I didn't stay at 180mg Armour for long, because I wasn't feeling quite right. The pounding heart wouldn't go away, and I wasn't sleeping well. I tried upping my HC some too, but it didn't seem to help. After a few weeks I dropped back down to 120mg Armour, and felt really good again. I think I just need the extra T4 without so much T3. I have another appointment with my doctor next week, so I am going to ask about getting a combo of Armour and Synthroid.
If I remember right, humans usually have 3% T3 to 97%T4, and Armour is 20/80. It works good for a lot of people, especially people that have a hard time converting. All I know is I felt so great right when I switched to Armour (I had all the T4 from the synthroid still in my body) and then the way my doctor explained it, is that the T3 in the armour kind of gave my body a kick start. So now I want some more T4 to go along with that T3.
I think my adrenals are getting better! I am taking 20mg HC. I will take 10mg in the morning, and if I forget my noon dose, I don't shut down like I used to, I just get a little tired. Before if I missed it, around 3:00pm or 4:00pm, it would be like someone unplugged me and it was time for bed. lol
I have been losing weight slower. Mostly because I hadn't been eating as good (I think it is harder to eat well when I am not getting enough hormone. I have way more cravings, ect.) I am back on track the last few days though, and exercising more, so eventually it will come off. ;)
Monday, May 7, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Doing better, but still not quite there yet.
I did finally call the doctor, and he increased my HC prescription to 20mg. Since I was not better mentally, after seeing the doc and getting blood tests, I began to raise my Armour (with docs approval). I am now up to 180mg (or 3 grains), and the fog is pretty much gone, but I am still pretty low in ambition and sex drive. I am better than I was last summer, but not anywhere near as good as I was for those two weeks right after I switched to Armour.
I think it is my adrenals keeping me from getting that well again. (I think at the time, that much energy in my body freaked my adrenals out.... which is why I got even worse after those two great weeks then I had been before.)
So the good news is that I do feel human again, the bad news is that I am still working on getting myself all the way back to myself.
I think I might need to increase the HC just a bit again, because since I raised my Armour, my temps have been unstable again.
I have a follow up appointment with my doc next month.
ETA: I have also lost about 12 pounds so far! That is good news too. ;)
I think it is my adrenals keeping me from getting that well again. (I think at the time, that much energy in my body freaked my adrenals out.... which is why I got even worse after those two great weeks then I had been before.)
So the good news is that I do feel human again, the bad news is that I am still working on getting myself all the way back to myself.
I think I might need to increase the HC just a bit again, because since I raised my Armour, my temps have been unstable again.
I have a follow up appointment with my doc next month.
ETA: I have also lost about 12 pounds so far! That is good news too. ;)
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Feeling better
I am taking 20mg of HC now. I am feeling a lot better physically. Not 100%, but definitely better. Mentally I have improved a little bit, but I am still a pretty foggy, and have low ambition. I am going call my doctor about my increase in HC, and then I think I will try raising my Armour again. Now that my body has enough cortisol to handle the energy.... hopefully it will help. :)
I am also losing weight. I have been on a "diet"... meaning I have been eating healthier and keeping track of how much I eat. I lost 5 pounds in the last week and a half though, and that has never happened that fast before! I am not hungry between meals either, which was always a huge problem for me when trying to eat less before. I was hungry all the time, and it was like I couldn't control myself. Now I am having almost no problem resisting. :D
I am also losing weight. I have been on a "diet"... meaning I have been eating healthier and keeping track of how much I eat. I lost 5 pounds in the last week and a half though, and that has never happened that fast before! I am not hungry between meals either, which was always a huge problem for me when trying to eat less before. I was hungry all the time, and it was like I couldn't control myself. Now I am having almost no problem resisting. :D
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Hydrocotisone for my Adrenals
I went to the doctor on Thursday, and since I was not feeling much better, he prescribed hydrocortisone (from now on I will refer to this as "HC"). I am so excited it isn't even funny. Most doctors are afraid to prescribe it, because at high doses, it can be dangerous. At this low level though, it is really just replacing the cortisol that my adrenals are/should be making.
Taking HC is supposed to take over for the adrenals for a while, and give them a break, allowing them to heal. I don't fully understand it. If a person takes too much thyroid replacement, the thyroid will work less, and may even shrink, but replacing the cortisol, allows your adrenals to heal. It is important not to take too much though, and not to take it for too long, or your adrenals may shut down..... I think..
Anyway, I am just ready to feel good again.
He prescribed 10mg, taking 5 mg in the morning and 2.5 at noon and in the afternoon. I have been working my way up though, just in case of a thyroid dump. (If your body can't utilize the thyroid hormones in your system, the cortisol can jump start it, and you might end up with too much thyroid hormones working at once.) I am up to 7.5mg right now, and will probably end up around 20mg. Most people at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/community seem to have the best luck around 20mg.
I will just do what my body tells me. (Letting my doctor know what I am doing.) He did say it might need to get raised, but I am not going to wait 6 weeks for that to happen. I have done enough waiting. (Sorry doc. ;) )
Since starting the HC on Saturday, I have been mostly tired, but I do feel just a tad bit more aware than I did. I think the HC is making me tired, but once I get an optimum dose, that should fix itself.
I am keeping track of my temp too. I am trying to follow this... http://www.drrind.com/tempgraph.asp
If my temps get stable from day to day, then it means that my cortisol/adrenals are optimized, and getting my temps higher means my thyroid is optimized. So the goal is higher more stable temps. Well, actually the goal is to feel better. :P
Taking HC is supposed to take over for the adrenals for a while, and give them a break, allowing them to heal. I don't fully understand it. If a person takes too much thyroid replacement, the thyroid will work less, and may even shrink, but replacing the cortisol, allows your adrenals to heal. It is important not to take too much though, and not to take it for too long, or your adrenals may shut down..... I think..
Anyway, I am just ready to feel good again.
He prescribed 10mg, taking 5 mg in the morning and 2.5 at noon and in the afternoon. I have been working my way up though, just in case of a thyroid dump. (If your body can't utilize the thyroid hormones in your system, the cortisol can jump start it, and you might end up with too much thyroid hormones working at once.) I am up to 7.5mg right now, and will probably end up around 20mg. Most people at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/community seem to have the best luck around 20mg.
I will just do what my body tells me. (Letting my doctor know what I am doing.) He did say it might need to get raised, but I am not going to wait 6 weeks for that to happen. I have done enough waiting. (Sorry doc. ;) )
Since starting the HC on Saturday, I have been mostly tired, but I do feel just a tad bit more aware than I did. I think the HC is making me tired, but once I get an optimum dose, that should fix itself.
I am keeping track of my temp too. I am trying to follow this... http://www.drrind.com/tempgraph.asp
If my temps get stable from day to day, then it means that my cortisol/adrenals are optimized, and getting my temps higher means my thyroid is optimized. So the goal is higher more stable temps. Well, actually the goal is to feel better. :P
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Waiting
At my last appointment with the doctor, he prescribed some T3 to go along with my Armour. When I went to fill it, my insurance wasn't going to cover it, and I didn't want to pay $53 a month when I could just raise my Armour dose. Armour is about 20% T3, 80% T4, and since my T4 was so low, that could only get better. He did say if my I started feeling hypo to call him.
I was doing ok, but after about a week, my heart was pounding a lot at night, and my insomnia was getting worse. I pretty much expected it, because from everything I have read, my body just can't handle that much energy while my adrenals are like they are. They just can't handle normal amounts of energy. So I lowered my dose back down, and I am sleeping better again.
I didn't call my doctor though. I will just tell him about it at the appointment.
I don't really feel any different after starting the supplements.
I was doing ok, but after about a week, my heart was pounding a lot at night, and my insomnia was getting worse. I pretty much expected it, because from everything I have read, my body just can't handle that much energy while my adrenals are like they are. They just can't handle normal amounts of energy. So I lowered my dose back down, and I am sleeping better again.
I didn't call my doctor though. I will just tell him about it at the appointment.
I don't really feel any different after starting the supplements.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Symptoms
My major symptoms: (They are worse some times then other times, but always present.)
Fatigue - This is my worst and most prominent symptom. I rarely feel totally awake, and never wake up refreshed. I don't remember what it was like to wake up feeling refreshed.
Mild Depression - I am not sad, but I have low ambition, and often feel "blah".
Low Libido
Hard to lose weight
Brain Fog - I rarely, if ever, feel clear minded.
Hard to concentrate
Poor memory
Hard to wake up - I have a very hard time waking up in the mornings.... even if I have gotten 8-9 hours sleep.
Insomnia - I also often have a hard time getting to sleep at night. I feel sleepy around 8-9pm, and if I don't go to bed then, sometimes I don't get to sleep until 1-2am.
Cold - I usually feel cold when others are warm. I do also get hot sometimes when I shouldn't.
Low body temp - I am usually around 97*F
Menstrual cycles are "off" - I recently went 4 months between cycles.
I have other symptoms too...
Here is a small list of hypothyroid symptoms found here http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/symptoms.htm (there are more, this is just a basic list.)
I will put a * by the ones I have
*fatigue
*exhaustion
*feeling run down and sluggish
*depression
*difficulty concentrating
*brain fog
*unexplained or excessive weight gain (more of a problem losing... and will gain easily if I am not very careful)
*dry, coarse and/or itchy skin
*dry, coarse and/or thinning hair
*feeling cold, especially in the extremities
*constipation
muscle cramps
*increased menstrual flow
more frequent periods
infertility/miscarriage
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue: found here http://www.newstarget.com/019339.html
I will put a * by the ones I have.
*Morning fatigue -- You don't really seem to "wake up" until 10 a.m., even if you've been awake since 7 a.m.
*Afternoon "low" (feelings of sleepiness or clouded thinking) from 2 to 4 p.m.
*Burst of energy at 6 p.m. -- You finally feel better from your afternoon lull. (sometimes)
*Sleepiness at 9 to 10 p.m. -- However, you resist going to sleep.
*"Second wind" at 11 p.m. that lasts until about 1 a.m., when you finally go to sleep.
*Cravings for foods high in salt and fat
Increased PMS or menopausal symptoms
*Mild depression
*Lack of energy
*Decreased ability to handle stress (physical stress for me)
Muscular weakness
*Increased allergies (I think)
Lightheadedness when getting up from a sitting or laying down position
*Decreased sex drive
*Frequent sighing
Inability to handle foods high in potassium or carbohydrates unless they're combined with fats and protein
Fatigue - This is my worst and most prominent symptom. I rarely feel totally awake, and never wake up refreshed. I don't remember what it was like to wake up feeling refreshed.
Mild Depression - I am not sad, but I have low ambition, and often feel "blah".
Low Libido
Hard to lose weight
Brain Fog - I rarely, if ever, feel clear minded.
Hard to concentrate
Poor memory
Hard to wake up - I have a very hard time waking up in the mornings.... even if I have gotten 8-9 hours sleep.
Insomnia - I also often have a hard time getting to sleep at night. I feel sleepy around 8-9pm, and if I don't go to bed then, sometimes I don't get to sleep until 1-2am.
Cold - I usually feel cold when others are warm. I do also get hot sometimes when I shouldn't.
Low body temp - I am usually around 97*F
Menstrual cycles are "off" - I recently went 4 months between cycles.
I have other symptoms too...
Here is a small list of hypothyroid symptoms found here http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/symptoms.htm (there are more, this is just a basic list.)
I will put a * by the ones I have
*fatigue
*exhaustion
*feeling run down and sluggish
*depression
*difficulty concentrating
*brain fog
*unexplained or excessive weight gain (more of a problem losing... and will gain easily if I am not very careful)
*dry, coarse and/or itchy skin
*dry, coarse and/or thinning hair
*feeling cold, especially in the extremities
*constipation
muscle cramps
*increased menstrual flow
more frequent periods
infertility/miscarriage
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue: found here http://www.newstarget.com/019339.html
I will put a * by the ones I have.
*Morning fatigue -- You don't really seem to "wake up" until 10 a.m., even if you've been awake since 7 a.m.
*Afternoon "low" (feelings of sleepiness or clouded thinking) from 2 to 4 p.m.
*Burst of energy at 6 p.m. -- You finally feel better from your afternoon lull. (sometimes)
*Sleepiness at 9 to 10 p.m. -- However, you resist going to sleep.
*"Second wind" at 11 p.m. that lasts until about 1 a.m., when you finally go to sleep.
*Cravings for foods high in salt and fat
Increased PMS or menopausal symptoms
*Mild depression
*Lack of energy
*Decreased ability to handle stress (physical stress for me)
Muscular weakness
*Increased allergies (I think)
Lightheadedness when getting up from a sitting or laying down position
*Decreased sex drive
*Frequent sighing
Inability to handle foods high in potassium or carbohydrates unless they're combined with fats and protein
Monday, January 1, 2007
I think I finally found a good doctor!
I found him at http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/index.htm
He is a holistic M.D. He doesn't do thing exactly the way that I would. Mostly just does things at a slower pace, but it is all headed in the right direction, and I have a lot of HOPE!!!
I saw him for the first time two months ago. I told him about my past experience, and told him that I had raised my Armour dose on my own. He said that was probably the right thing to do, and raised it even more. Most doctors would probably have lowered my dose.
Anyway, I went home with two home tests (stool and saliva). The stool was to check my system for any possible viruses, and just a general check. The saliva test was to check out my Adrenals. (Again, most doctors would not have even acknowledged that there could be a problem. Most of them thing adrenals either work, or they don't. They don't realized the might be working, just not very well. Just like the thyroid.)
Anyway, then I went back in 6 weeks for my blood tests, and then finally saw him again a few days ago.
Here were my test results.
My TSH is so low, other doctors would be scrambling to decrease my thyroid dose, but my free T4 is on the lower end of normal, and T3 is in the middle. That just doesn't make sense. According to my TSH, those should be above normal.
TSH= <.03 reference (.47-5) Actually, new research shows that the range should be .3-3 many labs just haven't changed yet.
Free T3= 2.5 (1.7-3.8)
Free T4= .9 (0.7-2.0)
reverse T3 is .25 (.18-.51)
The saliva tests are what really showed what is keeping me down. Keep in mind that cortisol should be high in the morning, and lower at night.
7:30am - .12 (.27-2.06... 1.5-2 would be ideal)
1:05pm - .16 (.03-.77)
5:30pm - .04 (.03-.56)
11PM - <0.03 (.03-.5)
So instead of being high in the morning, and going down during the day, I am almost flatlined, either under or at the bottom of the "normal" level. It pretty much means that my Adrenals can't keep up, and are working so hard just to keep me going, that I can't handle much stress. (It is also the reason why it is SO hard for me to wake up in the morning.)
Now, I don't find myself flying off the handle or anything, but I physical stress is hard for me to handle, and I feel overwhelmed very easily. DHEA is high 318 (14-277) DHEA/Cortisol Ratiox 10,000 is 2,650 (35-435) I am not quite sure what that means yet, but it is obviously not where it is supposed to be.
Here is a graph showing where "normal" is (green) and where I am (black line with circles.) You can see where the doctor drew a line about where I should be. (Sorry it is not more clear, our scanner is not hooked up, so I had to take a picture of it.)
When he started explaining what that meant (which I pretty much knew from all the reading I have been doing, and from forums.) I started crying! It was happy tears! LOL I was so happy to finally have something to point at! T
he plan is to take some Adrenal supplements and see if that helps. If it doesn't, then he will put me on Hydrocortisone. I want to feel good now, but at the same time, I am more than willing to try it a more natural way first. That is my inclination anyway. I am pretty sure that the Hydrocortisone will be needed though, from what I have been reading.
My GI stool tests showed that I have too much bad bacteria, and not enough good bacteria in my gut, so that can work against my immune system, and is probably connected. Not sure exactly how that works, but it explains a lot of things... (like me being so hungry sometimes, and digestion problems.) The supplements he has me on for Adrenal support are Metagenics Adrenogen http://www.metagenics.com/products/detail.asp?pid=112
and Metagenics Adreset http://www.metagenics.com/products/detail.asp?pid=211
For the gut bacteria problem he has me on
Metagenics Ultra Flora Plus DF http://www.metagenics.com/products/detail.asp?pid=86
Xymogens IgG 2000 DF http://www.xymogen.com/feature_formulas.asp
Florastor http://www.florastor.com/
(Also on my own I have been taking selenium for my thyroid (supposed to help in converting T4 to T3) and 3000MG of vitamin C for my adrenals... along with a multivitamin, super B complex and A and E. There are others I want to take too, but haven't yet. I do think that when I started taking the C and selenium, I started to feel a bit better.)
I go back in a month for a follow up. :)
He is a holistic M.D. He doesn't do thing exactly the way that I would. Mostly just does things at a slower pace, but it is all headed in the right direction, and I have a lot of HOPE!!!
I saw him for the first time two months ago. I told him about my past experience, and told him that I had raised my Armour dose on my own. He said that was probably the right thing to do, and raised it even more. Most doctors would probably have lowered my dose.
Anyway, I went home with two home tests (stool and saliva). The stool was to check my system for any possible viruses, and just a general check. The saliva test was to check out my Adrenals. (Again, most doctors would not have even acknowledged that there could be a problem. Most of them thing adrenals either work, or they don't. They don't realized the might be working, just not very well. Just like the thyroid.)
Anyway, then I went back in 6 weeks for my blood tests, and then finally saw him again a few days ago.
Here were my test results.
My TSH is so low, other doctors would be scrambling to decrease my thyroid dose, but my free T4 is on the lower end of normal, and T3 is in the middle. That just doesn't make sense. According to my TSH, those should be above normal.
TSH= <.03 reference (.47-5) Actually, new research shows that the range should be .3-3 many labs just haven't changed yet.
Free T3= 2.5 (1.7-3.8)
Free T4= .9 (0.7-2.0)
reverse T3 is .25 (.18-.51)
The saliva tests are what really showed what is keeping me down. Keep in mind that cortisol should be high in the morning, and lower at night.
7:30am - .12 (.27-2.06... 1.5-2 would be ideal)
1:05pm - .16 (.03-.77)
5:30pm - .04 (.03-.56)
11PM - <0.03 (.03-.5)
So instead of being high in the morning, and going down during the day, I am almost flatlined, either under or at the bottom of the "normal" level. It pretty much means that my Adrenals can't keep up, and are working so hard just to keep me going, that I can't handle much stress. (It is also the reason why it is SO hard for me to wake up in the morning.)
Now, I don't find myself flying off the handle or anything, but I physical stress is hard for me to handle, and I feel overwhelmed very easily. DHEA is high 318 (14-277) DHEA/Cortisol Ratiox 10,000 is 2,650 (35-435) I am not quite sure what that means yet, but it is obviously not where it is supposed to be.
Here is a graph showing where "normal" is (green) and where I am (black line with circles.) You can see where the doctor drew a line about where I should be. (Sorry it is not more clear, our scanner is not hooked up, so I had to take a picture of it.)
When he started explaining what that meant (which I pretty much knew from all the reading I have been doing, and from forums.) I started crying! It was happy tears! LOL I was so happy to finally have something to point at! T
he plan is to take some Adrenal supplements and see if that helps. If it doesn't, then he will put me on Hydrocortisone. I want to feel good now, but at the same time, I am more than willing to try it a more natural way first. That is my inclination anyway. I am pretty sure that the Hydrocortisone will be needed though, from what I have been reading.
My GI stool tests showed that I have too much bad bacteria, and not enough good bacteria in my gut, so that can work against my immune system, and is probably connected. Not sure exactly how that works, but it explains a lot of things... (like me being so hungry sometimes, and digestion problems.) The supplements he has me on for Adrenal support are Metagenics Adrenogen http://www.metagenics.com/products/detail.asp?pid=112
and Metagenics Adreset http://www.metagenics.com/products/detail.asp?pid=211
For the gut bacteria problem he has me on
Metagenics Ultra Flora Plus DF http://www.metagenics.com/products/detail.asp?pid=86
Xymogens IgG 2000 DF http://www.xymogen.com/feature_formulas.asp
Florastor http://www.florastor.com/
(Also on my own I have been taking selenium for my thyroid (supposed to help in converting T4 to T3) and 3000MG of vitamin C for my adrenals... along with a multivitamin, super B complex and A and E. There are others I want to take too, but haven't yet. I do think that when I started taking the C and selenium, I started to feel a bit better.)
I go back in a month for a follow up. :)
Saturday, December 30, 2006
My history with Hypothyroidism and experience with doctors
Up until now I have been so frustrated with doctors. I have said on many occasions "doctors are stupid" or "I hate doctors" or "Western medicine sucks", ect. I don't really think that way, it is just an easy way to say how frustrated I am. I do think our system is flawed, and that most doctors don't really have a clue about how human hormones work, and how to fix them. That also makes me figure there are a lot of other illnesses and diseases that they don't know much about. They also seem to just be interested in patching the symptoms, not actually healing the problem. It isn't their fault though. They just know what they are taught, and they are only human, and can't know everything. I do wish they would realize that though, and listen to the patients more. *sigh*
My experience with doctors I have seen about my illness, and the "progress" made thus far:
Doctor#1 Early 2001
I had been so tired, and knew there was something wrong. I went to a doctor, and told her my symptoms, and asked her to check for anemia (I was diagnosed with it before) diabetes (grandfather has it) and my thyroid (father has Hypothyroidism.) She said to me, "I think you are just depressed. I will check for these, but I think they will come back normal, and that you are just depressed." She was recommending Prozac.
I came back to see her after my test results came back, and she said "yep, all normal, just like I thought" and was ready to write me that prescription for Prozac. How stupid to give a girl that is exhausted Prozac!!! I was like, "if there is a problem with me, shouldn't I see a physiologist?" I got a card for one, but never called. I knew that wasn't my problem. I didn't know any better, so I just lived with it. I guessed it was just me.
(Later, I looked back to the letter I got from the clinic. Everything just said "normal", there were never any numbers to check.)
Which takes us to doc #2, one year later.
I was in for a pap, (I made sure to get a different doctor, but it was at the same clinic.) He said "good, I see you got your thyroid checked." I asked that he check it and he did. It came back that I had Hypothyroidism. Yay, thank you doc for finding something! Was prescribed Synthroid. Felt better, but not great. Asked him twice to raise my dose when he wouldn't have. He did it, but not without saying "many of my patients want more Synthroid than they need." Ummm... doc, shouldn't that be telling you something!??!?!
Once my TSH was low enough that I figured I was normal (that was the only test ever taken, and I didn't know any better to ask for more. Most doctors only do a TSH test, which isn't even made by the thyroid. It is made by the pituitary gland, telling your thyroid to produce more hormone.... so many things can interfere with that.... but doctors just don't seem to get that.) I did feel better, but still tired and not normal.
I just figured it was because I was working nights, and also that was just the way I was.
Ended up on 1MG Synthroid.
For 2 more years I lived like that, just figuring it was because I was working nights.
Doctor#3 early 2004
I was pregnant, and this doctor was great, I really liked him. I still didn't know any better about my thyroid, and he kept me where I was. I think if I had learned this stuff then, he would have worked with me though.
I did feel better during pregnancy, and blamed the tiredness I did have on my pregnancy. (Which was probably mostly true.)
Doctor#4 early 2006
Asked me a few of the "do you have this or that" questions. I replied with all the right answers. Nope no more tired than usual (I do have a baby waking me up during the night after all, and what is normal anyway, I had forgotten.)
Kept on the same dose of Synthroid.
Which brings me to this last summer. I finally weaned my daughter, she was mostly sleeping at night, and I was feeling more tired and drug out than ever. My neighbor said to me one day that she was worried about me, and maybe I should see a doctor about getting on antidepressants. I tried to explain to her "it is just because of my Hypothyroidism, I am just like this, this is just the way I am."
I went home and really thought about that, and thought, "why should it have to be like this? There has to be a way to get better!"
So I started to research. WOW! I learned a lot. I won't get into all those details now, but I have listed, and will list helpful sites and books if anyone wants to do their own research.
Anyway, I read a lot about Armour Thyroid, the natural thyroid medication that has T4 and T3 in it, along with some things that nobody really knows what they are for. (Synthroid only has T4, which has to be converted to T3 to give you energy. Some people have a hard time converting.)
So I decided that was the first step. Made an appointment with a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who are supposed to lean more toward healing than M.D.s.) that someone I know likes. I was so excited! I waited 3 weeks to see her. I told her how I was feeling, and that I really wanted to try Armour. She really didn't want to give it to me. I asked her what she would do if I wasn't pushing for this. She said she thought I was depressed..... Yeah, that route again. I told her I really wanted to try this, and that I would just find someone else who would.... so she agreed.
WOW!!!! I felt better in a day. I felt so great! First of all, the "fog" lifted. It was like when you get a new pair of glasses, and everything looks clearer.... The world was clearer to me. I could concentrate better. I had energy to get through the day. I had the ambition to get things done. I went out and exercised just because it sounded like fun. My libido skyrocketed. I think I was a better mom, because I had more of ME to give to my daughter.
That lasted about two weeks, and then I regressed right where I was before.... worse in some ways. Those two weeks were such a mixed blessing. On the one hand, I now have hope that I can feel normal, on the other hand, now I remember what I am missing. *sigh*
So, I went back to the doctor for blood tests. My TSH was low, but so were my T4 and T3 levels, which really should be looked at more closely than the TSH to begin with. I called her to ask her to raise my Armour dose. Her nurse called back and told me that I need to go see an endocrinologist. I guess she just didn't want to deal with the "difficult" patient. *sigh*
So, I raised the dose on my own while I searched for a good doctor.
To be continued:
My experience with doctors I have seen about my illness, and the "progress" made thus far:
Doctor#1 Early 2001
I had been so tired, and knew there was something wrong. I went to a doctor, and told her my symptoms, and asked her to check for anemia (I was diagnosed with it before) diabetes (grandfather has it) and my thyroid (father has Hypothyroidism.) She said to me, "I think you are just depressed. I will check for these, but I think they will come back normal, and that you are just depressed." She was recommending Prozac.
I came back to see her after my test results came back, and she said "yep, all normal, just like I thought" and was ready to write me that prescription for Prozac. How stupid to give a girl that is exhausted Prozac!!! I was like, "if there is a problem with me, shouldn't I see a physiologist?" I got a card for one, but never called. I knew that wasn't my problem. I didn't know any better, so I just lived with it. I guessed it was just me.
(Later, I looked back to the letter I got from the clinic. Everything just said "normal", there were never any numbers to check.)
Which takes us to doc #2, one year later.
I was in for a pap, (I made sure to get a different doctor, but it was at the same clinic.) He said "good, I see you got your thyroid checked." I asked that he check it and he did. It came back that I had Hypothyroidism. Yay, thank you doc for finding something! Was prescribed Synthroid. Felt better, but not great. Asked him twice to raise my dose when he wouldn't have. He did it, but not without saying "many of my patients want more Synthroid than they need." Ummm... doc, shouldn't that be telling you something!??!?!
Once my TSH was low enough that I figured I was normal (that was the only test ever taken, and I didn't know any better to ask for more. Most doctors only do a TSH test, which isn't even made by the thyroid. It is made by the pituitary gland, telling your thyroid to produce more hormone.... so many things can interfere with that.... but doctors just don't seem to get that.) I did feel better, but still tired and not normal.
I just figured it was because I was working nights, and also that was just the way I was.
Ended up on 1MG Synthroid.
For 2 more years I lived like that, just figuring it was because I was working nights.
Doctor#3 early 2004
I was pregnant, and this doctor was great, I really liked him. I still didn't know any better about my thyroid, and he kept me where I was. I think if I had learned this stuff then, he would have worked with me though.
I did feel better during pregnancy, and blamed the tiredness I did have on my pregnancy. (Which was probably mostly true.)
Doctor#4 early 2006
Asked me a few of the "do you have this or that" questions. I replied with all the right answers. Nope no more tired than usual (I do have a baby waking me up during the night after all, and what is normal anyway, I had forgotten.)
Kept on the same dose of Synthroid.
Which brings me to this last summer. I finally weaned my daughter, she was mostly sleeping at night, and I was feeling more tired and drug out than ever. My neighbor said to me one day that she was worried about me, and maybe I should see a doctor about getting on antidepressants. I tried to explain to her "it is just because of my Hypothyroidism, I am just like this, this is just the way I am."
I went home and really thought about that, and thought, "why should it have to be like this? There has to be a way to get better!"
So I started to research. WOW! I learned a lot. I won't get into all those details now, but I have listed, and will list helpful sites and books if anyone wants to do their own research.
Anyway, I read a lot about Armour Thyroid, the natural thyroid medication that has T4 and T3 in it, along with some things that nobody really knows what they are for. (Synthroid only has T4, which has to be converted to T3 to give you energy. Some people have a hard time converting.)
So I decided that was the first step. Made an appointment with a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who are supposed to lean more toward healing than M.D.s.) that someone I know likes. I was so excited! I waited 3 weeks to see her. I told her how I was feeling, and that I really wanted to try Armour. She really didn't want to give it to me. I asked her what she would do if I wasn't pushing for this. She said she thought I was depressed..... Yeah, that route again. I told her I really wanted to try this, and that I would just find someone else who would.... so she agreed.
WOW!!!! I felt better in a day. I felt so great! First of all, the "fog" lifted. It was like when you get a new pair of glasses, and everything looks clearer.... The world was clearer to me. I could concentrate better. I had energy to get through the day. I had the ambition to get things done. I went out and exercised just because it sounded like fun. My libido skyrocketed. I think I was a better mom, because I had more of ME to give to my daughter.
That lasted about two weeks, and then I regressed right where I was before.... worse in some ways. Those two weeks were such a mixed blessing. On the one hand, I now have hope that I can feel normal, on the other hand, now I remember what I am missing. *sigh*
So, I went back to the doctor for blood tests. My TSH was low, but so were my T4 and T3 levels, which really should be looked at more closely than the TSH to begin with. I called her to ask her to raise my Armour dose. Her nurse called back and told me that I need to go see an endocrinologist. I guess she just didn't want to deal with the "difficult" patient. *sigh*
So, I raised the dose on my own while I searched for a good doctor.
To be continued:
Monday, November 13, 2006
I am not lazy.
*It is really hard for me to say that I have an "illness", even though that is what it is. I never thought of it that way before... it was just a "condition", but really, my body is sick. I have thyroid DISEASE, and it isn't something that is just getting better with a pill, I am sick. I am also not just lazy, I physically do not have the energy to do what I need to do.The other day I read something in the book "Adrenal Fatigue" that really hit home for me. It is talking about people with adrenal fatigue (which I am suspecting I might also have) but it also pertains to hypothyroidism, because severe fatigue is a symptom of both.
"These people may appear to friends and family to be lazy and unmotivated, or to have lost their ambition, when in reality quite the opposite is true; they are forced to drive themselves much harder than people with healthy adrenal function merely to accomplish life's everyday tasks."That is huge for me, because for the last 8 years, I have called myself lazy. "I am so lazy, if I just got up off my ass and did stuff". Really though, I also often think "how does she get all that done? If I did half that stuff I would be so worn out I couldn't move". I still think of myself as lazy, but am trying to change the way I think.
Seriously. I feel like I worked hard and got a lot done today, and it is probably less than the average person gets done each day. (Washed 5 loads of clothes, folded and put away, went through my "winter and summer" clothes, organized my closet, and picked up DD's room, and ran to the store quick for a couple things.) The only reason I got that stuff done is because I felt a lot better today than I have for a while.
"These people may appear to friends and family to be lazy and unmotivated, or to have lost their ambition, when in reality quite the opposite is true; they are forced to drive themselves much harder than people with healthy adrenal function merely to accomplish life's everyday tasks."That is huge for me, because for the last 8 years, I have called myself lazy. "I am so lazy, if I just got up off my ass and did stuff". Really though, I also often think "how does she get all that done? If I did half that stuff I would be so worn out I couldn't move". I still think of myself as lazy, but am trying to change the way I think.
Seriously. I feel like I worked hard and got a lot done today, and it is probably less than the average person gets done each day. (Washed 5 loads of clothes, folded and put away, went through my "winter and summer" clothes, organized my closet, and picked up DD's room, and ran to the store quick for a couple things.) The only reason I got that stuff done is because I felt a lot better today than I have for a while.
About me
Well, I guess I should start by writing a bit about myself.
I am 28 years old. I am happily married, and we have the sweetest almost 2 year old (in three days) little girl! Since high school, I have always thought of myself as a happy, bubbly, easy going, fun, and a bit lazy. I can be shy at first, but once I get to know someone, I might not stop talking. ;) I am smart, but a bit of an airhead at the same time. (I always got A's and B's without studying in high school, but I would forget my head sometimes if it wasn't attached. I also am a terrible spelor.) I am a "wanna be artist", in that I love doing artsy things, but I am not very talented. lol I have terrible hand/eye coordination, and really, I am not very creative. I am loving sewing and scrapbooking, because you don't have to be perfect at either thing to make something that looks nice. (You can redo stuff!)
I love to use parenthesis online. I guess it is my way of explaining things.
I grew up on a hobby farm, in the middle of nowhere. The country is in my blood. It is hard for me to live in suburbia, but I know it is where I am meant to be for now, so I am ok. Someday in the not to distant future, I must get back to the country.
I love animals! On that farm someday, I would love to have horses, a cow or two, some chickens, maybe some goats, and of course a dog or two.
Right now we have two cats, and I have two fish tanks.
I am a Christian. I love God, and know that He is watching over me and my family. I have total faith that He will provide for us, and will take us where we need to be. That doesn't mean that I have all the answers, or am always sure of why God does things the way He does. It does mean that I try to live my life for Him, and know He is taking care of us.
Hmmm... I tend to start things and not finish. I get excited about a new hobby, or project, and it consumes me for quite a while, then withers away into nothing. I played Sims for over a year when it first came out. Hours and hours were spent on that game. Computer games in general took up a lot of my time before I had my daughter.
Also the poor fish that I have. I was very "into" the tanks for a while, and now, although I love them, I don't think much of them except to feed and clean them. (I would still love to get a big tank someday though.) Some other things that I have gotten into then not done much with: watercolor painting, graphic stuff, cloth diapers, (I still use them on DD, and love them, I just don't search and buy anymore),photography, scrapbooking (although I am starting to work on this again.) You get the idea.
My life hasn't been perfect. In fact, I have had some pretty messed up parts mixed in with the good. Overall though, my life is what has made me, me, and I am pretty happy with how I turned out. (Except for my Hypothyroidism of course, but I will get into that later.)
Ok, I will stop now. :D
I am 28 years old. I am happily married, and we have the sweetest almost 2 year old (in three days) little girl! Since high school, I have always thought of myself as a happy, bubbly, easy going, fun, and a bit lazy. I can be shy at first, but once I get to know someone, I might not stop talking. ;) I am smart, but a bit of an airhead at the same time. (I always got A's and B's without studying in high school, but I would forget my head sometimes if it wasn't attached. I also am a terrible spelor.) I am a "wanna be artist", in that I love doing artsy things, but I am not very talented. lol I have terrible hand/eye coordination, and really, I am not very creative. I am loving sewing and scrapbooking, because you don't have to be perfect at either thing to make something that looks nice. (You can redo stuff!)
I love to use parenthesis online. I guess it is my way of explaining things.
I grew up on a hobby farm, in the middle of nowhere. The country is in my blood. It is hard for me to live in suburbia, but I know it is where I am meant to be for now, so I am ok. Someday in the not to distant future, I must get back to the country.
I love animals! On that farm someday, I would love to have horses, a cow or two, some chickens, maybe some goats, and of course a dog or two.
Right now we have two cats, and I have two fish tanks.
I am a Christian. I love God, and know that He is watching over me and my family. I have total faith that He will provide for us, and will take us where we need to be. That doesn't mean that I have all the answers, or am always sure of why God does things the way He does. It does mean that I try to live my life for Him, and know He is taking care of us.
Hmmm... I tend to start things and not finish. I get excited about a new hobby, or project, and it consumes me for quite a while, then withers away into nothing. I played Sims for over a year when it first came out. Hours and hours were spent on that game. Computer games in general took up a lot of my time before I had my daughter.
Also the poor fish that I have. I was very "into" the tanks for a while, and now, although I love them, I don't think much of them except to feed and clean them. (I would still love to get a big tank someday though.) Some other things that I have gotten into then not done much with: watercolor painting, graphic stuff, cloth diapers, (I still use them on DD, and love them, I just don't search and buy anymore),photography, scrapbooking (although I am starting to work on this again.) You get the idea.
- I am a clutz. Just ask my husband. Heh, heh.
- I love milk, pizza, spaghetti and cookies.
- I am afraid to eat raw meat, and have never had raw fish sushi (or any kind for that matter.)
- I love to cook, but hate to clean.
- I don't snore, but do talk in my sleep at times.
- I love long hot baths.
- I don't like getting up early. Even growing up I loved to sleep in till noon.
- Love the country, hate the city. (Ok to visit, not to live.)
- I love shopping, if I have the money, and am in the mood. I am a bargain shopper big time. I get so excited when I get a good deal that I have to tell everyone.
- I love to read. I have been known to stay up all night to finish a good book.
- I am messy. I tend to leave things until they get out of hand. You should see my desk right now. (Not much desk to see under all the paper and things. lol )
- I am not gross mess though. I don't let dirty dishes lay around the house, or food.... YUCK! (The dishes will pile up on the counter though.)
- I love spring, and summer, and fall, and winter all for their own reasons. I am in MN though, so I do wish winter wouldn't last so long.
- I love MN though. We were in Denver for two years, and although the weather and lack of mosquitoes were great, the lack of water, and green, and family were not.
I love being a mother. I always knew I wanted to be a mom. One of the reasons I didn't push myself to go to college after "taking a year off" was because I knew I wanted to be home with my kids. Thank God I fell in love with someone who was able to make that happen for me.
On the other hand, I actually really like school, and would like to go back just for the sake of school. When my kids are all in school, I will probably go back for something or other... :)
My life hasn't been perfect. In fact, I have had some pretty messed up parts mixed in with the good. Overall though, my life is what has made me, me, and I am pretty happy with how I turned out. (Except for my Hypothyroidism of course, but I will get into that later.)
Ok, I will stop now. :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)