I asked him about Ord’s thyroiditis (i.e., the atrophic form) and Hashimoto’s disease (the hypertrophic form), whether they were actually two distinct illnesses or just different phases of the same syndrome, and he said he was surprised to see how much I knew about the thyroid, and that he hadn’t known about Ord at all.

He asked me then where I had learned all this from and I dryly answered: From the Internet!

And I added that he just needed to look up the name on Wikipedia to see it all explained.

HA!

I have all the syptoms of hypothyroidism but my test results come back normal and my doctor just says ‘no I won’t treat you or try you on a low dose to see if that works’.

My doctor even but on my records ‘there is no further reason to continue tests’.

I think I’ll try another doctor.

Now I am having symptoms: my skin is so dry I cannot do laundry without the dry sheet ’sticking’ to my hand as if it were velcro, I have gained FIFTY pounds while dieting and exercising. I have had a ‘false positive’ pap smear due to B-12 deficiency but the doctors have spent more time telling me to diet and lose weight than to even think of a thyroid problem. They also seem to think I am obsessive and compulsive due to the fact that I have pulled information off the web to ‘back up my case’. They very often get angry with me because I question their results. I am now working on my fifth doctor… I will not give up. My sister has been diagnosed with ‘underactive’ thyroid…

I had just gotten the internet. I started to read. I met Mary Shoman before she became all that popular. I started to learn and began questioning my doctor. No one would help. I told my husband about all the information I had found and he apologized to me that for years he believed what the doctor had said about getting me mental help. My husband took my synthroid out of the cabinet, looked at me, and said, “we are either going to cure you or kill you, I can not stand knowing that you are in real pain, afterall.” He doubled my meds, I was on such a low dose that I could have taken anything with more potency. So we tripled my meds. Four days later I was walking.

I went back to my doctor in good spirits. We had a meaningful conversation and I told him I would not take anymore synthroid. I want armour plain and simple and I will take my chances. Its my body and I deserve the right to take care of as I see fit as well. He consented. I have been on Armour Thyroid ever since. I am 32.

Bottom line. My doctor is not perfect, He still struggles withs the senseless tsh and I have to continually debate with him over dosage. I usually get my way. My life has been the better for it.

For those out there with doctors like mine, next time you have a visit, Thank him/her. Genuinely thank them. Tell them how much you appreciate hearing their side of this and working with you.

PS. My father was diagnosed as having Hashimoto’s two years ago. I also was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s at the age of 22. My aunt last year under went treatment for lung cancer and had to have two of her ribs removed just after being diagnosed with graves disease. Another cousin was diagnosed last year with graves disease and my mom is currently being treated for mild hypothyroisim. I’m still working on them. Imagine that.

Great response to the newspaper article - and great website! Your site has been so helpful to me in finding out more about my hypothyroidism and all the issues over tests and treatments. Thank you so much!

Janie, words cant express my gratitude for your hard work in creating this wonderful website and I cannot say it enough. Thank you a million times!!