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[Guest guest]

Hello,

I'm so glad to have the opportunity to talk to people who understand this disease/illness.

I am a 68 year-old woman who was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease in October, 2005. However, I know I've had a thyroid problem for at least 20 or more years. I just could never convince a doctor. (I probably was hyperthyroid when I was young - in my 20's.) Even the thyroid tests they took "proved" that I did not have a thyroid problem.

Finally, last October my daughter-in-law (who also have thyroiditis) insisted I see her endo/thyroid specialist.

After a sonogram and a battery of blood tests, the doctor determined I have Hashimoto's.

It was such a relief when she told me what was wrong that I cried. Not because I had an illness, but that I finally found out what was wrong with me.

She (my doctor) prescribed 25mg of Levoxyl 1X@ day. Great! I thought. I'll start feeling better right away.

Six month later and I still don't feel much better. I'm still tired all the time. I have cut back my hours and days at work and that really hasn't helped. I have quite a stressful sales job -- who doesn't have a stressful job?! My company has been very agreeable and supportive about my cutting back. But I feel as if I should be stronger and simply ignore the fact that I'm so tired.

About two months ago my doctor increased my Levoxyl to 50mg. I immediately starting getting palpatations. Then last month she suggested that one day @week for one month I increase the 25mg to 37-1/2mg. The next month I was to increase the dosage to 1 day @week to 50mg. At that point, I again got palpatations. So now, I'm back to 25mg @day.

When I thought the increase in dosage would help me to feel better, I began increasing my work hours. Evidently that was not a good idea.

So, here I am. Tired all the time, have put on 50 pounds over the past 20+ years, and feel as if I'll never have any energy or enthusiasm again. I also feel ashamed. Ashamed that I have to take one of my days off to lay around to "recover" from my work week.

Since October, I have had additional blood tests. All have been within the doctor's/testing lab's reference range. These are the results of my thyroid blood tests:

Test Name Results Reference Range

Thyroid Peroxidase

Antibodies 85 (High) <35

T-3, Total 193 (High) 60-181

T-4, Free 1.1 0.8 - 1.8

TSH 1.35 0.40 - 5.50

T-3, Free 296 230 - 420

Have you ever had to quit your job or taken a leave of absence while you coped with your exhaustion?

If you had palpatations from increased dosage of Levoxyl, how did you finally increase your medication to the necessary dosage.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who may have had the same problems I'm experiencing.

Sincerely,

Kay