Who are you with THYROID???

[stella5349]

As a refresher for members and an invitation to ALL -

How did you come to the thyroid board here at Med Help?  Let us know what conditions you have and what you went through so far.

Do you have a parathyroid disorder? Do you - or did you - have cancer and have had your thyroid removed? Are you autoimmune and struggling?

So many - visit here and a thread like this is so important to know what's up.

We as Leaders and members would like to know what has brought you to this board so we and others can direct you to the best resources available.

Thanks and Happy Health!

NikkiP/Stella

[Vuz]

Hi...

Found this site yesterday after a tt just over a week ago...  multinodular goitre, diagnosed about 13 years ago... finally found someone who would listen to me after all those years of stress and going through blood tests and CT scans or ultrasounds, being told it was all in my head and I needed to see a psychologist because I was concerned when my father died from Thyroid Cancer 15 years ago, my brother had a TT in 1988 and my mother and her sister both have Hashimoto's... hello gotta be something there.

Today I am struggling but I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere and I am hoping that someone here will help me find it.

Thanks guys
TT - NSW - Australia

[anu311]

hey my TSH  level is 8.15 can u tell how much risky is that please??i have irregular periods

[cj245]

I found this site because I was looking for a support forum relating to thyroid cancer.

I was diagnosed 12 years ago with Hashimotos and nodules shortly thereafter.  Unlike many others, I have had wonderful experiences with my doctors.  My diagnosis occurred very early before I had any significant symptoms.  I had changed gynecologists and because I had weight issues and an irregular menstrual cycle, he tested my TSH levels.  They were elevated so he referred me to an endocrinologist, whom I saw one week later.

Initially, the endo didn't think I had a problem, because I wasn't experiencing many hypothyroid symptoms.....although I was overweight, it was not a recent unexplained weight gain.  But as soon as he felt my neck, he said, "Well maybe you do have a thyroid problem."  

So he ordered more blood tests and that week my TSH levels were normal, but I had the Hashi antibodies.  I have always been grateful for the timing...had I visited the gyno one week later, my TSH levels would have been normal and my thyroid disease would have remained undetected!  I was very lucky.

For the last 12 years, my hashis has been well managed on Synthroid.  Every so often, I could feel myself getting fatigued easily and know that it was time for a medication adjustment...I learned to be very in tune with my own rhythms, so I could get the treatment I needed.  I've worked with 3 different endos (changed only due to moves) and have loved each of them and found them all very knowledgeable and receptive.  I did my homework, before choosing any of them!  For me, treatment has involved doctor's visits with sonograms about every 6 months and more biopsies than I care to remember.

Most recently, one of my nodules showed calcifications on sonogram.  So my doctor wanted it biopsied, even though it was very small....again I am grateful.  When the results came back with atypia cells, he told me that it was only a 10% chance of it being cancerous, but neither of us were comfortable leaving it in.  I decided to have my thyroid removed and found a surgeon who specializes in this kind of surgery (very important).  He was amazing...great credentials, experience and caring.  A few days after surgery, we found out that the pathologist found papillary carcinoma that was completely contained in the thyroid.

Now, we are in the process of deciding if RAI is the next step.  My understanding from speaking with my doctors, is that there is no evidence that RAI lowers the incidence of recurrence in tumors as small as mine was.  Nevertheless, RAI would eliminate any remaining thyroid tissue around the parathyroids and make the diagnostic tests for recurrence more accurate.  It would also allow them to do a full body scan and confirm that the cancer did not leave the thyroid.  If my thyroglobulin levels drop to 0, I won't do RAI, but it's probable that the RAI will be necessary to get it there.  So we'll give it a month and do blood tests before making a decision.

As for how I feel, I'm very hypothyroid at the moment (TSH of 24)...so I'm tired and achy.  But they've just upped my medication and I hope to feel better soon.

cj

[EmotiDroid]

I am a 34 yr old single mother of three and recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's.  I have been treated for Hypothyroidism for about 10 years untill my GP felt "nodules" and referred me to an Endocrinologist.  I struggle with fatigue, weight gain, focus problems, etc.  I have gained significant weight the last 3 years or so and I am worried that I will NOT be able to lose without a frustrating struggle...  :(   I am very discouraged and maybe a little depressed.  Hope to get some good tips, encouragement, and a brighter outlook.

[DsoCaL]

Hey everyone =)
It's been a year since i last posted but now i feel the need more then ever to communicate... I was diagnosed with MTC in April 2008. I had a TT on April 8th 2008 and after surgery is when the oncologist determined i had MTC and it had spread to my lung tissue and liver.
Radioactive iodine was no longer a option so in December 2008 i had a hepatic oblation and in May 2009 i had Radiation Beam Therapy for the tumors on my lungs.
Now a year later i have 6 tumors in the liver region.... Yup they're back.... This whole week i've laid in bed for days at a time and i've been real anti-social. Sadly 7 months ago me and my girlfriend broke up. I feel bad that it happened but altho i blame myself it's hard to grasp what i'm left with because of this condition.
I've always been a social bug and positive but now i really start to see the effects... After over 10 years of DJing once to twice a week around the US i've lost my drive and tonight i was booked to play in Downtown SD and i just didn't go.
Just getting motivated to go feed my cichlids downstairs is a task. It's very hard for me to even talk on the phone. I'm not in alot of pain but why the past few months i've kinda gave up on really taking care of myself  is bugging me out.
I noticed that i get this "temper" out of no where and i always catch myself taking it out on the people around me.... It's tough because i was never the one to voice concern and i always acted like things were ok. I've even lied to my close friends that my oncologist said i was gonna long term be ok and there's no need for concern...
After being misunderstood in my relationship i kinda feel the need to reach out a little bit. I don't know if anybody has ever felt like this but i sometimes felt pressured to do activities even if i didn't feel good... The main thing i noticed myself doing was just sneaking into my room for a quick nap...
I always felt that after my surgery my girlfriend would be insecure about the way i acted. I always worked hard and did what i could but after being told i was "disgusting" for sleeping in or for taking afternoon naps it kinda got to me.
Music was my release and i felt like while in the studio my girlfriend would get upset and slowly stopped supporting my love for music. I released my first track that was 1/2 done in my hospital bed in 2008 and since then i've released over 20 more all charting top 100 international dance charts. I would of never motivated myself to work so hard if it woes not for this cancer.
I sometimes feel like a horrible person because things didn't work out and maybe i could of done otherwise. Maybe what's bugging me the most is wondering if i am this bad person like i am made to be???
Ughhhh, I dunno what i just ranted about but i'm gonna press return without over reading.....

[bigsissie]

      I was just diagnosed with Hashimotos in February after going to have my back checked. In 1999 I herniated three disk in my lower back had disk trimmed off unfortunately it caused nerve damage. Two years later two of the original ones herniated again but not bad enough for surgery. I now have neuropathy and scar tissue on my spinal cord. In February I went to dr for severe pain in back and found out about the scar tissue and during a routine blood test that I have Hashimotos.

    My original test showed my TSH at 5.44. I was put on a low dose of synthyroid and my levels are fine for now. TSH 0.39 T4 12.7 and T3 88.1. I am still having problems with fatigue, hair thinning and memory/concentration but hopefully that will all get better. I found this forum while searching for info on the thyroid disorders because my doctor basically told me I had it as he was leaving the room ! Everyone I have talked to on here is very nice and helpful with any questions I ask no matter how stupid they sounded lol. If anyone wants to add me as a friend go ahead since I am new I only have a couple of friends but am interested in how others deal on a day to day basis with thyroid disorders. My main goal is to keep on top of things and go from there. As a side note many of my symptoms are the same with my thyroid and back, so I think I have had problems with the thyroid for about three years now but thought it was from my back.