It's not all in your head.: Before and after of... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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It's not all in your head.

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Before and after of hashimotos hypothyroidism.

My face says it all , yet my bloods said within range and passed as normal by gp.

I was clearly ill and felt mentally ill and physically ill and emotionally trying to hold it all together. It's been 17 years this roller coaster ride and enough to know the hidious hypo to hyper symptoms.

Like a lot of you I've been treated so badly by the nhs doctors and hospitals ( from lack of knowledge) that it profoundly affected my life. It's only sheer determination and support from my husband and the love of your kids that I actually continued on to live otherwise need I say more.

I feel good now dosing by how I feel,temp, bp, heart rate, signs & symptoms, B12 and other essential vits and minerals. wanted to share with you all.

Don't loose hope.

Good luck

P.S Blood tests are important, however they are not the be all. Clinical signs and symptoms are vital , and must never be over looked. Hashimotos for a lot of people is complicated for many many reasons that give issues that need to be addressed for a thyroid hormone replacement to work for you. It's not just about taking a thyroid pill and numbers. Good health

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18 Replies

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Mouldyoledoll9 years ago

OMG!! That could be me, that's made me cry. I have taken pics of my face, its sooo bloated I look like a different person, I would put on here, but I am embarrassed, and don't want my pic shared anywhere else on the net. ((((hugs to you)))) xx

• in reply toMouldyoledoll9 years ago

I know how you feel, I was embarrassed too. But it's the illness not you. It's heart breaking how it makes you feel . All the different symptoms and how it affects you body and soul.

But fight it. Don't give up.

Xxx

Mouldyoledoll• in reply to9 years ago

I've had 6 plus years of knowing I was ill, and only just been diagnosed with hashis, but the Endo still wont treat me yet, I've got to watch and wait....wait for what? To peg it?? Thankyou so much for posting, yourve given me hope xx

Heloise• in reply toMouldyoledoll9 years ago

caz, please don't wait for that institution to help you. Help yourself. You could do the simple things that if they would oblige you, you can emulate yourself. They would simply start you on 25 mcgs of levothyroxine and if you are very fortunate, they would raise you to 50 in six weeks, etc. to your most acceptable level. You could do the exact thing for very little money.

Of course, it would be preferable to find out other factors if you haven't already but if you know your B12, folate, ferritin and iron levels that would help immensely.

Also, natural desiccated thyroid like Armour or WP might be preferable over levo. If you have adrenal issues, it would help to identify those but you could probably not be certain the NHS would bother with that either. It's a disgusting situation caz, but don't allow them to ruin your life.

Mouldyoledoll• in reply toHeloise9 years ago

I am seriously considering buying NDT and doing it myself, I'm just waiting for my most recent blood results from endo

Heloise• in reply toMouldyoledoll9 years ago

Very fine, once you get past the notion that replacing something your body needs is a bad thing, you are on your way to success. Keep posting.

galathea9 years ago

Oooh, dont show these pics to your doc or endo..... They will say that you are smiling in the rhs pic, so your problem is clearly that you were depressed and needed to smile more. Honestly you wouldn't believe the bull that they can come out with.

You really do look so much better..... Thanks for posting them and happy to hear and see that your treatment is working.

Xx. G.

Mouldyoledoll• in reply togalathea9 years ago

I showed my GP, and my Endo my pics, my GP said I looked fed up, and the Endo has tested me for Myasthenia gravis as my right eye also droops. (still waiting for results)

galathea• in reply toMouldyoledoll9 years ago

Fed up? Is that all he could manage? Could he not see the signs of hypothyroidism? No.... Because he has absolutely no idea that a swollen puffy face points to hypo....

Grrrrrr.

What does it take for the docs to realise and admit they know nothing about thyroid stuff?

• in reply togalathea9 years ago

Apart from the obvious swollen face , the whole body swells as we all know.

And what about your heart and organs. All affected. Water logged.

shaws9 years ago

Well done jobeth and your story and photo will give an impetus to those still struggling with the same ineptitude attitude by most of the World's Endocrinologists?

Congratulations.It is amazing what the optimum of thyroid hormones will achieve - a Life worth living.

• in reply toshaws9 years ago

Thank you, I appreciate your words.

Being a woman we all want to look our best and this disease can alter your looks which really doesn't help. You may feel ill but you don't want people in the street to know.

It's hard to display that picture because it's the hidden face of the disease. But that's what it is a disease not me. I try to remember that and do my best to show my face and not it's face.

Thank you

galathea• in reply toshaws9 years ago

Heres a link to an article which says the best way of knowing if thyroid hormones are doing a good job is to compare before and after photos,,,,

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Xx g

shaws• in reply togalathea9 years ago

That's a great link. Particularly giving us all of the ways in which to diagose hypo patients and treat them with NDT.

I like his suggestion that if he was not sure of the diagnosis a photo taken before treatment and after confirmed his diagnosis.

Therefore it goes to show that as Dr P and Dr S and other reasonable doctors that a trial of NDT (or thyroid hormones) isn't going to cause any harm and if not improving it's not a problem with the thyroid gland.

That's how Dr P and others only needed to 'look at a patient and diagnose them' before they even sat down.

What a skill they all developed instead of today's miserly comments to very sick patients seeking help and taking more notice of a 'dot' than clinical symptoms.

Fennella029 years ago

Hi Jobeth

Your story is inspirational and you do look so well now. Can I ask what sort of results you were getting whilst being told that you were fine? I get swollen, puffy eyes and have a drooping left eye (also tested for MG) and I feel so grotty - even sewing some curtains for an hour last night left me so drained that I had to go to bed to recover - that surely can't be right. . . I have unexplained but clinically recognised weakness but am told that all is fine because my TSH is 2.44 and I am slim.

Well done you for persisting. Stay well. Clare

Lucieb019 years ago

Ihave had thyroid probs for 35yrs 5yrs as overactive got the op then underactive and I still have moon face.

9 years ago

Aww you make me cry. Thank you. 😊

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