POLL: How Many Thyroid Success Stories Can We Come Up With?!

[DLA]

Keep reading how newbies think it is all bad so let's see how many of us can share the GOOD news with them that we have found the light at the end of the tunnel (No, not the train ;)   We may not be all the way through it yet, but we're getting there.

Here's mine.  After finally getting my thyroid levels right, my hair no longer falls out and has started to come back in.  My eyebrows and eyelashes have never been thicker.  Boooo on the eyebrows, but yeaaahhhh on the eyelashes.  Am starting to notice a real difference in the amount of pain I am in.  Not nearly as much.  And am feeling better.  If not noticeable on a daily basis, it is on a weekly one.  Even my finger nails look much better.  =+)  Don't need a daily nap any more.  And am having more good days then bad days now.  Best part is that I have been able to find my smile and sense of humor again.  I truly missed it!

Hope this gives all of you something to look forward to.  If you are of faith, hang on to that, He will see you through.

Dac

[msfergy]

Did you expirience tingling, weakness, numbness or should i say neuro issues?

[dart frog]

I am post-op excatly two months today. ( sunday 9th )

My brain fog is gone
My energy level gets better every day....and is 90% back
My speed bump and swelling...is history!! heeehaw
I have full range of motion again in my neck.
Very very little pain and only if I lift something heavy.
If you stand further then 6 feet from me you cant see my scar at all...yes I measured it :-)
I can swallow anything
No more breathing problems from compression

there is NO doubt that surgery was THE best thing for me.

[msfergy]

My symptoms as of now are,
Pain in lower legs and feet everyday 7-10
discomfort in neck 5
pain under arms 7
tired everyday 10
numb hands 8
vibrations here and there have calmed some 5
hair loss 4 back of neck pain 3-4

[rohit_786]

My tongue is also whitish and i have to use tongue scraper more often than before but mouth is really really dry.Anyone here also suffer hot flashes ?. What i mean feel like hot inside but if some one see me he doesn't notice that i feel hot..
Please do share your current symptoms and in scale of 1 to10 how do you feel ?.

[msfergy]

I think I hva had a thyroid problem all my life but never had test ran, i was fine till my 30's.

[DLA]

Every hen house needs a few roosters!  ;+)

[NadiaPost]

This is so sweet.  Im not really new to the world of thyroid problems but I had no idea so many people were out there with the same thing!  I think I can safely say Ive been a success, since I was eleven I had never had any appetite, never been able to get from point A to point B, depressed, anxious, told it was just part of growing up, would sleep for 16 hours a night, doctors told me to see a dermatologist for the hair loss, psychiatry for the oversleeping, blood tests for anemia, leukemia, and then all of a sudden thyroid! One set of pills and Ive never felt so normal.  There are side effects, sure, but I don't feel like walking to the post office is like hiking the Appalachian trail anymore, food is appealing, sex looks like fun, I can remember telephone numbers!  Its like someone poked me in the side and said wake up, and I did.  

[msfergy]

Well my mouth does get dry and my tounge has been really white and bigger for awhile now plus my gums inside tend to peel.

[rohit_786]

What a wonderful thread !!.
I hope i also feel same as every one in this thread feel. I have been struggling with my thyroid for last 1 1/2 so far change 4 doctors. I hope one day i feel as better as before i even diagnosed thyroid/Hashimoto.
Is anyone feel dry mouth when taking Levoxyl ?. I know this thread is not for asking question but i thought this is the best thread to ask as everyone shares their story may know if dry mouth is Levoxyl or thyroid side effects.

Once again this forum is now family , i get good support and courage after reading everyone's post . Although i  am male chicken :-)..

[LawDoggy]

Just wanted to let you know that I already have a success story!

I'm only thee days into medication for Hypo, but while I wait for results, I've been meeting some of the brightest and funniest and most caring people RIGHT HERE on this forum!  I'm grateful for that and I think the camaraderie here has helped me heal already.  Maybe the hole in my soul was as painful as my joints!  Laughter is really good medicine.   Thanks to everyone here.

mary

[zad31]

I would just like to say thanks for your story i was wondering if there was any light at the end of the tunnel. Ive had overactive throid for 2 years one day iam up then down still attenting hospital but at least now i no that there is a chance that 1 day i could be fine. thanks

[msfergy]

Ok your making me cry! You all are so wonderful and give me encouragment, something I don't get here. I guess if i go along with the surgery everything will be ok and I might get somewhat better, i did finally make that pre op apt. it is Tuesday so I will know from there when i go. Thank You all so much......... :(:::::: But you still made me cry.......
Tina

[LawDoggy]

What a wonderful thread!

I am a newbie and yes, I really was beginning to think this was all for nothing.  I thought NO one ever felt better once they were diagnosed with thyroid issues.  Now I see that many...maybe even most....do feel better but this is a place to come when we are not feeling good to talk to people who truly understand.  

Thank you for your honesty and sharing.  Some of you are new like me and some may have to stretch to remember just how frightening this newbie stage is.  I have lived with symptoms for years and have never complained because I knew the doctor would just say, "Lose weight, exercise and you'll be fine."  I've been on anti-depressants for 18 years.  Six months ago, I started medicines for high blood pressure, insulin resistance and cholesterol.  I had actually begun to think about dying but didn't tell anyone how sick I felt.  Then the TSH showed up on a routine physical and my doctor thumped his head (like he should've had a V-8) and said the thyroid replacement was really going to make me feel better.  I'm banking all my hopes on this because for the last six months, my symptoms have been reaching an unbearable stage.   (Even if I couldn't burden anyone else with them...)

Then...I read your stories and I see that we've all been where I am at.  I have a lot to look forward to and I have a lot to be thankful for.  Thank you for making my unbearable pain very bearable.  That's what the universality of all this does...it makes us able to cope because we see others have gone before and we will get better.  I don't ask for 100% - just a little relief.  I seem to have found it here.

Many, many thanks,
Mary

[redhed87]

My story is like many- I found a lump in my neck and it ended up being cancer.  I didn't really even know the extent of what my thyroid did until I was about to lose it.  Just being here makes us all survivors.  I am still working toward the "normal" feeling that I once had, but I feel lucky that the cancer is gone.  I feel that I need to share my story and spread awareness. I am like so many women- no health problems, active and then "BAM" i was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer surely doesn't discriminate............

[skymax2000]

I haven't had surgery. I'm lucky antithyroid meds worked for me and has actually changed my life. I use to sit on the couch or in bed all day from fatigue for like ten years. Now I have energy and drive to get things done. My hair has never been shinier or fuller and I'm enjoying life. (Most of the time.)

[scarlet37]

    I was sick for almost a year before my doctors found the problem was in my thyroid. I had to keep pushing for an answer and not allow any doctor to dismiss me. I've been tested for everything from lyme diease to brain aneurysms, you name I've been tested for it. I went from being a super-mom & wife & multi tasking multi tasker to a non functioning couch potato who couldn't even remember her married name after 15 years!
  
My surgery was a complete success, my surgeon who happened to be 3 years younger than me was fantastic. My surgery lasted 4 1/2 hrs. or 5 maybe-, spent 2 nights in hosp. for calcium watch. Benign path report!! Yippeee. My scar was barely noticeable after 1 week, and now 9 mos. post op  not noticable unless i stretch the skin & point it out.

I have done quite a bit of whining on this forum in the last week or so and just want to let you all know that This isn't as bad as it seems or as I posted it- those are just "bad days". When I feel "old "symptoms coming back it means my levels are off and I can feel it. I guess the fear of waking up and being as sick as I was last year scares the heck out of me.  Trust me when I say- I am much better than I was a year ago and would NOT change my decision to have a thyroidectomy!  Although I have yet to find a sweet spot in my levels I am MUCH better than I was last year at this time.

May god bless us all with comfort and patience as we all learn to deal with our "bad days" as well as rejoice in our good days.

teresa


  

[JoBa]

Oh, and they did mention that they felt pretty crummy until the meds were adjusted. So it's not all wine and roses.

[JoBa]

Since I made my thyroid problems "public", i.e. I told people at work, I learned that one of my employees, the husband of another of my employees (he is my electrician), and a veterinarian colleague have been on thyroid meds for many years. The reasons vary and include cancer (at the age of 27) and autoimmune disease. My electrician has been on thyroid meds since he was 7 years old.  It can take awhile to get things stabilized with regard to the meds, but all of these folks are doing wonderfully. Unfortunately, that means that they are not cutting me any slack with my surgery, although the vet has agreed that he won't start pestering me with work issues until Monday. Gee, thanks.  LOL.

[AR-10]

Thank you for this thread.

I slipped into a funk this morning because I felt horrible and all I could think was it is never going to end.

Reading that one day I may again feel normal has lifted my spirits.  

[shaerich]

Dac,
I think your question is not only good for the newbies, but a good reminder to us that there is positive parts to the whole thyroid fiasco.  Thanks for making us think about that! :)

For me, I have more energy on Levoxyl and Cytomel than I did with my own (HEALTHY) thyroid.  I can stay up past 9:00 a couple of times a week and not feel like I'm hung over the next morning.  Prior to my surgery I was in bed by 8:30 and out by 8:35.  My two year old stayed up later than me!

Most importantly, I've realized how important it is to not take each day for granted.  Yes, I still have days where I throw myself a pity party b/c I hate having to be medicated for the rest of my life at such a young age, but having this scare has brought incredible perspective.  Life is fleeting and you NEVER know what tomorrow will bring, so don't put off telling someone you love them, or making time to have lunch with a friend, or putting aside laundry to read a book to your little one.  

[Venora Moonwind]

I am a success story.Like chichat Ididnt know I had Pap cancer untill it was out.I am feeling way better without my thyroid than i did with it in.My good days outnumber my bad days now.I am cancer free and I am enjjoying my life my grandsons and things couldnt be better.Plus I have all my lovely new friends here at the forum.I love all of you.
Love Venora

[ChitChatNine]

One)

I NEVER knew I had the papillary microcarinomas they found and was very much relieved when the orig. 2 atypical nodules turned out to be fully benign!!!  Having 1/2 the Thryoid removed was a success in treating these items very early on with least am't of ongoing treatment AND the most am't of preventative treatment in that they seriously watch over me and I have ultrasounds to the thyroid every 6 mos and am in the driver's seat having all this knowledge since my partial and cancer diagnosis.

Two)
No Dr ever took me seriously with my hypo symptoms as the #'s were "normal" but now with 1/2 the thyroid gone and the other 1/2 not working they ALL AGREE I have been subclinical with answers to some of my symptoms.

Three) I feel the best I have felt on Synthroid vs. my own thyroid!!!!!


C~

[JoBa]

The night before my surgery I walked over to the site of the 35W bridge collapse, which is 3 blocks from where I live. I wanted to see the road underneath the bridge because I drove under it 15 minutes before it went down. When I saw the bridge laying absolutely flat down on the road I had been on, it kind of put the whole thyroid thing in perspective for me. I actually felt lucky.

My surgery went well and although I have a sore neck, I have had no complications as yet. The frozen section was benign, so they only removed half of the thyroid and I am not currently on any meds. That, of course, can change on with the final report, but as of now I feel great and am anxious to get back to work because I am bored silly. And while I long for the days when I wasn't facing the prospective of dealing with a chronic health issue, I feel like I can handle whatever is coming with the help of my friends, family, and what I've learned from the experiences of people posting to this forum.

[shelly45]

Here's mine. After surgery I notice a big difference of  having more energy. I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready not dragging myself to get up. My appitete has improved. My perception of life has change to more positive outlook. I have even thought about starting the gym once I get cleared by my doctor to stay healthy. I have never thought of going to the gym before. The biggest difference that my parents notice is that I don't fall alseep at 5:30 or 6 p.m everyday. Since surgery I been going to sleep around 8 or 9 p.m like before. If things get even better I am thinking about returning to college to finish nursing school or something in medical field. I was in nursing school and when I got very ill I had to postpone it. Nursing school was the happiest time of my life so I want to continue it if I can get accepted again. Everyday is a more happier feeling.

Shelly45