Aa
Can some one help me? PLEASE
I have been diagnoised with this virus. Each day I feel worse and I have no hope.I am not on anything besides the vitamnins my doctor said would make me feel so much better. My last blood test showed my thyroid levels are fine but my antibodies are at 881 were they should be 40. At least that is what my Dr says. I know I have all the symptoms listed only mine includes being sick daily.I have gained 40 lbs,My joints and bones hurt so bad that it hurt to breath ,I now have high blood pressure and I have delayed relaxation reflect disorder.I was told this by the endocrinologist at Vandy Hospital. I know what I have I just have not been told how to deal with it or how long it will be before my body totally destroyes my thyroid and then I can get better,But none of the Doctors I hae seen will tell me. Please someone tell me what to do. I feel so bad and I am in so much pain and I see no end. If someone could just tell me it will get better at least that is hope.If there something I can take besides vitamins I know how much they help. Thanks
Just diagnosed with thyroid disease. Fiest the doc said hypo...then he came back and said hyper. I have mostly all hypo symptoms and a couple of hyper. I live in Tennessee and was just hired at a new job and I wont have insurance for 4 months...and even then I have a 3000 deductible that has to be met. I just never know from day to day how Im going to feel. Does anyone have any suggestions on affordable treatment? I just cant afford a specialist right now.....
hello dunkling:
i am a person living with the after effects of graves disease and let me tell you that it is no fun. i had my thyroid removed 5 years ago, began the medication and guess what. the thyroid grew back. in the beginning, all my labs were extremely high, like 20 times the amount needed for my body. it took 2 years to get the values down before i could get help. i felt like a psychotic person, i was so hyper, family and friend thought i was on drugs. i went thru hell...i was like this 7 years before i was diagnosed, all the md's i went to treated me for anxiety and panic attacks..i was a hyper thyroid. talk to ur docote, check all you thyroid levels.ndont wait.. i have heart failure now because it took so long for me to be diagnosed. i am 42 years old and a nurse, so just talk to your docotr and ask questions, no question is stupd. its your life and body..i have gained over 40lbs. i have days of depression and no energy.. because now they say im a hypo or low thyroid, and my meds are not right for me, we are still working on getting the meds adjusted to my body. dont wait for your thyroid to stop working, that will take years. take care of yourself, thyroid disease is no joking thing, it affects every part of your body. keep us updated please. thanks so much.
i am a person living with the after effects of graves disease and let me tell you that it is no fun. i had my thyroid removed 5 years ago, began the medication and guess what. the thyroid grew back. in the beginning, all my labs were extremely high, like 20 times the amount needed for my body. it took 2 years to get the values down before i could get help. i felt like a psychotic person, i was so hyper, family and friend thought i was on drugs. i went thru hell...i was like this 7 years before i was diagnosed, all the md's i went to treated me for anxiety and panic attacks..i was a hyper thyroid. talk to ur docote, check all you thyroid levels.ndont wait.. i have heart failure now because it took so long for me to be diagnosed. i am 42 years old and a nurse, so just talk to your docotr and ask questions, no question is stupd. its your life and body..i have gained over 40lbs. i have days of depression and no energy.. because now they say im a hypo or low thyroid, and my meds are not right for me, we are still working on getting the meds adjusted to my body. dont wait for your thyroid to stop working, that will take years. take care of yourself, thyroid disease is no joking thing, it affects every part of your body. keep us updated please. thanks so much.
Also-as far as copies of your labs go- a lot of people do not realize that in TN, you have to pay up to $20.00 for the copies of your labs! That can be per page-the Doctors in this State flat tell patients that the lab reports belong to them-if you want them-You, the Patient have to pay an Administrative Fee of up to $20.00 per page to get your own lab reports!!
So, Trust Me-I can very well Understand if you do not have copies of all the gosh darned paperwork!
Michelle
So, Trust Me-I can very well Understand if you do not have copies of all the gosh darned paperwork!
Michelle
By no means am I saying do not go to your M.D.
I am just suggesting that you see a Naturopathic Doctor-they are not really Doctors in most cases, but someone that has taken special courses in mind/body function and Herbal/Chinese Medicine and the relationship with diseases and diet.
I know that it can take a while to get another Dr.'s Appt-in TN, it can be 3-4 months-if you are lucky and I can tell that you need some relief from pain-NOW!
Also, I did not say to not use Iodized Salt-I poined out that it is all I ever use, too-as well as eat seaweed and kelp. I am just tired of the M.D.'s trying to tell us that a low Iodine Diet caused all this he//.
As I stated, a Naturopathic Doctor will not interfere with the M.D.'s treatments, but work with them and try to get you some safe, effective relief from the pain and anxiety that you are having!!
I KNOW THAT IT CAN TAKE FOREVER TO SEEE YOUR ENDO AGAIN-especially if you have crappy Insurance, have you tried to get TennCare? I have PRIVATE INSURANCE until the 27th, when it runs out and we will not be eligible for Tenn Care-we are supposed to take the COBRA Plan that we can't afford-but I have noticed that if you can get TennCare-the Doctors will work with you to get you into their offices much faster than if you had regular insurance! If you do not have TennCare-try to get it!
Stella and SmilerDeb are really great ladies with excellent advice onthis forum!!
Listen to them-they have been there and will try their best to help you!!
Good Luck!
Hope You Get To Feeling Better!
Michelle
I am just suggesting that you see a Naturopathic Doctor-they are not really Doctors in most cases, but someone that has taken special courses in mind/body function and Herbal/Chinese Medicine and the relationship with diseases and diet.
I know that it can take a while to get another Dr.'s Appt-in TN, it can be 3-4 months-if you are lucky and I can tell that you need some relief from pain-NOW!
Also, I did not say to not use Iodized Salt-I poined out that it is all I ever use, too-as well as eat seaweed and kelp. I am just tired of the M.D.'s trying to tell us that a low Iodine Diet caused all this he//.
As I stated, a Naturopathic Doctor will not interfere with the M.D.'s treatments, but work with them and try to get you some safe, effective relief from the pain and anxiety that you are having!!
I KNOW THAT IT CAN TAKE FOREVER TO SEEE YOUR ENDO AGAIN-especially if you have crappy Insurance, have you tried to get TennCare? I have PRIVATE INSURANCE until the 27th, when it runs out and we will not be eligible for Tenn Care-we are supposed to take the COBRA Plan that we can't afford-but I have noticed that if you can get TennCare-the Doctors will work with you to get you into their offices much faster than if you had regular insurance! If you do not have TennCare-try to get it!
Stella and SmilerDeb are really great ladies with excellent advice onthis forum!!
Listen to them-they have been there and will try their best to help you!!
Good Luck!
Hope You Get To Feeling Better!
Michelle
Hi
I am going to assume with the antibodies you are posting - This was found on a TPOab test which could and will indicate Hashimoto disease. It is a forever autoimmune disease and you will need treatment for it after the gland is gone from the attack.
Some doctors do not necessarily take a the antibodies testing when positive as a coarse of starting treatment. If the Thyroid levels of your TSH are indicating normal ranges - some chose to take the wait and see approach until the thyroid is attacked enough to imbalance thyroid function and cause hypothyroid levels. The problem is many suffer symptoms of hypothyroidism with "normal" levels with TSH when Hashimoto.
There is a wide range of treatment plans available for people in your situation. Some patients seek Naturalpath's to control the symptoms, some MD's decide thyroid medication can be given to "see" if that relieves the patient of these symptoms. Some people find selenium as a mineral that calms the attacks of Hashimoto. Some use a combination of all of the above until they find a situation they can live with until permanent distruction has happened. It's very hard to move into a treatment and really know it will be right for you. Mostly it is trial and error. For me, introducing certain vit's and minerals have helped me - but it has been years after my RAI - that I can say that now.
I agree that you need to follow up with your doctor, but more importantly you need to educate yourself on really understanding the condition. It is very hard when you feel so bad to almost "study" everything there is to know about this disorder - but it has to be done to achieve your goal of getting relief. A doctor is baffled at times with these conditions when we can't explain it properly. Go in with knowledge and talk over treatments on his/her level. If you find no connection with that doctor and no help with your situation - you need to move on to someone who looks at this as a long term treatment plan to get you well and functioning as best as possible with your disorder.
I think there are other options out there then permanently removing the gland from function. Eventually, in most cases, the gland will disolve function on it's own and that slow process can sometimes be a better and easier solution for the patient - then shocking your body with surgery or RAI and having to recover from that too. Permanent medical distruction does nothing to the antibodies - it only takes away the functioning gland so some find - after medical distruction- it takes longer to recover than just letting the body do the "job" it is doing. Proper frequent tests and evaluations are critical if this poses a choice for the patient. Remission of antibodies is the goal for autoimmune situations - not cure.
You should have copies of your labs at every visit to track your situation. Do you have the labs that indicate your anitbody levels along with the other thyroid tests? No one can really tell which antibodies you have without knowing what test was done. I am only speculating it is Hashimoto. If the antibodies are indicative of Graves(hyperthyroid) then this above would not apply.
Keep us posted.
I am going to assume with the antibodies you are posting - This was found on a TPOab test which could and will indicate Hashimoto disease. It is a forever autoimmune disease and you will need treatment for it after the gland is gone from the attack.
Some doctors do not necessarily take a the antibodies testing when positive as a coarse of starting treatment. If the Thyroid levels of your TSH are indicating normal ranges - some chose to take the wait and see approach until the thyroid is attacked enough to imbalance thyroid function and cause hypothyroid levels. The problem is many suffer symptoms of hypothyroidism with "normal" levels with TSH when Hashimoto.
There is a wide range of treatment plans available for people in your situation. Some patients seek Naturalpath's to control the symptoms, some MD's decide thyroid medication can be given to "see" if that relieves the patient of these symptoms. Some people find selenium as a mineral that calms the attacks of Hashimoto. Some use a combination of all of the above until they find a situation they can live with until permanent distruction has happened. It's very hard to move into a treatment and really know it will be right for you. Mostly it is trial and error. For me, introducing certain vit's and minerals have helped me - but it has been years after my RAI - that I can say that now.
I agree that you need to follow up with your doctor, but more importantly you need to educate yourself on really understanding the condition. It is very hard when you feel so bad to almost "study" everything there is to know about this disorder - but it has to be done to achieve your goal of getting relief. A doctor is baffled at times with these conditions when we can't explain it properly. Go in with knowledge and talk over treatments on his/her level. If you find no connection with that doctor and no help with your situation - you need to move on to someone who looks at this as a long term treatment plan to get you well and functioning as best as possible with your disorder.
I think there are other options out there then permanently removing the gland from function. Eventually, in most cases, the gland will disolve function on it's own and that slow process can sometimes be a better and easier solution for the patient - then shocking your body with surgery or RAI and having to recover from that too. Permanent medical distruction does nothing to the antibodies - it only takes away the functioning gland so some find - after medical distruction- it takes longer to recover than just letting the body do the "job" it is doing. Proper frequent tests and evaluations are critical if this poses a choice for the patient. Remission of antibodies is the goal for autoimmune situations - not cure.
You should have copies of your labs at every visit to track your situation. Do you have the labs that indicate your anitbody levels along with the other thyroid tests? No one can really tell which antibodies you have without knowing what test was done. I am only speculating it is Hashimoto. If the antibodies are indicative of Graves(hyperthyroid) then this above would not apply.
Keep us posted.
You have had your antibodies tested but dont say whether you have Hashimoto or Graves and symptoms are very similar with BOTH of these Diseases.
Either way, you need anti-thyroid medications or thyroid replacement medications.
You cannot simply get better by changing your diet.
Please post your levels here ...FT3, Ft4 TSH etc and then a lot can offer help.
With your antibodies at 880...it is a high level but I have heard of and seen higher.
The antibodies are what attack your thyroid and it could take years for it to be 'killed' off' as they say.
In the meantime, you are sufferring unneccasary and should be on some form of treatment.
I disagree with using Iodised Salt and always have but each to their own opinion I guess.
With the symptoms you have, your thyroid levels are not stable and medication will stabilise them and make you feel a lot better than you do now.
With Hashimoto (Hypo) you are at risk of Myexedema Coma if left untreated and with Graves Disease, you are at risk of Thyroid Storm which is Atrial Fibrillations that can cause major heart problems and/or a heart attack or stroke if too severe.
I am not trying to scare you......I am just trying to explain that by 'waiting', the problem will not go away and as i said earlier in the posting, your antibody levels are high and should be treated....either with medication, Thyroidectomy or RAI (Radioactive Iodine).
While your antibodies are high, the thyroid is being attacked and this can make you very ill.
Go back to your Endo/Doctor and demand answers.
Good Luck
Either way, you need anti-thyroid medications or thyroid replacement medications.
You cannot simply get better by changing your diet.
Please post your levels here ...FT3, Ft4 TSH etc and then a lot can offer help.
With your antibodies at 880...it is a high level but I have heard of and seen higher.
The antibodies are what attack your thyroid and it could take years for it to be 'killed' off' as they say.
In the meantime, you are sufferring unneccasary and should be on some form of treatment.
I disagree with using Iodised Salt and always have but each to their own opinion I guess.
With the symptoms you have, your thyroid levels are not stable and medication will stabilise them and make you feel a lot better than you do now.
With Hashimoto (Hypo) you are at risk of Myexedema Coma if left untreated and with Graves Disease, you are at risk of Thyroid Storm which is Atrial Fibrillations that can cause major heart problems and/or a heart attack or stroke if too severe.
I am not trying to scare you......I am just trying to explain that by 'waiting', the problem will not go away and as i said earlier in the posting, your antibody levels are high and should be treated....either with medication, Thyroidectomy or RAI (Radioactive Iodine).
While your antibodies are high, the thyroid is being attacked and this can make you very ill.
Go back to your Endo/Doctor and demand answers.
Good Luck
How well I understand how that you feel!!
There are some great people on this forum who will try to answer your questions!
I am sorry to hear someone else suffering and miserable!!
Are you from Tennessee, too? I noticed that you went to Vandy, but I know that they treat persons from several different states, also.
I was just kinda wondering if there is a link between those of us from the Tennessee Valley Area and Thyroid Disorders!-Just an observation, but there are quite a heck of a lot of people in this area with Thyroid Issues, and I am tired of hearing-LACK OF IODINE IN THE DIET!I have NEVER used anything other than IODIZED Salt and eat a LOT of Seaweed and Kelp, etc.
I am glad that you got to see an Endo at Vandy!!
In East TN, it takes a long time to get into an Endo!!
I understand your miserableness, and your pain!! I think that the virus must act at different speeds on different people, so the Dr. can't even make a guesstimate as to how long it will take!!
As far as Vitamins and Minerals, personally for me-THEY ARE A WASTE OF MONEY!!
Absolutely, Positivelly No Help Whatsoever!!
As far as anything else you could go to a Reputable Health Food Store and talk with the Naturopathic Doctor there, a Naturopathic Doctor will not give you anything to hurt you or to interfere with your Medical Doctor's treatment, but may be able to come up with a plan to help you feel better and not be in as much pain!!
Lettuce Lead Extract, I have found to be quite effective for pain! Different people respond to different things, though!! A Naturopathic Doctor does not charge you and arm, a leg and your first and second born like the Doctors of Medicine do!!
Good Luck!!
Michelle
There are some great people on this forum who will try to answer your questions!
I am sorry to hear someone else suffering and miserable!!
Are you from Tennessee, too? I noticed that you went to Vandy, but I know that they treat persons from several different states, also.
I was just kinda wondering if there is a link between those of us from the Tennessee Valley Area and Thyroid Disorders!-Just an observation, but there are quite a heck of a lot of people in this area with Thyroid Issues, and I am tired of hearing-LACK OF IODINE IN THE DIET!I have NEVER used anything other than IODIZED Salt and eat a LOT of Seaweed and Kelp, etc.
I am glad that you got to see an Endo at Vandy!!
In East TN, it takes a long time to get into an Endo!!
I understand your miserableness, and your pain!! I think that the virus must act at different speeds on different people, so the Dr. can't even make a guesstimate as to how long it will take!!
As far as Vitamins and Minerals, personally for me-THEY ARE A WASTE OF MONEY!!
Absolutely, Positivelly No Help Whatsoever!!
As far as anything else you could go to a Reputable Health Food Store and talk with the Naturopathic Doctor there, a Naturopathic Doctor will not give you anything to hurt you or to interfere with your Medical Doctor's treatment, but may be able to come up with a plan to help you feel better and not be in as much pain!!
Lettuce Lead Extract, I have found to be quite effective for pain! Different people respond to different things, though!! A Naturopathic Doctor does not charge you and arm, a leg and your first and second born like the Doctors of Medicine do!!
Good Luck!!
Michelle
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