[ash_kinz]

Hi. I'm new to these forums. I was diagnosed with thyroid's disease a few months ago at age 19. I am now 20. I've taken Levothyroxin for a few months and my thyroid levels are stable.

My only real issue concerning my being is.....oddly enough, my face. I feel very lucky to not have too much other side effects besides lack of energy (that went away when I started taking meds). My face is puffy and frankly my face structure has changed a bit over time. Will this go away with time now that I am diagnosed and at adeqate TSH levels? I have not gained any weight, so I know that's not the case. Has anyone else experienced this?

Anyways, I feel perfectly fine now. I used to have energy trouble before diagnosis. I am healthy and fit (I can run 1 1/2 miles in 8-9 minutes), and do everything that I will need to do given my stay in the military. But, I am not accustomed to how military or how specifically MEPS runs things. It's frustrating to know that I may be turned back because of my condition and even more frustrating to sit back even though I feel I am capable of handling anything they throw at me. I have a fear that they'll take one look at my medical records and send me back.

Now, with this, I kind of don't expect anyone to answer my second question. If someone can answer this, it'll take a load off my mind, but please anyone with military experience, if you're out there, can I have your 2 cents? Do you think the air force will take me? If not then I know the army might, but that's my second choice....

Sorry, I condensed this into one big post. I don't exactly feel the need to flood the forums.

 

[ash_kinz]

And yes, I know. I was just diagnosed with this condition and joining the military seems daft considering that I may face bad things with this condition and it's a condition that I may not get treatment with besides regular medication. For the time being, I am fine. I'm diagnosed young, but I'm young, healthy, and diagnosed.

I am sorry to hear many things people have to face with this condition and I'm probably going to have to face that as I get older as well. I'm sorry if anyone takes offense to anything I've said. I know it's a serious condition.

 

[HeidiBR]

Alas, I can't address the military issue but I'll take a stab at the facial puffiness.

My face was amazingly puffy before I started treatment on Synthroid. If your face is still puffy, that is a symptom of hypothyrodism. You say your levels are stable, but it would be helpful if you could post them so that others here could see and comment on them. If you have that much puffiness, maybe you are not as stable as you think and need a higher dose. Y

Also, what helped my facial puffiness was to drink a lot of water. I went from drinking no water to 80-90 ounces a day and WOW - what a huge difference in the facial puffiness. It has disappeared.