My friend is desperate.

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I have an American friend who is hypothyroid and who now lives over here in

north Yorkshire (UK). I met up with her yesterday for lunch and found her

rather depressed. I feel that she is completely knocked out because

somewhere along the line, through self-treatment, things have got out of

line with her. I asked her to send me an e-mail so that I could post it

here to see if any of you good people could help her. She is starting work

on the 2nd February at an American Finance Company and on the 6th February,

they are sending her to Georgia (US) for a two week training course.

She is suffering tremendous lower back pain, and she could hardly sit or

stand without constant pain. This has come about over the past 3 weeks and

it will not go away. She is about 5.8 " and the majority of the weight she

has put on is all around her hips and thighs,it appears out of proportion to

the rest of her body and is very solid.

The following is what she sent me today. Please can somebody reply so that

I can send your advice on to her. She desperately need somebody to guide

her in all this.

Luv - Sheila

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I remember back in the early nineties, after having bloodwork, my GP telling

me that I was just over the level of hypothyroidsm (HT), that it was worth

checking it every so often. At that time, I felt healthy physically-working

full time, going to the gym etc. I was and still am being treated for

depression, but I wonder if this has anything to do with my thyroid. First

of all, I have been on the large side since my late teens, I've never really

been an over eater, in fact until I move over here 4 years ago, I ate very

little (salads, fruit, occasional bagel with cream cheese) . My friends

(most of whom are skinny little things and eat like hogs, used to say they

didn't know why I was so big since I never really over ate). But I just

assumed that I had a slow metabolism. Anyway, I managed to workfull time

(usually tired toward day's end, but who isnt?)

I moved over here 4 years ago, had Aleyna 2 1/2 years ago (Aug 2001) and

suffered the loss of friends, colleagues and clients in the 11 Sept 2001

terrorist attack at the world trade center. Aleyna was only a month old, and

I think I felt ok post natally, but when 9/11 happened, I absolutely

crashed.

I 'd say for about 6 months I was so ill and my weight was ballooning. I'm

heavier now than I was when I was 9 months pregnant.

I kept tellling my GP in Edinburgh that I was exhausted all the time. That I

slept when aleyna slept and that when

she was awake, I kept looking at the clock for when it was time for her next

nap. I mentioned all this to my mother and she said, " maybe it's your

thyroid " went back to the GP and suggested a thyroid test, she reluctantly

agreed and when the blood tests came back, I was summoned to the office. I

was put on low dose t4 initially which helped mildly. I was sent to

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary endicrinolgy dept for further tests. I wasn't as

informed then, but I think they only checked my t4 level. They said I should

remain on my current dose of T4.

I was told to stop nursing Aleyna at 7 months, go on T4 and start taking

Prozac. I don't think this was enough. I was tired, depressed and weepy all

the time. I was having frequent nightmares about 9/11 and I was a nervous

wreck. Any strength and happiness I could muster when entirely to Aleyna.

We decided to move to North Yorkshire. The last year and a half, we moved 2

times and had this house completely renovated (downstairs only). It was

extremely stressful. Went to the GP here who increased my dose of T4. Mild

improvement. I went private to Dr Hammond of Harrogate, who increased my T4

again. Mild improvment. After discovering the Forums, I self medicated with

Armour (Oct/Nov 03?) and felt a world better. Then I went to see Dr

and was flabergasted when he asked me if I had exposure to ticks and

mosquitoes. Of course I did growing up in coastal New Jersey! I started

taking 4 grains about 2 weeks ago. Feel somewhat better.

Now, I havent a history of test results. I guess my GP must have them. I'll

request a copy when I go next. All I can say is that I'm not as tired all

the time like I used to be, but I still feel like sleeping in the afternoon.

I think I will try your taking doses of armour twice daily.

Other complaints: I am more ill than healthy. I get frequent colds,

bronchitis, back ache, heel spur on left foot and low motivation. I used to

be somewhat active, 5 mile walks daily, tennis with friends and swimming in

the summer. I went for a long walk along the river this past weekend, and I

think that's how I got this chest infection/cold. This completely depresses

me because I hate being ill, mainly because it impacts my wanting to be a

good mother. I don't know what it's going to be like when I return to work.

I don't want to jeoapardize my career.

At present, I am taking:

4 grains of armour, all at once when I first awake.

20 mg of Cipralex (SSRI antidepressant, on the advice of Dr )

DHEA 1 perday 25mg

Vit C

Vit E

Omega 3

B Complex

Multivitamin

stopped taking Samento for the borrelia a while ago, mainly because I'm lazy

and because I was feeling dizzy.

I guess my main complaint these days is my frequent bouts of colds, flus,

brochitis, weight gain, low back pain etc... Last year I was more ill than

not.

My last thyroid function test results are thus (Nov 03 based on urine

analysis)

Volume 1900

T3 717 range 800-1800

t4 1813 range 1800-3000

t3/t4 ratio 0.40 range 0.63-1.00

Cortisol:

result range

8am 34.00 6.00-33.00

noon 22.00 4.0-28.0

4 pm 32.2 4.0-11.8

midnight 10.8 1.0-5.0

(Dr. didn't say anything about this. Looks like I have a cortisol

problem. Is this something I can address?)

Dr W sent me a letter dated 27 aug 2003 listing all the tests I was to

undertake. Aside from stool, adrenal stress and urine thyroid, to which I've

received results and reply (finally!) from Dr W. I did do the PCR estimation

of borrelia genus as well as IAG test from University of Sunderland. I

havent heard anything about these test results. I'll need to sit down and

write a thorough letter to Dr W (along with the £85 I still owe him) and

hopefully request a full profile again sometime soon. I'd really love to get

to the bottom of all of this. Maybe it is just depression that causing all

my problems, I don't know.

I wish I had the time and energy to take a decisive and direct approach. I'm

amazed that I've sent you all this info.

I have to run. I apologize for the length of the note. I'd welcome any

advice you can offer.