Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
When it rains it pours, right? My wife misunderstood the sleep lab doc. I talked to her, and she didn't realize I had done a little homework on sleep apnea. She said my score was 6.4. I replied with, "A normal person has up to 5 apneas every night, so basically, if I just lost 30 or so pounds, I'd probably be back down under the magic number of 5. She's still trying to sell me on a CPAP machine. She said it gets worse the deeper I go into sleep, but if my score is 6.4, its not bad
My ENT's nurse from the Shea Clinic called to do a random check up, (which I have to admit, I DO like when they do that) and I told her that lately I've been having more tinnitus and dizziness/lightheadness but I also have a ton of other symptoms as well. She called me in more dexamethasone and told me to just try it to see if it calmed things down a little, and if not I could always stop taking it, but to just take it long enough to see if it helps. I HATE steroids! But at the present moment, I'm willing to try anything.
The thyroid savvy nurse in KY is obviously pretty good, because it'll take a loooonnggg time to get in to see her. I guess it'll probably be worth the wait. I was just hoping to start getting help sooner. I doubt the endo I saw will treat my low testosterone without getting the damn CPAP either.
Then on top of it all, my usually very understanding and helpful wife finally broke down and said she sometimes feels like I say I don't feel good in order to get out of helping with the kids or stuff around the house. I know how frustrating it is for her, but I give her, the kids and my job every ounce of energy I have every day. I tried to explain to her its tough when there's something going on inside me that nobody can see, that if I was a leper or something and looked sick, maybe people would understand. Sorry for venting, but this crap, WHATEVER it is, is about to get to me.
My ENT's nurse from the Shea Clinic called to do a random check up, (which I have to admit, I DO like when they do that) and I told her that lately I've been having more tinnitus and dizziness/lightheadness but I also have a ton of other symptoms as well. She called me in more dexamethasone and told me to just try it to see if it calmed things down a little, and if not I could always stop taking it, but to just take it long enough to see if it helps. I HATE steroids! But at the present moment, I'm willing to try anything.
The thyroid savvy nurse in KY is obviously pretty good, because it'll take a loooonnggg time to get in to see her. I guess it'll probably be worth the wait. I was just hoping to start getting help sooner. I doubt the endo I saw will treat my low testosterone without getting the damn CPAP either.
Then on top of it all, my usually very understanding and helpful wife finally broke down and said she sometimes feels like I say I don't feel good in order to get out of helping with the kids or stuff around the house. I know how frustrating it is for her, but I give her, the kids and my job every ounce of energy I have every day. I tried to explain to her its tough when there's something going on inside me that nobody can see, that if I was a leper or something and looked sick, maybe people would understand. Sorry for venting, but this crap, WHATEVER it is, is about to get to me.
I don't know anything about measurements associated with sleep apnea. However, if they are interpreted anything like thyroid labs, being "close" might not necessarily be good enough.
If your insurance will pay for the CPAP, maybe you should consider it.
And, I don't know if you tried calling local pharmacists to get contact info for doctors who prescribe Armour but, if you haven't, perhaps you might try that. Maybe your wife might be willing to make the calls....
In fact, if I was in your shoes, I'd be looking through my insurance company's provider directory and making appointments with a succession of doctors in the hopes I could meet a thyroid-savvy one.
DO's can sometimes be quite thyroid-savvy and are often in-network with insurance..
Now that you are waiting on the KY nurse, I think you can appreciate why we were pressuring you to make the appointment.
I remember making an appointment with a potential thyroid doctor from the Top Thyroid doctors list - it was 3 months out!
Thankfully, I had scheduled appointments with other doctors before that and lucked out with the second doctor I saw. That was back in Nov. 2009 and that second doctor is still caring for me to this day.
A real bonus is the fact that she's an internist and I declared her as my PCP with my insurance. Instead of the $50 co-pay I'd have with a specialist, I'm able to see her with a $30 co-pay.
Better days will come. Hang in.
The thing is - getting your PCP to start you on meds is only step one. He/she needs to be willing to increase your dose continually.....until your FreeT4/T3 levels are optimized.
Your TSH will be the first level to show any change.....and it will need to go well below 1 (and often below-range) before the FT4/FT3 levels start increasing.
Your doctor needs to be comfortable with this. Otherwise, you'll feel even more miserable than you do now.
If you read some of the other threads on here, you'll find people suffering needlessly because their doctors kept them on starter doses (25-50mcg) for YEARS.
Dawnrose's doctor (from the Thyroid Change recommendation list) has been doing SO right by her. I believe she's 6 months into meds and, as to be expected, is still dealing with symptoms.
If the doctor doesn't do right by the patient, the suffering increases.
You really need to partner with a thyroid-savvy doctor from the get-go.
Yes, you can "lead" a cooperative doctor but, you'll need to get some thyroid facts firmly under your belt......otherwise, you stand a chance of leading the doctor down the road towards your misery.
If I remember correctly, your PCP thought your labs were "normal" because they were in-range.
By any chance, did you share the Thyroid Science article with her? That's what transformed Utahgal's doctor from a TSH worshipper into realizing that many of his patients needed thyroid treatment....even though they had "normal" labs.
For whatever it's worth, hypothyroidism is usually for life.
If it's like six months or something you can't deal with - pushing your PCP to rx a "starter dosage" is not a bad idea - so long as you keep in mind everything CD just said.
From there, you could move on to the thyroid savvy doctor....or you could be like me - and suffer for literally decades before you get the proper help. Life's too short for that....
I still feel like crap after 1 whole year of this. That's because my Boston doc was clueless and left me terribly under medicated. It took me almost a whole year just to get to 60 mgs of armour. With a good doc, you would achieve that in 2 months.
Hotze is picking up the ball and moving forward. I get to raise my dose every two weeks, which is pretty aggressive. Even given those increases, I don't expect to feel improvement for another 3 months! And I'm not starting from ground zero like you.
You need a plan, and you need to move forward. Maybe keep calling the nurse to see if they have any cancellations and can get you in sooner.
please feel free to vent away here in this forum!! We ALL understand what you are going through. It is tough. Really hope you'll book an appt with a thyroid savvy doc ASAP!! Learn from the rest of us and go straight to a knowledgeable doctor! I went undiagnosed for a long time, which only made things much worse. I was Dx and started on meds 6 mos. ago and I'm still struggling like UtahGal is. I've since learned I have adrenal and iron issues, as well as messed up hormones, which play into the struggle of getting optimal with thyroid. It is a journey for sure! The sooner you get started all the better :) :)
This might be the only place on earth that you can vent and we understand your frustrations! Vent away!!! It's ok. Especially since you haven't been treated yet. As CD mentioned, I'm almost at my optimal levels and I still have symptoms. But I know I will get better because my doctor is working with me. That's your biggest problem. I would call that nurse in KY every day and see if someone cancelled or get on a cancellation list. And start working on the doctors on your insurance plan. Print a list and take it to the pharmacy and see if any of the doctors prescribe Armour or T3 meds. It can't hurt to try these things.
Don't give up!! You can do this!! And get better!
Everything said on here, spot on accurate. You MUST start the process now. This disease is very debilitating, you are suffering, you have to do something!!!!
As for your personal situation, you and the forum knows what I have been thru in that regard. This disease is mostly disguised, we dont always look like hell even though we feel like death. I went through exactly the same situation you are now going through and it was a nightmare and certainly did not help my thyroid and stress levels, in fact, it made them a lot worse. That has now all been resolved with the ultimate act, I left and now do not even live in the US most of the time. I am feeling better by the way since that move. Not suggesting that but its an option. If we dont get support, and that turns into harrassment, we dont have a chance in hell to recover from any disease but especially this one.
Do get proper help ASAP.