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Post by Karen on Jan 28, 2011 17:51:53 GMT -5
I'll get them retested in 6 weeks.
Honestly, I'm more concerned about the other stuff. Essentially, based on my thyroid numbers, it's like my pituitary gland isn't even sending the order in for my thyroid to work. And funny, the pituitary gland also orchestrates the ovaries and adrenals... All my associated hormones for adrenals, ovaries, and thyroid are below normal. Will see what's next in terms of testing at my follow up. In the meantime, I so hope the thyroid meds give me some energy. I've been running on low this week since Tuesday...
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Post by katiev on Jan 28, 2011 18:49:28 GMT -5
That seems strange. Do you follow the endo diet? I know the thyroid can really throw the whole body out of whack. A good friend of mine, female age 35, had throat cancer and it did something to her thyroid. She beat the cancer but her thyroid is still wonky. She has to eat a special diet, much like the endo diet, to keep everything in control. Otherwise she is like an emotional rollercoaster and tired all the time. I think thats bc of the link to the adrenal glands. How are you feeling? That is awesome that your doc called from home!
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Post by Karen on Jan 29, 2011 0:29:56 GMT -5
Yup, I follow the endo diet for the most part. Have for a while now. I have a lot of food sensitivities and most of them are on the endo no-no list so I'm pretty well covered. I know it's not diet. Will have to see if the thyroid meds help out at all. I'm already taking stuff for hormones and adrenals, might as well add one more, right?
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Post by Karen on Jan 30, 2011 11:43:51 GMT -5
Hmm, I find it interesting that cholesterol is the precursor of the sex hormones (progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen) AND cortisol. All these levels are low for me, but my cholesterol is high. Wonder if there's anything to that, that my body isn't converting properly?...
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Post by Karen on Mar 3, 2011 18:22:23 GMT -5
Again, this is more for my record than anyone else, but if you have any input/experience, please share!
Saw my doc today for a checkup. I've been on new thyroid meds (levothyroxine) for 5 weeks and I thought I felt pretty horrible before I went on them, I think I feel even worse since being on them. Complete & utter exhaustion, brain fog, couldn't remember some words, sleeping 9-11 hours a day, having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other and walking straight I'm so exhausted! To top it off, the meds had to be taken first thing in the morning on an empty tummy and they gave me a raging stomach ache every day, had me doubled over at my desk yestrday. My doc assured me that wasn't the result she was hoping for and told me to stop taking them asap. The only thing they were good for were bringing my blood pressure up into normal range, but my temps were still low and all over the place (96.9-97.4). Soooooo, she told me to let the med wear off and start a glandular thyroid med instead in 7 days. I believe it contains both T3 and T4 (the one I was on as of today was just T4). She also took me off a supplement I started around the same time just in case.
And as for my cycles (I'm currently on day 57 with no sign of ovulation), we think it's DHEA to blame. I was on it for a while, went off it for a while to see if some other things got better which is precisely when my cycles normalized, and as soon as I went back on it, wham, long cycles. So, I'm done taking that, too. She said my goofy cycles are another piece of evidence that my levels are not right yet.
The interesting thing is that she thinks when my thyroid finally kicked in, it did at the expense of my adrenals. She's running both a blood cortisol level/ACTC level (to see if it's converting properly) and a saliva test. If it's low again after all the support I've been taking for 10+ months, she'll send me to an endocrinologist to figure it out. I fully expect them to come back low. Last week when I got the news about my uncle's brain aneurism around 10:30, it took any ounce of energy out of me. By 3:00 that afternoon, I was at a job site meeting and could do little more than prop myself up against a ledge and stare off into the distance. A few subcontractors asked me some questions and I couldn't muster more than 1 word answers, I'm sure I appeared incredibly unprofessional. It's like my brain was frozen. People at work are starting to ask if I feel ok, I look that out of it. Point is, my body isn't capable of handling stress, even if my mind is.
She's running another chem panel, checking vit D and iron levels for good measure, make sure we're not missing anything.
Oh, and I mentioned Jenaya's theory to her - that perhaps my body doesn't have the proper enzyme to convert cholesterol into the various hormone levels, thus low levels. She said she'll research it a bit, see what she can come up with. She was very kind, said she was hoping to hear that I was feeling better, that she'd help me get to the bottom of it. I love my doc!!
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Post by hellsbells on Mar 3, 2011 19:07:28 GMT -5
I'm delighted she's still on the case hon!
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Post by Karen on Mar 7, 2011 18:59:16 GMT -5
She called with my test results.
1. Kidney function is back to normal. 2. I'm not anemic. 3. Vit D level was low - it was 27. The low end of normal is 32, but 50-80 is optimal. I'm to increase my Vit D to 5000 IUI a day (was taking 2000). 4. My blood cortisol level was well within normal range, but she still wants me to do a saliva test to track levels 4 times throughout the day. I'll be able to compare that to my initial one 10 months ago.
Hope to start the new thyroid meds this week. The last one made me feel like absolute A$$!!
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Post by Karen on Mar 23, 2011 19:27:12 GMT -5
So maybe there's hope?
I'm in the middle of week 3 on the new thyroid meds (Nature-Throid). I started taking one pill (1/4 grain) a day for a week, then 2 pills a week, and I'm now up to 3 pills (3/4 grain) a week. I was feeling more energized Monday and Tuesday, and today I think things might officially be on the up? I had a 12+ hour day today, including 4 hours in the car, being up at 5 am, etc. I felt better today at 4 pm than I did most days at 9 am... I'm wiped out now, but not super bad. And I'm hoping that having such a busy day today doesn't kick my ass tomorrow, but I'm kind of having a bit of hope as of right now. Crossing my fingers it's not a complete fluke!
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Post by hellsbells on Mar 24, 2011 12:39:53 GMT -5
Best news I've had in a good while, so so glad you're on the up hon. Long may it continue x
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Post by JC on Mar 24, 2011 12:46:40 GMT -5
OH yay! That's great! I hated seeing you like that! I'm crossing everything that's crossable for you!
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Post by Karen on Mar 24, 2011 18:06:47 GMT -5
Yeah, yesterday kicked my ass. I feel like sh*t today.
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Post by hellsbells on Mar 25, 2011 6:15:22 GMT -5
Pace yourself!
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Post by Karen on Mar 25, 2011 6:22:45 GMT -5
Kind of hard to when I'm at the other office. We carpool so my day revolves around both our schedules...
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Post by JC on Mar 25, 2011 8:31:22 GMT -5
I know how that feels when your body wants you to slow down but your life is so busy that you can't. I hope at least the weekend will bring you some stress relief and relaxation! I really hope that you continue to improve!
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Post by Karen on Mar 31, 2011 17:31:00 GMT -5
So yesterday I went to my gyn for my bi-yearly pap. Want to keep in touch with her office in the off chance that I eventually need a lap again. Saw the NP and she was super cool and supportive about my bio-identical stuff that I'm getting through my GP. I love her, she's awesome. Only had a bit of pain after the exam but nothing as bad as I remember 2 years ago. But both her and her nurse mentioned mammograms to me, then realized I'm not old enough to need them! I've been feeling older and wrinklier lately, but 34 and 40 are pretty far apart! And, saw my GP today. I'm going to take a 24 hour urine test on day 21 or so of my cycle so we're kind of on hold until I do it and get results. She said she typically doesn't do the urine test because it takes a while to get the results, and for most women, the issues that come up are issues that can be identified with a blood test. But lucky me, I'm special... We hope the urine test will identify my pregnenolone levels and the steroid cascade. Pregnenolone is responsible for all steroid hormones, such as thyroid, adrenal, sex hormones, etc., so if that's low, that would explain why everything else is low. www.antiaging-magazine.com/articles/article_9_2.html (Thanks again to Jenaya for suggesting it, and for my doc for listening!!) She asked if I would consider going off my progesterone supplementation between now and the test but since I already started my dose up again this cycle, I'm afraid to go off it and cause spotting, period, or pain so I'll stay on it! I will go off the testosterone supplementation. My sex drive has been in the tank again lately anyway so it won't bother me to go from 0 to 0... We're going to keep my thyroid med where it is and test my levels again in 3 more weeks. I'm guessing we'll have to increase my dose. Oh, and I mentioned I put about 10 pounds on since mid-January and that I often feel bloated and gross. Usually the week or two after my period I feel skinny, but this time around I do not. This is how much I love my doc: Instead of implying I'm a lazy tubbalard with no self-control around food (which is my experience in the past), she said it's usually an indication that something with my endocrine system is off kilter. After I take the 24 hour urine test, we'll likely increase my progesterone dose. Oh, and I mentioned some digestive enzymes that my neighbor is hooking me up with! My neighbor works for the guy that sells them/gives seminars on them and she hooked me up with his urine analysis. They suggested (2) to start with (enzymes for general food digestion and kidney function). I mentioned this to my doc she said the company has a very good reputation and she's excited to see what they'll do for me. It sucks being broken, but I completely adore my doc.
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