Posted by afatchic on September 4, 2001, at 19:36:43
Noa,
I love to read; anything. I feel at home lurking in libraries and book stores. Several years ago, I happened upon a book on hypothyroidism; all my symptoms were explained by this diagnosis, but unfortunately, I thought this diagnosis was too convenient. I told myself I was a hypochondriac. Every few years this diagnosis would surface again in conjunction with my medical history. I got to the point where I would tell doctors not to waste their time ordering a thyroid test on me because it always came back "normal". Noa, it was your prompting on PB that made me research more and to keep pestering docs for thyroid tests. Finally, my Pdoc decided to order a TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) on me even after I had given up. Today I got the results. I can't believe I'm this happy to have an abnormal test result. My TSH is 7.8; normal is 0.5 - 4.7 This explains so many things!!! My inability to lose weight despite eating like a rabbit for years and exercising like a mad woman (no pun intended), depression, high cholesterol, extremely heavy periods, vertigo, infertility, dry skin, dry hair, exhaustion, etc.
Anyone who is reading this, please know that hypothyroidism is very common, frequently not diagnosed by doctors who are ignorant but well meaning, and is A MAJOR CAUSE OF DEPRESSION. If you want to know more about hypothyroidism, check out Mary Shomon's thyroid site on about.com. It's not all in your head. Thank you Noa!!
poster:afatchic
thread:77729
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010902/msgs/77729.html