M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E

[brettb262]

I feel awful right now, I've been on 100 mcg of synthroid for more than two months now and the last time I was tested (5-29-08) I had elevated TSH - 7.51, TPO AB - 287, and Thyroglobin AB - 32  my total testosterone was 180. I'm confused and irritated because my Endo says my problems don't sound like the thyroid is the cause. But I've had plenty of tests for different diseases, lupus whatever you name it, I've had one EEG and 2 lumbar punctures (because they let the spinal fluid sit out for 3 days on the first one!) and 2 MRI's I don't even know why they gave me a second one as there were no abnormalities on the first. None of these showed anything except for the thyroid is off! I'm a 19 year old male! Just a little over a year ago I was working in construction 10 hours a day 5 days a week, about to start college and now I can't do anything! I just sleep and sit in my room on the computer or playing video games and even that makes me feel sweaty and sick! I'm angry, someone get angry with me! AGGGHH!!

[laura1967]

When you had your last bloodwork done in may did you get an increase in meds? The new TSH ranges are .30-3.0....you are very hypo for a thyroid patient at the level you were at. Before I yell that you have a dumb a$$ doctor I wanted to ask that. lol
Secondly you have hashimotos...soooooo...your tsh needs to be supressed to a .50-1.0 in order for your body to start healing itself or you will keep getting sicker. Also your dr cannot I repeat cannot get a true picture of what is going on without also running a Free T4 and Free T3 test. The longer you put up with bad care the sicker you will get. Trust me I made this mistake for 2 yrs...the longer you are sick the longer it takes to heal.
Either this dr is going to do as you ask with testing or find a new dr who understands hashi's and specializes in thyroid. This is your health failing not your drs! PUSH! You are undermedicated, undertreated and getting sicker!!

[chel 81]

You sound exactly like me at 19 when my thyroid went all out of whack and the docs told me for 3 long years it didn't sound like it was my thyroid. You tested positive for anti-bodies and your TSH is high so combined with your symptoms it sure sounds like it is your thyroid. There are many meds out there so if Synthroid (a t4 only drug) is not working for you it may be that you just need to try something else. T4 drugs are good for some people but many (myself included) need some t3 which is the active form of thyroid. T4 is just a storage hormone (your body is supposed to convert to t3 as needed but some of us this doesn't work). There are also natural drugs out there instead of synthetic. I don't do well on synthetic drugs like Synthroid and was put on Armour instead. Many people swear by Armour and only see improvement in their symptoms when they change. Each person is individual so don't give up... if somethings not working try something else. Just remember this thyroid thing is not an overnight fix- sometimes it can take months or longer to get regulated so patience is definitely needed during this process. Keep in mind too that some docs are very closed minded about thyroid disease. They only test t4 and TSH and will only prescribe Synthroid and think that when your TSH gets into the so called "normal" range that you must be fine and your symptoms are not thyroid related. T3 is actually what they should be testing and blood tests can only tell someone half of the story- symptoms are what are really important (my husband had cancer and didn't have any tumor markers in his blood so if they had relied on the blood tests only and not done surgery he wouldn't be alive today so this proves blood tests are not 100% reliable all the time for everyone). If your doc doesn't want to treat you properly remember that it is your life so get a 2nd or 3rd or whatever it take number of opinions until someone will listen. It took me 3 years of going from doc to doc until I finally found someone who would treat me and it was wonderful when I finally got on the right meds. I had a relapse this last year and am struggling with it again and had to go through the doctor search but after several tries I am finally getting some help so I understand what you are going through. I think you will find in reading posts here that there are many people who are angry with their situation and the way thyroid patients are treated so this is a great place to get out your frustration and realize you are not alone. Hope you can find some answers and help from a good doc soon. Take care.
Chel

[brettb262]

I guess there isn't anyone angry on here. Oh well, if you feel the need to be angry, you know who to contact.

[brettb262]

I forgot to mention I've gained 80 pounds in the past year! I went from looking like a young Chris Cornell to Jim Gaffigan!