And So the Story Goes....

I've been off of all thyroid medication for 11 days.  My symptoms have been this way and that, ranging from insomnia (inzombia?) to irritability to chronic fatigue to a low grade depression.  It's been weird, it's been a battle, it's been..  Interesting to say the least. 

As of today I experienced a bit of insomnia (inzombia) last night and slept about 10 hours following, with frequent wake ups.  That said I feel more myself today and the past few days as well.  Yay!!  

I know this isn't necessarily a common experience, and I still want to write posts on hypothyroidism, so bear with me.

One thing I've noticed is that my menstrual cycle is not on quite right.  My last period ended May 17 and I've not had so much as an inkling of it coming again.  So that's something, I don't know if it is as a result of not taking birth control anymore or because that's still how my body is or if that's the hypothyroidism talking.  Only time will tell!

Struggling, a bit

And finally, the results from my June 1 "blood letting" have officially arrived.  I already have been informed that my dose of Armour thyroid was too high and I am thus experiencing hyperthyroidism.  I'm not really sure which is worse, except that at least I lost weight.... My other results came back mostly normal, including cortisol, LH and FSH.  That's where it gets a little odd.  The blood test came back showing that I had elevated testosterone, which, if you read this post you'll understand why having  normal LH levels and abnormal testosterone levels is a bit weird.  Evidently, however, there can be false positives when testing testosterone, so my doc isn't too concerned at this point.  I will have another blood letting on July 3.  That said, my doctor has ultimately decided that we need to find out what my levels are for my thyroid as well as retest my testosterone and such.  He also seems to believe that I may not need thyroid therapy at all.

Yes, you read that correctly.  As of today I am five days thyroid-medication free (I forgot on Monday, what a doof).  I feel like crap.  Of course, I felt like crap before, but this is a different crap that's kind of combined with the old crap.. Sorry about the crap.

I'm really trying to have a positive outlook on this.  I'm hoping that Dr. Singer's idea that my thyroid has figured itself out is correct.  Maybe I'm lucky in all of this?  Maybe my body figured it out or maybe it's been as a reaction to my no longer taking birth control pills (because I haven't had any action and I don't seem to be getting any anytime soon) and iodine painting (albeit, half-heartedly) and eating better?  I have no idea, but I'll keep you guys posted.

In the mean time I mentioned I feel like crap.  I am having terrible insomnia at night.  I lie in bed for hours, tossing, turning, spinning, moving, trying to fall asleep.  But I am also experiencing chronic fatigue.  My body wants to go to sleep when I can't and doesn't want to sleep when I can.  I don't know what the deal is, but I wonder if it has to do with the thyroid roller coaster and I pray that these are left over symptoms that will ultimately choose a side.  I've lost weight but who knows what will happen with that.  I'm very hungry.  I'm cold.  I'm intolerant to heat.  And I'm sad.  That low grade depression is back, folks.  At least at night.  And when I'm not depressed I'm overly happy.  I don't know, I mean.. I've always believed that creative people feel things differently than others, and maybe that's why I'm this way, because I feel everything so deeply.  Maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe I'll be back in control shortly.

I'm starting to doubt myself a lot, too.  I feel like I'm making excuses for myself on one side, and on the other that I know that I am not.  That this is something my body is doing and I, unfortunately, don't have control of.

On the plus side, I am not having too much trouble deciding when my thyroid emotions are acting up.  I've been a little grumpy to my family, and they are grumpy back, which just upsets me more.  I kind of feel alone.

I really didn't start this post with intention of complaining, I promise.  But I'm struggling tonight.

Usually these feelings are jump started by something, like asking someone for help and receiving no help.  Like thinking I was on a date and half-way through realizing that, no, this is not a date and that once again I got my hopes up for something that was a purely platonic relationship.

Blah.  Sometimes it helps me to write and see how ridiculous all of this is.

All I can hope, is that someone else with hypothyroidism reads this and understands what it's like, and knows that I understand what it's like.  And no matter how many times your body tells you that you are alone in this, you aren't.

My birthday is Monday and I am just hoping for a good day overall.  That said, I think I'll turn on some good music and clean, and then watch Glee on Netflix.

xo

Testosterone and Hypothyroidism

Well, I had my so-called "blood letting" on June 1 as scheduled and they are slowly but surely having results.  Today my doctor's office called me with an update.  It looks like my thyroid has now been thrown into hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and we'll have to probably lower my dosage of Armour.

They also said my testosterone was low.  Hmm.  Now, when I asked my PCP to test my testosterone (along with a bunch of other hormones that I discussed here) I had no idea how thyroid hormones and testosterone were related.

Initially, it did not surprise me.  I tend to have a holistic view when it comes to the body -- everything is connected.  If one endocrine gland isn't right, chances are that others aren't quite right, either.  Testosterone is a sex hormone created by the testes and the adrenal glands in men, and the ovaries and adrenal glands in women (I haven't posted about adrenal fatigue yet, but I'm in the process, promise! but you'll understand why this is significant in the future).  Otherwise, my knowledge gained from past courses of Anatomy and Physiology lent me no immediate understanding, and since I didn't have my books with me, I turned to the internet.

This is what I've found.  Low thyroid function is usually paired with low testosterone, and that often times when thyroid production is corrected, testosterone production is also corrected.  Now, we all know at least a limited information about steroids, yes?  Well, steroids tend to involve testosterone.  When athletes take steroids to increase their skill, ability, strength, and etcetera, the influx of the hormone signals the pituitary gland to stop "telling" the testes or ovaries to stop creating testosterone.  This causes a dependence on the exogenous hormone.  Then, when people go off of the exogenous testosterone they have symptoms that mimic the opposite sex (women grow facial hair, men grow breasts).  Granted, this is a very extreme sort, but my point is that going on testosterone hormone is probably not a great plan unless it is determined that the deficiency is directly related to the sex organs.

But why?  It seems to have something to do with the pancreas (ANOTHER endocrine organ!) and insulin.  "Thyroid hormones regulate the binding of insulin to cell receptors, which facilitates the uptake of nutrients.  When the thyroid gland becomes underactive, insulin cannot transfer the signal from the cell receptor to the cell's interior as effectively."(http://www.livestrong.com)  This is insulin resistance, which, according to the website posted, has a great deal of affect on LH, or luteinizing hormone (a hormone produced by the pituitary).

LH affects the sex hormones.  When LH levels are low, testosterone levels are also low!  Symptoms of low LH include low sperm count in men and amenorrhea in women (loss of period).  This is also related to hypopituitarism -- low pituitary function.  SEE?! EVERYTHING is connected!

I get slightly over excited when I'm looking into all of this.  It's incredible how much is involved with our bodies that is ignored so often.

Before I end, let me put this in your mind.  Symptoms of low testosterone include: fatigue, loss of muscle strength, weight gain around the abdomen, depression, irritability, loss of body hair, increased risk of osteoporosis, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, painful sexual intercourse, absence of menstruation, heat flashes, anorgasmia (inability to orgasm).

Can I hear a "holy crap?"
Holy.  CRAP.

At your last blood test, what labs were drawn for you, hypothyroid-ees?