Shortly after I started college, I went to the doctor complaining of overwhelming and unrelenting fatigue. All the tests she ran came back normal and she told me my tiredness was "just life" and that I needed to "sleep more."
Granted, I was a college student carrying a heavy load of classes, working, running a pet sitting business on the side and burning the candle at both ends. Looking back, I wonder how I made it through those sleep deprived years with my GPA intact. But still, I always felt like there was something more to my fatigue. Even when I should have felt rested, I never did.
It took many more years and visits to the doctor with the same some complaint, but I eventually got a diagnosis: hypothyroidism.
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the neck that affects almost all the metabolic processes in the body. Hypothyroidism has several causes, but the net effect is the same. Lack of adequate thyroid hormone leads to symptoms such as fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, memory problems, brittle fingernails, depression and irregular menstrual periods. Untreated hypothyroidism can be harmful to the baby during pregnancy and can also cause infertility.
My doctor put me on the most common medication to treat hypothyroidism, Synthroid. I took it daily and had regular bloodwork to check my hormone levels.
The treatment worked. I felt better. I felt warmer and my nails stopped breaking. My hair stopped falling out.
During both my pregnancies, I had regular bloodwork to monitor my thyroid function and my dosage changed multiple times.
After Maureen was born though, I didn't feel like myself again. I was exhausted, couldn't seem to lose the baby weight, severely depressed and always freezing cold. My head ached constantly and my joints were wracked with debilitating pains. I struggled to produce enough breastmilk. I went back to the doctor, who said my thyroid was fine and put me on antidepressants. They helped a little, but not much.
Maureen was over a year old when I read a column in Prevention Magazine by Andrew Weil, a well known and highly respected holistic doctor. He recommended the medication Thyrolar, which unlike Synthroid, is a combination of two thyroid hormones. I went to the doctor and asked about it. She flat out refused to even discuss it. "I don't prescribe that," she said.
Baffled, I went to the library and checked out every book on thyroid disease they had and read them all cover to cover. Most of the books contained information I already knew, and listed Synthroid as the way to treat the condition. However, there was one book that was the most complete source of information, Living Well With Hypothyroidism by Mary J. Shomon. Not only did the author cover the basic causes, symptoms and treatment for hypothyroidism, she discussed common co-existing conditions (such as fibromyalgia and adrenal gland disease), provided an in-depth look at breastfeeding with thyroid disease and even devoted an entire chapter to controversial and alternative treatments.
After reading the book, I began to suspect that I wasn't converting T4, the hormone in Synthroid, to T3, another essential hormone and that was why I was feeling so badly. I decided my doctor's unwillingness to even discuss alternative medications meant I needed to find a new doctor, so I began my search. I made phone call after phone call: "Does Dr. XYZ prescribe medications other than Synthroid?" Again and again, the answer was no.
Finally, I found a doctor willing to prescribe the medication I was interested in. She spent over an hour with me, discussing my symptoms and creating a treatment plan. She did a complete work up for the fatigue and gave me a script for the new medication. Her philosophy was, "You're the patient, you know your body, and if you feel something isn't right, I will listen to you." In addition, she said she had many patients thriving on the medication she gave me. With my bloodwork came another diagnosis: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition. It doesn't change the treatment, but it's nice to know the cause.
That was several months ago. I'm feeling much better. Specifically, I'm much less moody, my joints don't ache as badly and I have more energy. I'm still tired a lot, but I think that's due to the two kids that live here and less to do with my metabolic system. For example, I used to go to work on Wednesdays and come home too tired to make dinner or bathe the kids or do much else besides sit on the couch and wait for my husband to come home. This week, I couldn't sleep on Tuesday night, so I went into work the next morning with only three hours of sleep behind me. I made it through my day intact, took Johnny and myself to the dentist and played with the kids at my inlaws house before coming home and putting them to bed. Once I did finally lie down, I was asleep almost instantly, but I felt pretty good most of the day, something that never would have happened before. Especially on only three hours of sleep.
I'm still irritated that my former doctor wouldn't even discuss other treatments or the possibility that there was a problem, despite "normal" bloodwork. Why did my own opinions carry no weight and why was she so willing to dismiss my claims of ill health? There is no MD behind my name, but that doesn't make me an idiot. How unfortunate that I had to learn about the treatment that is currently working so well for me from a book!
Here's what I learned. Doctors have their own faults and prejudices. You should always consult with a doctor if you think you have a medical problem, but you also need to do your own research and go to the office armed with enough knowledge to make an informed decision.
Do you have thyroid disease? Or have the symptoms listed? Be sure to check out the book I mentioned, as well as Mary Shomon's website, Thyroid-Info.com. There is a link to a forum through About.com devoted entirely to thyroid disease as well.
Granted, I was a college student carrying a heavy load of classes, working, running a pet sitting business on the side and burning the candle at both ends. Looking back, I wonder how I made it through those sleep deprived years with my GPA intact. But still, I always felt like there was something more to my fatigue. Even when I should have felt rested, I never did.
It took many more years and visits to the doctor with the same some complaint, but I eventually got a diagnosis: hypothyroidism.
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the neck that affects almost all the metabolic processes in the body. Hypothyroidism has several causes, but the net effect is the same. Lack of adequate thyroid hormone leads to symptoms such as fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, memory problems, brittle fingernails, depression and irregular menstrual periods. Untreated hypothyroidism can be harmful to the baby during pregnancy and can also cause infertility.
My doctor put me on the most common medication to treat hypothyroidism, Synthroid. I took it daily and had regular bloodwork to check my hormone levels.
The treatment worked. I felt better. I felt warmer and my nails stopped breaking. My hair stopped falling out.
During both my pregnancies, I had regular bloodwork to monitor my thyroid function and my dosage changed multiple times.
After Maureen was born though, I didn't feel like myself again. I was exhausted, couldn't seem to lose the baby weight, severely depressed and always freezing cold. My head ached constantly and my joints were wracked with debilitating pains. I struggled to produce enough breastmilk. I went back to the doctor, who said my thyroid was fine and put me on antidepressants. They helped a little, but not much.
Maureen was over a year old when I read a column in Prevention Magazine by Andrew Weil, a well known and highly respected holistic doctor. He recommended the medication Thyrolar, which unlike Synthroid, is a combination of two thyroid hormones. I went to the doctor and asked about it. She flat out refused to even discuss it. "I don't prescribe that," she said.
Baffled, I went to the library and checked out every book on thyroid disease they had and read them all cover to cover. Most of the books contained information I already knew, and listed Synthroid as the way to treat the condition. However, there was one book that was the most complete source of information, Living Well With Hypothyroidism by Mary J. Shomon. Not only did the author cover the basic causes, symptoms and treatment for hypothyroidism, she discussed common co-existing conditions (such as fibromyalgia and adrenal gland disease), provided an in-depth look at breastfeeding with thyroid disease and even devoted an entire chapter to controversial and alternative treatments.
After reading the book, I began to suspect that I wasn't converting T4, the hormone in Synthroid, to T3, another essential hormone and that was why I was feeling so badly. I decided my doctor's unwillingness to even discuss alternative medications meant I needed to find a new doctor, so I began my search. I made phone call after phone call: "Does Dr. XYZ prescribe medications other than Synthroid?" Again and again, the answer was no.
Finally, I found a doctor willing to prescribe the medication I was interested in. She spent over an hour with me, discussing my symptoms and creating a treatment plan. She did a complete work up for the fatigue and gave me a script for the new medication. Her philosophy was, "You're the patient, you know your body, and if you feel something isn't right, I will listen to you." In addition, she said she had many patients thriving on the medication she gave me. With my bloodwork came another diagnosis: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition. It doesn't change the treatment, but it's nice to know the cause.
That was several months ago. I'm feeling much better. Specifically, I'm much less moody, my joints don't ache as badly and I have more energy. I'm still tired a lot, but I think that's due to the two kids that live here and less to do with my metabolic system. For example, I used to go to work on Wednesdays and come home too tired to make dinner or bathe the kids or do much else besides sit on the couch and wait for my husband to come home. This week, I couldn't sleep on Tuesday night, so I went into work the next morning with only three hours of sleep behind me. I made it through my day intact, took Johnny and myself to the dentist and played with the kids at my inlaws house before coming home and putting them to bed. Once I did finally lie down, I was asleep almost instantly, but I felt pretty good most of the day, something that never would have happened before. Especially on only three hours of sleep.
I'm still irritated that my former doctor wouldn't even discuss other treatments or the possibility that there was a problem, despite "normal" bloodwork. Why did my own opinions carry no weight and why was she so willing to dismiss my claims of ill health? There is no MD behind my name, but that doesn't make me an idiot. How unfortunate that I had to learn about the treatment that is currently working so well for me from a book!
Here's what I learned. Doctors have their own faults and prejudices. You should always consult with a doctor if you think you have a medical problem, but you also need to do your own research and go to the office armed with enough knowledge to make an informed decision.
Do you have thyroid disease? Or have the symptoms listed? Be sure to check out the book I mentioned, as well as Mary Shomon's website, Thyroid-Info.com. There is a link to a forum through About.com devoted entirely to thyroid disease as well.
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12 comments:
I have Hashimoto's also but I discovered it in a different way. After I had my first son I was sitting around work one day when one of the anesthesiologists looked at me and said "Wow, you're thyroid is huge! You should really have that checked out." The ENT I work with concurred and since my mother had thyroid cancer I made an appointment right away. After bloodwork and a nuclear med study my doctor said that my thyroid was enlarged and at some point I would be hypothyroid but I wasn't there yet and we'd just watch things. When I got pregnant the second time I was referred to an endocrinologist who monitored me closely throughout my pregnancy. My bloodwork remains ok so right now I'm not on any medication. I wonder about that though. Although my labwork is ok, normal is a range for everybody, maybe my normal is different. I've spent my whole life being sensitive to the cold so I never thought anything about it. And what mother isn't tired, especially if her child is a newborn? I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old and I work full time, sleep is always the first thing to go. Another symptom is decreased libido. Again, after you've given birth, who has any interest in that. It's really unfortunate that so many of the symptoms can mimic problems you might otherwise have anyway and so you get poo-pooed by the doctor. I'm almost always exhausted, wear fleece in the summer, struggle with my weight and even went through a period where I lost hair like crazy right after I had both of my kids. I go back next month for another check up so we'll re-evaluate then. I haven't pushed for medication because I have a hard time remembering to take it and I don't really want to spend the money every month for medication unless I absolutely need it. I'm pretty sure my doctor told me once I start taking it I will have to take it for the rest of my life. Maybe I should do a little more research and re-evaluate things because I would give anything to have a little more energy.
My current doctor is very willing to discuss and all decisions are in my hands. She gives me her opinions, the various options for treatment and the ramifications of each one, but ultimately its my decision of what to do.
Unfortunately, she's transferring her practice to another doctor, and moving to Montana! Augh! She says the new doctor taking over has a similar philosophy, I hope so because I hate searching for a good fit.
Good for you for sticking to your guns and getting the treatment/answers you were looking for! You amaze me everyday, Mommy K!
I moved here 2 1/2 years ago and set up a doctor visit. The doctor found a nodule on my thyroid. He thought i should have it looked at. I had an ultra sound. They saw some other nodules and thought they should go further. I had a fine needle aspiration. THe entire time they kept telling me that the odds of it being something was only 5% so not to worry. Then the nodule came back as being "Suspicious" not cancer. My brother in law is a surgeon at MErcy so we consulted with him and made an appointment with his partner. THey both thought I should have a thyroidectomy. I did. After a further biopsy, it came back as cancer and I had to have a radiation treatment. (I also found out after it was out that I had hosimotos.) I am on synthroid. I used to be on a certain dose and he dropped it down. I am hoping to have him up the dose. The higher dose was still in the normal, just the higher end of normal, this dose is the lower end of normal and I am dragging. I have a really good endocronologist. He really listens and acts on what I am feeling. It is a great feeling to know you aren't going to be blown off when you bring up your concerns.
Tracy, my H had a partial thyroidectomy when I was 7 months pregnant with Maureen. His nodule was found on a routine exam, he had the FNA and ultrasound, and ultimately the surgery because it kept coming back suspicious. Even after his surgery, they had to send the mass off to some special lab for pathology because no one was sure what it was! Eventually, they said it was benign, but it was a stressful couple of months. So far, his half a thyroid seems to be functioning well.
I am glad you were finally able to figure some things out that worked for you. It is always imperative to do our own research so we can go take as much knowledge as possible with us to appointments.
Out of about 25 women in my immediate family of mom, sister, aunts and cousins, I am one of 2 who don't have some kind of thyroid condition!! It's super scary because I know it's coming. Hope you feel better!
Hey MommyK, my auntie has a thyroid condition and she is on synthroid also....I will ask her about that new drug you heard about; because to me she has never had much energy and her hair has been falling out again...thanks for the heads up.
Good job being your own advocate, I love that you went out and shopped a new doctor who would listen to what you had to say...so important to be able to trust that that doctor is a partner in your care!!! I'm glad this one is!!!
All the best to you!!
my mom totally thinks I have a thyroid condition. my favorite thing to say is "i'm tired." now it's just a matter of going in to the doctor and figuring out what to do.
Kiki, the medication I ultimately chose isn't a new one. It's Armour Thyroid, which is the only medication that was available for underactive thyroid for like 100 years. It's made from desicated pork thyroid. I chose it over the Thyrolar because it's a natural product and the synthetic stuff wasn't working for me.
I'd definitely tell your aunt about the book, there is an entire chapter on foods that women with thyroid disease should avoid (like soy) and options like iodine treatment.
Good for you!! I learned things like that the hard way too when I was diagnosed with a kidney disease. I used to nievely think that doctors knew everything! Now I realize they are just human beings and my heathcare is ultimatly my own...nobody cares more. I always do my own research too. :)
GOOD FOR YOU for following your gut and not listening to that first doctor. I'm so glad you found a doctor willing to take the time to actually listen to the patient (who is the reason they have a big fat paycheck to begin with.)
So many people fail to be their own advocate and pay the price with their health. I wish I had learned this lesson sooner in life. When I was 27 wks pg with Super B - I began having the most horribly intense pains in my back. I saw the "fill-in" OB at my clinic who laughed and said, "Well you're pregnant - of course your back is going to hurt." A few hours later, I was in the ER and was told I was in labor and dilated. Eight weeks of bedrest followed. That day, I learned to always trust my gut.
I hope you continue to feel better. It's tough when you are so exhausted. Oh and btw...I AM doing better - although I did get an elbow jaw in the belly a few nights ago. This time, I whacked him in the head and woke his butt up. :)
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