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...
Hello everyone,
its my first time posting in this group and I know very little about the condition so please, bear with me.
My situation is that when I lived in NZ I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2007 and struggled with years of medications and treatments which didn't work, debilitating side effects, many diets and supplements etc, however in the end my pain levels improved a lot but I could never return to full time work due to the chronic fatigue and also having a spinal injury.
Fast forward to 2013 I was offered a teaching job in Germany and migrated here on my own, leaving friends and family behind, because I really needed a new start and thought the health system might be better here. What has really worked is that wage levels are higher here so I can afford to live on my part time teaching work, (I hated being dependent on Disability payments in the past) I also met a loving partner which has made my quality of life better in so many ways.
Now for the frustrating issue: Lately my fatigue symptoms have spun out of control so badly that I am struggling to even cope with the part time teaching hours, I could literally nod off in the classroom Im so sleepy. I used to put this down to a 'Fibro-Flare" but now I am not sure I have been given the correct diagnosis. I also get lots of small annoying issues which last a day or two, like migraines and flu like symptoms, so my quality of life is decreasing and Im scared of it getting worse and being here alone.
All of the women in my family have some sort of Thyroid issue and my sister has Hashimotos, so it was she who thought I should keep on pushing to get a better diagnosis on my long term health problems. What Im struggling most with is living in a country where I barely understand the language and culture, and I have had three doctors in the past year because I just can't seem to communicate my concerns about getting a correct diagnosis. When I see the doctor about my symptoms they just say something like 'oh, maybe you should just get more exercise or "make some sport" like I haven't tried that a million times before and just hit a brick wall. I have told all these doctors about the family history of Thyroid issues, but when I have the blood tests they just say 'all looks within the normal range'.
My other symptoms,which i had put down to Fibro or menopause (I'm 53), have included an increasingly irritating (but not severe choking) or 'full' feeling in my throat where I feel I can't swallow properly, always feeling cold and having freezing hands and feet, sharp shooting pains in my hands, no libido whatsoever, weight gain, feeling constantly hungry and unsatisfied by food, dry and coarse hair, nails constantly breaking - have only recently realised these could be symptoms of under active thyroid.
Anyway Im feeling sad and frustrated on what to do next: I can barely get through the day, I live in a small town where few people speak English and my German is very rudimentary - I coped with this OK when I was feeling well, and I enjoyed learning the language, but now I feel unwell I just feel like going back home to my family and community and my old doctors who at least tried to find a solution. I have talked to my partner about this but he has very little English too, and he thinks I should just think positive thoughts and it will get better. He has bought me homeopathic medicine but its not working. I WISH it was that simple!
How can I convince a local doctor that I really need the correct type of tests and investigation to measure my thyroid levels? or to try something further?I know something is not right and I am so sick of being told 'its all in your mind".
Thanks for reading - I feel so much better writing this down as I have no one to talk to here and I just feel like getting on a plane right now and going home.
its my first time posting in this group and I know very little about the condition so please, bear with me.
My situation is that when I lived in NZ I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2007 and struggled with years of medications and treatments which didn't work, debilitating side effects, many diets and supplements etc, however in the end my pain levels improved a lot but I could never return to full time work due to the chronic fatigue and also having a spinal injury.
Fast forward to 2013 I was offered a teaching job in Germany and migrated here on my own, leaving friends and family behind, because I really needed a new start and thought the health system might be better here. What has really worked is that wage levels are higher here so I can afford to live on my part time teaching work, (I hated being dependent on Disability payments in the past) I also met a loving partner which has made my quality of life better in so many ways.
Now for the frustrating issue: Lately my fatigue symptoms have spun out of control so badly that I am struggling to even cope with the part time teaching hours, I could literally nod off in the classroom Im so sleepy. I used to put this down to a 'Fibro-Flare" but now I am not sure I have been given the correct diagnosis. I also get lots of small annoying issues which last a day or two, like migraines and flu like symptoms, so my quality of life is decreasing and Im scared of it getting worse and being here alone.
All of the women in my family have some sort of Thyroid issue and my sister has Hashimotos, so it was she who thought I should keep on pushing to get a better diagnosis on my long term health problems. What Im struggling most with is living in a country where I barely understand the language and culture, and I have had three doctors in the past year because I just can't seem to communicate my concerns about getting a correct diagnosis. When I see the doctor about my symptoms they just say something like 'oh, maybe you should just get more exercise or "make some sport" like I haven't tried that a million times before and just hit a brick wall. I have told all these doctors about the family history of Thyroid issues, but when I have the blood tests they just say 'all looks within the normal range'.
My other symptoms,which i had put down to Fibro or menopause (I'm 53), have included an increasingly irritating (but not severe choking) or 'full' feeling in my throat where I feel I can't swallow properly, always feeling cold and having freezing hands and feet, sharp shooting pains in my hands, no libido whatsoever, weight gain, feeling constantly hungry and unsatisfied by food, dry and coarse hair, nails constantly breaking - have only recently realised these could be symptoms of under active thyroid.
Anyway Im feeling sad and frustrated on what to do next: I can barely get through the day, I live in a small town where few people speak English and my German is very rudimentary - I coped with this OK when I was feeling well, and I enjoyed learning the language, but now I feel unwell I just feel like going back home to my family and community and my old doctors who at least tried to find a solution. I have talked to my partner about this but he has very little English too, and he thinks I should just think positive thoughts and it will get better. He has bought me homeopathic medicine but its not working. I WISH it was that simple!
How can I convince a local doctor that I really need the correct type of tests and investigation to measure my thyroid levels? or to try something further?I know something is not right and I am so sick of being told 'its all in your mind".
Thanks for reading - I feel so much better writing this down as I have no one to talk to here and I just feel like getting on a plane right now and going home.
Maybe you could get someone to go with you to the doc's office? Or use google to look up the german words for "I have Hashimoto's and need thyroid replacement." Then ask/nay demand: The Free T3 and Free T4 test. If either of those is low (less than 60% of the range) firmly request thyroid replacement drugs.
No amount of positive thinking will help a thyroid issue. Period.
Do you have a friend who speaks both languages fluently that you could take with you?
Sorry, re-reading my post it sounds so negative and hopeless, but I was just having a bad day. Its not always this bad, some days I have enough energy to get through but on others it just feels overwhelming. It's got worse in the last month.
I have found a doctor in my neighbourhood who is originally from Florida so speaks English, I told him about my family history and the high risk of Thyroid disorders and how bad I was feeling generally (also have intermittent heart palpitations) but he said my blood tests looked in the normal range and has prescribed anti-anxiety meds for me. I haven't taken them, because i dont' have anxiety.
I do have some friends I might be able to ask for help, who speak both languages fluently and might be able to assist me with the medical challenges, unfortunately most people I have tried mentioning my concerns to seem to imply I am being a hypochondriac and 'imagining ' my symptoms .
I can get by in basic German for many things on a daily basis, but with this issue its a tricky one! when the blood tests dont come to any conclusions no one believes you dont feel well.
Thanks again, its so lovely to have your support :)