Comment

Comment by Gerri on February 17, 2012 at 10:21pm

Judith, I hope being hypothyroid isn't in your future. Sometimes we get so used to feeling sub-par, that we don't realize it until we feel much better.

Comment by Super_sally on February 17, 2012 at 10:08pm

I take Erfa dessicated thyroi (from Canada) a friend gets it for me and brings it over here. I found being on it compared to being on Thyroxine (T4 only med) was like being in a black and white world, or being in a colour world. Love the stuff!

It's well worth fighting to be treated properly Gerri - as it has such a huge impact on quality of life. Pity so few doctors do know how to treat beyond more than TSH. My TSH is non-existant. I medicate solely based on Ft3 and Ft4. I am on a huge dose of meds nowadays (partly becuase of the pregnancy) so there's something screwy happening - but whatever it takes and I feel good thyroid wise. :)

Comment by Gerri on February 17, 2012 at 10:06pm

I hear you, Tony. A lot more straight forward to control BG & we know what's going on there.

Comment by Gerri on February 17, 2012 at 10:04pm

I don't have some of the more classic hypo symptoms, like weight gain, so it's been difficult to get doctors to take my other symptoms seriously. My blood tests weren't horrendous, but I know my thyroid is still off. It wasn't until I was able to get RT3 tested that I knew how off it is. Since doctors don't believe us when we say we don't feel as well as we should, tests are sadly needed to verify. I talked my doc into a complete iron panel because ferritin levels are crucial to thyroid function. Mine were fine. So, next step is testing adrenal functioning because cortisol is what transports T3 into the cells. Am going to have to pay for this myself. Just having circulating serum levels of T3 isn't enough if the cells aren't able to utilize it. Body senses too much T3 & turns it into RT3. It's complex & honestly most doctors know little about appropriate treatment. Been a battle. Too little T3 effects the heart (along with too much), makes diabetes control harder, raises the bad serum lipids & also effects the brain. It also impacts our emotions. Recently read a study about hypothyroidism & Alzheimer's. I do worry about it.

Comment by Judith on February 17, 2012 at 9:50pm

I know Gerri. For a few years in the 70s, I was on Euthroid. And then I had no insurance and couldn't afford it, so quit. And then a friend gave me an xmas gift of a trip to a doc who said, Why was I EVER on it. The best we could figure was a reaction to birth control pills(the 70s, NOT refined on dosage yet!!).....

I think like with everything, it holds hands with the D, and so is interwoven with each of our individual D Lives. Maybe hard, maybe easy. I don't know yet for me. But I cherish every bit of info and advice I can glean, since I think it's probably in my future.....xx000 to all

Comment by Natalie ._c- on February 17, 2012 at 9:35pm

I'm sorry it's such a hassle for you, Gerri! :-( I wonder if you have other autoimmune issues going on that the medical profession hasn't even discovered yet. For me, the only symptoms of hypothyroidism were the goiter, the positive antibody test, and the high TSH. On the other hand, I have ALWAYS been a low-energy person, even placid as a baby, and I don't know if that's connected with thyroid or not, but since I'm retired and don't have to meet any schedules, and can sleep when I want to, I'm not going to worry about it. I wish it were as easy for you! :-(

Comment by Tony on February 17, 2012 at 9:35pm

I agree with you 100% Gerri. In my opinion having hashimotos effects you way more than diabetes does.

Comment by Gerri on February 17, 2012 at 9:23pm

Not be a downer, but I don't find being hypothyroid (Hashimoto's) easy at all. It's more complex than diabetes. I wish all it entailed was popping a pill & forgetting about it. Finding a doctor who understands the possible underlying issues & who know hows how to treat them has been near impossible. Another case of cookie cutter doctoring. A Synthroid Rx is the standard, which isn't necessarily effective for most. Wasn't easy to get Reverse T3 tested & I'm glad I did because mine was high & my FT3/RT3 is low. Now to address the reason behind this problem.

Comment by Judith on February 17, 2012 at 9:12pm

Oh Natalie--you are one of our family's very best, most knowledgeable Purveyor's of Hope and Sugar-Free Possibilities (as in non-sugar-coated advice).....I think we need a sub-category in our Care Team--you and Gerri and bsc and Holger, Hana Rous, several others......

Comment by Natalie ._c- on February 17, 2012 at 6:34pm

Judith, compared to all the other tsuris (Yiddish for trouble -- I just like the sound of the word!) you have in your life, the thyroid will be the least of it. The most important part is to have a doc who will stay on top of it, and who knows what optimal measures of TSH, free T3, and free T4 should be. Some docs also measure reverse T3 (?), but I've never had it done because I don't have symptoms. So what I'm trying to say is, with proper medication, keeping hypothyroidism under control is easy. It truly IS a pop a pill and forget about it disease.

Jenny, I had a thyroidectomy years ago for the same reason. My Hashimoto's went untreated for about 20 years, so I developed a goiter, and when I started to have trouble swallowing, I had it out. I'm not exactly happy about it, because I lost the ability to sing high notes, and I was a passionate singer for many years, but I have to admit that swallowing is more important than singing.

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