Lyn Mynott
I believe I first became ill when I was 29, when my first child was three – although I was ill with a lot of stomach trouble when I was 19 and lived on indigestion medicine for four years, until I became pregnant with my first child. It first started with knee pain, then neck pain, then back pain. I was off work for months. I then started getting vertigo, odd dizzy spells, menstrual problems, allergies – you name it, I had it. I saw different specialists for the separate symptoms, all to no avail. My file was so thick; even I was beginning to believe I was a hypochondriac! At this point, it was never suggested to me that I may have thyroid trouble, even though my sister had been overactive, then underactive. I didn’t, at that stage, know that it ran in families, and that I could have the same problem.
I struggled on but eventually gave up work and became pregnant with my second child. I felt much better during my pregnancy but soon after the birth, I became ill again with joint and back pain.
I changed doctors and although he suspected thyroid problems, and sent me for blood tests on two separate occasions, both coming back in the normal range. I was lucky in that I refused Prozac and therefore didn’t suffer more problems associated with that, as many people have. I saw private alternative therapists – osteopaths, chiropractors, iridologists, healers, and homeopaths. My reflexologist told me that I had problems with my thyroid.
I was classed as having postnatal depression. I was constantly cold, I had no hair on my body and my head hair was falling out in handfuls. My skin was very dry and I was incredibly tired all the time. I put on even more weight even though I’d tried every diet club going and was eating very little. I felt like I was in a continual fog – I couldn’t concentrate, would forget what I was going to say in the middle of a sentence and my eyes were giving me trouble. I had pins and needles in odd places, strange numbness in strange places and cried all the time. I was then given blood tests for menopausal symptoms, but these came back normal too. I went home in tears of fear, anger and frustration.
I carried on as usual and one morning (Thank God) a lump appeared in my throat. As you can imagine, I zoomed to the GP thinking the worst. Tests were carried out and eventually an appointment was made to have a thyroidectomy. Fate stepped in and whilst in hospital I read an article by Diane Holmes in Woman Magazine regarding the blood test results. I telephoned her and received the TAG Pack. Diana had been diagnosed with coeliac disease, epilepsy, polymyalgia rheumatica, ME and myasthenia gravis at different times of her life, whilst the medical profession was trying to find out what was wrong with her! Now I was convinced that I had an underactive thyroid.
After the operation I was given 200 mcg of thyroxine. I didn’t want to take this, as I knew it would be too much in one go, but the district nurse insisted that the doctor was right – so I took it. I was so ill – I thought I was dying – my heart was banging away all night, I was so hot and I was sweating profusely. My GP suggested I reduce the dose. I then decided I had had enough of the medical profession and took my life into my own hands and reduced the dose down to 75 mcg and slowly upped it 25mcg at a time until I felt better, using the Barnes Temperature Test as a guide. (See Barnes Temperature Test) When I went back to see the Consultant who did my operation, he told me “You’ve probably been underactive for some time”. I could have kissed him!
Very, very slowly over a period of 18 months I got much, much better. One by one, the symptoms improved and this proved to me that there was a problem with the diagnosing of thyroid disease and that it is possible to be hypothyroid (and indeed hyperthyroid) and still be within the range.
I realise that I will never be 100% but I am happy with 90% and if I can help others who are in the position I was in, then so be it……
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