They died. Not quickly either. Slooowly and painfully.

Oh, and many, many of the were committed to "mental institutions" that were NOT nice paces to be.

Kind of morbid, huh? ;) LOL. I can see how it would be that way though. I know some of my family think I'm just wanting attention or something. Its exactly the opposite, I'd much rather be way back in the woods with no attention on me what so ever.

Hypothyroidism was once called "cretanism" and boy do I ever understand why!

You feel so bad you just want to hybernate like a wounded bear.

Ignore family. They don't get it because they can't "see" it. If it's extended family members just tell you have cancer. They'll get it then. ;) Or just say, "I have a disease that makes me want to kill you" and they'll leave you alone ;)

Just a personal message: My family is rife with this - and an elderly family member told me about a great-great-great-uncle who absolutely had hypothyroidism (swollen neck - all that) and spent 25 years in bed with intractable pain and hallucinations. That's truly morbid. Family tried to care for him, according to relative, but he was inconsolable. That, to me, is the very definition of hell.

There ARE things they can do today to eliminate this problem - I truly thing you're close to getting treatment...then you can tell your family to shove it and go deer hunting. (or do as I used to and go deer hunting so you can sit in the woods alone and drink beer perfectly free of criticism).

Lol. I would've like that. Fishing time is right around the corner and I HAVE to get this under control so I can go. My family eats a lot of wild game, I felt so bad this winter that I didn't tag ANY deer. Luckily, I had a couple given to me so that helped. I just want to feel good enough so I don't panic and feel like I'm goinna pass out while I'm out there. Last spring, I'd had and ear procedure done in February, and for 3 days straight, they pumped me full of liquid Dexamethasone so for about 3 or 4 months I didn't feel a lot of the pain and lightheadness I do now, I guess because it got rid of all of the inflammation in my body. But It might have done a number on my thyroid as well. Oh well, enough wallowing in self pity, lol.

jwlee

I feel your pain. Isolation is one way of dealing with this crap, I've done it, not the best way but an option.

You need to put as much energy into getting treated properly with appropriate amounts of meds, you will the feel differently, your life will change almost completely. What MB says is all so true but we dont need to live that way today with proper treatment and meds, and of course, the right doctor.

Great idea MB but can't hunt deer (very few here anyway) where I live. Closest thing I did was walk 8 miles in the forest at daybreak :)

Do you have low BP? If low BP is making you dizzy when you stand up, you can raise your BP enough to get more blood to your brain by taking a deep breath, holding your mouth and nose closed, and trying to push the air out. It's called a valsalva maneuver. But only use it if your BP is low. I hope this helps.

Nope, blood pressure is fine. Usually always is. (unless I'm at the doctor about to have blood drawn, then it goes up, lol) It usually stays around 115-125 over 70-75. Sometimes my lower number dips down into the 60's but never much lower.

I have a friend who is in his early 80's. When he was a kid he was always exhausted. His parents took him to the doctor and put him on what I am assuming was some type of natural product (Armour?). His dose was adjusted accorded to his symptoms, because there was no TSH test. He gets checked periodically and feels fine...
So, I guess it depends on the symptoms that are manifested. There are approximately 300 after all. So lucky for him, tired looked like thyroid, but paranoia could have looked mental...