Increase

Had my blood tested again on Wednesday and got the phone call today that my endocrinologist is upping my dosage of Tirosint from 112mcg to 125mcg.  I knew it wasn't quite right.  I still want to probably go back to a natural desiccated thyroid replacement but for right now I desperately need to get my body in check since school is here come the 20th.  Brain fog + trying to concentrate =/= success.

She also suggested I start taking Biotin daily to help with hair, nail, and skin health.

Another Update (and a bit of emotional release)

I've been MIA.  I've been sleeping and when I'm not sleeping I'm usually not at home.  I've slept the entire summer away; 70% of my time is spent in bed.  To top it all off my concentration abilities are failing lately something fierce.

So where are we?  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, which I still don't feel educated properly on.  I have goiter (severe swelling of the thyroid) but an ultrasound didn't show any nodules or worrisome areas.  I'm on my fourth week of Tirosint, another synthetic thyroid hormone (T4).

I don't know if it's the right dose for me (112mg), but I still feel like crap.  I have another blood test on the 15th.  Like I said I am still sleeping like crazy, I am still occasionally finding myself in a low grade depression, I'm still having issues with my weight, I'm still losing my hair.

Even though my Armour thyroid obviously wasn't at the right dosage, I feel like I felt better on that then I do ont he Tirosint.

I was also told that I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which I also don't know much about at this point, but that's why I have elevated testosterone.  My endocrinologist has suggested going back on birth control to solve my symptoms, but I don't know if I want to do that right now, so I haven't.  My energy is depleted and I'm not feeling even motivated to do research.

I'm considering going to a Naturopath.

Honestly.. I feel so lost right now.  I'm writing this blog with very little idea of where to begin and possibly less optimism at the moment that this is going to get better.  I'm angry, really.  I'm angry because I know who I could be if I didn't have underactive thyroid.  I'm angry because I'm afraid that I'll have to deal with this for the rest of my life.  I'm angry because I don't think many people in my life understand how truly truly awful this is.  I'm angry because I have goals and dreams and aspirations that are being put on hold because of this.  And I'm angry because I don't understand, but who could possibly understand why they have hypothyroidism?  I'm also angry because I feel like I'm letting all of this just take control..  But how can I fight it?  Everyday?  I'm so exhausted of fighting my hypothyroidism.  I'm exhausted of being exhausted, of being tired, of having a lingering depression, of gaining weight, of losing my hair, of not being able to concentrate, of brain fog.

And I'm angry because it's 4:30 in the morning and I'm writing this, when I should be sleeping like a normal person, but because I slept until 2 in the afternoon and lounged and such until 8 in the evening and then finally did a few productive things at 10 at night I'm actually awake by 2am.  Here soon I'll get tired again and start the cycle.  If I didn't force myself to be out of bed I'd sleep all day long, even without the productivity at 10pm or the awakeness at 2am.

I'm frustrated tonight/today/whatever you want to call it.  I'm trying not to whine, or complain, but I just had to let all of that out.  I don't know if I feel better, but I'll sleep and hopefully when I wake I won't be in quite as much as a down mood.  Maybe be more optimistic.

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!

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?

Pointless, kind of

I'm having a rough time this evening.  I don't know why but I'm lonely and just sad.  Everything was fine earlier in the day, I don't know what changed.  Also feeling lethargic and having trouble concentrating.  I've already been distracted a handful of times just writing this.  Before tonight I've been feeling pretty good, but I have also been fairly busy.  It may be due to bordem.  Or maybe because I forgot to take my Armour yesterday.

Anyway, I recently printed out a bunch of monthly calenders so that I could start tracking my mood and find out if there's any pattern to it.

Honestly I don't really have much else to say, this was a boring post my apologies!

Pre-Finals Update

Finals week is ahead, and I am definitely feeling the pressure.  Stress levels range day to day, depending on whatever mood my thyroid is in (yes, I just personified an organ.  People do it with the heart all the time).  To combat the random overloads I have been listening to Snow Patrol, Birdy, and Coldplay on repeat.

Today (Sunday) was my second dose of Armour thyroid.  I'm not noticing a whole lot of abnormalities (although everything is kind of abnormal right now) except an increase in stomachaches, but I don't know if those are related to the new medication or to the influx of bread and cheese in my recent diet.  I'm trying to be good, I promise.  I'm also noticing a lot more of my (unrelated) back pain, but I wonder if that is because I am not having as many hypothyroid side effects to distract me.

Has anyone else experienced stomachaches with Armour?  Or maybe changing from Synthroid to Armour?

The last few days (really, since Thursday), I have been very content with my relationship status (single), which usually tends to be something that really gets under my skin and tends to be one of those things I perseverate on when I'm having a hard time.  Other than stress from school and back pain I'm doing quite well.  I have my moments, but they tend to be more focused on how I'm going to pass my Physics final rather than anything else.

I have been tracking almost everything -- mood, aches and pains (including stomach/headaches), stress levels, whether I feel my heart rate is funny or not, how social I am, meals, amount of sleep -- in a Moleskin notebook as of Friday.  Hopefully I can keep up on this and maybe be able to find out if certain things set off my symptoms.

I'd like to (ideally) post about the relationship between iodine and hypothyroidism tomorrow.

As always, I'd love to hear any stories or get any feedback on any of my material.  Feel free to leave a comment (I'll actually be quite thrilled) or email me!

Hello, Ma'am

I am lucky enough (so far) to have  PCP (primary care physician) who might be open minded.  He is also quite the character and fairly hilarious. (He said "Hello Ma'am" upon entering the room.  Reminder: I'm 21 and he's a wee bit crazy in the best, non-Hypothyroid way).

So when I went in today to tell him I wanted to work on getting to a natural solution for my low functioning thyroid, and also figure out if I have low adrenal function (I promise to talk about this in a future post) I was fairly nervous that he would laugh in my face, but also confident that he wouldn't.

And he didn't, although he grimaced about the fairly large stack of papers I brought him, and asked me where the spark notes were. 

So, after being on Levothyroxine and Synthroid for nearly 3 years, I will start by changing to Armour Thyroid, a "natural, porcine-derived thyroid hormone replacement containing both T4 and T3" (www.armourthyroid.com).  In four weeks I will participate in what my doctor referred to as a "blood letting" and will test my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 Free (Free Tridothyronine), T4 Free (Thyroxine Free), Testosterone Free and Total, FSH/LH, Cortisol (A.M.), and DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate).  Blood letting it seems.

Now, those of us with Hypothyroidism will recognize the first three hormones quite immediately, the following are being tested for reasons contributing to my Hypothyroidism, but I have failed to write that post yet.  First, I wanted to be able to get some information out here, track what is going on with me today, and now I have to study my pants off for finals next week.

Thanks for reading!

What is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is characterized by a low functioning thyroid -- an endocrine gland located in the neck/throat area.  The symptoms are extensive and they can present differently in different people.  Hypothyroidism is checked/diagnosed through a blood test, which looks at TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 Free, and T4 Free (both of which are hormones made by the thyroid gland).

There is a lot of information out there about symptoms for Hypothyroidism, why it occurs, how it can be solved, and etc.  WebMD (I know, I know) offers a pretty decent overview on underactive thyroid here: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hypothyroidism-topic-overview

So what about me?  I have had Hypothyroidism for roughly three years, and throughout those years my symptoms have probably only been truly gone for a matter of six months off and on.   As for my symptoms, they are wide and many.

• I sleep.  I sleep for hours and hours, more than I should need (we are talking upwards of ten, eleven, twelve hours) and then I wake up, and if it's a day off I eat and I go back to sleep.  I am not being sarcastic.  When my hormones aren't right, I could spend forever in bed.
• I have insomnia.  Weird, right? Obviously not this and the above at the same time, but it will alternate.  I once was up for forty-five hours straight.
• I have heart palpitations (this is not usually a symptom of Hypothyroid, but more so one of low adrenal function, which we will get to later).  When "normal" (what is "normal"?) my heart rate is less than seventy, greater than sixty.  But at times, it races to 110 at resting (siting, standing, lying, not exerting).
• I am extremely defensive.  I am also extremely sensitive. 
• Everything seems worse.  Stress is at an all time high, which isn't good for your thyroid either.  My five page paper quickly becomes twenty-five pages and everything is just a disaster and THE WORLD IS CAVING IN!
• I'm lonely, but not with a sex drive.  I just want to be held and loved.
• I'm constantly fatigued, and in a different sense than that of sleeping all the time.
• I have Attention Deficit Disorder.
• In the late evening and night time, I have extreme hunger.
• A LOT of hair loss.
• Low grade depression.
• Increased sweating.

Those are the primary symptoms I notice.  Also included under the realm of Hypothyroidism is weight gain, intolerance to cold or heat, low body temperature, shaking, memory problems, constipation, irregular menstruation, muscle aches and cramps.

Basically, it feels like someone implanted a chip into my brain and is controlling every aspect of my body through some remote.  (Disclaimer: I am not starting in about conspiracy theories or things as such, I am just using my writer's mind to describe how much Hypothyroidism SUCKS.)

I Suppose We Could Start with Introductions

My name is Rachel.  I'm a 21 year old female living in Denver, Colorado and I am terrible at introductory paragraphs.

So let's really just get right into it.

I don't really know what anyone would be interested in reading about me, because basically I'm another 21 year old girl (in the subcategory of girls that isn't at the bar every night or even every weekend) that thinks she is at least somewhat different than the rest and takes solace in the fact that I'm unique and interesting and somehow that is attractive.  I also know, however, that that particular notion tends to be a bit of a crock of shit but maybe having it while also being Self Aware makes me quirky? (ick)

Who knows?  But I like to write, and I like to read, and I like to play the piano, and I like to run, and I like to sing in the shower.  I have a fair amount of self confidence, have a passion for helping people and traveling, and this is not a personal ad.

Actually, I am writing this blog because three years ago this November I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  And since 1 in 50 females have hypothyroidism, and because I am embarking along a path to find a natural solution for my hypothyroidism, I'm hoping I can maybe help even one person out there that is going through this with me or after me.

So, with only a few disclaimers, I'll leave you be with the little knowledge of me that I've given.  I'm sure we will get to know each other.

First, I am not a doctor.  I am not in medical school (although working towards Physical Therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine).  I am not an expert or all knowing.  But I have hypothyroidism and that at least makes me experienced even if only a bit.  That said, I cannot give advice, but I can share my story and maybe help someone along the way.  I can lend a(n e-) shoulder to cry on.  Maybe someone's story will be similar to my own, and maybe that will help them find his/her way.  Because hypothyroidism is not fun, and it's rarely fully understood by someone that doesn't have it.  Please utilize my blog for your own knowledge or even if only for reassurance that you are not crazy (because I sure have felt that way before).

Secondly, I feel inclined to remind you, that while we are (very slowly) moving towards accepting homeopathic solutions for all sorts of things, there are still many doctors that are not open minded enough to consider natural methods an option.  If you have hypothyroidism, and your current synthetic solution isn't working, try to open your mind, and try to find an open minded doctor.

And last but certainly not least, hypothyroidism can play quite the toll on us.  And I can't promise anything, but there may be some emotional blogs ahead of us.  I will try not to downplay it (although my German pride will be kicking and screaming) and try to be true to you.  So, grab the popcorn, take my hand, and let's find our way out of this hypothyroidism jungle.


xo
Rachel