I forgot to mention I also have muscle weakness..I tend to get weak easily when trying to carry anything of any weight home..For example carrying a 12 pack of soda cans walking 2 blocks home kills me! I also put a post on here about muscle spasms a few weeks ago. I have muscle spasms at random times on my upper left arm.

I know how u feel i have a underactive thyroid. I have spasms and cramps all the time in my legs. And because of my underactive thyroid i have 2 other conditions 1. B-12 disorder-My body does not absorb b-12 from food or vitamins so i have to have b-12 by IV everyone in a while. 2. a type of anemia that i can not spell which is from low b-12 and not making enough blood. Back in 04 i had to have a blood transfusion cause i came close to dying cause i didn't know i had all these problems. If you haven't done it yet go see a Hemotoligist(sp) they will help you understand ur blood work and what is going on.

Good Morning -) I am so sorry you are going theough so much right now. I was wondering why you are not on meds? Usually people who have a thyroid condtion need to be on meds for the rest of their lives. I am at a level 2.99 also, but, I am still one meds and have been for almost 6 years now. I get the same tiredness as you do. Hang in there. It is hard having a Thyroid condition.

Mel - How do I get a Dr. to put me on meds? I mean I still do not know enough about this condition (was diagnosed in Dec. of last year) to know how to deal with the doctors. From what I've read from other people it seems like most doctors just ignore symptoms. I am so nervous about asking my doctor for meds and when he says "but why you levels are normal" me not knowning what to say..I could say "I feel like crap" but he could say "we aren't sure WHY you feel that way perhaps you should go see a therapist" As you can see I always think too much :)

I finally found the website that says what labs to ask for. (stop the thyroid madness) It says
* TSH But this lab is only for diagnosis of hypopituitary, NOT to diagnose or dose your hypo by.
* Free T4 and Free T3 (note the word free)
* Thyroid Antibodies (anti-TPO and TgAb. YOU NEED BOTH.)
* Ferritin (and do stress FERRITIN, not just RBC)
* Adrenals Cortisol levels (but we strongly recommend saliva tests, not the one time blood test your doctor will do. See below, because you dont need a prescription)
* B-12, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, Vitamin Dplus others your doctor may recommend.
* Reverse T3

Does that sound right? Is this what everyone asks for? Is it realistic that a doctor would do all this or is there specific ones that are more important?
Sorry so many questions!

Hi Lavender. If your doctor is not listening to you get a new one and see an Encrologist (sp)?

You must be your own advocate! Some of these doctors do not care about your needs.

The last Endo I saw didn't even ask me my symptoms he just did the biopsy diagnosed me and had the blood work done. I really want to find one that will ask me what my symptoms are and discuss what is going on with me!

I am only going to say 2 things here:
If you have Hashimotos you have to be on meds for the rest of your life. You never just stop taking them.

I agree I just have to find a doctor that will be wiling to give me meds because the Endo I saw that diagnosed me said he doesn't believe I need meds. My mom was diagnosed with Hashis in 2003 and went to the same doctor and wasn't put on medication for her thyroid until last year when she was diagnosed with cancer and had her thyroid completely removed..so yea I dont think THAT doctor will be willing to medicate me! My mom suffers so bad as well..however her doctor would rather prescribe her with anti-depressants than medicate her thyroid correctly.

I thought I wrote this not you. When my doctor went on vacation his sub saw my hands shaking and ordered lab work. He called me the next day. He said I had Graves' Disease. My next appointment was with my regular doctor. He never prescribed meds except for high blood pressure and asked if I wanted anti-depression meds.. I also went to an Endo after 6 months because a nurse suggested it. Still no meds till after RAI. Which I had done because I had a goiter and a black spot was found on the thyroid. even after biopsy was ok.
My muscles feel tired after walking only a block, like I had been running all day. I just feel weak after just a little house cleaning or gardening. I guess I just feel like a really old person. My grandmother did more then I can do at an older age.

JPonzar - I just looked at my blood work from August 2008 and saw that they did check my B-12 and it was 249. Is that fine? The lower limit of the range is 211..is my number starting to get too low is that fine?

You need to find a Hemotolighist(sp) they are a Blood doctor. They will ask all question. And answer any you have.
Don't be scared to ask them questions. That is there job to help u and answer any questions that u may have.

Hi, LavenderLove, I almost did not provide some advice here as I saw that others pretty much covered all that I know about thyroid, which isn't much as I am new to this condition. But then you asked about Adrenal Fatigue, and to that condition, I am not as new. You MUST read the book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome. Here is the link: http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/products/adrenal_fatigue.php You can also get the book at Barnes and Noble. I read it from cover to cover and it explained everything I had felt. You cannot get better and feel stronger without taking Vitamin E. Over a year ago, I suffered greatly with this and reading this book helped me understand myself, helped others understand me, and helped me find solutions. I highly recommend it. Please take a look at it and let me know if it inspires you as much as it did me. No one should suffer with so much weakness and exhaustion.

Hey Doxie! Thanks...I am looking at the website and that book seems like a good read. I will check it out at borders. As for my doctors appointment on Thursday...Whats the best way to check for Adrenal Fatigue?

well, according to the book, a lot of doctors do not want to test for, nor do they believe, adrenal fatigue is an actual illness. So, the book I recommend actually tells you how to do home tests with saliva, urine, dilation of eyes, and blood pressure. There is also a quiz in the book, or survey, that asks a bunch of questions, you can answer them, and then see what your score is and how bad your adrenal fatigue really is. If you are a college student, which it appears you are, I am pretty sure that all hard-working college students suffer from adrenal fatigue at one point in their college career. There is just so much stress; it would be impossible not to. The way I knew... I saw that I had all the symptoms and I did a few tests and they came out positive. But I feel that I corrected the problem for the most part through natural supplements. I am not, nor have I ever been, one to take a lot of meds. They can be good for one thing, but mess up another. Natural things tend to go best with my body. If you really want to go the doctor route, I believe that you can have your cortisol levels checked through a blood test. Salt helps adrenal fatigue. Have you ever felt better by taking salt or eating salty foods? I really recommend you take a look at the book as soon as possible -- even before your doctor appointment if you can -- that way, you will have more info. to back up your case and push for testing if you want to.

Best of luck! Let me know how it works out for you. Oh.... licorice is another excellent thing to take because it helps to raise blood pressure -- black licorice candy, or licorice capsules sprinkled over your yogurt or in your tea. People with adrenal fatigue seem to suffer from low blood pressure, low blood sugar, low sodium and potassium levels, as well as low electrolytes -- which would explain why it is hard for you to lift things or take walks and suddenly have muscle cramps or weakness.

I hope this helps! :)