help?

[mary469]

I was on Synthroid then switched to levothroxin and now i am no longer taking the meds. I lost my job many months ago along with the insurance. My husband is self employed and we cant afford the insurance and i have been turned down for insurance because of my weight (due to the thyroid,lol) anyway, We dont qualify for state funded insurance. go figure. Anyway, I have been off the meds and cant afford to go to a clinic and pay for the visit and the blood work just to get the Script and am wondering what i can do in the mean time to help. I am not longer stuck at a weight as before now i am gaining more, extremely tired all the time, I don't have a libido so to speak and my hair is falling out at an alarming rate(to me) i notice more now. The last time i tried to go to the doctor he wouldnt listen started me back on 100mg (when i was previously on 150mg) and when i couldnt afford to go back it i have even become more depressed now. I havent had blood work done in almost a year now, no meds since feb 08. Is there anything that i can do naturally? what i eat, can take, money is the issue, i can afford the meds at walmart just not everything that leads up to getting them. I truelly need help i am now 315lbs and size 26 (tight) and have a 3 yr old that i cant play with, no energy, and that is with a bunch of caffene to make it through the day. And i recently started snoring sooo bad that i cant even sleep in my bed anymore and i wake everyone up. I feel like i am losing my mind! My memory is shot and I have now had 3 miscarrages. (1 before meds, had baby while on meds and the other 2 mis. after being off meds).  I leterally feel like  I am dying. Can anybody give me some kind of tips, hints, advise, The closest free clinic is 2 1/2 hours away. Thank you for what ever help you can give.

[Elaine94]

The best thing I have found to help a low thyroid function is kelp.For the iodine it contains. Our food just does not contain much iodine.That is why they started putting it in table salt. It actually brought my tsh test back to normal. I did have to take it for 2 months to see the results but it did work.I now take it everyday but I do not buy anything that is not organic.( It cost more but works well). Also where I live you can usually go to a health fair, put on by the area hospitals and they do thyroid tests,diabetic tests(A1C) and lipid tests it usually cost less than $40.00 for me. I have been checking on my thyroid myself because I was unable to get a doctor to prescribe any thyroid and that was for years and after seeing many doctors. The test was just barely off for them and they would not prescribe anything, but my symptoms were hypothyroid. Also the best diet I have found is Dr.Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes.It is Vegan but I have found that their are ways to make it cheaper to eat meat free. Lentils, beans, rice etc. I bought my book (used) for $2.00 on Amozon. He has writen others for people that are not diabetic. But I am and have reduced my insulin use in half after using this book. I have lost weight without trying at all, just not eating meat and fat and of course for me processed sugar.I can eat much more than I have ever eaten and still lose weight.Hope this is good information for you.

[AR-10]

Finding a free clinic is the cheapest thing I can think of.

My insurance is Blue Cross that has been in place for twenty years. I may lose it, for financial reasons, and I have asked around to see what would happen if I lose insurance.

The alternatives are few and dismal. I basically won't get treatment without driving an hour and waiting with no appointment. Then I will be seen by the worst doctors available. But as far as I know I don't even qualify for that program.

A free clinic would be better than the county program that I probably still don't qualify for.

The best advice I can offer is this;

Go to the clinic you have dealt with. Tell them your situation and ask what the costs of a TSH test and a Free T4 test would be. Ask them if a cash discount would be possible. If it is beyond your means even with a cash discount, ask if you get on a monthly payment plan. Ask what other resources are available in the community.

Good luck.

[stella5349]

So many people are in this position. I thank God everyday that I have my job and the benefits I get.

I was in the same position as you when I lost a job a while back. It was at the peak of my illness and I know exactly how you feel when you say you felt like you are dying.

All I can say is make the absolute most of a real doctor's appointment right now. Schedule an appointment. Before going make sure the doctor IS understanding and knows about thyroid issues. Don't waste your money and time on someone who doesn't get it.

Without at least getting the important labs done - like Free T3 and Free T4 - and a TSH - it is like digging for straws in a haystack to get you well.

Thyroid disease is so hard to pin point and get treated. Very few have had an appointment and got medication that returned them to a healthy person. It usually takes months ( and that is a short time) to tweek meds and run labs - before  you return to health.

I can't tell you the thousands I have in bills in wasted doctors appointments that I am still paying. We lived on credit for two years because I was so ill. Paying that back has been very rough.

Can your husband and you afford  - like a basic plan? I know people like AR-10 and Laura1967 have plans similiar to what I am saying.

Maybe they can help you find something to get you through the hump so you can afford to get treatment?