A Synthroid Story: Meet Wendy

WENDY:

At this point, I’ve had hypothyroidism for 14, almost 15 years. This is a lifelong illness, and I am determined to go at it with my eyes wide open.

ON SCREEN:

A SURPRISING DIAGNOSIS

WENDY:

I just had a very normal visit. The doctor walks in the door and acted very strangely. He said, “Are you tired? Have you been having hair loss or fatigue?” No, I’m golden. What’s the problem? He goes, “Because your thyroid is enlarged, and I can see it from across the room.” He did a thyroid test and he put me on a minimum amount of thyroid medicine. And as the couple of weeks went by, they said, “Well, congratulations you’re pregnant.” So my pregnancy and hypothyroidism happened in my world simultaneously. The pregnancy was probably the bigger bombshell for me because I was facing my 45th birthday. I’d already done the mommy thing and was taking kids off to college.
For hypothyroidism, the timing of it was a surprise. But I was already watching for it because my grandmother had it.

ON SCREEN:

WENDY, DIAGNOSED WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM

ON SCREEN:

FINDING THE RIGHT DOSE AND THE RIGHT DOCTOR

WENDY:

So, my process of finding the right dose included several different doctors actually. They just were having a very difficult time dialing in appropriate levels. Hypothyroidism can actually cause a great deal of complications in pregnancy, so it was important to have it correct. I went through about three endocrinologists. I think it’s utterly critical you find an endocrinologist that you have a rapport with, you have a connection with. Gratefully, my endocrinologist has had my thyroid medication dialed in and under control. I absolutely love him.

ON SCREEN:

YOUR DOCTOR WILL CAREFULLY MONITOR YOUR THYROID LEVELS REGULARLY. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY.

ON SCREEN:

STAYING ON SYNTHROID

WENDY:

I was prescribed Synthroid from the start. I had a couple of occasions where I asked for Synthroid, I expected Synthroid, and evidently, that’s not the way it always happens. At the doctor’s office, we have decided together that he will make notations with my pharmacy, to be Synthroid-specific. It’s nice to know now that I’m going to pick up my prescription and it will be Synthroid. After nearly 15 years, I have put my confidence in Synthroid. It is the right medication for me.

ON SCREEN:

THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN LEVOTHYROXINE PRODUCTS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE.

ON SCREEN:

MY SYNTROID ROUTINE

WENDY:

My doctor explained to me that it’s very important to take my Synthroid first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and to delay having any caffeine or food for at least 30 minutes. This is not an interruption. I just have one tiny little pill and off I go.

ON SCREEN:

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR TO DETERMINE WHICH MEDICATION IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

ON SCREEN:

FINDING BALANCE IN LIFE

WENDY:

Because I care for my husband and my son and my cats and my dogs and grandma, I don’t really hyper-focus on little bits of life’s inconveniences that happen. I’m happiest making other people happy. Having my hypothyroidism medication, and blood levels under control, means that I have very little need to put lots of time into thinking about it on a day-to-day basis. If I were to meet somebody just starting on this journey, my advice to them is find a doctor they have an excellent rapport with and don’t settle for less. I have a very happy life while living with hypothyroidism. I trust Synthroid to keep my thyroid level exactly where it needs to be.

ON SCREEN:

SYNTHROID IS NOT FOR EVERYONE