So results from blood letting numero dos returned.  Drum roll please?

I still have hypothyroidism according to the blood work.  TSH is super elevated and T3 and T4 are super low.  And my testosterone is elevated as well.  Weird.

My doctor's office called the other day to let me know.  I expect my results will be coming in the mail soon.

The other point of news?  My doc is referring me to an endocrinologist.  I don't know how I feel about that.  Good mostly, I guess.  Hmm.

I still need to write the post about Synthroid.  I'm having trouble concentrating on writing it.  I don't know why. It's fairly annoying.  And by fairly I mean very.  Sleeping all the time doesn't help.

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. :)

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