- Re: Hi I'm new to all this.

[Guest guest]

Hi, - welcome to the group!

Anyone who is even vaguely familiar with how our bodies work will not think that

a person with TSH over 40 is being lazy and unmotivated. It's amazing that you

have been able to function! We go to that

level (and higher) when we are off our thyroid meds in preparation for a scan,

and usually refer to this period as 'hypo hell'. You'll get lots of

information from this group, but you'll also get lots of

understanding of what you've been experiencing in terms of hypothyroidism.

Virtually all of us have had FNA (fine needle aspiration) biopsy, and we all

have different experiences of it. At best, it's not the most pleasant thing,

but for most of us it's not terrible.

If you'd like to read up a bit on some of the basics of FNA, here are two links

-

http://www.thyca.org/fna.htm

http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/NodulesHP.html#03

How to explain to your family? That's a tough one, because no matter what, it's

almost impossible for anyone else to understand the experience, especially since

we don't LOOK sick. Chances are, no matter

what you say, they won't get it.

I tell my family I feel like the Brand X battery in the Energizer commercials -

the battery just s-l-o-w-s down, and there's nothing you can do about it. The

thing that gets most people is when I tell

them that my body temperature goes down 3 degrees during this time. It may

help to tell your family that it is often recommended that we don't drive when

our TSH even begins approaching 30 (see Dr. Ain's

letter included in http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/11724 )

Good luck with your biopsy, and in with getting your metabolism back to normal.

-

NYC

TT 2/99 dx pap/foll; RAI 100 mCi 3/99 & 4/00; clean scan 3/02;

current TSH ~.06 on .225 levothyroxine

(for help in deciphering this, and for other frequently used abbreviations, see

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/21248 )

denvic2001 wrote:

> Recently, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, they also tell me that

> I have a goiter and 2 nodules about the size of a quarter. I'm going

> next week for a needle biopsy, to rule out cancer. As anyone had this

> done before? What should I expect? I know that this group is for

> thyroid cancer, but it is hard to find a group for Hypo. Also how can

> I explain to my family what my body is going through. My TSH level is

> at 43.2! They just think that I am lazy and unmotivated. In the past

> 2 years I have gained about 50lbs. I weight about 180 and I am 5'6 " .

> I'm only 26 years old but sometimes I feel like 100. I used to be a

> runner but lately I can not motivate myself to get out there. Any

> info you all can provide to me would be greatly appreciated.

> Thanks

>