- Hi, New here - Intro - Be warned, Be Brave, it's long.

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Hi All,I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. Although, I think my Tgland has been failing for years.Two events seem to have triggered failure in my body.Birth of my son in 1997, a week after I got home I woke up one day and felt like someone had poured cement into my entire body. I felt soooo heavy and painful and had headaches, stiffness and all over pain every day pretty much since. Its like having the flu everyday.I also started getting beyond horrible stomach pains which would knock me down to the bathroom floor where I would lay for hours. Then I would either throw up or get diarrhea. I finally went to a doc, had endo's done and was diagnosed with gastritis and colitis. The pain attacks went away, but stomach has given me problems ever

since. I have terrible burping ALL the time, heartburn etc. I sound like a teenage boy trying to win a biggest burp contest. I hate that!Surgery in 06 for fibroids and female stuff. Still have ovaries and other parts though.Menopausal for 2 years now.Immediately after the surgery 2006 (like the next day)... I had what seems like a mental breakdown and the body pain issues worsed with an added bonus of itching. I started with hyper-sensitivity to ALL sounds, lights, smells and people in general. I would get to work and cry on the way, cry when I saw trees cut down and have to pull over, seeing the trees cut down just made me so darned sad I couldn't take it. I could not bare to have the TV on anywhere near me, couldn't stand hearing music, I was freezing all the time, tired all the time. Never had much of an appetite. It evolved into panic attacks (so they say) and general anxiety

and then severe agoraphobia, inability to drive, and depression...go figure the last one! I had to stop working, I couldn't get out of my car in the parking lot. It was soooo depressing and no one could help me. I was told I was suffering from severe anxiety and given xanax and anti-depressants. Eventually, they said I might be bi-polar ( my family totally disagreed). Took meds for that too and still didn't feel better.I also had terrible difficulty in speaking, thinking, communicating in general and felt confused a lot. I did feel psychotic at times. It was so weird. (I've since stopped taking these meds and I am able to drive and am not bothered by any of that anymore. Well, I still feel very sad when I see a swath of trees annihilated but I don't lose my mind over it...lol.)I would also wake up every day to physical pain all over, stiffness, killer headaches, difficulty in

walking, bumping into walls, brain fog, cold all the time, stiffness, puffiness. I was told I had Fibromyalgia. Took Tramadol for the pain which does help some. After years of feeling like crap, with all blood tests always resulting in Normal....and feeling like no one would ever really know what was wrong with me, since FM is such a mystery.....about 1.5 months ago I suddenly felt really puffy everywhere, especially my stomach, it seemed to just poof up overnight and I couldn't zip up my pants. I was constantly nauseated and constant headache and ringing in my ears. Also had awful joint pain, stiffness, a wobbly feeling head (feels like it's literally moving/wobbling, guess I should check in a mirror) , dizziness, off balance, tripping a lot, bumping into things, dropping things and a feeling like someone was pinching my muscles really hard. Puffiness behind my knees which really sticks out and

general puffiness in joints which now hurt to do anything at all. I have to hold on to something just to get to a standing position if I kneel down. Puffy eyes, bigger looking face...lol...don't like this.Hair is getting dry and looks awful and yes, falls out too, but has been for years. Just didn't look bad before.Fatigue, oh yeah. I've pretty much slept the past 5 years of my life away! And seem to have a whacky sleep schedule...waking up every 2 hours for no reason. What I wouldn't give for a peaceful nights sleep and to wake up feeling rested!The itchiness I've had for years has been beyond horrible recently, and when I scratch I break out in hives which disappear within 1/2 hour. I'm embarrassed to go shopping even, because I know people wonder "what the heck is wrong with that woman". I scratch myself like a mad dog with mange. Within a few weeks I've gained 25 lbs

and those pants I couldn't zip up now won't even go past my thighs as of today. I have nothing to wear. (least of my worries I know).So, made an appointment with a new "Holistic", doc...having high hopes about their approach, but he listened to me impatiently, and I swear I did not tell him all I've written here. I know it's enough to overwhelm anyone, so I tried to be brief. He sent me to have blood drawn which of course I did. Now I know it might sound strange but when he told me my thyroid wasn't functioning I was overjoyed. Finally!, I thought, something to fix!!! I called so many people to tell them. I thought, this is whats been wrong with me all these years!!! I can feel normal again. I don't know if that's true however after all I've learned since the diagnosis. And who knows if this is the answer to all my problems, but I am so happy to have something to treat.

My TSH was 5.3, Vit D-LowB12-High (anyone see elevated B12 in their labs?)Cholesterol - High (for the first time ever in my life)LDL - High (first time ever)I'm not too pleased with this doc. This guy didn't even examine my body. He never touched me!! I have joint pain, a puffy distended abdomen for cryin out loud. I mean this was before he knew about my thyorid. I think I'll try to find an Endocrinologist. I plan to arm myself with knowledge before I go however! From what I've read it seems a T3 and T4 and others should be done.He prescribed Armour Thyro- 60mg/day and 50K vit-D/week and told me to come back in 6 weeks to check the TSH level.Well, that's about it I guess. I apologize for writing so much and for not being the flowing coherent writer that I used to be. Just

can't do it anymore. But I was so excited to find you all I was desperate for someone who might understand to hear my story. I have no support from anyone in my life. And no one understands.If anyone has any comments or suggestions I welcome them!Thank you for reading.