[zekesmom]

All my life (I'm 51 now) I've struggled with my weight, had a low "normal" body temperature and suffered from intolerance to cold. If I was sick and had a temperature of 98.6 I had a fever, and often had to explain to doctors that "no, that's high for me" to convince them that I had a fever.

Never once did a doctor test my thyroid. Finally when I was 48 my thyroid was tested...tada! I was "borderline" hypothyroid. So much so, that the doctor wasn't really sure if he should prescribe medication. He did. I took it, never realizing that if I stopped my system would get totally screwed up.

A few months later, I lost my insurance and stopped taking the Levothyroxin. In the following year I gained over 50 pounds! Even going on a low-carb diet (always worked before) had not effect on my weight.

Eventually I found a great group on Yahoo dealing with natural thyroid treatments. I'm now taking Armour. The most recent visit to the doctor, before going on the Armour, revealed that I was full-blown hypothyroid.

I'm finally starting to lose weight, my temperature has started to come up to over 97 degrees. I would never go on a synthetic thyroid supplement again, and would never recommend anyone to go on them. They don't contain the full hormone that your body needs, and in my case can totally destroy any thyroid function that you might still have.

I've also learned that the typical lab work taken to test for thyroid function is flawed. Unless one has a doctor that is aware of this, then they are apt to be told their thyroid function is normal, when in fact, they are actually have hypothyroidism.

[Alejandros Mommy]

No test is perfect. That's something your doctor should have told you.