[dwr3]

I have a variety of disorders that add to my current stressful situation which is illness in the family, financial and employment struggle and academic failure. It's not that bad as it was in the past now, but it does affect me a lot and I just want to write about it.

First off, I was born with only half of the thyroid. At that time there weren't thyroid tests done to the newborns, so I only started taking Synthroid after about twelve years. Now I have a pretty good doctor who agreed with my version of the condition (Because I was often misdiagnosed with Hashimoto's which I don't have, previous endo's thought that the lack of half of the thyroid showed in an ultrasound was because of an autoimmune state in the body: They didn't bother to ask me if I had done an antibodies blood test and I had and there were none. It's just a permanent damage present since being born.)

It's called Congenital Hypothyroidism.

I'm 21 now and I take Levothyroxine since I was around twelve.

When a child is born without thyroid, he or she develops a condition known as cretinism. I'm afraid that this lack of thyroid part has contributed to me struggling with some neurodevelopmental issues symptoms (motor skills, learning difficulties, some autistic symptoms that were always ignored by everyone, yet still affected my life a lot).

Another condition I have is a Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Throughout my life I've struggled with the painful symptoms of virilization: terrible acne covering 70% of the body (the level of it actually shocked my dermatologist: I had to undergo a 9 month isotretinoinum treatment with the highest possible dosage: It was expensive and the side effects were awful), hirsutism (which I have to this day), male-pattern baldness, deepened voice, male body type (I'm skinny now, have a very wide arms) and some more private differences.

I'm very likely infertile (the message hurt me a bit even though I don't want to have children).

What's the worst part of it, for me, is that the way my face looks is not feminine enough and I cannot change it. When I look in the mirror I see something in between what's male and female. There are days I feel like a woman and days I feel like a slim boy. I have high testosterone etc and I must say it has often affected my brain. I had some issues with sexual identity in the past (when I was 16) where I would flirt with other women and shave most of my hair. Now I grow my hair again and I have to use a lot of makeup.

But actually, CAH is something that's - at least here - is not considered an illness, but rather a body characteristic.

I was never supported because of it throughout my life and no one has treated me seriously with this. I don't plan to take any meds for CAH because they do more damage than good (I've taken lots of steroids as a 12 year old and some contraception pills).

The doctor also told me to undergo some tests for endometriosis, because my periods are terribly long and very painful.

I also have an eye condition and have to be very careful with my heart. High dosage of Euthyrox makes me sometimes feel more like a hyperthyroid. I was obese in the past (80kg, 171 height), but fortunately now I weight only 53 kg. At the time these disorders were at it's worse, I often felt like a walking monster.

[Skeezyks]

Hello dwr3: Thank you for sharing your story. I'm sorry you are struggling with so many difficult conditions. Hopefully being here on PC is of some comfort & support. By the way, are you familiar with PsychCentral's sister website: NeuroTalk? There are many members there who are very knowledgeable with regard to many different medical conditions.

NeuroTalk Support Groups

I'm a member there although I don't participate much. I simply don't have the knowledge base those folks have.

[Travelinglady]

You do have a lot of conditions. Good grief. We are certainly willing to listen and be supportive.

I take Synthroid because my thyroid conked out a few years ago. But I don't have as many issues.

You are doing well to write us. I also belong to Neurotalk, but I can't remember my password.