RE: new to the group

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm so glad you have joined our group. I think it will really help a lot. I

have had 5 pregnancy losses (3 ectopic & 2 miscarriages). I know what you

are going through and know it will get easier for you. While you never " get

over it " , time has a way of making the pain less sharpe and putting more

smiles on your face. Please let me know if I can help or if you need to

talk... I wish this group was around when I first went through this.

Take Care,

[Guest guest]

,

Isn't it amazing how our minds (and hearts) can handle the stress of those

two sentences: " You're pregnant. " and " I'm sorry, it's an ectopic. " I would

just expect our minds (and hearts) to explode at that. Maybe, in a way, they

do.

Happy Anniversary!!!! I am so glad that you had a nice time. It is good to

just " get away " sometimes...

Take care,

Krista

[Guest guest]

Sonja,

All I can is...<sniff, sniff>

Well said.

Take care,

Krista

[Guest guest]

dear

Hi, my name is Sonja and I have also recently joined Krista's group.

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I understand completely how you feel

as the same thing happened to me last year. I also did not know that i was

pregnant, and after being admitted to emergency, my pregnancy was diagnosed

and terminated within an hour. It is a great shock to your system when this

happens, both emotionally and physically. I have to add though that the

physical healing has been alot easier and quicker than the emotional

healing. It has now been over a year since I lost my baby, but the emotional

scars are still very much there. You do however learn how to deal with the

pain after awhile, it never truly goes away, but the days do get easier and

the nights more bearable. Just remember that your sadness is entirely normal

and warrented. YOu have lost a baby,and you will always rremember that. It

will change your life and the way you think, but not in a bad way. I know

that it does not help to say that there will be others, because there might,

but the one you lost will never be there, and that is what will cause the

greatest pain now, but after a while it will also give you the hope that you

can conceive. Right now the important thing is to allow yourself time to

grieve, to expect some days to be worse than others, and to remember that

nothing you did caused this to happen. It was not your fault. Allowing

myself the time to cry and to remember that night in every detail, and to

remind myself that I did lose a baby has in the end been my greatest

saviour, not trying to forget or get on with my life as people always

suggest to you after something like this happens. You have a right to cry,

to mourn the loss of your baby, and sometimes it helps to just put carrying

on on hold for a while. I am so glad to hear that you had such a great time

with your husband, as this is so important. You both need to concentrate on

each other right now and to remind yourself that you are still here,that you

have not dissapeared through all this.

Good luck for the future, I hope your days will get easier.

Once again, I am so sorry about your loss.

Take care

sonja Kershaw

sonja_kershaw@...

>From: FJDarcy@...

>Reply-To: ectopicpregnancyegroups

>To: ectopicpregnancyegroups

>Subject: new to the group

>Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 14:59:07 EDT

>

>Hi. I met Krista in a round a bout way and she invited me to join the

>group. I had an ectopic pregnancy on July 9, 1999. It was my first

>pregnancy, my husband and I had been trying for about 9 months. I didn't

>know I was pregnant until I entered the emergency room, so the emotions

>were

>overwhelming. First thrilled that we were finally pregnant and then 5

>hours

>later devastated that I would have to have emergency surgery to save my

>life.

> I lost my left tube, developed a very severe infection and have slowly

>been

>trying to recover. I am beginning to feel better emotionally and

>physically

>(finally). Yesterday was mine and my husband's one year wedding

>anniversary

>- we went away for a few days and it was so therapeutic...we laughed a lot,

>we cried over our loss, and for the first time in 2 months really had

>fun...we just got in a few hours ago and now that we are back at home and

>he

>is off to work I am feeling sad again.

>

>Well, this was my very long introduction to all of you. I hope everyone is

>well,

>

>

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>MyPoints-Free Rewards When You're Online.

>Start with up to 150 Points for joining!

>http://clickhere./click/805

>

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/ectopicpregnancy

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sonja -

thank you so much, as Krista said, " well said " - I too am sniffling.

[Guest guest]

Stacey,

You have also been a good friend to me, too! It is so sweet of you to take

an interest in the group-not many people would care about something that they

had never experienced.

Many women don't realize that after a pregnancy (or pregnancy loss), there

can exist antibodies that may impair the ability to get and stay pregnant.

Thankfully, Todd and I are only at risk for the RH-factor (only because

nothing else has come up), but our blood types are not eligible for this

risk. Once again, did that make sense? I tend to ramble when it is late,

and it is VERY late!

I was also wondering if Lupus itself would cause a problem with pregnancy...

Take care,

Krista

[Guest guest]

Stacey G,

My goodness! Your story is absolutely heartbreaking. I know someone who also

lost several pregnancies and was diagnosed as having the anti-cardiolipin

antibody.

She now has 2 children. She lost 7 babies before that. You are atleast one

step ahead of the game in that, you can conceive!! I hope that you decided

to keep us

posted on the progress. Good luck when you start TTC again.

Take Care,

[Guest guest]

dear Stacey g.

My thoughts are with you. Even if you have not experienced an ectopic

pregnancy, it sounds to me like you have experienced what could be alot

worse. We all lost our babies at a very early stage, I cannot imagine what

it must be like to carry your child for 32 weeks and then to lose her.

I will be thinking of you, hoping that tomorrow will be better than today.

take care

sonja Kershaw

>

>Reply-To: ectopicpregnancyegroups

>To: ectopicpregnancyegroups

>Subject: New to the Group

>Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 21:25:22 -0700 (PDT)

>

>

>Hi Krista,

>

>I have never had an ectopic pregnancy but do know the pain of losing a

>baby (babies). I have been reading the posts and think what your doing

>is wonderful. You have been so supportive to me and also a good friend.

>Even though I have not had an ep I decided to post my story. Here it

>goes. I'll try to keep it short.

>

>My husband and I decided to ttc shortly after we got married. After

>trying for quite some time we decided to see an infertility specialist.

>After numerous tests they determined I needed surgery to repair a

>septate uterus. We then had 3 unsuccessful attempts at artificial

>insemination. They then determined required surgery.

>

>I had three m/c's in a year which were unexplained. The doctors just

>kept saying " bad luck " try again. My 4th pregnancy I carried to 23

>weeks using baby aspirin, progesterone and a homeopathic doctor. I

>ended up losing the baby due to a clotted placenta. At this time the

>doctors thought they finally found why I continued to lose babies,

>anti-cardiolipin antibody.

>

>For my 5th pregnancy the doctors felt I needed to take heparin,

>prednisone, progesterone and baby aspirin. Since the doctors found out

>what my problem was and how to help me I felt I didn't need a

>homeopathic doctor any longer. Boy was I wrong, I lost this baby at 9

>weeks.

>

>For my 6th pregnancy I was on 20 mg. prednisone, heparin shots twice

>daily, progesterone, baby aspirin and saw a homeopathic doctor. During

>this pregnancy I tested negative for the anti-cardiolipin antibody. I

>ended up losing my daughter at 32 weeks of a placenta abruption and

>almost lost my life. The specialist requested a series of blood tests

>and found I had the Lupus antibody. The specialist feels I have a good

>chance of having a baby with his help. We are thinking about ttc in the

>beginning of 2000, after I get myself back into shape physically and

>mentally.

>

>To Stacey, I would like to know how your doctors feels your chances are

>with Lupus. Did he feel this is why you have lost your babies?

>

>Thanks for listening to my story.

>

>Stacey G.

>__________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Sonja,

When you said that you couldn't imagine what it would have been like to have

a pregnancy loss later...from what I have learned from talking with women who

have had losses at 6 weeks, 4 months, 8 months, an in early infancy is

this-it hurts the same. I don't want you to think that you are any less

deserving of compassion than anyone else. Stacey and I have talked about

this before, we all hurt the same...

Chin up!

Take care,

Krista

[Guest guest]

Well said Krista! And, Sonja she is right. No matter how early or late you

loose a baby, it still is like daggers to the heart. I think I know what you

mean though, in that, feeling it move, etc.... then nothing... It's all

horrible no matter how you look at it! Why does this have to happen to

anyone at all? Ok, I just woke up and I am

rambling...

Have a good day everyone.

[Guest guest]

Hi, and Krista

thank you both. I guess I still have some to work through after all.

I suppose when you are on one side you always feel that the other side is

worse, it helps you cope i think.Two years before I lost my baby, my sister

in law had a miscarriage, she seemed to handle it very well though,she said

that atleast it wasn't a baby yet, only the potential to become one.(I guess

everyone has their own way of making themselves deal with the pain,and that

was her's)Anyway, then when I lost my baby last year, she said to me that I

can just be glad that I didn't know I was pregnant, this way I had no time

to get attached.

(cold hearted b*##*!)Not that I am bitter or anything. I just felt like in a

way it was worse for me, because not only did I lose my baby, but I also

lost the oppertunity to find out in a happy, exited way that I was

pregnant.I do feel glad though that I did not carry my baby for a long time,

felt her move, kick, seen her on sonars,prepared a nursery; and then lost

her.There is just no right or better way to lose a child, so Yes, I know we

all hurt, we all cry, and we all find ways of telling ourselves that atleast

I didn't go through what so-and-so had to go through. The human mind is a

strange thing.

Thank you all for listening and for sharing. You have all in so many

different ways been a life line for me over the past few weeks.

I hope that someday we can meet under more cheerfull circumstances.

HERE'S TO THE FUTURE!!

I leave you with this quote from who ever the guy was that said it: " it is

times like these that build character "

Have a good week-end all of you, chins' up and all that sort of thing.

see you Monday

Sonja Kershaw

>From: KDJOHIO@...

>Reply-To: ectopicpregnancyegroups

>To: ectopicpregnancyegroups

>Subject: Re: New to the Group

>Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 08:44:32 EDT

>

>Well said Krista! And, Sonja she is right. No matter how early or late

>you

>loose a baby, it still is like daggers to the heart. I think I know what

>you

>mean though, in that, feeling it move, etc.... then nothing... It's all

>horrible no matter how you look at it! Why does this have to happen to

>anyone at all? Ok, I just woke up and I am

>rambling...

>

>Have a good day everyone.

>

>

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Was the salesman clueless?

>Productopia has the answers.

>http://clickhere./click/555

>

>

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/ectopicpregnancy

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Welcome Barbara, I am 41 and was first diagnosed when i was 33, I am now stage 4

with mets to the lungs but am in remission now. what kind of chemo are you

gonna be takeing??? Everyone is different with every drug, I am just now

getting my hair back from being on taxotere from june of last year til november

and gemzar from nov til about 2 months ago, currently on arimidex hormome

therapy.

healing hugs and prayers,

Carol

[Guest guest]

Barbara, what kind of chemo will you be taking. I was also dx with

stage 3 dcis. I too adriamycyan/cytoxon. I lost my sense of taste. I

was not really sick just kind of blah feeling. I also had 37

treatments of radiation and then taxol. I hope no one had to take

this drug. I was so sick I couldnt even keep down a glass of water. I

had diaherra and vomiting. I ended up only taking 1 treatment of

taxol as it made me lose the feeling in my feet, legs and hands. I am

so glad you found this group we can be here for you. You can tell us

anything, you can yell scream, we dont care. Keep up the good

attitude that is half the battle.

Jeana

-- In breastcancer2@y..., " LilBigSis " <Barb@e...> wrote:

> I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is

> Barbara, I am 36, married to a wonderful man and the mother of 3

> beautiful children. 2 days ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast

> cancer and i am to start chemo in 2 days. Does anyone have any

> advice? I am a very upbeat happy person and i know that myself, my

> husband and my children can handle this as we have been through

tough

> things before and we see more to come. I guess the only questions i

> have is what should i expect to happen with chemo?

> Thanks for any replies.

> Hugs & have a wonderful weekend

> Barbara

[Guest guest]

Welcome Barbara,

I am nne was a 12 yr survivor last month. You sound like you have a great

attitude and thats half the battle. Everyone responds to chemo differently. I

had CMF and didn't get sick. Just a little nausea and the meds helped that.

I am glad you joined us and if I can be of any help please feel free to email me

or post your questions here and we will try to help.

Hugs

nne

New to the group

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is

Barbara, I am 36, married to a wonderful man and the mother of 3

beautiful children. 2 days ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast

cancer and i am to start chemo in 2 days. Does anyone have any

advice? I am a very upbeat happy person and i know that myself, my

husband and my children can handle this as we have been through tough

things before and we see more to come. I guess the only questions i

have is what should i expect to happen with chemo?

Thanks for any replies.

Hugs & have a wonderful weekend

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara,

My name is Lori and I'm 41 with two children ages 11 and 9. I was

diagnosed 18 months ago - had chemo (adriamycin and cytoxin) and am

now on tamoxifen. I didn't have radiation because I had both breasts

removed and no positive lymph nodes.

This is a great place for support so welcome to the club.

I didn't get that sick with the first two chemos but the third and

fourth, I was pretty sick for 5 days. I did work throughout chemo -

I would take one week off and work two weeks on so on. I had

imagined it to be far worse than it turned out to be and it sounds

like you are very positive and that really is half the battle.

Let us know how you are doing - we care.

Hugs, Lori

> I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is

> Barbara, I am 36, married to a wonderful man and the mother of 3

> beautiful children. 2 days ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast

> cancer and i am to start chemo in 2 days. Does anyone have any

> advice? I am a very upbeat happy person and i know that myself, my

> husband and my children can handle this as we have been through

tough

> things before and we see more to come. I guess the only questions i

> have is what should i expect to happen with chemo?

> Thanks for any replies.

> Hugs & have a wonderful weekend

> Barbara

[Guest guest]

I'm glad you found us! I was diagnosed with stage 2.5

breast cancer at 42, when my youngest daughter had

just turned 5, and am (as of the Fourth of July this

year) a 14-year survivor. I had a mastectomy and took

CMFP chemo for 9 months, then 6 weeks of radiation. It

was no fun and I had some permanent side effects, but

I'm alive to tell you about it, and that makes

everything worthwhile. Do whatever you need to to

fight back, and keep that wonderful attitude!

Hugs,

Nan

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

-Hi Barbara,

No one can tell you what to expect from chemo. I was pretty sick on

AC therapy(adriacyacin and Cytoxin) and was pretty good on Taxol just

tired and I had leg cramps (I was able to do the Komen three mile

walk three days after my second treatment). Others have had the

opposite experience and others have sailed through both. My advice is

to ask for help with nausea if you have it. I didn't for the first

two treatments and then it took two more treatments to get it almost

right. So for the fourth and last treatment of AC I was not too sick!

I had never been one to take prescription drugs and I thought less is

better but feeling well can go a long way to keeping up a good

aditude and they know a lot about what works and what is safe. Also

if you do AC therapy I suggest peanut butter. I mentioned it helped

to settle my stomach and several from the group chimed in that they

had had a similar experience. (I had not been a big fan of peanut

butter before but I ate quantities of it on a spoon during AC therapy

and never got tired of it!)

I also had stage three breast cancer and am one year and one month

past surgery. Though I hope to never do chemo again I led a full

life, raised a big garden, froze lots of food visited with my kids

and grandson and friends, made strides in getting my pottery shop

going and can say last year was a good year.

It sounds like you are entering this with a good attitude and with

that half the battle is won.

Let us know how chemo I goes

Hugs Patty

-- In breastcancer2@y..., " LilBigSis " <Barb@e...> wrote:

> I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is

> Barbara, I am 36, married to a wonderful man and the mother of 3

> beautiful children. 2 days ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast

> cancer and i am to start chemo in 2 days. Does anyone have any

> advice? I am a very upbeat happy person and i know that myself, my

> husband and my children can handle this as we have been through

tough

> things before and we see more to come. I guess the only questions i

> have is what should i expect to happen with chemo?

> Thanks for any replies.

> Hugs & have a wonderful weekend

> Barbara

[Guest guest]

Hello, I too am new to the group. I was diagnosed on December 28,

2001 with Stage 2 breast cancer. I am currently going through chemo

and what has helped me to over come the nausea is to use a

suppository before treatment and then to use another after

treatment. I usually have to use the suppositories for 2 - 3 days.

After, the nausea seems to be under control.

I am really glad to hear that you have such a positive attitude

regarding your illness. I personally believe attitude plays a very

important part in our recovery.

Although chemotherapy seems to affect different people different

ways, be aware of getting tired. Also, I lost my hair immediately

after the first treatment. I strongly encourage you to shave your

head if you start losing your hair. It made me kind of crazy

combing my hair and these hugh hunks of hair were stuck in my comb.

Check with your insurance company. They probably will cover the

cost of a hair prosthesis. Hope this helps you.

> I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is

> Barbara, I am 36, married to a wonderful man and the mother of 3

> beautiful children. 2 days ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast

> cancer and i am to start chemo in 2 days. Does anyone have any

> advice? I am a very upbeat happy person and i know that myself, my

> husband and my children can handle this as we have been through

tough

> things before and we see more to come. I guess the only questions

i

> have is what should i expect to happen with chemo?

> Thanks for any replies.

> Hugs & have a wonderful weekend

> Barbara

[Guest guest]

I hate to say anything but thought I should...All of these messages

about this person posting has had their message attached....aren't

we just giving them more space by doing that..I'm sure no one

even thought of that.

I agree we don't want them peddling this information. But lets

not help them.....

Sharon

--- Jeana wrote:

> Dont come to our group peddling your miracle cure. Chemo does work

> and there are plenty of us to prove that. Your friends cancer was

> probably to far progressed to have any treatment work. Please do

> not post any more about your miracle cure.

> Jeana

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

I don't know whats going on but I went and deleted anything to do with them this

morning. Guess it didn't work! Will go back again and check.

Hugs

nne

Re: Re: New to the group

I hate to say anything but thought I should...All of these messages

about this person posting has had their message attached....aren't

we just giving them more space by doing that..I'm sure no one

even thought of that.

I agree we don't want them peddling this information. But lets

not help them.....

Sharon

--- Jeana wrote:

> Dont come to our group peddling your miracle cure. Chemo does work

> and there are plenty of us to prove that. Your friends cancer was

> probably to far progressed to have any treatment work. Please do

> not post any more about your miracle cure.

> Jeana

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sharon,I just went through and deleted any posts that had their

posts attached to ours. I did this first thing this morning but

evidentally they did not get deleted or at least some didn't get

deleted.

Hugs

marianne

> > Dont come to our group peddling your miracle cure. Chemo does

work

> > and there are plenty of us to prove that. Your friends cancer was

> > probably to far progressed to have any treatment work. Please do

> > not post any more about your miracle cure.

> > Jeana

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

hi ginger,

wow....you have been through a lot.....actually i enjoyed reading your story and it sounds so similar to mine......i'm 39 - will be 40 this september .......anyway, when i was 34 we decided that we were finally ready to start a family so i had been on BCP's 4ever and i heard it was a good idea to be off those for a couple months b4 trying so i saw my obgyn and told her the plan and she agreed to stop the bcp's and start trying in a couple months -- immediately (as if stopping bcp's triggered something) i started gaining weight - a LOT of weight - i was originally a size 3 and my largest was a 24/26 at 263 lbs -- i saw my obgyn about it and i was shocked that she took this push away from the table attitude - i asked about diet pills and she refused. after about 6 months went by i expressed my concern about not getting pg yet and still gaining weight and said something doesn't seem right - i got some BS excuse and back then i wasn't as aggressive and accepted that - at 8 months i expressed concern again with some irritation this time and she finally decided to draw blood for a hormone level and i'll never forget the call i got the next day - the nurse called and said " tanya, no wonder you're gaining weight, you're hypothyroid" .....i should have told the dr something but i didn't -- they started me on synthroid and i lost 35 lbs in no time but then got pregnant wasn't that a coincidense.....needless to say i gained some but only about 15 lbs - it was after that that i continued to gain -- i got pregnant again after that and miscarried then got pregnant again and at 9 weeks got sick as a dog - you name it and i had it - all the normal miserable pg stuff and the unusual stuff like rashes etc and high blood pressure - i had to quit work - i couldn't function - the baby came 3 weeks early but was fine and weighed 7 lb 3 oz --- i was so excited b/c i thought - now i'll get better NOT -- i got worse everyday it seemed like -- i had a section and on the 2nd day in the hospital they started treating me for post partum thyroiditis -- after coming home and past the 8 week recovery period and i'm still not OK and feel like i've been ran over by a truck - i'm in pain all the time - i FINALLY found a good pain specialist - not the anesthesiologist who do the epidural pain shots but a man who works with cancer patients and completely understood what i was going through and didn't think i was drug seeking -- he prescribed me methadone which is now being used for long term chronic pain - i swear its a wonder drug for me - i can't tell i've taken it except the pain is either gone or manageable -- he gives me percocet for breakthrough pain which i use if we are having a big day with the kids and i'm picking them up a lot -- he thinks i have fibromyalgia and i'm seeing a rheumatologist for that in october - the soonest i could get in -- i'm also going to a neurologist who is treating the migraines and restless leg (body) syndrome and narcolepsy and he discovered the hashimotos thyroiditis by testing the antibodies that were sky high (tpo - 746 and thyrogobulin > 3000) and i see a new endo on the 14th of july i can't wait and plan to ask for armour ...... a lot of my musculoskeletal pain was weight related and i have not been successful at losing it and made a carefully thought out and researched decision to have the gastric bypass after an uncle had it done and it was last sept and even with all the hypothyroid stuff where i have practically been between bedbound and housebound since the baby 16 months ago i've still managed to lose 72 lbs at last check. i THINK i'm on the right path now - i'm slowly finding the right docs and have that light at the end of the tunnel feeling now. i'm not sure how everybody else is with their weight but i couldn't lose mine with what i tried - BUT - i will say i'm not an excercise person - never have been never will be - i'm having hot flashes that are about to kill me so i don't leave the AC much at all so surgery was the answer for me - i'm sick of the battle and needed a more permenant solution. so far so good - i'm thrilled even though i still have a lot to lose but i'm under 200 and i never thought i would do that again and i did that with no metabolism so as i improve i think i can get the rest off - another 50 will be good then i'll see - the good thing is it is effortless.

good luck to you and feel free to email me if you want to talk - i can relate to the bad pregnancy stuff. this is a great group - i'm so glad i found them.

visit our website

www.geocities.com/tanyarn96/countryside.html

www.poncetihomes.com

-- new to the group

Hi, I'm Ginger. Here's my story. I'm 37 years old now. About 10 years ago, I had a period of alopecia areata. That is where big patches of hair would fall out. I had to get shots in my scalp for the hair to come back. After that, I started having pain in my legs at night. I would even get up and put panty hose on because the pressure on my legs eased the pain. Over the years, the pain increased and moved to my arms, back, etc. as well. My GP wanted to say that it was arthritis but I was in my twenties. I convinced her to send me to a rheumatologist. All he could find was that my muscle reaction/relaxation stuff seemed to indicate hypothyroidism. He did the blood work and everything came back in normal range. All he could tell me then was to go to a Pain Management Clinic. I never did. I continued on with the lack of sleep, fatique, and pain for the next several years. At thirty years old, I had a couple of years dealing with a recurrent anal fistula and irritable bowel. I had four surgeries to repair the fistula and after three years I haven't had any more. They never diagnosed Crohn's Disease but said it was a possibility. I still have trouble with irritable bowel.A little while after the fistula problem, I finally became pregnant after trying for a long time. When we went in for our first ultrasound, there was no heartbeat at 10 weeks. They scheduled me for a D & C that week. I got pregnant again a few months later (after trying very hard). I started bleeding at 8 weeks and lost that baby too. They decided to go ahead and do some testing to see what was wrong. They first said that my thyroid tests came back bad and sent me for additional blood tests. Then they said, no, thyroid is okay. I got pregnant yet again and lost that baby at 8 weeks as well. My husband didn't understand why I was so upset....after all I had lost two other babies...I should be used to it. I got rid of him shortly after that.I remarried at age 34 to a wonderful man. I had always been a big girl struggling with my weight. I weighed 170 pounds when we got married. He encouraged me to quit smoking and I gained 25 pounds after that. We got pregnant right away and miracle of miracles, we had a wonderful baby boy. I was very sick for most of the pregnancy. The hives were terrible! At 32 weeks I developed preeclampsia and was put on bedrest. I was filling up with so much fluid, it was difficult and painful for me to move. I gained 7 pounds of fluid the day after my baby was delivered! My high weight through the pregnancy was 278. Gosh! My baby was delivered by C-section at 35 weeks because the preeclampsia became so severe my life was threatened. My son's lungs weren't fully developed so he had to be flown by helicopter from our rural hospital to the NICU in the city about 2 hours away. IHe's a terrific 2 year old now and such a blessing! It was all worth it.By my four week follow-up, I had lost down to 205. My OB was pleased. Then I got a cold and went to my GP. I weighted 208 and she gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way. Two weeks later I wasn't feeling any better so I went back to the GP. I weighted 248! Fourty pounds gained in two weeks. I was shocked. The doctor said that the scales just must be wrong. She said I have arthritis and need to take Ibuprophen for the pain. I told her that that doesn't work and I have to get some help! I felt like I was dying! At the time though, I contributed most of my fatigue, pain, etc. to being so sick with my pregnancy and then having a newborn. My GP was no help.I went back to my OB and he decided to do some blood work. My TSH came back over 1000 he said which is really bad. He started me on Synthroid right away and told me to get a new GP and see her ASAP because my blood pressure hadn't returned to normal. She did test my antibodies and said that I have Hashimotos. They got my bloodwork in normal ranges but I still have Carpal Tunnel and Restless legs that keep me up at night. When I would talk with the GP about it, she just wanted to talk about my mobid obesity and try to prescribe diet pills to me that I couldn't afford and messed with my already high blood pressure. When I got upset about it, she said that I was depressed and prescribed Wellbutrin. That did actually help me some. I get along better with my husband and am not as grouchy in general.....it's hard not to be grouch sometimes when you don't feel well. Both of the GP's I had mentioned that I might have fibromyalgia but made no recommendations for what to do about it or how to improve my symptoms.Now, two years post diagnosis, I still don't feel like myself. My body hair doesn't grow, I have no sex drive to speak of, I'm forgetful, I get depressed about my lack of energy and weight gain. I lost a little weight but not much. I work full time and after putting in 8 hours at my desk job, I'm so exhausted I don't feel like doing much at home.A few weeks ago, I ran across your group and started reading the posts and thought well, maybe there is hope for me afterall. I made an appointment with an Endo. in the city. He did blood work and whild he didn't tell me the ranges they said that my TSH is still high. He also said that I may not be converting very well and he did prescribe Armour! I have been taking that for about three weeks and so far I'm feeling quite a bit better. I have a little more energy and have felt like painting my family room and guest room which has needed to be done since we moved into our house. I even painted my office! I still hurt and can't sleep, but I hope that will improve in time. I've decided that if it doesn't, I'm not going to accept that it's just the way it is this time. I'm going to find someone to help me.Another plus with the Armour is that even though I have great health insurance through work, it costs me half of what the Synthroid was costing!Thank you all for helping me. Hope this long story helps someone else!Question-I'm 5'5" tall and still weigh 246 pounds. Have any of you with Hashi's been successful with losing weight? How much do you all weigh? I don't want to keep beating myself up for being fat if there is not much I can do about it. I need to work on accepting myself the way I am now or work on doing something to change it.Ginger

[Guest guest]

Ginger.. How wonderful, your progress... after so long!!!

Now.. some things you really NEED to get checked... you're feeling better

and that is wonderful,... but you say it's not all there yet.... we need

to do some tweaking.. You've proven you're on the right track so now

we're gonna see how much fine tuning we can help you with...

Get to your doc and asked to have some tests done. With Hashi's folks

have found that it's best to completely suppress the TSH... less see

where your numbers fall.. you may need a higher dose.

So, the tests, I'm sure you're familiar with this list, you said you've

been lurking! * wink * (lurking is a good thing, you can learn a lot that

way... but asking questions is better)... anyway.. get the levels and

ranges on the TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and your antibodies. and we NEED the

lab ranges!!!!

Also.. check your ferritin and Bs

Now.. Questions:

How much Armour are you taking?

How many doses per day?

How long have you been on it?

How long since your last dosage adjustment?

What other vitamins and supplements are you taking?

What is your eating schedule like? Three meals, less, more? About how

many calories a day?

Is your endo familiar with Hashi's care or learning as he goes?

I'm glad your here, BTW... and we're already to give you some suggestions

to help you feel better!

Topper ()

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:42:09 -0000 " ginger050302 "

writes:

< snip >

> I went back to my OB and he decided to do some blood work. My TSH

> came back over 1000 he said which is really bad. He started me on

> Synthroid right away and told me to get a new GP and see her ASAP

> because my blood pressure hadn't returned to normal. She did test

> my

> antibodies and said that I have Hashimotos. They got my bloodwork

> in

> normal ranges but I still have Carpal Tunnel and Restless legs that

> keep me up at night. When I would talk with the GP about it, she

> just wanted to talk about my mobid obesity and try to prescribe diet

> pills to me that I couldn't afford and messed with my already high

> blood pressure. When I got upset about it, she said that I was

> depressed and prescribed Wellbutrin. That did actually help me

> some. I get along better with my husband and am not as grouchy in

> general.....it's hard not to be grouch sometimes when you don't feel

> well. Both of the GP's I had mentioned that I might have

> fibromyalgia but made no recommendations for what to do about it or

> how to improve my symptoms.

> Now, two years post diagnosis, I still don't feel like myself. My

> body hair doesn't grow, I have no sex drive to speak of, I'm

> forgetful, I get depressed about my lack of energy and weight gain.

> I lost a little weight but not much. I work full time and after

> putting in 8 hours at my desk job, I'm so exhausted I don't feel

> like doing much at home.

>

> A few weeks ago, I ran across your group and started reading the

> posts and thought well, maybe there is hope for me afterall. I made

> an appointment with an Endo. in the city. He did blood work and

> whild he didn't tell me the ranges they said that my TSH is still

> high. He also said that I may not be converting very well and he

> did

> prescribe Armour! I have been taking that for about three weeks and

> so far I'm feeling quite a bit better. I have a little more energy

> and have felt like painting my family room and guest room which has

> needed to be done since we moved into our house. I even painted my

> office! I still hurt and can't sleep, but I hope that will improve

> in time. I've decided that if it doesn't, I'm not going to accept

> that it's just the way it is this time. I'm going to find someone

> to help me.

>

> Another plus with the Armour is that even though I have great health

> insurance through work, it costs me half of what the Synthroid was

> costing!

>

> Thank you all for helping me. Hope this long story helps someone

> else!

>

> Question-I'm 5'5 " tall and still weigh 246 pounds. Have any of you

> with Hashi's been successful with losing weight? How much do you

> all

> weigh? I don't want to keep beating myself up for being fat if

> there

> is not much I can do about it. I need to work on accepting myself

> the way I am now or work on doing something to change it.

> Ginger

[Guest guest]

Welcome Ginger!!!!!!! I am Feisty(ThyroFeisty) one of the proud co-owners of this group.

As I was reading your story,I was teary.You have gone through the same things a lot of us have.The doctors trying to push diet pills, ignoring the basic symptoms....So willing to prescribe anti-depressants. Both are screaming check for thyroid disease!Plus your other symptoms.....

Finding an Endo that prescribes Armour-----what a blessing!And also that you are finding some relief is great.As the T4 in the armour continues to build(takes 4-6 weeks),You will continue to feel better and better.

How are you taking the Armour? Are you also taking Selenium?

Avoid taking any thyroid meds around the same time you take iron or calcium. These affect the absorption of the thyroid hormones.Selenium helps the conversion of T4(storage thyroid hormone)into T3(what your body uses-active thyroid hormone).Also what helps in conversion is taking your thyroid hormones sublingually(letting it melt under the tongue)Multi-dosing may also help....this is splitting your dose into smaller and taking more often.This helps specifically with natural thyroid, as the T3 has a short life.It peaks in about 2 hours and is used by 4 hours.

As to weight issues.....

Topper(ThyroGeek,the other proud group co-owner)and I have a group dealing with weight issues and thyroid disease.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Overcoming_TD_Metabolism/ If any are interested, drop either Topper or I a request, this is restricted so we dont get any spammers, etc.

Feel free to ask questions, etc---Our "family" here are comprised of compassionate, intelligent, wise members.We all have been touched by thyroid disease.....

hugs

Feisty(ThyroFeisty)

Webb Osterlohhttp://www.thyrophoenix.comhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Thyroid_Support_Group/

new to the group

Hi, I'm Ginger. Here's my story. I'm 37 years old now. About 10 years ago, I had a period of alopecia areata. That is where big patches of hair would fall out. I had to get shots in my scalp for the hair to come back. After that, I started having pain in my legs at night. I would even get up and put panty hose on because the pressure on my legs eased the pain. Over the years, the pain increased and moved to my arms, back, etc. as well. My GP wanted to say that it was arthritis but I was in my twenties. I convinced her to send me to a rheumatologist. All he could find was that my muscle reaction/relaxation stuff seemed to indicate hypothyroidism. He did the blood work and everything came back in normal range. All he could tell me then was to go to a Pain Management Clinic. I never did. I continued on with the lack of sleep, fatique, and pain for the next several years. At thirty years old, I had a couple of years dealing with a recurrent anal fistula and irritable bowel. I had four surgeries to repair the fistula and after three years I haven't had any more. They never diagnosed Crohn's Disease but said it was a possibility. I still have trouble with irritable bowel.A little while after the fistula problem, I finally became pregnant after trying for a long time. When we went in for our first ultrasound, there was no heartbeat at 10 weeks. They scheduled me for a D & C that week. I got pregnant again a few months later (after trying very hard). I started bleeding at 8 weeks and lost that baby too. They decided to go ahead and do some testing to see what was wrong. They first said that my thyroid tests came back bad and sent me for additional blood tests. Then they said, no, thyroid is okay. I got pregnant yet again and lost that baby at 8 weeks as well. My husband didn't understand why I was so upset....after all I had lost two other babies...I should be used to it. I got rid of him shortly after that.I remarried at age 34 to a wonderful man. I had always been a big girl struggling with my weight. I weighed 170 pounds when we got married. He encouraged me to quit smoking and I gained 25 pounds after that. We got pregnant right away and miracle of miracles, we had a wonderful baby boy. I was very sick for most of the pregnancy. The hives were terrible! At 32 weeks I developed preeclampsia and was put on bedrest. I was filling up with so much fluid, it was difficult and painful for me to move. I gained 7 pounds of fluid the day after my baby was delivered! My high weight through the pregnancy was 278. Gosh! My baby was delivered by C-section at 35 weeks because the preeclampsia became so severe my life was threatened. My son's lungs weren't fully developed so he had to be flown by helicopter from our rural hospital to the NICU in the city about 2 hours away. IHe's a terrific 2 year old now and such a blessing! It was all worth it.By my four week follow-up, I had lost down to 205. My OB was pleased. Then I got a cold and went to my GP. I weighted 208 and she gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way. Two weeks later I wasn't feeling any better so I went back to the GP. I weighted 248! Fourty pounds gained in two weeks. I was shocked. The doctor said that the scales just must be wrong. She said I have arthritis and need to take Ibuprophen for the pain. I told her that that doesn't work and I have to get some help! I felt like I was dying! At the time though, I contributed most of my fatigue, pain, etc. to being so sick with my pregnancy and then having a newborn. My GP was no help.I went back to my OB and he decided to do some blood work. My TSH came back over 1000 he said which is really bad. He started me on Synthroid right away and told me to get a new GP and see her ASAP because my blood pressure hadn't returned to normal. She did test my antibodies and said that I have Hashimotos. They got my bloodwork in normal ranges but I still have Carpal Tunnel and Restless legs that keep me up at night. When I would talk with the GP about it, she just wanted to talk about my mobid obesity and try to prescribe diet pills to me that I couldn't afford and messed with my already high blood pressure. When I got upset about it, she said that I was depressed and prescribed Wellbutrin. That did actually help me some. I get along better with my husband and am not as grouchy in general.....it's hard not to be grouch sometimes when you don't feel well. Both of the GP's I had mentioned that I might have fibromyalgia but made no recommendations for what to do about it or how to improve my symptoms.Now, two years post diagnosis, I still don't feel like myself. My body hair doesn't grow, I have no sex drive to speak of, I'm forgetful, I get depressed about my lack of energy and weight gain. I lost a little weight but not much. I work full time and after putting in 8 hours at my desk job, I'm so exhausted I don't feel like doing much at home.A few weeks ago, I ran across your group and started reading the posts and thought well, maybe there is hope for me afterall. I made an appointment with an Endo. in the city. He did blood work and whild he didn't tell me the ranges they said that my TSH is still high. He also said that I may not be converting very well and he did prescribe Armour! I have been taking that for about three weeks and so far I'm feeling quite a bit better. I have a little more energy and have felt like painting my family room and guest room which has needed to be done since we moved into our house. I even painted my office! I still hurt and can't sleep, but I hope that will improve in time. I've decided that if it doesn't, I'm not going to accept that it's just the way it is this time. I'm going to find someone to help me.Another plus with the Armour is that even though I have great health insurance through work, it costs me half of what the Synthroid was costing!Thank you all for helping me. Hope this long story helps someone else!Question-I'm 5'5" tall and still weigh 246 pounds. Have any of you with Hashi's been successful with losing weight? How much do you all weigh? I don't want to keep beating myself up for being fat if there is not much I can do about it. I need to work on accepting myself the way I am now or work on doing something to change it.Ginger

[Guest guest]

Hey Topper, Janie, Patti & all

I haven't updated in a while so here goes.

I changed docs and talked the new one into increasing my Armour from 60mg to 90mg . He agreed to but on the condition that I see and endo. I had been on 60mg since the first of February. After 2 months on 90mg, I was doing great considering where I had been, but there was still room for improvement. Then endo's labwork showed.......

TSH .234 range 0.490 - 4.670

FT4 .91 range 0.71-1.85

FT3 2.11 range 1.45-3.48

I had told both reg doc and endo that I wanted the FT4 and FT3 in the upper range even if my TSH was completely suppressed.

But both said they are worried about osteoporosis b/c of low TSH. Well, we know that's a bunch of bull!!! Then endo made me so mad when he told me the T3 was a narcotic. That people get hooked on it! { How do you draw a smiley with steam comming out of hears?} Now I'm really mad.

Anyway, endodunce wants to reduce my armour back to 60mg, but said we have to reduce gradually, b/c he doesn't think I can handle a sudden reduction [guess cause I'm hooked *$%@ & $^%(* !!!!! {{{{more steam}}}}. So he said to do 60mg and 90mg on alternate days. Well, this was a month ago and although I have three bottles of 60mg at home that they dont' know about, I decided to go along with them. I know this sounds crazy, but I had a reason