Originally Posted by Scarlett1125

Well, I'm not trying to win any prize here, but my DD told me I should post on here, so others wouldn't feel so bad about their situation. Long story short is that I am un-diagnosed PCOS simply because I have not pursued a diagnosis, but both daughters have been diagnosed with it.

My TSH level when diagnosed 15 years ago was 474 ..... not a decimal error here, but 474. The docs at the teaching hospital that I was referred to IMMEDIATELY said that they had NEVER seen a level that high in the entire endo dept. for all the years they had practiced. I was told that I was simply lucky to be alive.

First off, I'm now more or less "out to pasture", as I have had two children (with great difficulty) and have had a hysterectomy. Secondly, the diagnosis that I had sought for almost 20 years was falling on deaf ears, as doctor after doctor basically said "lose 50 pounds and call me in the morning". If there had been an internet when I was diagnosed, I am sure I would have pursued a diagnosis with more diligence. However, when you are turned away from 20 doctors over 20 years and told that you are simply too young to have a thyroid disorder, you give up on having that magic prescription written. My thyroid was showing poor performance in my early teens (also prior to the TSH test as we know it now) and it was not until I was 33 that it got bad enough for somebody to actually pay attention to something besides the fact that I was fat!

Symptoms included everything that you have ever heard, seen, witnessed and then some. The "biggie" that finally made someone take notice, was the fact that I had galactorrhea (sp?). I had gestational diabetes, lots of miscarriages, the whole messed up monthly thing, weight issues, etc. They initially thought that perhaps I had a pituitary tumor, but upon having an MRI and taking the Synthroid for a few months, I was billed simply as a Hashimoto case. I started out on 225 mcg daily and have been on a maintenance dose for the last ten years of 125 mcg. Long term, the effects of this disease have been primarily on my metabolic system. My basal body temp is always low, my heart beats only around 60 bpm, my eyebrows have receded and as always, weight is still an issue. I take meds for HBP and Spiro for the hair issues. On the positive side, I am the only 50ish woman I know that does not have hot flashes!

I have no intention of pursuing a diagnosis for PCOS, as it would not benefit me at this stage of my life. I'm simply trying to keep all the pieces together that are left. My daughters are diagnosed and that is good enough for me, as they will have many more years to deal with all of this. These boards are a terrific find for my 17 yo that struggles with more of the issues than her 19 yo "thin cyster". I applaud all that post and wish everybody success in the future. There IS a life after Hashimotos ....... you may just not be as skinny in that life as you'd like! As for me, I've come to terms with the fact that my 5'2" 225# self is never going to look like a super model. Just be happy you're here!