Two yr's ago i went to my Dr, I was feeling so run down every day , I have no energy & no desire to do anything. She said, that i was just depressed! ( Well Duh i already knew that been treated off & on for almost 20 yr's.) Plus i get so tired of that always being the answer to everytime, it's like well i don't want to take the time to do anything. So anyways i asked her to do a blood test for my thyroid, she did agree to that? When i called i was told it was normal? So i went on for 2 yr's like this (dragging my big butt around) Then i started Atkin's / lowcarbing a yr & a half ago, I never felt that big energy boost ever But i did some how manage to lose 20 pd's it took me 1 1/2 yr to do it but i did, that took over a yr without ever cheating once.
Anyways i went to my phsc last week & told him how i have been feeling for the last 2 or so yr's, First thing he asked was had i had my thyroid tested ? I told him yes & was told it was normal. He asked normal high or normal low? Needless to say i didn't know at that time & would get him a copy. He also had me get more done last week.
My question is what is normal low or high? I should have asked him then, But i was so glad that someone finally heard me .
I told him that all i want to do is sleep, But at the same time when i go to bed at night i just lay there for ever before i do get to sleep & wake up all hour's of the night. By morning i feel like crap! I also have & had for some time now hair loss plus it's so thin.
So what do you think of all this is it just me or what?

Thanks for your help on this,

Chuckie

HYPERTHYROIDISM-----HIGH

What are the symptoms of
hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism refers to any condition in
which the body has too much thyroid hormone.
Symptoms may include weight loss,
nervousness, irritability, increased perspiration,
a racing heart, hand tremors, anxiety, difficulty
sleeping, increased bowel movements, fine
brittle hair, and muscular weakness—
especially in the upper arms and thighs. In
Graves’ disease, a bulging of one or both eyes
may occur.
What causes hyperthyroidism?
The most common cause is Graves’ disease
(see Graves’ Disease brochure). Another cause
is one or more overactive nodules or lumps in
the thyroid, a condition known as toxic nodular
or multinodular goiter. Finally, you may
temporarily have hyperthyroid symptoms if you
have thyroiditis, which causes the gland to
leak thyroid hormone, or if you take too much
thyroid hormone in tablet form.
How is the diagnosis made?
A physical examination and laboratory tests
that measure the amount of thyroid hormone
(thyroxine, or T4, and triiodothyronine, or T3)
and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in your
blood are necessary. Your doctor may choose
to obtain a picture of your thyroid (a thyroid
scan). Measurement of antibodies in the blood
that attack the thyroid (antithyroid antibodies)
may help in diagnosing the cause of
hyperthyroidism.
How is hyperthyroidism treated?
Therapy for hyperthyroidism is generally safe
and effective, but no one treatment is best for
all patients with hyperthyroidism.
Antithyroid drugs. Methimazole (Tapazole®)
or propylthiouracil (PTU) block the thyroid
gland’s ability to make new thyroid hormone.
These drugs allow prompt control of
hyperthyroidism and do not cause permanent
damage to the thyroid gland. Allergic
reactions occur in about 5% of patients.
Rarely (1 in 500 patients), a serious reaction
(agranulocytosis) may lower your resistance
to infection. If you develop a fever or sore
throat while on an antithyroid drug, you
should immediately stop taking the drug and
have a white blood cell count that day.
Radioactive iodine. Radioiodine, which is
administered by mouth, is quickly taken up
by overactive thyroid cells and destroys
them. The radioiodine that is not taken up by
the thyroid cells disappears from the body
within days. Radioiodine often takes several
weeks to several months to control
hyperthyroidism (during which time
antithyroid drug treatment may be used to
control hyperthyroid symptoms), and
occasionally additional radioiodine
treatments may be necessary. This is the
most common therapy for hyperthyroidism in
the United States.
Surgery. Before surgery an antithyroid drug
or a beta-blocking drug is taken to control
your hyperthyroidism. Major complications of
thyroid surgery occur in less than 1% of
patients operated on by an experienced
thyroid surgeon. During surgery, most of the
thyroid gland is removed to control the
hyperthyroidism. Damage to the parathyroid
glands that control your body’s calcium levels
and damage to the nerves that control your
vocal cords, which would cause you to have
a hoarse voice, are rare.
Beta-blockers. These drugs may be helpful
in reducing symptoms of a racing heart, the
shakes, and nervousness, even though they
do not change the high levels of thyroid
hormone in your blood.


HYPOTHYROIDISM---LOW

What are the symptoms of
hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism refers to any condition in
which the thyroid gland produces too little
thyroid hormone. Symptoms may include
feeling run down, slow, depressed, sluggish,
cold, or tired and having dry skin and hair,
constipation, muscle cramps, or weight gain.
Women may have an increased menstrual flow.
Some patients have a swelling in the front of
the neck due to thyroid enlargement (a goiter).
What causes hypothyroidism?
In most cases, hypothyroidism is caused by a
condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in
which a patient’s immune system attacks and
destroys the thyroid. Hypothyroidism can also
be caused by treatment of hyperthyroidism or
by certain medications, and it may be present
from birth. The thyroid may temporarily
become underactive after pregnancy or if it is
inflamed due to a viral infection. Finally, a
problem with the pituitary gland can cause
hypothyroidism.
How is the diagnosis made?
A physical examination and laboratory tests
that measure the amount of thyroid hormone
(thyroxine, or T4) and thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH) in your blood are necessary.
Measurement of antibodies in the blood that
attack the thyroid (antithyroid antibodies) may
help in diagnosing the cause of
hypothyroidism. There is absolutely no
evidence that hypothyroidism can be detected
solely by taking your temperature.
How is hypothyroidism treated?
Synthetic thyroxine. Pure synthetic
thyroxine (T4), taken once daily by mouth,
fully replaces the thyroid gland and
successfully treats the symptoms of
hypothyroidism in most patients. Because
the potency of generic thyroxine has varied
considerably in the past, your physician may
specify a brand name to treat your thyroid
problem. The current branded forms of
synthetic T4 are Synthroid®, Levoxyl®,
Levothyroid®, and Unithroid® For the few
patients who do not feel completely normal
taking T4 alone, the combination of synthetic
T4 and T3 (Cytomel®) may be of benefit.
Desiccated animal thyroid. Desiccated
(dried and powdered) animal thyroid, now
mainly obtained from pigs, was the most
common form of thyroid therapy before the
individual active thyroid hormones were
discovered. Desiccated animal thyroid is
rarely prescribed today, and there is no
evidence that desiccated thyroid has any
advantage over synthetic T4.
Problems with too much or too little
hormone. If you are not taking enough
thyroid hormone, some of the symptoms of
hypothyroidism may continue. If you take
too much thyroid hormone, you may have
symptoms mimicking an overactive thyroid,
including nervousness, a racing heart,
trouble sleeping, and shaking.
Long-term follow-up and family
members at risk. If you have
hypothyroidism, you need to continue to see
your doctor for follow-up at least once a year
so that your thyroid hormone and TSH levels
can be checked and your dose adjusted.
Because hypothyroidism often runs in
families, examinations of your family
members may reveal other individuals with
thyroid problems.

HOPE THIS HELPS...GOOD LUCK

"Just depressed" is a cop-out answer. Depression is a VERY REAL, PHYSICAL illness. The neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain are out of whack. With so many new anti-depressants on the market, it's ridiculous that your doctor has not even TRIED to find one to work for you.

It can take two to three weeks for the full effects of the anti-depressant therapy to "kick in." Make SURE you take the medication as prescribed, for the entire time. Be patient.

I was a basket case with depression and panic attacks about six months after my mother passed away. My doctor prescribed an anti-depressant, and I still remember, with absolute clarity, the moment the medication started to work. It was two and a half weeks later, at 2 PM, and I was sitting at my desk at work. I felt like I "woke up." The feeling was indescribable.

GET HELP!



Peace and compassion,
~VOW