For the past 20 years (or almost), I've wondered if I have hypothyroidism.
My parents both have it, my sister has it, and they have all been on thyroid for a long time.
I have a cluster of symptoms:
- fatigue
- lethargy
- depression
- irritability
- weight gain
- forgetfulness
- severe cramps
- heavy periods
- dry, coarse hair
- dry skin
- nausea (oh, the nausea!)
I have been tested repeatedly over the years, only to be told the results are normal.
I went to see a new doctor on Tuesday because I had heard that he is willing to experiment with patients who are symptomatic but have bloodwork in the normal range. He was great -- he really listened to me, and in fact it was the first positive experience I've had with a doctor in a long long time. I got my lab results back today and I was on the low end of normal. He is going to start me on a low dose of thyroid to see how I respond to it. I am feeling very cautiously optimistic right now!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
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25 comments:
Yea! Here's to you and your thyroid.
I'm glad you reminded me of how valuable listening is. Listening is such a great skill and selling point. A doctor (or leader or parent. . . or . . . or . . .) jumps to the head of everyone's favorite line if they're a listener, 'cause everyone likes to be understood. Thanks for that message within your message.
how wonderful to have found a doctor who *listens.* i hope this will be the first step down the road of figuring it all out.
yeah for a good experience with your doctor and i'm optimistic with you that you will start to feel better!
That's great to have a doctor's appointment with a doctor who actually listens! I'll be cautiously optimistic with you!
Michelle,
could you please email me... I have a question about making the fabric pennant you posted the tutorial about awhile ago. thanks,
lauragerman@gmail.com
Hooray for cautious optimism!
Yay! I really hope that it helps you, Michelle--it makes sense with your family history.
I have a wonderful doctor, too, and it is sooo nice to have someone who listens and takes your concerns seriously.
Good luck!
A good doctor makes ALL the difference. So does finding out what may be going on! Good luck, I hope it helps.
That sounds highly promising! So glad you sought out a different doctor and he took time to really listen to your concerns--why is this so rare?
I hope the low dose helps!
Having a doctor like that is priceless! Our family doctor is moving offices and I am down right distraught and feel like it will take years to find a new one we love.
I hope yours is the miracle to years and years of unanswered questions! I totally understand the cautiously optimistic feelings, that was 2007 for me!
Oh happy day- a doctor who will listen... that's just about a miracle! I hope it helps- my sister should go see him she has a lot of the same symptoms & not luck with testing either.
I really really hope it helps.
That is great! I think it is wonderful when you can find a doctor that is really willing to listen and work with you, and not just pass you off to someone else and do nothing at all. I hope this works for you!
Here's to cautious optimism!! I hope the new low dose helps - keep us posted.
I'm glad you had a good doctor's appt. Sometimes I hate going when I feel like they're not going to listen to me and take what I'm saying seriously.
I hope the low dose helps!!
This could be big! I understand your caution on the optimism, but this could be big!
Oh Michelle how nice to hear out your concerns. Reading your list...I totally can see how the tyroid should be affected. I have bypothyroidism, my mum has it, my aunt, and some cousins. I had mine tested back in my early twenties, and since then have had medication for it, I wished I had the one where you have the other effects....which means you are skinny but it is good to know that it is being treated and that some good will come from it. Just remember to take it early in the morning before food.
I would be cautiously optimistic too. I always expect my thyroid to be off because of my symptoms but it isn't... just hormones in my case... I think.
I'm glad you found a doctor so interested in helping you.
Yea for thinking outside the box!! (It seems pretty inside the box to us!!)
And just for the record, if the lowdoes doesn't help, I would persoanlly press for a medium one!
Let me know how this progresses.
Good work finding him!
Wow, I'm sorry for the too fast typing and no corrections! Can I spell-check my comments? I don't See a prompt for it!
Sorry......
Okay, I found the google spellcheck, but it automatically put "see" in caps....I'll keep working on it!
I'm so relieved to hear that you're finding your way to some answers. My sister has hypothyroidism but it's on the low end of the scale so it was difficult to detect. But she has been on medication for years now and it makes the hugest difference in her life. I know how it is to be guardedly optimistic, but I hope this leads you to feeling better in the long run.
Lab tests are ridiculous. Glad you have a doctor that is willing to take a leap, especially since you have a lot of the classic symptoms.
Good luck.
So glad you found a doctor that listens. Its a very good thing. Could you email me the name of that doctor? My mom and sister in Orem have the same problem and I would love to be able to tell them about this doctor. I keep hoping I have low thyroid to explain my general lethargy but so far I'm "normal".
Hope you a feeling good!
Cautious optimism is a wonderful thing! It's so nice to be listened to, and to find a doctor willing to help. I went to a doctor earlier this year for a few strange things, and he just made me feel like a freak who was wasting his time. I know I need to buck up and try someone new, but it's so discouraging.
I hope this is a great new beginning for you!
And totally off the subject, but can I just say how much I love your sidewalk chalk header? It's delightful!
hmmmm. love those dr.'s who are good listeners.
i hope this is a great discovery of getting rid of some of the nasty symptoms...
I've wondered about myself. Did you just go to a normal doctor the first few times? I've always wondered what kind of doctor can really test you for that. Probably a dumb question. :)
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