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...
I\'ve not been diagnosed for long and I found that I had more questions every time I talked to someone about Hypothyroidism. Then if I tell anyone at work about it they just shrug it off as something that is so common that it\'s not worth talking about. That is really bad since I\'m a nurse working in a hospital.
When I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression many years ago, I found that the one thing that helped me out the most was educating myself about what was happening to me. I\'ve now started doing the same thing with Hashimoto\'s. Let\'s face it, I\'m a Barnes and Noble junkie. But I found a couple of really good books. One is the Everything Thyroid Book, and the other is written by a woman who has hypothyroidism and is about what you should know in your first year of being diagnosed.
I\'ve not read a lot of either of them yet, but just skimming, I am realising that there is a lot more to this hypothyroidism thing than meets the eye. In nursing school, we were taught the basics about the thyroid, but we never put it together in a systemic way. These books are the first that I\'ve heard about how it can effect the whole system. Ok, I have to admit that I read pathophysiology books for fun. Take it with a pillar of salt if you have to, but I\'ve found that the more I know, the better care I can take of myself and the less fear I have.
Meow
When I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression many years ago, I found that the one thing that helped me out the most was educating myself about what was happening to me. I\'ve now started doing the same thing with Hashimoto\'s. Let\'s face it, I\'m a Barnes and Noble junkie. But I found a couple of really good books. One is the Everything Thyroid Book, and the other is written by a woman who has hypothyroidism and is about what you should know in your first year of being diagnosed.
I\'ve not read a lot of either of them yet, but just skimming, I am realising that there is a lot more to this hypothyroidism thing than meets the eye. In nursing school, we were taught the basics about the thyroid, but we never put it together in a systemic way. These books are the first that I\'ve heard about how it can effect the whole system. Ok, I have to admit that I read pathophysiology books for fun. Take it with a pillar of salt if you have to, but I\'ve found that the more I know, the better care I can take of myself and the less fear I have.
Meow
Has anyone heard of a correlation between breast cancer and hypothyroidism? I heard that some studies have been done, linking the two.
I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out. Although I'm a nurse, I don't know everything. In school they teach us all about the disorders and how they're treated, but they don't teach us how it feels to have the disorder. Hypothyroidism was just another disorder to memorize, so I'm still trying to figure it out. I know that finding out the "why" of how I'm feeling makes me feel better because then I know it's not "all in my head" as my mother would like me to believe. I also find that a purring cat helps everything. It's better than any pill in the world. But I still take the medication. I look at the purring cat as augmenting the medical therapies.
I think you have the same collection of books that I have. It is amazing how we all share the same frustration with this issue. I have had this for almost 14 years and everyone dismisses it as no big deal...well that is not true if you feel horribly. My primary kept wanting me to take an antidepressant which I take now (because I have come to realize I need it) but at the time I wasn't feeling the same. I did not explain myself well (late..) but I found Mary information sooooo helpful. She has a great website and newsletter she emails.
Best to all...who continue to search for a doctor who listens....