My Thyroid Hell: 2010

Lost More Weight - Yeah!! Feeling good.

>> 12/28/10

Well, despite the holidays, when I feared I would gain weight instead of lose it (and I've not been eating as healthy as I should be - more chocolate and cheese than I need, not to mention a few drinks), I have lost another 1.2 pounds. The separate T3 is making such a big difference for me! I am very happy with the results so far. I feel better. I am not losing excessive amounts of hair. My skin is still crap but I have always had bad skin in the winter before thyroid disease so I don't think I can use skin condition as a thyroid function gage.

I've breached that weight plateau I was on the last few weeks and am now moving forward with my weight loss. I hope it continues!

Migraine Treatment for Teenager

>> 12/19/10

My daughter gets a migraine once a month during her period, or during the time she is supposed to have a period (they aren't regular yet). If this continues, her pediatrician is going to want to talk to me about a treatment for migraines and prescribe a migraine medication for her. I have a few supplements I want to try first but these migraines leave her sick for hours and missing school. We are really going to have to get them managed soon.

Weight Loss Plateau

Well, my weight loss has hit a plateau this week. That is a bit disappointing but with Christmas this next weekend, I don't have a whole lot of time to worry about it. I have a little more shopping to do and I'm done (still looking for a printer and tanzanite jewelry).

I'm just worried a bit that I'll gain over this next week - not because of overeating because my diet is limited due to my gallbladder - but because my hormones/metabolism has slowed down enough to stop the weight loss. I'm hoping it hasn't slowed down so much that the weight starts to come back again.

Weight, Christmas

>> 12/15/10

I was thinking today about my total weight loss this past year (with the ups and downs I have had), I lost 20 pounds in total (lost 19, 9 came back, and then I lost 10). That's not too bad I guess. Maybe if I lose it slow, it won't come back (since they say losing weight too fast isn't good). I can hope right? I can also hope that none of it comes back over Christmas.

Onto Christmas shopping...my stepdaughter is asking for a laptop. While I'd love to look at custom laptops for her, we're going to leave that "little" gift for her mother to give her. She supports two kids with our financial assistance. We support six. Yup, she can have that gift!

I'm heading out tomorrow to make another dent in our shopping. Hopefully, it doesn't snow tonight like they're calling for. I have too much to do and can't afford another snow day home!

Proud of My Son

>> 12/11/10

I am so proud of my 11-year-old son. He is very sensitive and caring. He hugs me and tells me he loves me everyday. He's such a good boy.

He wanted to buy his girlfriend a Christmas gift. I asked him if he wanted to get her a stuffed animal. Of course not. He wants to get her jewelry. Wow! He was trying to decide between a heart necklace, heart bracelet, or cubic zirconia rings. He ended up with a necklace with a heart on it with cubic zirconia inside it. It's really very sweet. He'll give it to her at school this week before Christmas break starts. I wish I could watch him do that.

Dropped Below 150 Pounds

I've finally dropped below 150 pounds as of this morning! Talk about psyched! My goal is to reach 133 pounds, but it is really going to depend on how thin it makes my legs look. I don't want sticks for legs and at 5'7", I might get sticks for legs if I lose too much. I want to keep some curves. With eating a bit healthier and an increase in my T3, it's going great! I haven't needed to break out the Lipofuze!

I'm feeling pretty good thyroid-wise as well. My hair loss has slowed down. My skin is getting worse though but I think that has a lot to do with the heat being on for winter.

I haven't had a gallbladder attack in a few weeks either. Every time I've had one, I've had potatoes that day. I really think that's my trigger.

Dysfunction for the Holidays

>> 12/7/10

I found out a couple weeks ago that my sister got canned from her nursing job. Come to find out last night, she's actually been out of work for months but everybody was hiding it from the family (oh the joys of family dysfunction especially during the holidays). With the economy the way it is, but the need for healthcare jobs always in demand, you'd think she'd try better to behave herself being in the career she's in (or was in).

I'm not surprised but her patients are better off. It takes a special kind of person to be a good nurse.

Best Baked Beans Recipe

>> 12/2/10

I didn't gain any weight over Thanksgiving! That is fantastic!!

I did eat too many of my mother-in-law's baked beans though. Too much fiber at once. I was one hurting girl. I love, love, love her baked beans and I usually don't touch baked beans. Here is the recipe (amounts are not exact - she just squirts and dumps things in).

Best Baked Beans Recipe:

- 1 can Bush's Baked Beans
- Several good squirts of ketchup (depending on how big the can of beans is).
- Several slices of fried bacon
- Leftover bacon grease after frying the bacon
- Dark brown sugar

First fry your bacon up, keeping the bacon grease in the pan. Add the baked beans to the pan with bacon grease. Cut bacon into thirds or so and add back into the pan. Squirt ketchup over the beans and add a good amount of brown sugar. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer and let simmer for several house. Very sweet, very good baked beans!!

Just don't eat bowls of them. You'll regret it later. I really need to control myself better next time the baked beans come out.

I Made It!

>> 11/30/10

I made it through the holidays without a gallbladder attack. While everybody enjoyed huge portions of what they loved, I had to stick to only a few bites of anything high in fat (like company potatoes - SOOOOO good). I didn't leave the table feeling stuffed like a turkey like everybody else but that's the breaks for me I guess.

Another positive - I didn't need to worry about weight gain over Thanksgiving, scrambling for diet pills that work so I could squeeze into something pretty for Christmas or New Year's Eve and overeat again. I can't overeat anything except the good stuff, and seriously, who wants to overeat carrots and celery? Not me!

Looking for a Date - with the husband

>> 11/25/10

If you have thyroid disease (particular hypothyroid), you are probably really feeling this cold weather if you live in the north! Brrr!!! It's cold outside. Makes me think about cuddling up around a fire with hot chocolate in a cabin somewhere. Who am I kidding? I would just like a date away from the kids with my husband! It's been seven months since we had a night out without kids.

Thyroid Biopsy

>> 11/19/10

How often do you get your thyroid biopsied? I've had two thyroid biopsies in the last nine years. It seems like I should have more than that but after my last one, where the doctor messed up, I'm not too anxious to crawl back up on one of their exam tables and let them stick needles continuously in my neck again.

The first time I had it, it was SO easy. It really depends on the person doing it I guess. I'm just wondering if I should have them more often to make sure I don't develop thyroid cancer.

Losing Weight Again

My thyroid doc increased my T3 dose and I'm eating better (most of the time). The one time I didn't eat like I was supposed to, I had another gallbladder attack (happened last night). Potatoes that have met grease (hash browns, french fries) seems to be my gallbladder attack trigger. Between the T3 increase and changing my eating habits (reducing fat intake), I've lost 6 pounds in the last few weeks. I am really excited about that! Another 20 pounds and I'll feel better about how I look and feel.

With the holidays approaching, I'm a little worried but as long as I stick to not ingesting huge amounts of bad fats, I should be fine. My gallbladder is making a pretty good fat/weight policeman at the moment.

Holiday Shopping

The holidays are almost here! Along with the holidays, comes the financial and family stress that doesn't make our adrenals very happy. Remember to take some downtime for yourself and relax!

The price of things always stress me out so I plan to look for great deals instead of waiting until the last minute and limiting my choices. My daughter plans to shop on Black Friday but Cyber Monday is going to be my day. I can't wait to start our holiday shopping this year! The kids have their Santa lists so now I have to track everything down!

What if term insurance was inexpensive?

>> 11/4/10

Do you ever ask yourself this:

what if term insurance was inexpensive?

We used to until we got quotes and realized for the price of a fast food meal for our family, our term insurance would be paid for every month! If you don't have term life insurance, you aren't out anything by getting quotes. It is definitely worth the money for the peace of mind!

Now it's my gallbladder...

>> 11/3/10

In addition to my thyroid, I am now having gallbladder problems. I had two gallbladder attacks over the weekend. Believe me, they are not pleasant. They hurt more than birthing my four children! My health is just declining left and right! My husband says it is because I just turned 39 two weeks ago and am only one away from 40. Ha ha, funny man.

...and he wants me to pick up some packing tape and make him some return address labels for a package he needs to mail. Yeah, right. I think I'll make him wait on that a couple more days!

I am now on a very low fat diet until I get in to see my doctor on Friday (also my thyroid doctor) and find out what else I can do to 1) get rid of my gallstones, and 2) prevent another attack from occurring. Wow do I want to avoid those!! Apparently, fat and sugars can make my gallbladder scream so I am doing everything I can to keep it quiet.

Husbands!! Grrr!

>> 10/27/10

My husband is "hinting" around for an expensive guitar for his birthday. He's not a very good hinter. He pretty much picks his birthday and Christmas gifts every year and has done this for as long as I've known him. I've never had to come up with an idea for him (which is a bit irritating). What he's picked out this year will take a payday advance loan so it's not happening. I told him to downsize his birthday wishes (at least by $100!). His birthday falls a month before Christmas and with six kids, he really needs to consider the finances.

Eczema is Back

>> 10/26/10

My eczema is back along my waistline and chest. Where my clothing rubs is where I get eczema first. Then it follows around my arms and on my head.

My head has been itching badly the last few days so I had to my daughter look at it this morning. I wanted to make sure one of the kids didn't bring lice home from school! Thankfully, that wasn't the problem. My scalp is very irritated looking she said. Definitely getting my eczema back.

I always get it bad when my thyroid is most out of whack.

Your Best Supplements

I am curious to find out what others with thyroid disease take in terms of supplements. What are the best supplements that you've found? What didn't work? Do you find the suggested recommended amount was enough or did you alter the dosage?

I have a list of supplements but I've been really bad at remembering to take them. I'm supposed to take Iodine, Magnesium, Selenium, Iron, and my multi-vitamin along with my thyroid pills throughout the day but I never remember to take all of them. Never.

I'm lucky that I remember to put on my pants before I walk out of the house. My memory is pretty shot.

Teenage Acne

My 13-year-old daughter is complaining about her skin. She has a few tiny pimples and it's freaking her out. I've looked at some of the best acne products and also read the book, Dr. Erika's Hormone Solution for Your Daughter by Dr. Erika Schwartz, M.D. on how she's cleared up teenager's skin, as well as helped weight, irregular menstrual cycles, and moods.

With those symptoms being the same for me with my thyroid disease, some of her suggestions are sounding really good right now for myself! This book is a good read.

It's Official - My Weight is Going Up

>> 10/22/10

My weight has been slowly increasing over the past six months. A tenth here, half a pound there, pound here. Well, out of the 18 pounds I lost, nine of them are back!

My husband says I should manage my thyroid disease myself because that was when I felt better and lost weight - without a doctor. If I don't start losing weight, I am going to weigh as much as my husband very soon and I definitely do not want that. I could review the best diet pills for women but I don't need an appetite suppressant. My appetite isn't the problem. It's my metabolism that just doesn't work anymore.

I'm not sure what to do about managing it - with a doctor or without a doctor?

Router, Nintendo Wii, and Netflix

>> 10/15/10

We needed to buy a new router for our household computers. We've had so many problems with the old one. We bought a Linksys router and we have all four computers routed through them plus my iPod Touch can get online through it as well. I want to hook up our Nintendo Wii too but I am kind of technologically deficient when it comes to televisions (watch me try to hook up a DVD player or record a movie and you'll see that easily). Has anybody done this?

I think there is a way to use our Netflix through it as well so we can watch movies by downloading instead of waiting for them through the mail. Again, no clue how to do it though.

Recession & Life Insurance

I heard something from a life insurance agent and was wondering if it was true. He said when the economy hits a downturn, like we've been in for the past ten years, his business actually goes up. I would think it would be the opposite - when money gets tight, things like life insurance aren't a necessity and get dropped. If his successful business is any indication, I guess when things get bad, people start to think about their mortality and the future of who they would leave behind. People can find cheap life insurance and make sure they're leaving something behind for their loved ones to be taken care of.

Stress & My Thyroid Disease

>> 10/14/10

Moving back to our home state also brings with it HUGE stress in the form of my husband's ex and her sister. That bodes well for my thyroid disease, eh? More stress!

I've been harassed by one of them before (and if there'd been security cameras she would've been arrested for assault) when I was pregnant and got punched in the lower back at my stepdaughter's dance recital (what kind of person PUNCHES a pregnant woman in her lower back?). Now that I'm not pregnant, I am thinking she'll keep her distance. I don't think she'll harass a woman who can actually protect herself now that she's not protecting an innocent unborn baby any longer.

The Talk - Puberty

>> 10/6/10

My son isn't adjusting well to six grade and not seeing his dad during the week because of his work schedule. I also think it might be time to start "the talk" (just a little bit) but the most I can talk about is body hair and acne treatment with him. I need to look up what happens with boys because, not being male, it's not like I've experienced it myself!

Even though I am married, I am like a single mom of four kids because of my husband's work schedule. You know what? I'm getting tired of having to do it all myself.

Thiroyd or Thyroid-S better than U.S. medications?

>> 9/24/10

Dare I hope?

Is the thyroid medication from Thailand working better than the U.S. made thyroid medications?

The numbers on the scale are coming down AND my period actually started on time this month!! That's a good start. Hope the good news keeps coming!

Ferritin Cause Anxiety?

>> 9/23/10

My stepdaughter's ferritin is on the low end of the "normal" range and she's experiencing anxiety, etc. Her mother doesn't believe her ferritin could be causing any symptoms so she put her on Prozac instead. That was really sad. Would it have hurt to give her iron for a few months to see how it may have helped before drugging her?

Some of her other levels show other problems as well being in the very low of the "normal" range and some actually off - bilirubin, sodium, chloride, etc. Bilirubin in liver, right? I don't know what it means. I guess I shouldn't be stressing myself too much because it's not like my opinion means anything but I KNOW what low ferritin can do (I struggle with it myself) and it's sad that Prozac was given instead first. Giving Prozac to a teenager for something that an Iron pill might help? Wrong in my opinion.

Relieving Stress with Hobby

My husband is starting a small hobby/business. I don't call it a straight up business because he's not actually going to make money off it. He'll make enough to cover his materials. He's doing it because it's something he enjoys.

I think this hobby/business is a stress reliever for him. We all need those!

Health Insurance Changes

I'm a little worried about health insurance changes if we do relocate for a different job. I know what my insurance covers now and what I need it to cover for my thyroid disease treatment. We have adequate coverage - not the best but not the worst. What if the next employer's insurance isn't as good? Then again, it could be better. I will have to search online and look it up once I get specifics. I have to google NC health insurance and see what options are available for a relative who moved to NC as well. I keep forgetting.

Children's Safety

We are considering looking at an old farmhouse to buy if we end up relocating. It has four acres and they just reduced the price on it. Unfortunately, it needs a lot of updating. There's also probably lead paint under the paint layers somewhere so I need to get a lead test kit. I want one that is EPA approved. The picture looks like there is a pool on the property so we'll need a swimming pool alarm too. I want to make sure my kids stay safe no matter where we live. I'm extra cautious about my kids' safety. Becoming a mom made me more neurotic than I already was - my poor, overprotected kids.

Do men get thyroid disease?

>> 9/22/10

Does thyroid disease affect men a lot? I don't think I know of one man personally who has thyroid disease. I know A LOT of women who do. What does that tell you about the disease? Either our female hormones play a big role, our reproductive history/health plays a big role, or men are just treated better medically in some cases so you never hear about it? Which is it?

I know - we get thyroid disease because of the STRESS men put us under!! Ha ha. Just kidding!!! I'm not a man hater. Love men! Even if they can be a bit insecure and always wondering about and looking for the latest information like http://www.naturalmaleenhancementpills.org/. I never worry about the size of my chest (of course, maybe if I had less, I would?)! Why do men worry so much?

I Hate My Thyroid!!

I feel like I'm stagnant. Stagnating in the wrong spot - at my weight, at my health. I don't feel like I'm improving anymore! I am SO frustrated with my thyroid! Why is it so hard to manage? Is this little organ that difficult to understand? Seriously?

I have to admit that my weight gets me the most. I just don't like feeling large. Yeah, I was one of those skinny witches all my life who used to be able to eat whatever she wanted and never gain an ounce and darnit, I want to at least be a normal weight. I don't even have to be one of those skinny witches again! I'll take just healthy!

I never thought it'd take this long to manage my thyroid. I've had thyroid disease for nine years now and it's still not managed right. So depressing. I don't think that weight loss pills that work fast will make any difference for me as long as my thyroid is not managed correctly.

Blog Traffic

>> 9/21/10

This blog is getting a decent amount of traffic. Thank you!

I'm wondering if I should submit this, and my other blogs, to one of those web directory submission sites to bring even more traffic to the blogs? I'd submit this one, and my other dozen blogs. Yes, I have that many. You'd think somebody who is shy in real life really wouldn't have that much to say. Guess I blabber more on my blogs than in person.

My stepfamily blog gets a huge amount of traffic. It'd be nice to bring this one up to similar number of readers as that one!

Getting Rid of Blackheads

>> 9/19/10

Skin problems are a symptom of thyroid disease. I have skin problems - dry skin, eczema, adult acne. Add menstrual problems due to my thyroid disease (and y'all know about acne problems throughout the menstrual cycle), and I'm just one big, walking skin problem. How can you have dry skin AND acne? I have no idea! What about blackheads? Is that a thyroid thing or just a skin thing?

How do you get rid of blackheads? I have two on my face that are not on top of the skin. They are under the top skin layer. Can't even pick them out!! (I know, you're not supposed to pick them but who can resist when you just want them GONE!?!) How do I get rid of them?

Self-Treating Thyroid Disease

>> 9/18/10

I've decided after putting weight back on, losing hair again, etc. (input a host of other hypothyroidism symptoms here), that I am going to self-treat again with the thyroid medication I used to take from Thailand. When I self-treated, I lost 18 pounds and felt more like myself. When I went back under a doctor's care, I've been getting worse again. I'm tired of not being 100% for myself and my family!

I have so much to do as a mom to four kids - homework, cheerleading, soccer, meals, etc. I don't have time to feel bad! My kids have school pictures in two days and I haven't even picked out what they're going to wear yet. I don't feel like doing anything - not even laundry!

I also need to go gift shopping. I am thinking about personalized footballs while my husband is thinking about go-carts. As a neurotic mom, I tend to shy away from anything that may put one of my kids in the emergency room. As dad, he's supposed to counteract my neurotic behavior and we find a middle ground (usually). Either way, I just want to meet birthdays, holidays, and school events with energy (and about 18 pounds less of me).

More Health Problems

>> 9/7/10

With my health the way it is, it makes me glad we already have life insurance in place and had it in place before things went downhill. Otherwise, I'd need no medical exam term life insurance because between my asthma and thyroid problems (and I'm beginning to think my joint problems might be another health problem), I don't feel all that healthy.

My neck has been so sore for weeks now, not just in the front but the sides and back too. Something is wrong. When I stand up, it takes me a few steps for me to get my legs working right without discomfort. I think something else is wrong. Just what I needed.

Hate the Way I Look

I am so disgusted everytime I look in the mirror.

Things are just not going well with my thyroid right now. I am beginning to think that while this doctor knows where my levels should be, he doesn't really know how to get me there. I am gaining weight again! After losing a chunk of it, it is frustrating beyond belief to see it come back.

I don't even want to plan a Branson vacation or to any other destination because I hate the way that I look. I want to feel good about myself again. This really stinks. I am so tired of nobody knowing how to manage thyroid disease. Seriously, it doesn't seem like it should be that difficult. I know what I need...why don't the doctors?

Reminder: Take Morning Temps Now!!

>> 8/20/10

This is my reminder:

Take your morning temps now for a couple days and call the doctor with them!

(I set this up to post a couple weeks ago to remind myself to do this. I have thyroid brain fog. I have to do what I can to remind myself.)

Reverse T3 Treatment So Far

>> 8/18/10

Well, the T3 treatment for my Reverse T3 problem isn't seeing positive results yet. I know it's too early. I am just impatient for some change. My morning temperatures are low and my weight is going up. It's not even been two weeks though. I'm supposed to call the doc after two weeks to give him my temps. for the adjustment to my T3 dose (it'll go up). We have to do it in increments. Intellectually, I know that. Emotionally, I just want to rush it and watch my hair stay on my head, my weight come off, and my swiss cheese brain to become whole again.

Baby steps...just impatient.

Good Age for ATV for Child?

>> 8/13/10

My son wants an atv. I've looked up a little online for children riding ATV's but I really don't know anything about them personally. I rode one once when I was about my son's age and I didn't have the strength to turn it. I ran into a fence with it (good thing I wasn't heading towards the canal only a few feet away). I could climb trees, jump fences, hit the top of the rope in gym, and run fast but I could not turn the handlebars on the four-wheeler.

Anybody with experience want to chime in on ATV's for kids?

Reverse T3 and Thyroid Resistance

>> 8/12/10

I just added a new link to my sidebar (Reverse T3 and Thyroid Resistance) that has some very good information on how to clear RT3 (reverse T3) from your body, which my doctor is in the process of doing right now for me.

Hope it helps!

Safe Room Heaters

>> 8/10/10

Does anybody have any good suggestions for room heaters? My daughters' bedroom stays cold all winter long. The new ductwork and furnace we installed does nothing for their room. I worry about safety so I'd need good recommendations on the safety and effectiveness of a good room heater. We'll need to do something in there by November. Otherwise, they'll spend five months piled under a load of blankets to stay warm and I'll spend the winter getting up in the middle of the night, every night, making sure they are covered up. I'd kinda like to sleep this winter.

This kitten took a ride under my car this morning!

This little guy (or gal) was found clinging up inside my truck at the gas station this morning. I am at the gas station and keep hearing meowing, but can't figure out where it's coming from. I'm looking under my car, popping the hood, looking in the trash can next to the gas pump. Can't find the source. A man crawls under my truck and pulls this little guy out after a few minutes. I tried to give him away to the good samaritan (or anybody else who came by to check out what was going on) but nobody wanted the kitten. I took him home and walked the neighbors asking if anybody had lost a kitten. Nope. He crawled under there sometime last night I'm guessing.

He must've gone for one heck of a ride as I chauffeured my daughter to cheerleading practice this morning! Poor thing.

I am allergic to cats. We have five dogs. We need a kitten like a hole in the head yet he is in my daughter's bedroom watching the ceiling fan go round and round while I sneeze. I can't throw him out. There are wild cats at the city garage across the street who would probably knock the heck out of him. He definitely isn't one of them. He's clean, very friendly, and tolerates our dogs (five dogs and only one swipe). He was somebody's kitten. I just don't know whose.

He sure knew whose car to attach himself to. He probably saw me get out of my car last night and said, "Hey, she's a big pushover for strays. I can manipulate this one into a new litter box, new cat dishes, and yummy kitten food!" Yup, she (or he) did!

For now, he is our kitten I guess unless or until I find an owner who is missing him or her. I really need to google how to tell the gender of a cat so we know whether we have a little girl or little boy.

Anybody know of a good allergy medicine to tolerate cats that doesn't make you drowsy?

Latest Doctor Appointment - August 6, 2010

>> 8/7/10

My doctor's appointment went great! My doctor put me on a straight T3 to fix the reverse T3 problem. This is what I've been wanting to happen so I was happy. I now take 20 mcg of compounded T3 twice a day and then 75mcg of T4 once a day. I have to follow up with the doctor in a couple weeks with new morning temperatures and to discuss an adjustment to the T3 dose. He expects this straight T3 to reduce my reverse T3 numbers by half.

Here is what else happened:

He wants me to do an IV test for metals. I am waiting for the IV nurse to get back with me to discuss scheduling this test. It involves Calcium EDTA and DMPS IV. I HATE IV's. Really. I hate them. This won't be a fun test for me.
I did gain a pound since my last appointment in June (bummer).
Doctor increased my vitamin D supplement dose.
I also spoke with the doctor about my hands shaking for years now. He thought it might be my Advair asthma inhaler. He said it's not meant to be used as long as I've used it and he gave me a Flovent disk inhaler to try instead.

A.M. Morning Temperatures

>> 7/28/10

My doctor asked me to take my morning temperature, under the arm for ten minutes, for the first couple days after each period the last couple of months. Here are the results:

June: 97.3, 97.3

July: 97.5, 97.2, 97.4, 97.0

They're a bit low and obviously for July, they are all over the place. Can you believe it's the end of July already? Pretty soon, it will be back-to-school, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the dreaded Christmas. Actually, I love Christmas...just hate the bills.

Thyroid Test Results - July 19, 2010

I have the latest and not so greatest test results:

Total T3: 1.27 Normal range is 0.60-1.81 ng/mL.
TSH: less than 0.01
RT3 (reverse T3): 36 Normal range is 11-32 but my doctor's "normal" range is 10-14.
Vitamin D: 30 (Normal range is 30-100 but my doctor's "normal" range is 50-100)
Ferritin: 24 (my doctor wants it 100-130)

I believe the RT3 results might explain why I'm losing so much hair. I have an appointment to see the doctor in nine days so I'll find out what the next steps are then.

According to my TSH, I should be experiencing hyperthyroidism right now but my Reverse T3 is skewing that so I am not.

Free T3 to Reverse T3 Ratio: 1.27*100 (127) divided by 36 = 3.527. (This is supposed to be over 20.)

Pregnant or Thyroid Problems?

>> 7/17/10

Well, there is still no sign of that "monthly curse" telling me I am not pregnant. I shouldn't be pregnant, but that doesn't mean that everything standing in pregnancy's way didn't fail at the right time and let a little swimmer in! Am I going to be starting over with sleepless nights, personalized baby gifts, and diapers?

My husband thinks it is thyroid-related and not a pregnancy. Perhaps changing me from compounded Armour to regular Armour messed me up this past month. I've heard that the reformulated Armour isn't as good as the original Armour.

Only time will tell (or a pregnancy test, which I haven't bought yet). I'm chicken.

Insomnia & Kids

>> 7/15/10

Over the last few weeks, I have had a hard time sleeping. My kids definitely aren't helping with my sleep habits. They come in to wake me up to ask the silliest questions! Don't they know not to wake momma up unless it's an emergency? Guess not. They leave me with the need for eye cream for dark circles.

I can't blame it totally on the kids. I've had a hard time falling asleep initially anyway the last few weeks. I've not heard if that is a thyroid symptom but with everything thyroid related feeling out of whack right now, I wouldn't be surprised.

What is Reverse T3 (RT3)?

Your thyroid makes T1, T2, T3 and T4. T4 is supposed to convert into T3 (the active thyroid hormone) but may instead convert to RT3 due to stress, low ferritin, cortisol, etc. This RT3 blocks the receptors and doesn't allow the T3 to get in and do its job, giving you hypothyroid symptoms.

I have a Reverse T3 problem. I was diagnosed 8-1/2 years after being unsuccessfully treated for hypothyroidism by several other doctors. Not one of them ever did a RT3 blood test! My new doctor did this. My other doctors treated according to labs - the TSH was within normal range so I must be normal...not. I had swiss cheese memory, hair falling out, weight gain (boy those apidexin reviews and other diet pill reviews were starting to look good), irritable, bad skin, hard time conceiving, etc. I'd tell my doctors this and they'd dismiss me because my TSH was within normal range. I sure did learn to hate that TSH test!

Hypothyroid: Hair Falling Out

Another hypothyroid symptom I have been experiencing, besides the weight gain and the need to look at fat burner reviews, is that my hair has been falling out. It's all over me when I brush my hair, shower, etc. Everytime I feel more strands caught on my arms, I get upset about my thyroid.

I don't know if it is the reformulated armour that is the problm or the fact that I convert T4 into RT3 instead of T3. My doctor thought that conversion problem would go away when he switched me to armour but I won't know if he was right until after my blood tests next week testing my RT3 levels. I never thought I'd be anxious to have my arm stabbed by a needle!

Weight Coming Back - Depressing

My next thyroid doctor appointment is August 6, 2010. I wish it were sooner. A few pounds of weight have come back and it is really bothering me. Late periods are also a concern - my menstrual cycles are going whacky again.

I haven't actively dieted because I feel it is my thyroid, though I'm thinking perhaps a weight loss drink for one meal might not be a bad idea until the doctor gets my thyroid disease under control. I really hate that this weight is coming back!

Spring Cleaning in the Summer

Did you ever notice how a home just "feels" better when it's been cleaned and organized? It feels lighter. For the past two days, I've been working on two of my kids' rooms - under beds, closets, drawers, shelves, etc. We threw out six bags of garbage between the two bedrooms. Why do kids think it is ok to leave potato chips in a bowl for weeks hidden on a shelf?

I need to finish my own bedroom now. It still feels crowded. I need to go through a few of my drawers and clear them out to make room for stuff piled on top of my dresser. I have a lot of lingerie and I don't know why I hang onto it if I don't wear it anymore. I guess because it was expensive when I bought it. Too bad I didn't buy wholesale lingerie.

Next on the list are kitchen and bathroom cabinets. It just feels better in the house when things aren't so disorganized and crowded. It makes me feel happier to see things lighter and organized.

Thyroid Disease and Menstrual Cycle

>> 7/8/10

If you have thyroid disease, I'll bet at one time or another, or for an ongoing amount of time, your menstrual cycle was a bit whacked unless they were managing your thyroid disease correctly. Mine has gone from being 45-50 days apart, to every 30 days but really heavy and painful, to every two weeks, and now - I'm five days late beyond the 30 days so I'm not sure if my menstrual cycle is getting longer again or if I'm pregnant (yes, I said pregnant).

I shouldn't be pregnant. Birth control has been used 100% but things happen. It would be a huge shock if it did for me and my husband...oh wow, he'd probably fall right over. With my thyroid disease, I don't know if I should wait this out and see if it's just my thyroid or buy a pregnancy test.

I'll put it off a few more days. I have too much to do anyway to worry too much at this point. I have to get sponsors for my daughter's cheerleading squad, look up car insurance quotes at carinsurancelist.com, and chauffeur my kids around over the next couple days to their various activities. Besides, if I buy a pregnancy test and it's positive, that means we'll have to go into complete shock that much earlier!

Unexpected Commercials

Has anybody seen some of those medication commercials where the medicine causes really bad side effects that seem worse than what it is treating? My jaw just drops when they list a whole slew of unpleasant side effects like explosive bathroom habits. Who wants those as a side effect?

I've seen commercials for extenze come on that usually don't bother me but when one came on when my 13-year-old was watching television, it left me with questions from her about what it was for. Something every parent waits impatiently for - sex questions! The "general" questions are ok but the explicit questions, I could do without for a couple more years.

Reformulated Armour Causing Problems?

>> 7/6/10

I am up to three grains of Armour (doc switched me to regular Armour a month ago from the compounded), the highest dose of thyroid medication I've ever been on, and I am still having hypothyroid symptoms. I am beginning to wonder if it has to do with the reformulation of Armour that is the problem. They changed it from the old Armour. I know when I was taking a compounded Armour, I didn't experience some of the more uncomfortable hypothyroid symptoms as I am now. I've read that some people are crushing them instead of swallowing them whole and seeing good results doing that. I might have to do that.

I've noticed my hair falling out the last few days, exhaustion, and digestive upset. The weight isn't coming off as fast as I thought it would so I guess I'll be going to my family reunion overweight this year...stinks.

I have a lot of work to do writing and I have to research what a vga cable is (I am technology-challenged when it comes to cables for anything - computers, televisions, stereos, etc.). I need to kick my tired booty in gear and get my work done that is due today. As I type this, I am yawning at 9:46 a.m. That's bad.

Being female and misdiagnosed

>> 7/3/10

Many women who have struggled with the proper management of their thyroid disease will understand this article on being young, female, and misdiagnosed. I was misdiagnosed for eight years and treated with a T4 medication when I have a reverse T3 problem - all that T4 they gave me was wrongly converting to reverse T3. The doctors who refused me a T3 medication were making me worse! I had to listen to my own body, research, and be proactive about my own health and found a doctor who listened.

The article I linked above talks about a book I am interested in reading. If you've read it, let me know what you thought of it and if it's worth buying or taking out from the library instead. Thanks!

I've Lost 20 Pounds

I've lost 20 pounds so far and have 11.3 to go until I reach my initial main goal. I may decide to go an additional ten pounds after that but I'm not sure yet. At 5'7" I don't want to be twiggy.

PID is Back

>> 6/30/10

I might have to make an early appointment to see my doctor. It feels like my PID keeps trying to come back. I started on metronidazole again but after a few days or so, it starts again. Now that I know what it is, I don't want to wait until it's too late and then hubby is rushing me to the emergency room, worried about speeding without radar detectors. I don't want it to get that bad that I have to stay in the hospital for three days again. That well and truly sucked. We live in a rural area and our choices for medical care are pretty sad.

I would imagine that since my PID was super bad when I first got it, and that it is obviously still there, my chances for being infertile just went up. My mother-in-law recently talked about wanting twins. Her other kids are beyond child-bearing age so that just leaves hubby and me to give them to her. It's not happening (even if I wanted to, which I don't).

Shoe Shopping

>> 6/28/10

A few days ago, the scale was down to the lowest point it's been in years and then today, it's back up two pounds. I don't understand! I have a family reunion in less than a month and I really wanted to have lost more weight. It's just not looking like that's going to happen now.

So now I am looking at clothing and shoe shopping for the reunion and trying to figure out which clothes look nice but slim you as well. Of course, new clothes means new shoes so I am looking at mephisto shoes. I need something that will be comfortable on the beach since the reunion is at the beach (just the place I want to be when I've not lost all my weight right?).

Maybe I can find some nice slide sandals and distract family I haven't seen in years from the rest of me. Then again, the Babata thong shoe (flip flop) looks pretty too. I'll just draw attention to my feet and hope the rest just sort of loses focus.

Regular Armour Medication Update

>> 6/25/10

It's been a week on regular Armour thyroid medicine and no change yet. The scale has fluctuated a few tenths of a pound but that's normal anyway so I can't use that as a positive sign of change yet.

I really want this weight to finish dropping off within the next month. I'm probably not being practical with my weight loss goal but maybe mind over matter will help. Ha ha. It'd be nice to spend one summer not large after several years of being overweight and looking like I should be sending out baby announcements. I can't stand carrying this extra weight around my middle. Besides being unhealthy, I'm just waiting for somebody to come up and ask me when I'm due! That would stink.

Doctor Increases Armour from 2 to 3 Grains

>> 6/18/10

My doctor appointment for my thyroid last Friday (6/11/10) went well. I was on two grains of compounded armour up to this appointment. My doctor, after hearing about all my hypothyroid symptoms I was having, raised me to three grains and switched me from compounded armour to regular armour. He says it is in stock now and available so there is no point in my spending more every month on compounded. Hopefully, the regular armour will be good and I won't see problems some people have had with it.

In 4-6 weeks, I have to get blood tests for TSH, Total T3, and Reverse T3 to see how I am doing on three grains of Armour.

If I am not feeling better in 4-6 weeks, the doctor mentioned testing for metals in my system.

I have noticed over this past week that the scale is coming down a couple tenths each day in weight. Time will tell if it will continue.

Feeling Awful

>> 6/14/10

I feel truly horrible. Besides the normal thyroid symptoms, I feel really "off", my throat and lungs feel like crud, my digestive system is screaming bloody murder and has been for a couple weeks. I think the digestive upset is from all the antibiotics I was on for a month for my pelvic inflammatory disease.

I bought probiotics yesterday and started taking them, hoping that this will alleviate these awful symptoms. I don't want to move too far away from the bathroom because I just feel so nauseous and crampy. I hope it's the antibiotics and that there isn't something else going on with me. I don't need anything else health-wise at the moment. I have enough on my plate. Anything else goes wrong I'm going to need to look into disability insurance; this stuff is really interfering in my life. I really can't handle anything else on my plate right now.

I did have my check-up with my doctor on Friday for my PID and my thyroid. I'll update on the thyroid stuff a little bit later.

Big Day Tomorrow

>> 6/9/10

Tomorrow is the big day. I go to see my doctor again for my thyroid (and pelvic inflammatory disease). I printed out blank calendars from April to June and wrote the symptoms and issues I was having around the correct dates to give him a timeline. Between my thyroid symptoms, temperatures, and pelvic inflammatory disease and hospitalization, there was just too much to remember. Between my posts here, my cell phone list records, and facebook, I was able to piece it all together pretty accurately. Technology can be great:)

My memory has totally been blanking out on me the last few days. I go to do something or tell my kids something and whatever it was I was going to do or say just disappears in my mind. I can't stand that!

Don't forget your thyroid during pregnancy

>> 6/5/10

If you are pregnant and have thyroid disease, don't forget to let the doctor managing your thyroid know. You'll probably need thyroid blood tests to check hormone levels a few time during the pregnancy along with good prenatal vitamins and care.

I had a hard time conceiving after being diagnosed with thyroid disease. It took 18 months to get pregnant! My ob-gyn was scheduling fertility treatments for me when I finally got pregnant. That was a relief because with six kids, I wasn't crazy about the risk of multiple babies with fertility treatments.

Thyroid hormone levels can fluctuate with pregnancy so don't forget to ask for blood tests during your pregnancy for your thyroid!

No Thyroid Blood Tests Ordered

I didn't get the blood tests done that were ordered. I thought they were thyroid blood tests too but when I looked at the lab order, it was only for ferritin and vitamin D3. I already know those are low and don't need to pay for the lab tests to tell me that right now. The doctor must've meant it when he said he'd treat my thyroid by symptoms because he didn't order any thyroid blood tests.

I was really hoping that I would have seen better results with this new doctor. I was doing better on my own, when I was ordering my medication from Thailand, than I am now. I thought by my family reunion in a month, I'd be real close to my target weight. That's just not going to happen now. It's hard for me to follow or find diets that work because I am such a picky eater. I really thought my thyroid would be under control by now and the weight gone. How depressing. I don't want to see family next month, that I haven't seen in years, several sizes larger than I was the last time I saw them.

I see my doctor Friday. I also need to make note for him that my menstrual cycle is way off and starting 1-2 weeks early now. That's really annoying. Hormones are difficult.

Reminder: Create Calendar Timeline for Doctor

>> 6/3/10

This is a reminder to myself that I have to create a timeline of my thyroid symptoms and my illness that hospitalized me before next Friday (when I see my doctor). I have a few months of symptoms and stuff to present to him and I can't trust my hypothyroid memory with remembering everything, especially on the spot like that when you know there are other patients waiting and want to get everything out as fast as possible. I want to make sure nothing is missed.

I wonder how long it will be before our health history is microchipped into us and can be updated online easily and perhaps Wi-Fi'd to our chip? I like the idea of having everything easy access online but don't much care for the thought of a ls4278 scanner scanning me for information. That's a little too Star Trek for me. I'd rather the scanners stay in retail.

Blood Tests Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning I go for blood tests to check my thyroid, vitamin D3 and ferritin levels. I know the Vitamin D and ferritin will still be low. I am hoping my thyroid tests are low as well so he increases my medication. He told me before he'd do it by symptom but when I called him six weeks ago miserable with a host of hypothyroid symptoms, he didn't do anything about it then. Maybe he's going to need to see labs AND symptoms to raise my thyroid medication dosage.

I'll crawl off my uncomfortable mattress in the morning and hit the lab first thing. I need to remember NOT to take my thyroid medication in the morning so it doesn't skew any of the lab results.

*fingers crossed* that these labs get my compounded Armour medication dose increased!

Belinda Carlisle Memoir About 30 Years of Cocaine

>> 6/2/10

I know this isn't thyroid related but did you hear that Belinda Carlisle (that 80's girl group - Go Go's) has a memoir out that talks about her 30-year cocaine habit? I remember some struggles with her weight over the years but I'd have thought her interests were more about weight loss pills that work. Never did I imagine a 30-year drug habit!

Most people know that celebrities aren't immune to drugs. In fact, they probably have them more readily available to them and certainly have the money to get what they need. I'd just never imagined "My Lips Are Sealed" meant hiding a 30-year drug habit!

Nothing Positive for My Thyroid Issues

Well, getting Pelvic Inflammatory Disease certainly didn't help the way I've been feeling the last couple of months. I have nothing positive to report on the thyroid front for me right now. My weight isn't going down. I was tired, cold, and had the memory of swiss cheese before I got sick. Not being able to eat for a week and being so sick certainly didn't improve any of those problems (you'd think not having food for a week would help me lose weight but I still look like I need help with Lipofuze).

I have to go Friday to get blood drawn to check my thryoid, ferritin and Vitamin D3 levels for my next thyroid appointment a week from this Friday. I know my ferritin and D3 levels will still be too low. The antibiotics I've been on the last couple weeks make me so sick, I didn't add any supplements to the mix because the iron makes my stomach burn. Who wants that when you're already trying to hold your meals down with mind over matter already?

I Had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

>> 6/1/10

I said before I'd tell more about my illness later. Well, it's later.

I was hospitalized due to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (due to bacterial vaginosis...NOT an STD which the doctors would not believe until the cultures came back proving neither myself nor my husband cheated on each other and gave each other a disease!) after an ER visit had me admitted for fear of abcess and the need for surgery. I was really sick with high fever and extreme pain. They gave me morphine in the ER for pain, then dilaudid (I think that's how it's spelled) once admitted, then Percocet as the pain went down. Apparently, the flu I thought I had with fever for four days a few weeks ago was the start of the infection raging through my reproductive organs until they were screaming at me to get to the hospital.

Unfortunately, the antibiotics (Gentamicin and Clindamycin) they had me on had such bad side effects (dizziness, nausea, ear pain and hallucinations) that I was happy to get off them after 2-1/2 days when I got sent home. Those side effects lingered for several days after but they eventually worked their way out of my system thankfully. I think it was the Gentamicin that did all that to me. The faces flying at me in my head were bad enough (and the evil grins some of the faces gave me were downright scary) but when the Virgin Mary statue outside my hospital window turned and looked at me several times, I rang for the nurse to get me off the medications!

The I.V. fluids had me so bloated I looked like I needed to find the best weight loss pills but it all came off within the first week of being home thankfully.

I'm still on antibiotics and the pain comes and goes still. My thyroid meds got off track a bit while I was really sick but I'm trying to take them on schedule now around my antibiotics.

Was in the Hospital, Back Home Now

>> 5/31/10

It's been awhile since I've posted. I got really sick, ended up in the hospital, and then still sick after being released. It's been a bad few weeks for me. I've not done much at all - very little housework, some reading, a lot of sleeping and either lazing about on our couch or on our outdoor furniture on our deck in the shade. If the illness wasn't making me feel bad, the medications were.

I'll get into the illness details a bit later (have dinner on the stove now and it's an involved story). Just wanted to check in and say HI to everybody. I'm not back up to 100% yet but I'll be back to blogging over the next few days regularly and, of course, mommy duties never stop.

Talk to everybody soon. I hope everybody is having a happy and healthy Memorial Day weekend!

Flu Hits

>> 5/16/10

I ended up with the flu last night with high temps and chills. My fever is coming down now but I still feel like I've been run over by a truck. I remember one time I had the flu, I lost five pounds. Unfortunately, this wasn't that kind of flu. I think it's going to take my thyroid doctor getting back on track or a little help with hydroxycut to rid myself of the excess fat.

My throat feels funny and it goes up into my ears. My TMJ has been giving me major problems all week. I'm not sure if it is the illness or the goiter changing, since it did seem bigger the other day.

I'm supposed to make a two month check-up with my thyroid doctor for June. After he's ignored my phone calls, I'm not sure I want to now.

Putting Off Vow Renewal

>> 5/14/10

I've given up any thought of renewing our wedding vows this year. Between our finances and my health problems, it's just not happening this year.

I thought by now I'd be closer to my weight loss goal instead of further away and that I'd have my thyroid management better under control. Since neither is happening at the moment, and it's not like I have the energy to do everything that needs to be done even if we did have the money, maybe next year.

I want the dress and the vows and the party so it will have to wait until the time, energy and funds are there. Maybe next year during our 15th year or maybe we'll end up waiting now for our 20th anniversary.

Goiter Bigger Today

>> 5/13/10

I've been hypothyroid with Hashimoto's for almost nine years now. All along, I've had the goiter that you could see if I stretched my neck. As of this morning, I don't have to stretch my neck anymore. It's plain for all to see. It's gotten larger for the first time in all these years.

This stinks.

Last Test Results from March 5, 2010

Here are all the results from the bloodwork. I didn't have them all before when I posted.

Reverse T3: 53 (normal range 11-32)
T3: 210 (normal range 80-190)
Free T3: 6.15 (normal range 2.32-6.09)

Free T4: 1.89 (normal range 0.09-2.35)
TSH: 0.3 (This is within normal range, on the low end of normal which is where I want it.)
Saturated Iron: 24 (normal range 20-55)
Iron: 85 (normal 37-170)
Ferritin: 27.6 (normal range 6.2-137) *doc wants it at 100-130.
IBC (iron binding capacity): 353 (normal 260-400)
Vitamin D: 30 (normal range 25-80) *doc wants it 50-60.
Cortisol: 9.3 (normal range 3.1-22.4) *at the time this was taken, it should've been around 22.
Thyroperoxidase Ab: 227 (normal range <9) *indicated thyroiditis
Thyroglobulin Ab: 35 (normal range <4) *indicated autoimmune

So, I have a reverse T3 problem (among other things). The Synthroid was stopped and compounded armour continued (though not at high enough dose yet). The doctor thought that the Synthroid was causing the RT3 issues. That was fine with me because I wanted the Synthroid stopped anyway.

I was losing weight so I didn't need to look into weight loss products but now that I've crashed, the weight is coming back and I'm exhausted. I sleep hard at night and wake up exhausted. Big difference from my usually happy self in the morning.

Added Iron to Supplements for Ferritin Levels

>> 5/11/10

I added Bluebonnet iron to my supplements yesterday to help raise my dismally low ferritin levels up. I was taking Feosol but they're too constipating. Like I need one more discomfort on top of the hypothyroid symptoms! I was told this Bluebonnet brand has less symptoms. So far though, they've left me feeling a little nauseous and almost like a burning in my stomach. Weird. I guess that's better than the alternative with Feosol though.

My weight is still inching up. I'm going to need the best fat burner soon. My doctor should have returned my darn phone calls about all my hypothyroid symptoms! I leave messages about how miserable I feel and the calls aren't returned? What's with that?

Arrogant Doctors?

Well, still no call back from my doctor on my hypo symptoms. It's been a couple weeks now and I've left two messages for him in that time.

I have not been feeling as well as I was a month ago, that's for sure. The headaches have been awful. They've come almost every day for a week now. I'm not sure if I need new cheap prescription glasses or if the headaches are thyroid or adrenal related. I have on idea on that one. I just know they're driving me up the wall!

My next appointment with him is in June. I can't believe he is ignoring my phone calls and would expect me to wait another month for the appointment when I feel like crud.

Mad at Doctor Right Now

>> 5/3/10

I am mad right now. I have been waiting for a phone call back from him since Wednesday (it's now Monday)! I left two messages telling how awful I feel with my morning temperatures (which he wanted after I called him about my first crash a couple weeks ago). I crashed big-time about two weeks ago and then I seemed to start to stabilize late last week and then the last couple days - CRASH! I'm falling asleep in the middle of the day, exhausted at bedtime, my temperature is below normal everyday and not stable at all, my hair is falling out again and I have a really HUGE case of CRS.

...and the weight loss I was doing so well with? GRRR!!!! I've gained four pounds for no reason!

I am hoping this has been a fluke and he isn't flaking out on me.

Temperature Dropping, Stress Rising

>> 4/30/10

With our house teetering into foreclosure, like so many others right now, we've stopped remodeling for now. I was looking at metal tile for our kitchen but there is no point in making the house pretty if the bank ends up taking it from us. Just what I need - another stressor with my thyroid stressing me out enough right now.

Speaking of thyroid, my doctor hasn't called me back yet. I left my temperature results with his office on Wednesday. It's Friday. Can't a nurse call me back or even the receptionist? Somebody to tell me that the doctor has looked at the temps and plans A, B, & C? My temperatures are dropping again and I've had the headache from you know where for 24 hours now. If I don't hear from him today, I have to wait through the weekend. That will irritate me to no end.

I'll go back to dreaming about the metal tile I want in my kitchen I guess...

Five Day Morning Temperature Readings

>> 4/28/10

Well, my five days are up as of this morning so as soon as my doctor gets in, I can call them and let them now what they are. Here are the final results:

Sat: 97.2
Sun: 97.4
Mon: 97.7
Tues: 98.0
Wed: 97.6

Just for the heck of it (the doctor didn't ask), I took a few night-time readings as well because I was curious. Here they are:

Sun: 97.0
Mon: 98.0
Tues: 97.5

So what does all of this mean? I'll find out what my doctor think it means hopefully today.

Temperature and My Thyroid

>> 4/26/10

So my temperature this morning was up to 97.7 so they are coming up. Last night I took my temperature on a whim (the doctor didn't ask for night-time readings, I just wanted to see) and it was at 97 at 9:30 p.m. I really need to learn more about what the temperatures mean in terms of my thyroid. The doctor's receptionist said I was taking them for my thyroid (but she couldn't explain why, she said the doctor knew why) but would it have anything to do with my adrenals as well or cortisol? I have no clue!

This is an area of my thyroid care I haven't delved into deeply yet. It is one I am going to have to put on my "to do" list this week. I should have five days' worth of temperatures in two days to call my doctor back with them. I need to have a general understanding before then.

Symptoms Back and Temps Falling

>> 4/25/10

I didn't maintain the half grain increase from a couple weeks ago for my compounded Armour. I wanted doctor's approval for it so I called there the other day and left my symptoms with the nurse (cold, exhaustion, brain fog, and eczema back and a couple others I can't remember right now...brain fog is wonderful isn't it?). I could also add a small weight gain (the best weight loss pill are looking good about right now) and a heavy period again into those symptoms. They called me back and said the doctor wants me to take my under-arm temperature in the morning for five mornings with a glass thermometer and then call them with the results.

So, my results so far for temperatures are:

Saturday: 97.2
Sunday: 97.4

He told me at my last appointment that they would base my dosage on my symptoms. I thought my initial symptoms would have been enough but I guess they want temperature too. Time, time, time. I just want to shoot ahead with my increased dosage and be done with it but maybe he's looking at the adrenals as well? I'll know in a few days I guess.

Makeover Boosts Spirits That My Thyroid Disease Destroyed For Awhile

>> 4/21/10

I was online today looking at rebecca minkoff fashions and thinking about what a great boost it was emotionally for the makeover my little sister gave me a couple weeks ago - hair and clothing makeover. I feel better internally because I feel like I look better on the outside too. It is something that I just never would have done for myself. After struggling with my weight due to my thyroid for so many years, and after losing 19 pounds (and still trying to get rid of the remaining pounds left), I am not going to feel vain about that at all. I am going to walk around in my tight, designer jeans she bought for me and enjoy being that much smaller!

Smoking

>> 4/20/10

My husband loves cigars. He would smoke a couple a week while relaxing out on our porch until our kids guilted him into stopping. That was about four years ago.

About a month ago, a friend of his gave him two cigars that he brought home and put in our fridge for later. He was REALLY looking forward to them. Well, the kids saw them first so now they still sit in my fridge because they heaped the guilt onto daddy. We should've brought them on vacation with us so he could either smoke them or give them away without the kids around.

I briefly smoked cigarettes before my kids were born and once in awhile afterward until my nephew made me feel bad one time when I was lighting up. I haven't smoked a cigarette since and that was about six years ago.

It's YOUR Health! Don't Let Your Doctor Destroy It!

>> 4/16/10

How many of us thyroid disease patients actually proactively manage our thyroid disease? I know I didn’t for the first seven years. It wasn’t until this past year that I got mad enough at not being listened to and feeling worse physically, that I researched myself.

About that time, I went to an endocrinologist who tried to tell me I may have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. He had me wondering if I should apply for social security disability before he’d even examined me. I KNEW I didn’t have either. I KNEW it was all my thyroid. I was right. It just took finding the right doctor to put me on the road to recovery.

Are you being proactive about your health?

>> 4/15/10

When I first got thyroid disease, I thought it held the great possibility of putting me into a coma (myxedema). I started out scared of the disease. Was I going to need high risk life insurance to take care of my children if cancer got me? I lost hair, lost energy, gained weight, developed aches and pains, had devastating periods, worried about thyroid cancer in the many nodules on my thyroid and watched my cholesterol start to climb. Then I got angry – at the disease but more so at my doctors who wouldn’t listen.

I can not stress enough that you can not just let your doctor treat you without your being proactive about your own health. If you feel something is wrong, find a new doctor if your current doctor won’t listen. If your research finds information your doctor won’t even consider (and there is plenty of it, believe me) and you’re not happy with their reason why, find another doctor. It’s your health. They don’t need YOU as a patient but YOU need a good doctor!

Getting Weight Back Down

From adjusting my natural thyroid hormone dosage up a half a grain the last few days, the scale is being much nicer to me when I get on it in the morning. It's amazing what such a small pill can do. So many need diet pills and a whole fitness regimen to try to lose weight but with my thyroid nothing worked for me. Apparently, I just needed the proper dose of natural thyroid hormone!

Now if my doctors had listened to me for the past eight years, I wouldn't have spent them feeling so miserable. It still irritates me that the pharmaceutical company pushing Synthroid to most doctors has interfered in so many doctors treating thyroid disease properly.

Going to Raise Compounded Armour Dose

>> 4/13/10

Well, on two grains of armour thyroid, my system is slowing down. The doctor thought that would happen and that I'd start to see symptoms soon. I raised my dose by half a grain and will see what that does for me. My eczema has also come back and that only went away before with a higher dose of thyroid hormone medication (not synthetic...that is useless to me). So I have the signs that my dosage is too low. I'm glad that my doctor will treat by symptoms because my old doctor would've stopped raising my dose no matter how I felt!

I'm off to run errands now. My daughter needs a new flash drive for school. This is her third one this year! I need to price a better calculator for her pre-algebra class. My stepdaughter had one here this past weekend she really liked but it cost over $100. I'm not spending that much for a calculator until I HAVE to. No way.

Thyroid Doctor Visit Update

>> 4/5/10

I think my doctor appointment went ok on Friday. He spent a lot of time with me going over each individual blood test I had done and writing down what I needed to do to fix that particular result.

I thought he was going to put me on straight T3 to rid my body of the reverse T3 problem it has but he thinks that the reverse T3 problem was caused by my Synthroid medication (synthetic T4 thyroid medication) and since I stopped taking that a couple weeks ago and only take a natural thyroid medication, he thinks the abnormal reverse T3 results will go away on their own.

If he's right, then it went great. If he's wrong, then I'll know it over the next couple weeks.

He also increased my dose of Vitamin D, told me to add Selenium supplements, go back to iron supplements regularly and go back on the Iodine supplements (I'd stopped them when I got jittery on all the extra thyroid medications). I get more blood work in two months.

I am on two grains of natural thyroid medication currently. If my system slows down, it will be raised. He thinks with my thyroid disease and all the toxins we take in that I might need to go to three grains.

My morning cortisol levels were low normal but he isn't going to do anything about that right now because I am not lacking energy in the morning. I usually wake up with energy and happy. If I didn't have any energy in the morning, he'd address that. I also never lacked for energy on our vacation and we ran from place to place constantly.

As I was sitting in his office waiting for him, I noticed that they actually offer prescription refills for basic medications right there in the office (like for respiratory infections and bladder infections). That would be really convenient for a doctor to have their own POS systems in-office to scan and buy what we need in one trip. Maybe eventually they'll offer grains of natural thyroid medication as well! That would be super convenient.

So, I think it was a good visit.

Diets and Thyroid Disease

>> 4/1/10

I know how badly we want to lose weight when our thyroid is making it impossible. It is beyond frustrating! We start with a diet pill review, exercise, healthy eating and no weight comes off! We all need to live healthy but if your thyroid is messing with you, it's not going to move the weight the way it should.

All I did to lose 19 pounds was change my medication. I went from Synthroid to a natural thyroid medication. It made such a HUGE difference.

If you are on a synthetic thyroid medication and struggling, please feel free to comment and ask for direction on where you can go to find out more about natural thyroid medications and talk to people who it made a difference to. There are forums online that turned my weight frustrations right around!

Reconnecting with Hubby on Vacation

Now that we are back from vacation and back into a normal routine, I miss my husband. I got used to having him around 24/7 and we really reconnected. He said it was like falling in love all over again. He's so sweet.

He works an annoying shift in the machining industry. I don't understand most of the technical side of what he does but they need him. He's really smart though and aced all those classes in college. Smarty pants!

I'm good at business stuff and he's good at the technical stuff. We are SO opposite! Taking the time to reconnect as man and woman vs. dad and mom was really great though. Everybody should do that!

We're staying connected as much as possible. He's driving me an hour to my doctor's tomorrow when he could be at home instead. He's great.

Thyroid Memory Problems

One thing about having kids and health problems is that it brought to the forefront how important it is to take care of our children if something happens to us. We got both term life insurance quotes and regular life insurance quotes on the both of us. Then we actually bought both types of policies. I am thinking about converting our term life over but I need to learn more about the benefits first.

I actually studied to sell life insurance but never went ahead and got my license. That's sad that I can't even remember what the benefits are of one policy over another. Hopefully when my thyroid gets fixed, my memory will come back! I used to have a very good and very long memory. Now I have holes where my memory used to be. I have faith that my new doctor can fix me though.

Less "Me" in the Saddle

I can't believe how much better I feel after losing this weight! I feel good! I can't wait to put my smaller behind intomy saddle on my black and white spotted draft horse. I won't fill the saddle up with extra "me" anymore!

Tomorrow morning I head out to my doctor's where I am hoping the next step is straight T3 until all the reverse T3 and T4 is out of my system. I need to get my body converting things correctly so it should be out with the old (and bad) and in with the new to replace it all.

I have family hitting town tomorrow to so I may not be able to update what happened at the doctor's for a few days. I'll sneak it in if I can.

I hope everybody who celebrates it has a HAPPY EASTER!

Feeling Good in Smaller Jeans

>> 3/31/10

Two days until my doctor appointment and I'm excited! Since when is anybody excited to go to the doctor's?

I was at the stable today for my daughter's riding lesson and I felt GOOD! I was walking around in a size smaller jeans and a fitted top instead of a baggy top and I felt much better about myself than I did a year ago. It feels really, really good to feel better about how I look. That may seem superficial to some but when you are walking around 30 pounds or more overweight when you are used to being a small size, there's nothing attractive about myself, to me personally, when I look in the mirror.

It's a good thing we have insurance because it took me going through a few doctors before I found a good one. Without insurance, I would have had to stop looking for a good doctor and continue to be unhealthy because there is no way we could afford repeated doctor visits without insurance. I guess I could have bought a short-term insurance like a short term health insurance NC policy I recently saw but I'm glad we have long-term insurance through my husband's employer right now.

Forgot to Take Medication on Vacation

>> 3/30/10

We just got back from vacation. I slacked a little bit on my thyroid medication. I didn't do it on purpose. I just forgot to take it a few times (including an entire day). When you're on vacation, you're thinking about fun, sun, and lazing about in the pool floats. We were actually so busy running to different events (band recital, night out on the town, hair appointments), that it just slipped my mind.

My next appointment with my new doc is Friday. It's a good thing I'm not due for labs so I didn't mess anything up in that respect. If he does what I think he will, he'll put me on a straight T3 prescription to clear out all the T4 and RT3 in my system. Let's see if I'm right!

Latest Thyroid & Other Blood Test Results

>> 3/16/10

My doctor called to tell me they received the hospital results (after I'd called the hospital to remind them:) a little while ago. Here is what she gave me:

Free T3: 6.15 (normal range 2.32-6.09)
Free T4: 1.83 (normal range 0.09-2.35)
TSH: 0.3 (This is within normal range, on the low end of normal which is where I want it.)
Saturated Iron: 24 (normal range 20-55)
Iron: 85 (normal 37-170)
IBC (iron binding capacity): 353 (normal 260-400)
Vitamin D: 30 (normal range 25-80)

With the reverse T3 of 53 (normal 11-32), I have a RT3 problem. The ratio between Reverse T3 and T3 is supposed to be about 20 but I am told mine is at 11.6.

I will also need to increase my Vitamin D intake.

They didn't have my results for: Cortisol, Hashimoto's antibodies, and they didn't mention ferritin yet.

Reverse T3

Well, the hospital failed to send my lab results to my doctor that were done almost two weeks ago so the only lab I have back is my Reverse T3 lab.

Results: 53 (normal range is 11-32) High

So I googled REVERSE T3 (and Reverse T3 Dominance) since I wasn't sure what this could mean. Here are the notes I jotted down:

Causes metabolic break
Hypometabolism
Reverse T3 (RT3) is the non-active form of T3 that is similar in composition to T3 (the active form). Because it is so similar, it fits into the receptors where T3 should go, taking its place. Therefore, the non-active form is in the place where the active (T3) form should be.
Reverse T3 is a T4 metabolism malfunction (T4 is supposed to convert into T3 and some RT3 but when too much is being converted into RT3, it creates problems).
Caused by prolonged stress, which increases cortisol, which interferes in the conversion of T4 to T3. (Huh...years of dealing with hubby's ex will do that to a person.)
If blood tests show T3 and T4 levels in blood are within normal range, a reverse T3 problem will result in continued hypothyroid symptoms because the T3 circulating in the blood isn't the same as the T3 at tissue-level (where the RT3 takes the place of T3 in the body's cells).
RT3 dominance
Some web sites indicate a slow-release T3 (like cytomel) is needed while others say it isn't. Taking regular T3 is ok if you break it up into 4-5 doses per day. I will have to wait to see what my doctor thinks once the rest of my results are in.

So all these years of complaints to my various doctors about continued hypothyroid symptoms despite my other thyroid levels being ok (according to the blood tests and docs) may have been cleared up with a simple Reverse T3 blood test? For more than eight friggen years? That makes me angry.

19 Pounds of Weight Gone

>> 3/13/10

I am now at a 19 pound weight loss since changing my thyroid medications and dosages in the fall. I've added my weight loss ticker to my blog here to keep track.

Lab Results Late, Changed Doctor Appointment

>> 3/12/10

I had to reschedule my doctor appointment. None of the thyroid labs I had drawn a week ago were sent to my doctor. Ridiculuous. I found a lab to draw the Reverse T3 that the hospital couldn't do and that was just done the other day and won't get there for a few days yet. The appointment is rescheduled for April now. I would guess that once my doctor does see them, if there is any drastic change needed right away, they'll contact me. Otherwise, it's just another wait. I'm not good at waiting.

I have lost 18.5 pounds so far.

Thyroid Tests Done and Now I Wait

>> 3/7/10

I had my blood tests done on Friday. The lab the hospital uses doesn't do the Reverse T3 test though so I had all but that one done. I'll have to get the Reverse T3 done at another lab because my new doctor wanted to look at ratios for something. That is one area of my thyroid I don't understand yet. Considering it took me eight years to understand all I do, and most of that has come within the last year, I'll get that figured out too.

I am STILL at the 17 pound weight loss mark I was at over a week ago. I was hoping to see another pound or so go away. These plateaus are frustrating. You just hang there for awhile, day after day, seeing the scale never fall below a certain mark. My metabolism needs a kick in the pants to get it moving again I guess. If it were warmer, I'd start walking. It's supposed to be in the 40's this week so that should be warm enough for a walk - maybe. Not sure my little one can handle it though.

I am anxious to know the results - to see what the big increase in medication has done.

17 Pound Weight Loss

>> 2/25/10

As of this morning, I've lost 17 pounds so far on my quest to get rid of all this dang fat! That leaves me with 15 pounds left to lose! I'm more than halfway through my weight loss goal. I'm totally geeked over it!

I get my blood drawn next week to see where my levels are for my thyroid. I'm curious to see where they're at since my new doctor basically doubled my thyroid medication dosage.

Overcoming Thyroid Disorders by Dr. David Brownstein

>> 2/16/10

I just finished reading Overcoming Thyroid Disorders by Dr. David Brownstein. It has some very good information in it if you are one of the thousands who just don't feel good on the synthetic thyroid medication your doctor has you on now.

There are chapters on: hypothyroidism, Poor T4 Converters & Thyroid Hormone Resistance, Thyroid Replacement Options, Hyperthyroidism and Autoimmune Disorders, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Adrenal and Gonadal Hormones and their Relationship to the Thyroid, Diet, Detoxification, Coagulation Disorders, Iodine and the Thyroid Gland, and the Glycemic Index.

I came across some information that I made note of to research a little, such as Dr. Broda O. Barnes (researcher in field of thyroid/endocrine imbalances). There is a foundation named for him that I am going to research as well. Dr. Barnes said in the 1960's that two things would change forever with diagnosing and treating hypothyroidism and that was the use of the blood test to diagnose (instead of using symptoms as well) and the use of the synthetic thyroid hormone (such as Synthroid).

I am wondering, after reading this book, if my low T3 numbers was due to an inability to convert the T4 (from the Synthroid I was on for seven years) to T3 properly. My new doctor has kept me on that same Syncrap dosage I've been on forever but he's also added 120 mg compounded armour thyroid daily as well. I wonder if he's trying to override a resistance to conversion. My labs next month will tell I guess.

Another thing I learned from this book is that Synthroid has lactose in it. I'm lactose intolerant! Also in Synthroid according to Dr. Brownstein is cornstarch and dyes including aluminum lake.

Aspartame: According to this book, aspartame is metabolized into formaldehyde. He believes aspartame may contribute to autoimmune thyroid problems.

I don't have fibromyalgia (though the last endocrinologist tried to tell me I did before he even examined me) but Dr. Brownstein's book addresses fibromyalgia as well. He believes it is impossible to improve fibromyalgia if the thyroid gland is messed up. He said he's found 80% of patients with fibromyalgia have hypothyroidism (and many are undiagnosed because of the failure to get the correct tests and read the labs correctly).

Wasted 30's?

>> 2/14/10

I realized something yesterday as I was thinking about (hoping) that this new doctor was going to change things for me for the better where my thyroid was concerned. I realized that if he does and I am finally feeling like myself again (without the hair loss, weight gain, brain fog, swiss cheese memory, moods/depression/low energy, dry skin, cold intolerance, etc.), that all of my 30's (I am 38 now) would have been spent unhappy about how I felt and how I looked. All that crap affects my parenting so it wasn't just me who lost out, it was my kids and husband too. They didn't get the whole person. They got bits and pieces of me. It would be a shame that if there was a possibility that how I've felt (and advised doctors time and again to be ignored) can be improved by something as simple as natural thyroid medication and supplements (iodine, iron for low ferritin levels and different vitamins in my case), shame on all the doctors who left me to feel like crap all these years and shame on every doctor who doesn't do more for their patients than hand them a Synthroid prescription and tell them it is all in their head or their health problems are related to other conditions when it was all thyroid-related and thyroid-medication-related all along.

Managing the thyroid correctly has also helped many women struggling with infertility. We had one more child after I was diagnosed hypothyroid and with Hashimoto's and it was very difficult to get pregnant. When I think about the 18 months that we spent trying to conceive our youngest daughter (all the tears, frustration, almost having to get expensive fertility treatments) and how something as simple as the natural thyroid medication could have made all the difference. It has helped so many women manage their thyroid better enabling them to conceive easily again. Why won't more doctors educate themselves? Are they so far up Big Pharma's backsides that they ignore the actual treatment of their patients?

New Doctor Check-Up Went Good

I had my second visit with my new doctor on Friday. He raised my compounded Armour Thyroid dosage again based on symptoms. That puts me at 112 mcg Synthroid (Syncrap) and 120 mg Compounded Armour. My next visit is March 12th. A few days before that appointment, I get lab work done to see what adding the Armour Thyroid to my current Syncrap has done for my numbers. My weight showed a two pound weight loss from the last time I was at his office a few weeks ago so the weight loss is going slower now (because I'm back on the Syncrap but because he added compounded Armour, I think the weight will continue to fall off).

I asked my new doctor if there would come a time when I could stop taking the Synthroid. He said he wants to see what my next labs look like first (which is only three weeks away!). Yeah!!

With the increase in my armour thyroid on Friday, my eczema has improved a lot in just two days! In fact, I'd forgotten I even had it and missed putting the cream on it Friday night and Saturday.

I wondered if I'd start feeling hyper symptoms by adding 120mg armour thyroid on top of my Synthroid medication, but there haven't been any.

How to Survive Natural Desiccated Thyroid Medication Shortage

>> 2/2/10

I came across a good article on how to survive the natural desiccated thyroid medication shortages. Read about it here.

Book: Iodine Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It

I became interested in learning more about the importance of Iodine after corresponding with people who claimed that by taking Iodine daily, they had shrunk their thyroid nodules and goiter. Since I have both, I was very interested in finding out more.

I read Dr. David Brownstein's Iodine Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It. I actually bought the book when there wasn't a library in all of Ohio who could get it for me (seriously, they checked through their inter-library system). I am glad I bought it because it is a book to have on hand to go back to. I read it for the information on how Iodine helps the thyroid but it also talks about its role in breast cancer, prostate cancer, fatigue, detox, skin problems, and more.

My new doctor was very familiar with the importance of Iodine and supports my taking Iodoral daily. He did state he doesn't feel that it will shrink anything but does feel Iodine is important.

Armour Thyroid Status with FDA & Manufacturer

I just talked to a pharmacist who compounds Armour (the same as the old Armour, not the reformulated Armour). I asked her if she foresees any problem getting the supply she needs in the future like the shortages being seen elsewhere and she does not. She said that she has been told that the supply problem is at the manufacturing level because the FDA is telling them to do things differently with paperwork and the FDA didn't like how they (manufacturer) were testing.

Seems to me that if a medication has been in use for 50 years successfully (actually, I think it is more than that), then it stands on its own merits. If that's not enough, all the complaints that the FDA is receiving over the shortage from people upset over not being able to get their natural thyroid medication should tell the story as well. I tend to believe that it is Big Pharma's way of making sure synthetic Syncrap (Synthroid and its generics) are the only medications available to people who depend on thyroid hormone for their lives...it's all about money in the pocket in my opinion.

I called my pharmacist and asked because my new doctor prescribed 60mg of compounded Armour for me a day in addition to my 112mcg Synthroid. He was concerned that if he switched me over completely to the compounded Armour, removing the synthetic Syncrap (Synthroid) completely, that I might have a hard time getting it in the future. Based on the pharmacist's opinion, I am going to ask my new doc to switch me entirely over to compounded Thyroid (pork-derived, natural - like the old Armour). If the pharmacist comes across a shortage six months down the road, then I'll deal with Synthroid then (if I can't get it from Canada or Thailand at that time). I don't want to stay on Synthroid based on something that may not happen. I don't feel good on it. On natural thyroid, I feel better, I lose less hair, and I lose weight. That doesn't happen on Synthroid.

I see my new doctor for a follow-up visit on February 12th. He told me that he thought we'd have to bump up my compounded Thyroid from 60mg to more. I'll bet he doesn't realize just how much I am going to ask him to bump it up to fully replace Synthroid.

Good Book: Salt Your Way to Health by David Brownstein, M.D.

>> 1/25/10

I finished reading Salt Your Way to Health by David Brownstein, M.D. I am glad I bought this book because it's something I want to keep around (along with his other book, Iodine Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It).

It talks about the differences between refined and unrefined salt (refined = bad). Throw that table salt away! Pick up some Celtic Sea Salt. As far as taste, it's good (and I'm a picky eater). According to Dr. Brownstein, it's better for your health too.

It talks about why low salt diets are actually not good for you (or your high blood pressure for most people). Your body needs salt to live - but NOT refined salt. The book also talks about salt and water, salt and your thyroid, and salt and the adrenal glands. Then there is a chapter on detoxification and a chapter on different uses for it (I used it for my stuffy nose/asthma problems today due to a cold and it worked great).

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