I am new here. I was reading threads off and on most of the day yesterday. I don't know where to start. Um . . . well . . . I guess I just jump right in . . .
I have had hypothyroidism for several years. I have sleep apnea. I am 44, so I think that I am peri-menopausal, even though none of my doctors (some of which are women) have suggested it. I was prescribed Lovastatin last week for high cholesterol.
Unfortunately, my symptoms are characteristic of hypothyroidism, lack of sleep, PMS, peri-menopause and even the Lovastatin. I've had an increase in Synthroid, but I feel like no matter which doctor (including an endocrinologist) I go to, they are simply treating the numbers.
I feel like this post is going everywhere . . . and nowhere . . .
I didn't know a darned thing about hypothyroidism when I was first diagnosed. I was told to "take these pills" and I'd feel better. So I took them. I was under the impression for years that hypothyroidism was "no big deal" because that's the way the doctor handled it. Okay, I'm not dumping all the responsibility on the doctor, but because it didn't seem important, I didn't have any drive to get more information.
I was just going along with the way things were last year (having mono, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, awful back stiffness, etc.) Then, I started looking into hypothyroidism. I found things on symptoms lists that I had, but never knew that all together, they were related. I realized that my doctor was handling everything individually as well, which is when I recently requested another TSH test for my thyroid. I have now found the same thing happening with the peri-menopause list.
On top of that, I find my work environment boring and depressing with no advancement. I have been divorced for just over a year and this apartment living is yet to be my "thing."
So how do I know which problem is causing me trouble? (Tiredness, "mental fog", forgettfulness, difficulty concentrating, irritable, very low metabolism, depression, muscle/joint aches and pains.)
How do I deal with it, if I have a little bit of everything going on? Last week, my answer to this question would have been to pack up the basics and move to the middle of the forest. LOL
Ms. Shapen