It took me four years to end my suffering, and I know how difficult it was for me to find a doctor that would listen to me during those four years. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can help others in the same boat find the answers they need. I have some strong opinions on the underdiagnosis and misunderstanding of this disease that my doctor shares with me, but I am not myself a doctor.

I am not attempting to diagnose anyone on this site, nor tell anyone that their doctor's prior diagnosis is wrong. Further, I am not trying to tell anyone that their medication is wrong, or needs to be altered. I am, however, trying to tell people that are experiencing what they believe to be symptoms of hypothyroidism to follow up with a professional, and to not let a few doctor's dismissals of their complaints to force them to give up.

I believe that T3 is an important component of hypothyroid treatment, but cannot determine whether an individual is actually suffering from low T3 levels. There may be people out there that have normal T3 levels, and lack only T4. If someone is on T4 medication and is not feeling 100% up to par, I think it is important for that person to follow up with a professional about T3 options and alternatives. If a person is getting diagnosed with hypothyroidism for the first time, I also think it is important to discuss T3 treatment with that doctor. My research and my doctor tell me that T3 is the hormone that regulates energy and metabolism, so I find this hormone to be crucial in the symptoms most women experience as a result of thyroid problems.