Marie’s Story

With a childhood diagnosis of Graves followed by Hashimotos, then 20 years of suffering thanks to being on Synthroid, Marie’s life began a change with Armour and a release of her years of constipation. She is on her way!

I was diagnosed with Graves disease at the age of 8, shortly after the trauma of my mother giving me up to my father who had me live with his parents.

UCLA, Marion Davies clinic treated me with PTU for a couple of years. I had chronic constipation back then, but didn’t tell about it because of insecurities. At 22, I went to an Internist about the constipation and brain fog and he said I was slightly hypothyroid, later diagnosed with Hashimoto’s.

I was on Synthroid .125 for the next 20 years. I suffered with chronic constipation, brain fog, fatigue, heat intolerance, severe sweating in social situations (even on the phone). My labs were always “normal”. Added to my symptoms was joint pain in hands and feet, sharp stabbing pains in large muscles, heaviness of arms and legs, waking in middle of night and not being able to get back to sleep, frequent urination, numbness and tingling arms, legs, mouth, and face.. Had MRI to test for Multiple Sclerosis, tests for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Colonoscopy and Endoscopy for obstructions and Celiac disease, all negative.

Switched to Armour thyroid and my constipation is much better. I went through a course of HC two years ago and the combination of that and the Armour has helped me sleep better. I am still not optimized but on the road. My iron is somewhat low, my blood pressure has always been low, my Aldosterone was low 2 years ago, but tried to find a doctor who would treat the whole package had caused that to be set aside. I have a doctor now who will work with the STTM protocols and am awaiting updated Aldosterone and Cortisol and Iron test.
My family and friends don’t understand. It’s difficult. If only there was awareness of the difficulty in treatment (and that it’s not so simple as taking Synthroid), maybe people would be more kind and understanding. Only the ones closest to me are somewhat understanding: my husband, father and one of my three daughters.

This has been a long haul and I am thankful for the hope that I have found in Stop the Thyroid Madness.

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