I am a17 year old female and two months ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. I also have hypothyroidism, low iron levels, and b-12 anemia. For all this, I take synthroid and T3, selenium, iron, vitamin C, b-12, and folic acid. I take synthroid once a day, T3 twice a day, Iron twice a day (two capsules twice a day, so total of four), selenium same as Iron, vitamin c with each iron dose, and b-12 and folic acid once a day, in total, I take 15 pills throughout a day. Anyways, I've been doing this for about 2 months now. My doctor also put me on a gluten free diet.

Anyways, with all the things I am taking, I still am not feeling any better. Like not at all. I still am ALWAYS tired, I have achy bones/body, I'm constantly cold, my eye sight is worsening (idk if this has anything to do with Hashimoto's or any of my other problems), my eyes are sensitive to light, I feel weak all the time, I get stomach aches often, I have lots of headaches too, my appetite is different (some days i'll be really hungry, and others not hungry at all), and sometimes I get hot flashes. I honestly feel exactly the same. Tomorrow I get more blood drawn because my doctor wants to see if I am getting enough medicine or if the gluten free diet is lowering my antibodies.

So, here are my questions. I have a close friend who is very concerned about me (she has a medical degree) because I am not feeling any better, and most people start feeling lots better sooner than me. She thinks it would be a good idea to see an endocrinologist or an internal medicine doctor. She also thinks I need to be seen as soon as possible. Am I doing the right things to treat all my problems? I'm just so sick and tired of feeling so yuck and terrible all the time. It makes my day to day life not very enjoyable, and I just want this to be over with and get back to wanting to do things and having fun. My friend also thought I needed to be seen soon because I almost passed out again this week. That hasn't happened since January, so it was a little scary.

With the gluten free diet, we are not even sure If I'm allergic to it or not. People ask me if I feel better being off it, but I feel no change, not even with the medicine. And tomorrow I really want to eat something with gluten because my doctor said after 60 days I could try something and it has been that long. Although she hasn't gotten back to me, I really want to eat it tomorrow after my blood test because she told me it was to lower my antibodies. Would it be okay to eat it after to see if I have a bad reaction? If did eat it would I be able to tell if I had a celiac disease? I am thinking I will still eat it after the test, just because I REALLY want to and have been craving it since I got off it. So I'm thinking it would be fine after the test. I want to eat it so bad that if I do have it, i don't care at this point if it makes me sick. I'm still trying to decide if I should or not, but I REALLY want to.....any thing with this area would be appreciated. :)

Another thing, if it would be a good idea to see some different people, then there is the problem of finances as well as time. My parents both work full time and only have Sundays off, and there really isn't a lot of extra money. They make enough to pay bills and feed us. Anyways, we do not have health insurance, so that is another issue. Is the cost of seeing dr. uninsured be a lot? what am I looking at for seeing someone? Also, I don't really have time because I am a minor and can't go with out my parents because they work all the time. Also, How do I tell my parents? Since they are so busy, I am kind of on my own right now. I just don't know how to tell them, or convince them to see someone else if I should. I feel so alone in these health problems right now. To be honest, I'm just so down because I don't know how much longer I can go with not feeling better or having to deal with this with out my parents here for me to help and get me the best possible out come.

So, what should I do? I am SOOO desperate right now, and don't know what to do. My blood test is tomorrow. I just want to be better, and am tired of all that is going on and happening. Why don't I feel better? Could there be something else wrong with me? I'm getting depressed because nothing is changing, and I HATE taking all this medicine and pills each day. I just want this to be over with! Some days I just want to die because nothing is getting better, or there seems to be no purpose to go thru all this, and that because I'm so exhausted and feel like not doing anything like there is no purpose to deal with all this. I am sooooo very desperate right now!!! :( help please if you can, and be serious, and don't just say see my doctor, because I tell her all this and that's why I'm getting the blood test tomorrow. Thanks in advance for the help...

As a person diagnosed with Hashimotos 30 years ago I felt better very quickly. I am also a nurse so I have some concern that everything you are feeling is caused by the Hashimotos. If your blood test comes back with-in normal limits you will need a second opinion. I know you hate to cause extra problems for your folks but that is what parents are for. They love you and want you to feel better. Talk to your doctor again and hold nothing back including not wanting to burden your parents.
Sharon, RN