Recently Diagnosed With Hypothyroidism

When I read your post I knew exactly what you meant about feeling like you are "going around the bend." I was on synthroid for about 7 weeks when I had a similar experience. One doctor said it was a normal byproduct of "coming up" on synthroid and another said it was not?

As for the job you hate, let me tell you a bit of a horrifying story that might make you fall back in love with the job you hate, if only for the benefits. You failed to say if what precipitated your diagnosis was the discovery of nodules and, if so, how many. I am 34 yr old female and they found a single "cold" (you will learn the difference between cold and hot if you don't know already) nodule and, if you ever get thyroid cancer, it normally arrives in the form I have-a single, cold, nodule. I am self employed and had private health through blue cross/blue shield. They dumped me when this started to look like cancer. Everyone that reads this is going to say, in their heads(!), they can't do that. Well, people, before we jump to conclusions you have to go through the permutations of what happens when they try.

I had to write to the state of ct health insurance commissioner who, after 3 months, said what we all knew. They said they "can't" do that. Well, I found myself uninsured with this thing in my neck and, as the state has it's lengthy processes to go through, I had to scramble over the holiday season to find a part-time job that had benies. Now, I am doing fine in business for myself but I have to trot off to this part-time gig all because of this thyroid thing.

Btw, the state said they could not do that and part of my reinstatement was paying for the 3 months I was uninsured, in other words, 1200.00+ all so I could get my policy back and then the bills they did not cover when they cancelled me would be paid-all $700.00 worth. In addition, several people warned that they would fish for other reasons to dump me. The moral: stay with the job you hate until they find what is really wrong with you.

The depression and upset, the melancholy, the work outs that get no results, the "new stuff' you are feeling is, I am confident, related to the thyroid. What is a pain in the ass is sorting it all out. Like you hated the job before the thyroid and now, under the guise of thyroid issues, you will start to extricate yourself from it. I would say take a leave if you can because, as you said, food on the table and bills paid is a lot and I could imagine it won't be easy, especially with the freakin' thyroid nonsense to feel 100% to go out and find new income.

I would say go with the devil you know, as my grandmother would have said.

I hope this helps. Write back

Hi liza! Thank you for the response. You're probably right about the effects of going on synthroid. Things seem to have leveled off for me but I still have “good days” and “bad days”. I guess i’ll just have to take it one day at a time. I sure hope my doctor doesn’t have to boost the dosage otherwise I will definitely have to take some time off work. There is no way I would be able to function if I had a panic attack on a higher dosage of meds.



As for quitting my job, I think I would still want to leave, even if I didn’t have a thyroid problem. Any doctor will agree that shiftwork is bad. We work 12 hour shifts, which is actually an 18 hour day, from the time I wake up to the time I go back to sleep. Staying awake for 18 hours is enough to make just about anyone feel tired and drained all the time. I’ll wait a while before I make a decision but I really need to find a new line of work. Money won’t do me any good if i’m in a hospital bed when i’m older.



I think psychology plays a big role in how a person feels, especially when they have been diagnosed with something. “am I really sick today or do I just think i’m sick?” “am I really feeling cold or do I just think i’m cold because I have a thyroid problem?” lol! Yes, I have a thyroid problem but I can’t be using that as an excuse for everything. Oh well, life goes on.

I was also recently diagnosed, but haven't starting the medications yet. I work shift work also, but its not quiet as hard on me. For one thing, i'm only 18 and am still "young and resiliant" (try being resiliant with an underactive thyroid, huh?), and for another, i'm a secretary in a hospital, only working 8 hour shifts, and not out on the streets (i thnk you said you were an officer?) i'm working five days a week, sometimes nights, sometimes days. There are definatly days when I feel like its more worth it to sleep and get fired, than to go into work, and I have also thought about quitting to find something with fewer hours and a more steady schedule, but would hate to give up such a great job. I'm just hoping that now that I have a way to fix the crappy way I feel, it will get better.


As far as the side affects of the drug, you may be taking too large a dose. I've done my research, and hyperthyroidism can cause restlessness and anxiety, and can be cause by taking more of the thyroid hormone than you need, so you might check into that.


Good luck!


Brittany

I forgot something! :)

hypothyroidism can cause depression, its actually a pretty common symptom. I surprised that your doctor didn't know that. Once you've been on the medication for a while, it may take care of itself.

Brittany

Hi, I noticed (actually felt) a lump in my neck that suggests goiter. Last year my doctor (from my symptoms) mentions hypothyroid. After reading about it it sounds like me. But my blood work didn't show anything. Now, a year later and this lump. Another symptom of hypo.
Blood work still shows nothing but I am having an ultrasound next week. So we will see.

Liza, sounds like you have an ultrasound..Cold nodule...What was your outcome? Did you have a biopsy?

Rudedawgfb - how are yours meds coming? Did you quit your job?

I'm doing better, thanks for asking janinphx. :-) actually, I have good days and bad days. I'm going to see my doc in a couple of weeks to see where my levels are but I suspect I also have depression or maybe even bipolar in addition to the thyroid problem. I know the two often go hand-in-hand but when the depression hits, it hits hard. A couple of nights ago I soaked in the tub and just cried (yes, men do cry).

I haven't quit my job yet. My bosses have been great to me and they have me working straight days, 8 hours and no uniform. I never thought I could go back to a "day job" after having 4 days off on the shiftwork, but the shorter days are great!! I'll have a better idea where things are when I see my doctor but at the very least, I probably get a job in another department for roughly the same pay.

I've been off the antidepressants for about 2 months now but I definately felt better when I was on them. I guess there is no easy cure for thyroid and related problems; its a long process.

I'll keep you all updated. I hope you are all doing well. Hang in there!

Glad to hear your feeling better. And that you got on days. I don't think I could work nights. I'm a morning person myself. What kind of meds are you on. I have heard good things about armor. Most people seem to prefer them but doctors don't like prescriping them. Has anyone tried natural remedies or is there any foods that help or hurt? I don't hear much about that I am a big advocate on natural healing even though I have a hard time sticking to specific diets!

I am on levothyroxin for the thyroid and proscar for the hair loss. (its a drug for prostate problems but in the right amount, 5 mg, it is supposed to be really good for helping hair growth. I was also on cypralax for the depression and anxiety and that seemed to help a lot. Now that I am off it (to see how my body reacts), I suspect I will have to go back on it. My doctor wanted to treat my thyroid problem first before dealing with any depression issues.

I don't propose to be an expert by any means, I have never even taken a thyroid medicine, but I have heard good things about armour. If after I have my tests and they decide to put me on something thats what I am going to request. Here is a link that talks about the different ones. If you are still having problems and don't feel that what you are taking is helping you might want to consider something else - armour or a combo of t-4 w/t-3.

Http://th yroid.About.Com/gi/dynamic/offsite.Htm?Zi= 1/xj&sdn=thyroid&zu=http%3a%2f%2fw ww.Thyroid-info.Com%2farticles%2fbestdrug. Htm

Hello im a 28 y/o female who just got dignosed with hypothyroid and it really sucks lol, for the past 5 years I have been gaining weight after my daughter was born. In the past 5 yrs ive had headaches and dizziness and now I know why. My doctor put me on synthroid the yellow pills I think 0.1 mg i've been taking them now for just over a week and not feeling any different, im still getting bad headaches. My levels when they came back were 26 and normal is like 4. What I don't understand is that I go to the gym 4 times a week and burn alot of calories as I spend almost 2.5 hrs there I keep my calorie intake at under 1200 and my weight still isnt dropping? Does anyone know how long it takes for these pills to work thanks sarah.

Hi all! Just thought I would stop in and give you an update on my conditions. First of all, things have improved 100%!! I'm up to 137mcg a day and I suspect my doctor will keep increasing it the next time I go for a blood test. I'm totally off the shiftwork and my boss gave me a day position and that is helping big time because I finally have some consistency in my life.

I am still on anti-depressants and I will probably will be for some time. I tried going off them for a little bit and things went downhill. I look back at the way I was over a year ago and I can't believe it! I am back to the way I was in my 20s. I am still tired quite a bit and i'm having a little trouble with my weight but I am trying to stay on a regular exercise routine and i'm watching what i'm eating.

Its sad that I wasted so many years of my life without getting help. I just thought I was feeling the way I was because of the shiftwork. If you suspect something is wrong, no matter how minor it may seem, go see a doctor!!! I lost at least 4-5 years of my life before my condition was finally diagnosed. Do not put it off!!!

Smith28, every person is different but it will take at least a few weeks before you start to see any change. The road to recovery is slow so you just have to be patient. Keep us informed.

Life is good!