I was getting my haircut (was going to let it grow, but too much work, btw love my new haircut) and talking to my beautician and she knows what I've been through since the year 2000.

Short version, lost mom, lost my job seemed depressed prozac for awhile, keep gaining weight, the exercise helping, but very little. She said she had her thyroid check and she has a problem, anyone else, does it help? I have an appt for Mon at 10 am. I have been sluggish the last year and it just seems to get worse, doing the diet change (correctly, not drastically, did the exercise, vitamin thing but I feel so sluggish and this week and it seems to be getting worse as the days go by.

By Tklinreston on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 04:50 pm:

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism in 1998. It was sort of relief for me to finally find out why I was always feeling so tired (especially because my husband kept callig me "lazy" because I never had any energy to do things.) My hair use to fall out alot too. During a routine exam, my doctor noticed that my thyroid was enlarged and sent me for additional tests. I have a mild case and take a low dose of levoxyl - synthetic thyroxin - but I've still noticed quite a difference. You should definitely get it checked out because it can make a difference in your quality of life. Good luck.

By Marg on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 04:59 pm:

Joyce,

thank you for replying. I was letting my hair grow, but it is so thin and just keeps falling it. It falls out all day, even when I'm cooking. Yes, I wash my hair every morning. But to find my hair in my food. I tie it back but it is so thin. It has just started doing this within the last 6 months. That's why I got my haircut to above my shoulders, it just feels thicker shorter.

I feel very lazy and sometimes don't want to get out of bed. I usually blame it on my 3 yo who is one big ball of energy who right now I can't keep up with.

By Juliem on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 08:26 pm:

I've had my thyroid checked two times in the last year. First test was normal and the second test was low. Unfortunately, I went to two different doctors. My gyn is who I trust, and his test came back negative, and when I told him about second doc's low test, he was feeling my thyroid and found a nodule on it. I had an ultrasound on my thyroid and then a scan. The results were inconclusive as to whether it is a "hot" mass or a "cold" mass. The cold mass is what you have to worry about as far as cancerous, and my scan couldn't exclude that my nodule wasn't cold. Doc said wait six months for a second scan, so that is where I am. In the meantime, I asked for medication for hypothyroidism and doctor wants to wait until nodule thing is figured out. I am tempted to go back the second doctor and go ahead and get the medicine. My hair and eyelashes both are falling out and have no energy. My gyn says it A-G-E, but I am only 38, and that just doesn't seem normal to me. My mother and both her sisters had low thyroid, so I don't know what his problem is with giving me the medication. But I'm afraid of this nodule thing, so am waiting the six months. If anyone knows anything about thyroid nodules, I would welcome any comments.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 08:37 pm:

Julie, I think your gyne may well be right to say wait until the second scan before starting meds, because you don't know what the meds might do to the nodule. But, are you seeing or will your doc refer to you an endocrinologist. A radioactive iodine takeup test might be in order - I know this used to be one of the standard tests for checking out this kind of thing.

I would be concerned about a doctor who says (at your age), AGE as a diagnosis for hair and eyelashes falling out, and no energy. And I would not ignore that your mother and both aunts had low thyroid (hypothyroidism).

I know my ENT sent me for a scan because of lumps in my thyroid. My lumps are many, small and scattered. I am sorry to tell you that he said that small scattered lumps are not generally a problem, but one large lump could be the sign of a problem.

If it were me, I would certainly be insisting on an endocrinologist referral. Be sure the endocrinologist (which your gyne is NOT) is board certified - this means the doc has taken extensive special training and passed a very comprehensive examination.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 08:41 pm:

Marq, do talk to your doctor about a complete blood test - which I get every year as part of my checkup. One of the things checked in a complete blood test is thyroid level, along with liver function, cholesterol levels, and a whole bunch of other things. This is certainly a good preliminary to finding out if you have low thyroid activity, especially since you seem to have many of the commonly known symptoms of hypothyroidism.

By Marg on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 05:42 am:

Thanks Ginny, Before my mom passed away the oncologist told us that her cancer probably started about the age of 36 or 37, she was 62 when she passed away. So it was in her that long.

I was like a human guinea pig when she passed away, because everyone was scared I was next. So I had every test known to man done. However, it's been 2 years and I don't feel depressed, and I am on no medication, I just feel tired. So I should be retested as you posted

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 07:42 am:

Again, an endocrinologist would be the one to see. There are more detailed and specific thyroid tests than the general TSH that is normally done in fairly routine blood workups, and an endocrinologist is more knowledgeable about these than most doctors.

By Juliem on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 07:58 am:

Thanks, Ginny. I did the iodine test, and it was the one that was inconclusive, but I will ask him about the referral. Also, you are probably right about the medication, but I am so anxious to have some energy!!

By Kittycat_26 on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:52 am:

Marg, If you need the name of a good endocrinologist, there is a fantastic one in Hagerstown. I saw him when I was pregnant with Timmy. I just loved him even when he made me do insulin injections and finger testing. That's saying something for me.

By Kernkate on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:52 am:

Marg, I was to my family doctor on Monday. I was feeling very fatigued, worn out, heart was racing, hot feeling only on my face. Just a not my self feeling. I have to go for bloodwork, my Dr. seems to think it might be thyroid. She has me going for a CBC CMP and a TSH, what ever they are. I know what the CBC is and I guess the rest is thyroid test. I also have to have an EKG just to be sure all is ok with the old ticker.
And Marg I always have that lazy feeling which I thought was just keeping up with the kids.
Better to have things checked out.
Good Luck

By Marg on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 09:04 am:

((((Kath)))) I know how you feel, I'm so sorry, it seems like a domino affect doesn't it?

Yes, Amanda, I would I don't even know where the nearest endocrinologist (what a mouth full) is..

By Kittycat_26 on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 10:12 am:

There are only two in Hagerstown. The first is Stephen Lippman, MD. I don't know how familiar you are with HAgerstown but he is on Eastern Blvd in the Hub Plaza complex that was built recently.

The other is Dr. Ashraf El-Khodary. Don't let the name fool you, his english is excellant and he is the nicest man. I recommend him to you with no reservations. He is located in the Robinwood Complex.

I gotta tell you how nice he is. When I was about 30 weeks with Timmy I went to him because I had failed the glucose test. He told me that we were going to insulin injections and explained where the blood sugars needed to be. Because it was a Thursday and he was out of the office until Monday, we had to figure out a way to get the numbers to him so that he could adjust the insulin. He gave me his home phone number for his house in Washington DC. I called him each night at 9:30pm and left a message with the numbers. He called me back at 9:30am the next day with what to do. There aren't many doctors that would do that. But to him, Timmy and I were important enough to go above and beyond. There were no additional charges for this to my insurance company or to me. It was just a good doctor practicing medicine.

I just can't say enough good things about him.

Good luck and if I can do anything just remember that I'm just down the hill.

By Marg on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 10:32 am:

Thank you so much (((Amanda))). I have one of those insurances that needs referrals, so whatever she decides I'll make sure I keep this in mind.

Wow, he is a wonderful dr. It is those kind of drs. that we need more of, mom's oncologist was like that.

Once again, thanks Amanda and I'll let you know how it goes.

By John on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 03:42 pm:

My sister had hypothyroidism for several years before she changed her diet.

Here is a link that might be helpful to learn about the condition:

http://thyroid.about.com/