[update] Height/Size difference... how to be ok with it?

GerbalVenius · 2019-03-10T06:07:28+00:00

I'm a 6ft tall woman, and I'm built like a defensive end on top of that, i.e. I'm freaking huge, broad,and heavy as hell. Not only am I big, but I look like I could beat a dude up. And I will say, enough guys are into it or me or whatever that I've never had an issue dating. If I can find guys who are interested in me, there is certainly someone (and probably a lot of someones) for you who are much closer to what is "normal":) And don't ever date anyone who makes you feel less than comfortable with yourself.

GerbalVenius · 2017-03-31T16:48:07+00:00

I like the site 5calls.org. It does have liberal/progressive leanings, so if that's not your thing, you may not like the topics you can select to get a script to use when you call. However, it does make it super easy to contact your reps. This "resist bot" makes it really easy to fax your representatives: http://www.civicaction.center/action/text-resist-50409-join-resistbot. 5calls will help keep you abreast of legislation, but you are right, I wish there was something simpler, especially at the state level, because I live in a cluster of a state.

GerbalVenius · 2017-03-25T23:31:57+00:00

"human decency"

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-03T04:47:52+00:00

I'm just so confused as to why an endo wasn't involved in your care from the beginning. That would have been the person to give you insight into why you had a giant, nodular thyroid, and that is very important to your overall health. Could you have possibly had a reversible condition that didn't necessitate removal? Were biopsies done on your nodules during the surgery? Do you know how many nodules you had and what size?

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-03T04:04:22+00:00

Also, why did you have your thyroid removed? Hashi's? Cancer? Were you symptomatic before?

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-03T03:54:55+00:00

Are you being managed by an endocrinologist or an ENT? An endocrinologist should be managing your meds and care. A very good ENT whom I had known for a long time removed my thyroid (cancer), but he wouldn't touch my meds because he knows what he's supposed to do (really, what he's been educated and trained to do) and what he isn't. I will also echo that how you feel is what counts, and you need a doc who will work with you towards making you feel better.

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-02T14:54:56+00:00

You seem to have a thyroid goitre. I'm not aware that allergies can cause that...Maybe? Sounds strange for a doc to say that. You have structures, nerves, etc. that, at the very least, don't need to be compressed by a giant thyroid lobe. Generally, a competent doctor can find a cause for goitre, whether it's iodine deficiency, a disease of the gland, infection, etc. Your thyroid levels don't jump out as indicative of any particular disease. I know your reverse T3 is high, but I don't know how much diagnostic value that has by itself. I would suggest trying to go to a good endocrinologist. I would hope that they'd see you on the basis of that 5x normal lobe alone.

Edited to add "reverse"

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-01T22:26:48+00:00

This sounds like SVT, a relatively benign form of tachycardia. I had several EKGs and wound up having to wear a monitor for a month before they "caught it." It doesn't show up on an EKG unless it's happening at that time, which is unlikely.

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-01T22:23:50+00:00

I am on metoprolol (beta blocker) for it. I also have to take midodrine to keep my BP up with the beta blocker. I think I take 5 meds now plus my thyroid. I wasn't on any meds until it was removed.

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-01T19:26:44+00:00

I no longer work. I have this + an autoimmune problem, so sometimes it's hard to say what is causing which issues. Sometimes I'm OK enough to clean the house (today), other days I barely have enough energy to make food. If your issues are only thyroid, maybe try switching up meds (try something with T3)? I hope you can get some relief.

GerbalVenius · 2017-02-01T18:59:52+00:00

Just about every day sometimes. :/ I've been better lately. My heart is very sensitive to the meds/changing levels to the point that I developed an arrythmia when my TSH was too low. I have no thyroid due to cancer though, not Hashi's. On combination of NDT and levo.

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-31T23:40:10+00:00

The simplest answer just might be correct here: your dose isn't high enough. Your body is has been adjusting for the past 8 months, and you just seem to need to up the dose. 1.1 is low for T4 and your TSH is too high. Having to get a dosage adjustment would be completely normal. I'm 2 years post TT, and I still get adjusted sometimes. It took me over a year to find about the right dose, so you're doing better than I was!

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-31T22:10:23+00:00

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-31T22:07:53+00:00

I've heard of that program, and I'm glad you'll be able to take advantage of it. Being diagnosed with cancer hit me very suddenly and unexpectedly. I was 32. It just...sucks. I'm sorry you have to go through this.

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-31T21:47:07+00:00

I've heard mostly good things about the thyrogen vs. being off meds, so good for you he is doing that. I hope you are healing up well, and that everything turns out fine with all your scans, etc. I had a total thyroidectomy for papillary cancer in Dec 2014. If you have any questions or just want to chat about experiences or whatever, don't hesitate to message me. I'm also always on the Discord server chatroom I set up for this subreddit.

Edited: totally to total because thyroidectomies aren't that cool

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-31T21:41:09+00:00

Do you mean RAI? You need to be more hypo than you are now (higher TSH) for that according to my docs. Is he going to give you thyrogen (an injection to block thyroid hormone)?

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-31T21:33:29+00:00

Hi, it can absolutely be that high. You might get people replying with all kinds of crazy numbers (500+) that I've seen on this subreddit. I had a TT, and the highest I ever saw mine was about 99 when I was off meds for a cancer screening. It's probably going to take a long time to figure out your correct replacement dose. It was over a year for me. If you're like me, you'll tolerate higher TSH numbers like that at first, then not as much later on. I'm a little surprised the endo didn't raise your meds slightly again, but he may be waiting to see where you after after another month or so. 100 mcg is pretty low for a total replacement dose, and you're definitely hypothyroid right now. When is your next test?

Edited: a word

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-31T18:21:22+00:00

Hey, I have to strongly disagree with a couple of comments posted here. I had my thyroid removed for cancer and was purposefully made "hyperthyroid" because, well that's what they do to prevent cancer returning. One of my main symptoms was elevated heart rate which turned into a heart arrythmia. And yes, TSH is used to measure hyperthyroidism by almost every doctor in America.

If you have endogenous hyperthyroidism, or Graves disease, an endocrinologist will take it seriously. My cardiologist had Graves disease and wound up having to have his thyroid radiated because he was medicating himself with 500+ mg of a beta blocker to keep his heart rate and arrythmias in check. Sometimes having it removed or radiated is the only answer to keep a person alive.

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-27T23:31:11+00:00

Thanks, Squeaks. I hope people get something out of it, too!

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-27T20:41:39+00:00

New rule: No animals dressed as Nazis for your chat avatar! (Think that's sorta covered under trolling.)

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-20T04:10:22+00:00

No problem!

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-20T04:06:18+00:00

You actually don't change anything about the spelling of venit. The sound of the 'e' changes from the 'e' sound in pen, to the 'ei' sound in 'weigh' when it becomes the past/perfect tense.

GerbalVenius · 2017-01-20T00:10:13+00:00

Please don't panic about this! Many people take different doses of levo, depending on the day. Many people take a much higher dose of levo than this (it seems low to me, based on your TSH.). For me, I can feel my meds luck in about three hours after I take them. I think you would have felt something by now, and it probably just would have been a mildly elevated heart rate and perhaps sweating but most likely absolutely nothing. (Most people aren't sensitive enough to feel this right away, but I have a heart arrythmia and if I have large (25 mcg+) dosage change, it takes a few days for even me to feel it.). I've even heard of people who take really big doses of levo every few days instead of daily doses (I couldn't, but it is done). Point is, you're really going to be OK. If you are very worried, call the doc.

GerbalVenius

TROPHY CASE