I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's when I was in my late 30's. Finally, a diagnosis that explained all the symptoms I had lived with for most of my life. Unfortunately, the medication that should have taken all the symptoms away, Synthroid (and related T4 products) did virtually nothing. During the 20 years, I took synthetic thyroid products I was still cold, tired, depressed, constipated, cranky, etc. My Endocrinologist told me that he couldn't raise my medication dosage any higher because it would make my TSH go too low. So, I just thought that was the way I was and how I felt was just me and I would have to live with it.
Then, about 11 years ago, I discovered Janie Bowthorpe and her book, "Stop the Thyroid Madness." STTM, which is based on patient experience, changed my life. With the knowledge I gained from STTM and some luck, I was able to find a concerned Good Doc who agreed to try DTE. It was about the time that NP Thyroid came out and that's what I used. My Doc gave me a prescription and basically stood back while I used the knowledge I gained from STTM and Janie's Yahoo group, to go down the path toward optimal thyroid functioning. This is an iterative process when you start DTE as you carefully find the dosage that works, using frequent testing and adding the appropriate supplementation to your regimen. You have no idea how blissful it is to not be constipated. To not have low grade depression and laugh a lot. To not need to wear socks to bed. To not have ugly broken and chipped fingernails.
I was fine on NP Thyroid for many years, until a couple of years ago something happened to the formula. It also became difficult to get my prescription refilled. Knowing that there were problems with the other manufactured DTEs, which I had been insulated from when I was taking NP Thyroid, I was distraught. I got on the net and made anxious calls to local pharmacies to see if I could find a place that had a supply of my meds. What I got was a recommendation to try a compounding pharmacy. I called a local place and they were happy to compound my medication. And, it worked great, even better than NP Thyroid. I felt the best I had in my life.
I thought life was good and I was happy. I walk a lot, I swim, I enjoy friends and I accomplish a lot every day. I have a normal delightful life. Or, should I say, I had, anticipating what my life is going to be like if I can no longer get the medication that makes life worth living. DTE.