I've noticed there's not a lot of stuff posted here regarding mental wellbeing (or maybe I just haven't come across it often) when you have a chronic illness, especially thyroid problems, so I thought I'll post my thoughts here.
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's when I was 22 (now 24) but I had it since I was 17 but it never showed up in blood tests. Since the age of 17 I suffered from all of the usual symptoms of hypothyroidism. It affected my A levels and my relationships with people as I just didn't feel like myself. Went to the drs and they said I was depressed and all they could do was give me antidepressants. I was so lost and confused. I managed to get into an architecture course but I didn't last long as I felt overwhelmed/tired/depressed, then I thought maybe architecture was the wrong career for me so I changed my course over to nursing (completely different I know, but I've always been torn between art and science as a kid). Once I started nursing I thought this is it, this is finally the career for me, however the hypo symptoms got so bad that I couldn't leave my bed anymore. I dragged myself to the uni doctors and that's when they diagnosed me with hashi's finally. I had to take a year out to recover and to get used to the new diagnosis as nursing is so intense, hoping that I will be able to continue with nursing a year later. However as I came back for 2nd year I realised that I couldn't continue with it, my body couldn't handle it, so I had to drop out. Now I'm left wondering what to do, am I going to be like this forever? How do people cope when they just can't do everyday things anymore? Over the years this illness seems to be so unpredictable. I could have a good summer and then the next week I could be unable to get out of bed. I'm lucky that I have a family who supports me so I can get away with not working/studying for now, however I had big dreams and now I feel like I may have to let them go. All I keep remembering was how I was before having hashimoto's, and I keep hoping that one day I can be that person again.
If anyone has any tips/advice on what they do to get through this phase of wanting to get on with their life, however they feel like every time they do something it gets in the way, then it'll be much appreciated. Or even if anyone feels the same way, it'll be nice to hear your thoughts. I just want to see that it's possible you can have a chronic illness and still be successful (I don't necessarily mean career, success could mean anything to anyone).
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Whilst I can't comment on thyroid per second, I'm encouraged that many with the syndrome I got over 2 years ago have been able to study and continue with careers. It has put mine back but I am better than I was and hope to start a 3 year course on Naturopathic Nutrition in October. I'm hoping to practise after that since NN has been a key part of my recovery to date.
I think the key thing is to make sure you are optimally medicated and to know your physical limitations. I would expect nursing to be quite physically demanding. Perhaps something less physically demanding would help.
My Hashimoto's kicked in when I had children and I gave up my career at that point, so it's hard to tell. I definitely have days when I feel washed out, but that usually follows unusual exertion, and I rarely take to my bed. I don't seem to suffer like many on here do.
I suspect if you post your results on here with ranges then someone may be able to advise re vitamins and diet that may help you.
I'm sorry you are suffering at your age, it must be really difficult. I have a friend who has a very active life who also got it very young, and she now has two grown up children and seems to be more on a level than I do.
I don't know if you have been back to your doctor and let them know that you have days when you can't get out of bed? It may be you need some other boost such as vitamin D or B, but I'll let the other more knowledgeable people on here comment.
Thank you for your response, it's inspiring to hear other people's stories and I'm glad you and your friend are living normal lives despite having a chronic illness I've been back and forth to all kinds of doctors and they're still unsure as to why I don't feel better by now x
I have Graves Disease but for 3 years now I’ve been Euthyroid ie .. normal .
I went privately to an Endocrinologist who helped by putting me on Carbimazole that’s an Anti Thyroid Medication
Which stops the production of Thyroid hormone
After that , I decided that I would treat my Immune System .. after all it was my Immune System that was causing all the trouble .. not my Thyroid Gland , which had served me well throughout my life ... but was now under attack !
So ... I researched as much as I could and discovered that other people had been filling up their fast emptying Immune Systems with valuable vitamins minerals and nutrients that it had been losing , probably for years ,
running “ on high “
I figured out that if I restored, or tried to restore , those ingredients, then my Immune System would become calm again and leave my poor Thyroid Gland alone .
And indeed leave any other Gland or organic in my body , alone , as it would have no need to attack erratically !
Many of The women in My Family
Suffer from various types of Thyroid diseases .. including Hashis
Where you swing from HYPER .. to
HYPO .. most unpleasant !
But the result is about the same as Graves’ disease because the Thyroid Gland is being attacked .
First of all you need to have your blood tested and then you must tell your Doctor that you’d like to see an Endocrinologist ..
your blood results are yours !
And you should have a print out of those results .. it is not acceptable to just be told over the phone .
. Oh ! ...They’re Normal
They are OBLIGED to give you them !
Keep each copy for your file .
That’s when you come back
on here and print them out in their entirety including the Nos in Brackets thise are the ranges if your Lab , as they all differ .
There are many things that you can take to fill your immune system
With all the goodness it is meant to contain.
Start with your bloods ...
Seaside Susie will come when she sees her name .. she will give you a plethora of advice as to the correct blood tests to ask for and the supplements to take ..
I do not have HYPO ,
Only Graves , and it’s quite different from HASHIS and therefore
I will leave that advice to those
Who know better than I .
But I wish you all the very best of luck .. be strong ..
you CAN live a normal life when you get these thyroid diseases under control ...
the POWER .... is Knowledge !
and use Google at least, to glean all the info you can about Hashimotos
.....And seek natural solutions when you can ... as pouring chemicals into our bodies in my view , does little more than actually confuse our Immune ststens and cause even more problems ...
Thanks for your reply, very heart warming I'm happy to hear that after 3 years your Graves disease has been reversed. I will keep fighting to get the right treatment and yes power is knowledge!
I was put on immunosuppressive meds. I got very unwell on those meds. WBC and neutrophils count down... to my mind, I thought, as you did, my immune system needs help! I ditched the immunosuppressive meds and bought vit C to start.
I read, read, and learned from sites like HU, what vitamins and minerals to take for my health disease. I started introducing each supplement slowly, ensuring no side effects. My WBC and Neutrophils levels normalised. My symptoms improved.
I wouldn't recommend anyone ditches prescribed meds, as I did. However, I would recommend that people continue to research and get to understand what is best for their own wellbeing.
I carried on nursing until I was 64 years old. A very intense job indeed. In hindsight, I perhaps, should have changed my job. Though, I really did love nursing! So, can look back on interactions with patients, in a good way.
I completely agree with Ruby1 - it comes down to being on the right treatment.
A few years ago I thought I'd have to give up work. I still have phases when I really struggle, but as long as my workload's managed (I always seem to have more work than anyone else!), my employer isn't impacted at all.
Thanks for your reply I'm glad you haven't had to give up on work. I had a doctor monitoring me at uni and he suggested part-time work after graduation but unfortunately I couldn't make it through the training that's required to qualify as a nurse prior to being able to work part time x
Hi not sure if it helps but thought I’d share my background story. Diagnosed at 17 after unknown glandular fever episode and took at least 12 months for diagnosis (saw 4 GPs in 2 different counties). I continued to feel unwell and was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, told to take it easy and it will clear itself in a few years. At the time I was doing a physical horse management college course and to get by I slept late, slept at lunch, slept after college before dinner and slept all weekends (whilst trying to maintain a bit of social life!).
Gradually the CFS did lift after 2-3yrs but probably would have got better earlier if I wasn’t doing such a physical job and pushing myself all the time. I continued to work hard doing a manual job and fit extra hours sleep in where I could to cope. After 4yrs I decided to get a degree and work in the office side of things. Office work is just as taxing on the brain for hypo patients and I was still working long hours, usually 7am to 6pm at least. Once settled in one area I decided to take on the GPs once more and found a reliable one to trust. After 6months I got referred to an NHS specialist and was diagnosed with Vit D deficiency and began to feel better again.
Unfortunately that GP left the practice a few years later and the last 3yrs my TSH continued to rise without being flagged up by the GP surgery. I naively believed their results of ‘normal’ and continued to fall down the black hole whilst still doing one of the busiest and most demanding jobs of my career both physically and mentally, with a tricky boss too. Once again all my spare hours were sleeping any annual leave days too, social life became non existent and this is probably the worst I ever felt (but I never took a day of work sick, apart from a week for knee surgery). When the GPs finally flagged the TSH levels needed investigating I got referred through private healthcare to a specialist (refused to discuss it much with the GPs who didn’t even know to test T4 or T3). One of the worst things about having this condition is the continued battle with healthcare professionals to get treated and get back to health. I managed to get T3 with this consultant but she said it was very rare and it took 4 months investigating before she was willing to try me on it. I’m now feeling better than I have for many years but realise I need to take control once and for all with GF diet, vitamin levels etc to optimise my health in every way (FYI ideally this should be done before trying T3).
I have been lucky to be successful in my career and dreams by not giving up and not letting this condition hold me back. Maybe this is part of my fathers influence, he contracted polio as a baby and has lived his life to the full since, quietly proving anyone wrong who says ‘you can’t do that’ - even his own internal voice. You truly are stronger than you think possible! Do not look at your ‘failings’ or things that are holding you back, fight to keep your head above water and if you are still sinking, research your condition, become an expert and fight the healthcare professionals - they cannot dismiss reasonable claims and treatments (especially if you discuss the primary journal article evidence with them). If you still hit a brick wall ask for second, third and fourth opinions but ensure you are doing all you can with your diet too, this will never be a quick fix based on drugs alone. Also if you can produce a spreadsheet of all your blood test results, it’s amazing what doesn’t get passed on by the GPs or it’s provided in letters which are not easy to compare results - this was the only way I could convince my consultant that T3 treatment was clearly needed.
There have been times when this condition has got me down, but you have to have a cry/sleep/Ben&Jerrys and get over it. The only person you can rely on getting yourself better is you, family will support you but sometimes they are enabling you to feel ill by looking after you when you need to fight to feel better yourself. Don’t give in to feeling run down and push yourself a little bit more each day, otherwise your bloods will show that your body is coping with the minimal stress being placed upon it.
All that being said, after 9yrs working hard in the office, and at the grand old age of 34, I decided to take a break (before discovering TSH levels out and beginning T3). I quit my job in October and rented out the house in December with the plan of taking a year out to travel. Held up by the consultant, I started T3 in February this year and finally took a flight to Hong Kong in early June. I’ve completed a month in Vietnam, two weeks in Cambodia and have plans to keep going. I’ve struggled with the heat and energy levels but nothing makes you feel better than doing something you love and a spark has been reignighted in me again - possibly due to T3, possibly due to my surroundings, possibly due to quitting a job and life I was beginning to get stuck in and not enjoying anymore.
I think hypo diagnosis is only one part of the puzzle with mental well-being and you have to find your happiness doing things you enjoy. You are still young and have so much life ahead of you yet, people are changing careers all the time in much later life so you don’t need to worry about missing out or falling behind. Write a list of all you want to achieve big or small and start making steps towards it. Want to get fitter - start by walking a block and build up. Make sure you’re always taking a step forward, don’t let the illness rule you physically or mentally and keep fighting it. Yes it’s exhausting sometimes but if your house was on fire and you had to drag out all your family members alone you would keep fighting until they were all safe. You are stronger than you can possibly realise and if you can harness a bit of that fighting spirit you can achieve anything you set your mind to!
Sorry for the long, rambling post but hopefully there is something in there that’s useful 😊 xx
That's so inspiring, thank you for sharing your story, especially your dad's influence It's so motivating to hear your courage and success despite the hardship you've had to experience xx
No problem. I think we always need to put things into perspective - having thyroid issues is terrible but there are many people in this world who are much worse off! It’s a horrible dark cloud when you’re under it and too foggy to see out but it can and does clear if you keep fighting for the right treatment and look after your body in every other way you possibly can (nutrition/exercise/rest). I personally wouldn’t completely change your dreams and goals for your condition but that’s just me. There’s nothing better than going to a job you are engaged with and enjoy, taking a second best job won’t make you feel as good and may make you notice your symptoms more. I’m a true believer in a positive mental attitude and surrounding yourself with positive people will keep you heading in the right direction. I also believe you can make yourself feel sicker if you only look at the negatives and how bad you feel all the time. Find something to do most days that makes you feel good - even if it’s a tv programme or book, it doesn’t have to be active and doesn’t have to take long (looking at other people enjoying their lives on social media probably won’t help in this case though!). Wish you all the best but know you’ve got this xx
Some great advice from others and I will only add a few tips from my own experience of living with Hashimoto’s.
Diet is critical. Being grain free, dairy free, sugar free has made a huge difference. My diet is whole foods, nothing processed and organic wherever possible. I supplement with magnesium, zinc, vitamin D and a few others depending on the season and the vegetable supply.
Stress had a negative impact on managing Hashimoto’s. Meditation and yoga help me with stress. I have a demanding job, but I make sure I don’t bring work home at the end of the day. Hashimoto’s doesn’t like shift work. Try to find a career that allows for regular hours. Get plenty of sleep, and try to have a consistent bedtime and waking time.
In this past year I had my job, studies for a post graduate degree and knee surgery. It was too much stress on my body and I had an episode of being very unwell for about two weeks. You have to learn to recognise the symptoms and make adjustments.
Hashimoto’s is manageable and you can be well. It is not depression, yet many GPs make the diagnosis and prescribe medication that adds to the problem. Find a doctor or consultant who really understands thyroid issues. Others on this site can help with recommendations.
Good luck to you, you have your whole life in front of you and it can be wonderful.
I agree it's frustrating when doctors immediately assume it's depression without further tests. Thank you for your reply, it's really helped my perspective on things
I do so sympathise. I have had CFS for more years than I care to mention and Hashi’s was part of that. On the whole I am well now - but a big part of this is not over-stretching myself. I recently have been involved in a lot of travelling to the U.K. (I live in Belgium) to sell and buy a property. The stress etc. has caused me to really relapse showing me that there will always be a need to pace. However. I think it’s really important to remember that you are an unique individual and however interesting and helpful other peoples stories are - you will have your own journey.
Having said that - I do believe as others have said that you need to be as proactive as you can. I know that earnings may be an issue but try doing your own thyroid testing. My daughter and I have been using Thriva. They do a thyroid panel with TSH, T4, T3, antibodies, Vit D, B12, Iron etc. which gives a good overview. Try gluten and dairy free. Try and find a nutritional Therapist (bant.org.uk) to test your gut function re autoimmunity and to look at thyroid/ adrenals, other hormones and mitochondrial function and to recommend a food plan and targeted supplements. Find a private medical doctor if you can who will trial you on a natural desiccated thyroid or a T4/T3 combination. I am not suggesting you avoid your GP but be aware of the limitations of the NHS where few doctors look for an underlying cause or look beyond the immediate symptoms. The body is highly complex and body systems are inter-connected e.g. working on gut function may have benefits for many other body systems.
Above all, try to give yourself time to heal and don’t push yourself to exhaustion. Look for root causes.
Hilary I have read that CFS, Fibro and ME were named about ten years after the introduction of levothyroxine and blood tests.
Before that we had no blood tests and were given NDT gradually increased on a trial basis I believe and if symptoms resolved we were diagnosed and kept on NDT.
Yes, I have heard that as well. In theory, I no longer have Hashis as have reduced my antibodies to 2 but my situation is more complicated by chronic Mercury toxicity when young. As with many health conditions, I feel CFS/ME/fibro all have a thyroid component but there is usually a lot more going on and although I agree that symptom relief is a very important factor, there is so much overlap between thyroid and other symptoms that one could keep on increasing a thyroid dose in the hope of resolving symptoms whilst something else could be going on such as heavy metal toxicity.
Yes you are correct that their could be other root causes. I think the 'other' problems could be due to the TSH not 'fitting' into the usual ranges. I have read that if we take too much of thyroid hormones it will be so unpleasant that we'd reduce dose without even having a test. Our body would react badly and we'd feel as if we were hyperactive rather than hypo.
I would say that, yes, having thyroid disease impacts negatively on life and career; it all depends on diagnosis and treatment.
I was undiagnosed for 30 years and I could say that it ruined any career I may have had, not only due to the fatigue but due to the brain fog. I managed to work during that time (I had to) but any career progression was impossible. Relationships were very difficult with my brain fog and low-level depression and I was unable to have children. However, as I said, we are all different and you have heard that others have completed post-graduate study and travelled the world.
You are still young and have a diagnosis and treatment; this means that with management and patience you will probably be able to fulfill your ambitions. Nursing does sound a bit hard physically; as someone suggested, what about part-time? Architecture I know is a long training but less physical. It’s your choice as to what you really want to do, there’s always ways and means. My failures were due to my being undiagnosed and being severely hypothyroid (unable to stand at times).
My experiences are related, not to put you off, but to show that thyroid disease does impact ones life. It is a matter of tailoring ones work to the illness so that one does not get any extra stress. All things are possible.
Thank you for your reply Penny. I was considering part time when I was doing nursing however the training itself to become a nurse was too intense and stressful. I'm sorry to hear about your situation, however it's still inspiring to hear that you still managed to work/get on with your life despite going through with what you went through
Architecture is a very stressful career where long hours (and I mean ridiculously long hours) are regarded as normal - I would not advise it to anyone other than a hyperactive meglomaniac! I have a friend who had undiagnosed hyperthyroidism for years who thrived in it.
Unfortunately for us, the patients, the doctors and endocrinologists are so poorly educated these 'modern' days that many patients are permanently unwell. Suffer with disabling symptoms and prescribed other medications for these instead of an optimum amount of thyroid hormones.:
We are given levothyroxine only. This is synthetic T4 and it should convert to the only Active Thyroid Hormone T3. Many of us do not convert satisfactorily and therefor our body cannot function optimally, i.e. we feel well with no clinical symptoms.
Doctors dose us according to the TSH alone and when it is 'somewhere' in the range they stop increasing dose.
They seem to be completely unaware that our body, especially heart and brain, cannot function without T3 which is needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells.
To feel well, we need a TSH of 1 or lower (not somewhere in the range as most doctors seem to have been told). We need Free T4 and Free T3 to be in the upper part of the range - again these are rarely tested. The may test T4 and T3 but these are not the 'FREE' ones.
We have to train ourselves and know what our body likes when it has an optimum of thyroid hormones to enable us to function without any problems. I shall give you a list of clinical symptoms and most probably doctors prescribe another medication for these rather than test the FT4 and FT3 (both these have to be near top of ranges).
Also, and very important, we have to have optimum B12, Vit D iron, ferritin and folate to enable thyroid hormones to work effectively.
It took me some years to be well but thanks to TUK I am now.
We should take thyroid hormones, usually first thing on an empty stomach with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating as food interferes with the uptake. Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges. Ranges are important and these figures are in brackets after the results. Labs differ in their machines and so do ranges.
It's so encouraging to read others' experiences, and the hurdles they overcame! I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2015, after a long battle with GPs in my hometown, who - as others found out - offered anti-depressants, or wrote my off as pre-menopausal rather than investigating what's wrong. My mom-in-law lives abroad and on an annual visit to her, I consulted a Specialist Internist, who diagnosed Hashimoto's and referred me to an Endo. Best investment I'd ever made! The battle with local GPs continue but I now have the knowledge to stand up to them, ensuring my medicines continue at the right dose. By the time I was diagnosed I had gained 30 pounds. I worked as head chef, a job I loved (though not the best job to try losing weight!). I had to give it up, as I simply couldn't cope. The worst was when others told me I was just lazy, and I started believing them. So the right diagnosis changed my life in several respects. I started using my other skills, now handling digital marketing for several companies (which I do from home) and I'm about to publish my first book. It's been a struggle, but I've lost almost all the extra weight over the past two years, following a low-carb (rather than just gluten-free) lifestyle. I take Vit D and B12 regularly, and other supplements as and when indicated by blood tests. I started walking, first around the block - with difficulty! Now doing about 10km per week and participating in fun-walks.
I realise I'll never be as physical as I used to be, but I'm enjoying life again. And I hope my story helps to encourage others who don't currently see light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks for your reply Zelda I'm really happy to hear that things have gone well for you, very inspiring. GPs will always be a battle but I'm glad that there is a light and the very end of the tunnel, even if some of us don't see it yet! x
I hope things improve for you too, and soon! Be sure to keep us posted.
Dear Panda. I was left untreated for 35 years and it took another 5 to get my treatment as good as it is now. I was tired and ill but did manage a job as a psychatric nurse, had children. I realsie now that although I did these things I was not able to really appreicate my life or reach my potential and I ended up having to retire early on health grounds.I am now at 52 year year old woman just discovering myself, living life to the full, writing the book I have always wanted to write. I am deeply contented and loving life. If only I had got my treatment sorted out earlier. I would advise you to take all the time you need to get as well as you can, no rush, you are stilll young and the NHS will always need nurses.
Hi mandyjane, thanks for your reply So inspiring to hear that you managed to do all of that despite your ill health. I'm glad to hear that you're finally getting the chance to figure yourself out! Thank you for your advice, I'll definitely take that on board x
You're right that the emotional impact is quite rarely discussed here, and your post has obviously affected people because you've got such long replies!
I do think one of the most painful parts of my illness has been the times when I really really wanted to do something, but then ended up not being able to do it because of illness. Both big and small examples, my friends are having a camping trip next weekend that's an annual event. I've managed to go a few times during my 5 years of illness, even when I was a lot more sick, but the mobility I have at the moment is very based on all the routines I have, eating my usual food, getting my usual sleep, doing meditation and exercise. I had a bad experiences last month stepping out of that to visit other friends, and I don't think I can repeat it.
At your age I would definitely focus on making life decisions that will support your illness. Don't go into a very physically and emotionally demanding field like nursing, but maybe find something similar that is more easy going and mostly sitting down. Perhaps some kind of medical technician or researcher? It may be that you are one of the lucky ones who gets to 80-100% of normal functioning, but you may be a bit lower, or may be very well for months and then have harder times (or even years and then have a big crash) . I think it's a great help to have expectations and plans that allow for both. Don't set yourself up wanting something that will only work out if your health is 100%.
I know I'm very shocked to see so many heart warming responses! Yes I completely relate to wanting to doing something but having the illness stopping us, especially when being a big dreamer! Thank you for your advice, I'm lucky in a sense that I'm good at a few things so I'm not restricted to one type of career so I'm sure it's not the end! It's inspiring to hear how you've learnt to put yourself first to cater to your illness, as I know a lot of us get caught up in wanting to be like everyone else with their crazy lives! x
Yes, it's very easy to get caught up enjoying 'passing' as completely well
I started out being very very ill and in bed nearly all the time. Strangely I think that is a lot easier, because I immediately lost a lot of things that were totally impossible for me, instead of having to struggle over each one.
I'm now a lot better, and an able to go out a little bit, but also do lots of nice things in the house or small outings. It becomes much more tempting it is to get ahead of myself and want it all!
Self care and rest are super important with this illness, I think. Especially as fatigue really creeps up on you, and its also easy to feel like you're just lazy or being silly.
I think the early years of Hashimotos are the worst and gradually you will find more stability and wellness and be able to follow your dreams. It is unfortunate to have it so young, but then fortunate to have been diagnosed and treated so early. I agree with other posts that the priority is for optimal treatment so that you can feel the best you can and enjoy life x
I had a successful career as an illustrator but had to give up on it because of autoimmune thyroiditis. I struggled for two years after diagnosis feeling very unwell on levothyroxine (125mcg) I had serious vitamin D deficiency and got supplemented by doc. I retrained in a new career and switched to NDT on which I felt properly better. I gradually gained strength and got a dream job in my new career and have been there now for over three years. In some ways I feel better than I did for years (no horrible depression anymore, good energy levels, sleep like a baby, etc). They key is to get medication properly optimised and all vitamin, mineral etc levels as good as possible. My job is hard and physical and I work long hours but feel fine. You should be able to get back to feeling very close to what you did before you had thyroid problems. I wonder why you felt bad on NDT and if your dose was optimised. Good if Levothyroxine works for you but it does not sound like it has returned you to full health, the dose may not be correct
Yes. Very much so. So hard to get your head round a vastly shortened life through not fault of your.own. overwhelmes me with sadness sometimes. Standing looking over the balcony and watching people walking here and there or going to the beach and knowing I cannot go more than 50 steps and have to stop and sit. I should be thankful that I can walk 50 paces and I am but would givr anything for a normal life!!!! I cry, I pray, I wish mysrlf dead because this is not a life. And yet no one notices no one helps. I wish you well. We just have to keep on chugging along.!!
Lots of excellent advice above, I would like to add a tiny bit. It was a story just like yours which saved my life. My friend and her husband went to visit their son at university since he was about to take his finals and they wanted to boost his confidence - take him out for a nice dinner etc. Instead of a warm welcome, they found him in bed asleep, just wanting to stay asleep and not wanting to do anything. My friend, while not being medical in any way, decided that her son was ill. Mom and dad bundled him in the car, drove him back home and to their excellent doctor (the best money could buy if you get my drift). He was quickly diagnosed with an under active thyroid and put on medication. He was able to return to university, take his finals and pass for his B.Sc.
Now, moving a couple of years on, I found myself falling asleep on the job and not wanting to do anything. I immediately went to my doctor and asked him to check my thyroid - just as my friend did for her son. Within minutes he found nodules which turned out to be cancerous. Had I not known my friend's story I could have been languishing around with my well meaning doctor for months and maybe years getting sicker and sicker with "some mysterious" illness . This is the beauty of telling our stories and experiences, we get diagnoses and medications faster than the usual slow "let's try this, than that, then the other" route, which might get us nowhere or even kill us.
We should talk. I have found my career stood still largely due to needing reasonable adjustments and they being denied, frustrated or resented by my employer.
I have responded to the recent Green Paper via Sir Patrick McLoughlin , but still hard to see a good career.
I can relate I have an under active thyroid and recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; which has affected my career. I have had to consider suitable options that work best for me plus seeking specialist medical support. Mainly from professionals who provide Holistic and Homeopathy Medication.
Any process of discovering what works best takes time, including healing. The best is minimize stress and focus on healing.
I wish you all the best in finding suitable solutions for you
went 6 years un-diagnosed with Addison+Hasimotos (schmidt syndrome)....but at the end of the day...who cares!? focus on what you can do to improve your life from where you stand now. don't victimize yourself, just soldier on. just think where you would be if you lived outside the reach of modern medicine. appreciate that gift as natural selection would take care of us in its absence. much love!
and there was an incredible number of replies. My life got trashed by undiagnosed Hashimoto's, unfortunately all doctors kept telling me I had 'simple hypothyroidism'. There are many members whose careers and lives have been affected.
You are young, you must get your health back or it will slowly and insidiously wreck your life. Have you heard of the amazing Isabella Wentz? She has Hashi's, diagnosed whilst studying pharmacy in U.S.A. and has spent many years researching in order to get full health back. thyroidpharmacist.com/
Please read every word on her website, click on every link and header. She knows as much as any one person knows. She is so passionate about helping us to recover that she even mails out free e-articles on all her subjects (eg food, supplements, etc etc). Please believe me, you will have to read and learn all about Hashi's and how to heal it, as doctors do not have the ability or time to do it for you. Apologies for my cynicism, but the thousands of members on this great forum proves it.
Golly gosh. . My history is one of having my plans and dreams thwarted by the disease but NOT because of the disease itself but from being dismissed as neurotic, not being diagnosed and not being listened to eg I went to my doc at 16 as v nervous, v skinny and could not put on weight. Was told this would settle down but doc said there was some op they did for sweating palms!! Got a bit better and went to study architecture but then very hyper,. Walked for miles through the night, very restless and drawing fine pen lines not good when hands literally dripping in sweat. Left after 2 terms the Londin after Mum died. Had daughter at 20 then at 22 felt slow tired and fluid build up but if course from a 7st 2 base was dismissed, At 24 was speedy and very up and studied Sociology but at 26 dipped right down again. Would get daughter to school and go home and curl up and could not hand in essays as no oomph at all. Left with no diagnosis and feeling bad then at 28 boyfriend noticed my fast heart rate and thought something wrong. Eventually a doc picked up on this when overactive. Had RAI at 30 after carbimazole failed and then young doc refused blood test as HE thought I was fine so took longer to fully revived at 35 and started working properly took more GCSEs and A levels and back to Uni qualifying at. 44,
The lesson I would say is make sure those close to you know the signs of over and under activity and will come to appointments and fight your corner when you feel down. If I had been listened to, diagnosed and treated properly I should have only lost a couple of years instead of more than 10 with consequent effects on working and studying.
Do not give up your dream. When I eventually stabilised in my thirties I was like my old self and managed a demanding physical job no problem followed by my studies and degree. ( After my degree I had thyroid eye disease which also affected job etc but if I had not had previous bad treatment this may not have happened.)
Optimal treatment and supportive friends will go a long way to gelling your recovery! All the best.
Allopathic docs will stand in your way (with crap like anti-depressants) of getting over Hashi's. Have you checked out Izabella Wentz' book about finding the root cause? In the meantime, it sounds like you should be focusing on thyroid hormone replacement, and making sure your nutrients are at proper levels, to avoid deep exhaustion and cognitive problems that kill motivation.
I got seriously ill from Hashi's/hypothyroid at age 45. Took 12 years to finally get a diagnosis (from a Naturopath) of gluten intolerance, and another 9 years to get things fixed so that I felt like working (i.e. cognitive deficits due to hypothyroid mostly fixed). Unfortunately time ran out on me, I was asked to leave my job earlier than I expected to retire. Many organizations simply will not tolerate workers with a chronic illness, and esp. if you have a hawkish supervisor who has no tolerance for people getting ill.
I was diagnosed when I was 35 but started having symptoms at 15. I came from a family too dysfunctional to notice I was struggling or to do anything about it if they had noticed. The result was all kinds of under-achieving.
At 53, I really can't say I'm satisfied with where my life is at. I definitely haven't reached my full potential.
The only time I was optimally medicated was when I managed my own meds. I'm now grossly undermedicated after giving working with a doctor one more good ole college try.
I function better now, primarily because I've just developed a really, really strong capacity to think and function even when feeling like I just got run over by a truck.
I feel huge sympathy reading your post but also great optimism - for you.
It's truly awful to be suffering from such a debilitating illness at such a young age - spoken from one who knows exactly what you are talking about (though mine was/is hypo not hashies).
However the great thing for you is that there is so much more information available for people to take their own health into their hands; not to mention forums like this and the 'Stop The Thyroid Madness' site filled to the gunwales with very knowledgeable and empathetic people.
In 'my day' any knowledge (or really total 'lack' of knowledge) was firmly in the hands of GP's and their word was law. If your illness didn't show up in a blood test - then there was 'nothing wrong with you' except you were probably depressed and/or neurotic then you would be offered anti-depressants...…
We didn't have the wonder of the web (Lordy now I'm sounding like Methuselah! Sad but true) so no-one could share information the way you can so easily now. We did have books though (real ones not kindles!) and I remember one, of many, arrogant doctors telling me 'not to read books' when lecturing me about not 'self diagnosing'....
You've been given some sterling advice re where to start getting proper treatment to regain your health and I would concur with the advice on looking at Isabella Wenz's site. Read all you can about functional medicine: she provides a list of practitioners; look at their websites.
My own little bit of advice would be (and it ties in with the 'functional' approach): is to buy yourself some really good quality probiotics (if you aren't already taking some, but they must be good quality to work). I've only just found out that your 70-80% of your immune system is in your digestive tract.
So it stands to reason that if you improve your gut bacteria then you have to be having a positive affect on the rest of your body; no matter what other conditions/illnesses you have.
The ones I decided to buy are by Dr Mercola: who is a well known and respected American doctor; they are called Complete Probiotics. They aren't cheap at around £55-£68 per bottle (for 180) tablets but that is 3 months supply; so actually not too expensive given they are such good quality and are designed to get where they need to get to help change/improve your gut environment.
If you can afford to; be kind to yourself and give yourself time to become a lot better before you start worrying about your career path again. You never know; you may choose to follow the functional protocol: regain you health significantly and decide to study to be a practitioner yourself!
Believe me, going off the amount of folk on here; you could have clients queueing around the block to consult you.....
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