my thyroid at least twice a year for many years, as I also suffer from depression. He tested my thyroid again about 3 months ago at my first visit due to fatigue and it was fine. He retested it 10 days ago, and now right at 1/2 of it is dead. I have been on Synthroid for 10 days now. I am absolutely terrified due to the exhaustion and related symptoms. The exhaustion is extreme, and still seems to be getting worse. My gen pract. has assured me that it can take up to a minimum of 6 weeks to feel any of the benefits of thyroid supplementation. The exhaustion has steadily increased for the past 3 months. Now, I have been out of work for 4 weeks, can't drive, and normal activities wear me out.          
  I'm the hospital manager for a 5 dr. veterinary practice and have been at this one practice for 21 years. I am used to working 11-12 hour days. Now, I can barely lift my arms amd they feel like they weigh a ton. There are times when I feel paralyzed. I have progressed to "episodes" that I can only describe as feeling like my body suffers from an "electric shortage". It's like, if I were a computer, the electic current is interrupted in one second increments. Or, were I a robot, I have a short circuit in my wiring. It's almost like an electric shock passes through my body and I feel like I'm going to pass out. It's not the normal dizziness, it's like the lights are going out in an instant.  I know a bit about thyroid disorder from the dogs and cats I've seen treated over 28 years of veterinary medicine. However, I am a business major, not a dr. or tech.
I would just like to know that someone else has experienced this scary feeling so I'm not alone and that there is hope.

[Terri627]

Hello,
I can assure you that many people here know exactly how you feel. I am one of them.
Have you seen an endocrinologist? It really is important to work with someone who
is more educated in thyroid related illnesses. Also, a lot of people on this site are
wonderful with interpreting lab results, so if you have your results and the reference
ranges, they can supply you with additional help. I've been dealing with the exhaustion
for many years, had thyroid cancer and total thyroidectomy 5 years ago. I'm still
working with my endo (she's relatively new to me because I changed to get one
closer to home), but she seems really willing to listen and work with me.

Anyway, you are not alone, most of us here share your story in one way or another.
I am impressed at how well you describe your symptoms, I've always had a hard
time putting words to how I feel.

Take care, post your results if you have them and let the community members help.
That's what they're here for.

Terri

[Glenda306]

It's taken me years to get through to my GP and OB/GYN first that my thyroid was out of whack and then later that my dosage or synthroid needed to be increased.  The drs all looked at me and said I was naturally going to be tired because I was a mother of young kids and overweight.  It does take about 4w for you to start feeling better, but when it kicks in--the difference is amazing.  I was SO tired of being tired!  One thing a lot of drs don't realize is that if you ARE hypothyroid you need to keep your TSH between 1-2 and NOT in the "normal" range of up to 5.5.  My TSH was around 3.7 and it caused me fertility problems and miscarriage (maybe even both m/cs were caused by hypothyroidism) along with all the fatigue, weight gain, etc.  After getting my TSH down around 1, I got pg easily and had a healthy baby.

There's a good thyroid tracker on this website.  Be sure to use it and keep an eye on how you feel and what your TSH is doing.  Go to an endocrinologist if you don't feel like your GP is aggressive enough.

[Smilerdeb]

I totally agree with the above postings.
Post yr labs if you have them...with the ranges and others can help support you at this time.

[ellesan]

I am so sorry...unfortunately I know exactly what you are going through, you are not alone! I went through this in February of this year so it's still fresh in my mind. I felt the same things, could not understand the extreme fatigue,exhaustion, weakness, muscle and joint pain. I also had lots of strange tingling, numbness and burning sensations all over my body--could not understand it. Couldn't work for a while, couldn't even open a water bottle when it was so bad. The scariest thing I've ever been through by far. Did you get tested for Hashimoto's anitbodies?

It can take time to feel better, but there is hope! Even though you don't feel like it, you have to keep fighting to get what you need. There's so much great support here on this forum. :)

Sandra

[jkv44]

Hi,
all these people give such great advice especially to me who was only newly diagnosed with hypo a few weeks ago. Before then thought I'm dying with all the fatigue, weightloss, numbness in legs, fingers, buringing, extreme muscle pain. I to took off work becuase I wasn't sure what was going on.

Mu PCP just said oh, you must be depressed. Well of course who wouldn't be feeling like this. :)

After seeing a specialist and several ER doctors because didn't know what was going on. I got the diagnosis of hypo and only started meds. I feel vindicated that all my aches and pains aren't in my head.

Hang in there. Everyone is here for you. This site has been one of the best and has helped keep me going. I've learned about symptoms related to thyroid issues that aren't even listed on the web.

We should start charging for all the great advice we give and recieve. Janice

[heelsdown]

THANKS for all the support and information. I have been SO scared and trying to keep my fear from my beautiful, red-headed, 13 year old daughter. Even though they are supportive and helpful, my family has NO idea what I'm dealing with. As a single mom,  I've made sure my life insurance policy was up to date, all forms filled in as much as I could; left info on what's in my safety deposit box, etc. etc. because I've been sure that I was dying. It's been 10 days since I started Synthyroid 50 mg. once daily and I feel just as bad. Guess I'm impatient - I'm not used to sitting still. OH, didn't mention that my Psychiatrist decided that I was ADD, so I am on Adderall (adderrall) XR twice daily. I can't IMAGINE how bad I'd feel without this medication. I don't think I would be able to move at all. Anyway, to answer some of the questions.
***No, I haven't seen an endocrinologist. One of my best friends, a veterinarian, said the same thing. GO SEE ONE NOW! She's diabetic, has a wonderful endoc., and even though it's 2 months wait to get in with him, she can get me in asap - God love her.
****No, I haven't been tested specifically for Hashimoto antibodies, just Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (unless this is the same thing?)
***Thyroid Test results - Hashimoto's     ** TSH High at 9.24 uIU/mL/ **T4 Free  - normal at .78 ng/dL / **Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies - High at 801  IU/mL
*** Other tests run - **Vitamin D, 25 OH, TOTAL- Low at 19 ng/mL (Am taking 1200 mg/day for this)
***Lyme disease - Negative with only one reactive band on the Western Blot (I work for a veterinary hospital, so dr. ran this one, too.)
*****K low at 3.4 (However, dr. said this was normal for me)
*****Asked dr. to check me for Addison's as my Cardiologist mentioned it. Didn't do an ACTH Stim, just a resting, I guess?  Anyway, results normal at 11 pg/mL

I've always been TOO thin and haven't as of YET had a problem with weight gain. I'm 49, single and am trying to give away the two children I have, so no problems pregnancy wise. I have become menopausal within the last 9 months or so. Can't think of anything else of extreme significance unless someone out there has a specific question. THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the reassurance. I feel so helpless.

[hypothyme]

I was just diagnosed with hypothryoid.  I have been on levothyroxine 0.025MG for 15 days.  I don't feel a thing.  I can think am still exhausted for no reason.  I am taking Adderall (adderrall) for ADD as well.  I can think really well now ;), but physically, too tired to do anything.  

I felt great after giving birth.  I was energetic, happy, bright-eyed, but have been exhausted for many months now.  I remember a year after my first child was born, I had alopecia, but thought it was due to stress.  

I believe my hypothroid started at puberty.  I have pretibial myxedema, which means ugly fat legs.  I had beautiful legs before puberty, I just thought that puberty increased body fat.  Does anyone else had this problem?  How long did it take to get rid of the myxedema?

Anyway, I think it takes 4 to 6 weeks to feel anything and takes 6  months to see any significant change.  I am happy that I am finally diagnosed with something, I was starting to feel that I was a hypochondriac.  

[gimel]

I heartily recommend that you both read and absorb the info in this article.

http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html

Please pay particular attention to the discussion of the fallacy of treating thyroid patients based on TSH levels.  Note just how vital it is to know the free T3 and free T4 levels because they are the biologically active thyroid hormones that largely regulate metabolism and many other body functions.  Note also, that frequently it is necessary for the FT3 and FT4 levels to be adjusted into the upper part of their range to alleviate hypo symptoms.  

Suggest that you read and discuss all this with doctors and hopefully the doctor will be willing to take this approach, rather than just getting TSH and the "Frees" anywhere within their ranges.  That frequently results in patients with lingering hypo symptoms like yours.

[Glenda306]

Your TSH was 9.24????  I was exhausted when mine was just up to 3.77!!!  I think you need a higher dose of synthroid!  Definitely get something done about that!

[thelma201]

you have come to a very good place, full of others willing to share their stories with hypothyroid. i'm still trying to get the correct dosage, after 3 years....some days are better than others, and some of my original symptoms have gotten better, but the way i describe how my body feels..LIKE A LEAD BALOON!! I haven't had much luck with the docs i've see up to now, but i have learned a great deal here, mostly about the "free's" and how important they are in treating this....nobody has paid much attention to mine.never had my FT3 even looked at..and June 09' FT4 was still onlt 1.1.....sorry , babbling....be assertive, get the free's tested. and keep asking questions here, and at your dr. visits.......well wishes, thalma

[takingpics64]

I have recently  been diagnosed with POS which is a hormone/insulin caused disease.  I have been exhausted for a year now...not enough energy to be myself and feeling really guilty about not being able to keep up on things at home the way I use to.  Over the past years I have gone from being severely underweight to now being overweight.  The weight gain was rapid and was blamed on my medication Paxil for anxiety attacks.  I have read in a few different article that POS is one of the symptoms of Hypo Thyroid and yet my doctors can't find any thyroid problems in my blood work.  I have been tested 1-2 times a year for the past 10 years yet I still continue to display symptoms of it.  My doctor refuses to send me to an endrociniologist because my blood levels seem normal she said.  I am so frustrated...I'm beginning to feel like I'm just plain lazy but yet, I never have been in the past.  I have such dry skin that I can't sit  still and it doesn't matter which creams I use or bath remedies I continue to itch my skin off.  

I need help!!! What can I do?