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.
Showing posts with label hair loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair loss. Show all posts
8.17.2012
8.11.2012
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.
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.
7.02.2012
Tomorrow
Another (albeit mini) blood letting is scheduled for tomorrow. On the menu? More TSH, T3 total, and T4 total, and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (to address some confusion with my testosterone results from my previous blood letting). Of course I'll be updating with my results as soon as I get them.
I've been feeling pretty good, with the occasional mood swing, but still sleeping a lot. I haven't noticed weight gain at this point, although I will keep that in mind to watch for tomorrow if I am weighed. I feel like my hair isn't falling out quite as much, which is of course a positive in more than one way. No sign of my period, and trust me, there is no possible way I could be pregnant. Overall, I'm hanging in here!! Still doing the iodine painting, although probably not as regularly as I should.
Look forward to a blog in the near future discussing the problems with Synthroid. :)
I've been feeling pretty good, with the occasional mood swing, but still sleeping a lot. I haven't noticed weight gain at this point, although I will keep that in mind to watch for tomorrow if I am weighed. I feel like my hair isn't falling out quite as much, which is of course a positive in more than one way. No sign of my period, and trust me, there is no possible way I could be pregnant. Overall, I'm hanging in here!! Still doing the iodine painting, although probably not as regularly as I should.
Look forward to a blog in the near future discussing the problems with Synthroid. :)
6.21.2012
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!
6.06.2012
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?
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?
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