Hawkwind faces life with hypothyroid...

[Hawkwind]

Well...life took one hellz of a turn on me and it has taken me a couple weeks to cope. My visits here are still going to be a few and far between ... but I decided it was time to start a new journal.

So let's start off with one of my musings:

I had gotten quite used to life as "same shiet...different day"...but the day life tossed a "different shiet" day at me really got me.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia almost 20 years ago now...and quite honestly the first 7 years or so...I didn't believe my doctor and thought he was full of it. But fibromyalgia that is not dealt with has a way of rising up and taking a bite out of your proverbial a$$. I went on to face that biatch down and with it the constant testing for lupus and the 'side' diagnosis' of Reynaud's, IBS and myriad other irritating but small things.

I will say that I fell apart for a time when they told me they thought I had MS. I was scared silly...and actually grateful to find out it was lyme disease even though my recovery from the nerve damage and muscle wasting continues to this day.

So after all that you would think that opening a letter from my doctor in January that my TSH levels are a bit elevated and that suddenly my 'bad' cholesterol was slightly higher than normal for me wouldn't seem like such a serious issue...

Not with me...you see, I've read a bit about hypothyroid because all of the women in my husband's family are hypothyroid and my daughter and granddaughter's are genetically at risk. But I never thought in a million years that I would ever be hypothyroid...after all, I exercise regularly, eat very well and take dayumed good care of my body.

So what a shock to receive that news the day we found out my dear sister-of-my-heart only has a year...if we are lucky, due to a cancerous brain tumor.

At first I was tempted to put the hypothyroid issue on the back burner. After all...how important is that compared to losing someone you love dearly and needing/wanting to be there for them? But...as my ever active brain mulled things over in the late evenings I decided to start doing more in depth research about my 'new' condition...and all of a sudden things about my health and weight battles that have cropped up the past 4-5 months made sense in light of the diagnosis.

A week later I sat there with those test results in my shaking hands and called Kim back. What I had found out not only put a new light on some problems I've started to have (and their serious nature)...but the information scared the hellz outta me. I was in fact not on the verge of being hypothyroid. I am hypothyroid and herbal remedies, Chinese medicine, or alternative therapy's of any sort are not going to help me out. I had no choice but to get started on hormone therapy for my thyroid.

Continued...

[Hawkwind]

Continued musings:
I went in to see Kim a week after that call, armed again with even more information (and two more books about thyroid disorders on the way!). She agreed with me that given my history we shouldn't wait until June to retest. After going over my symptoms of the past 5 months we decided on a course of treatment. (My second choice of three. More about that later.)

At this point let me paraphrase the conversation between Kim and I:

Me: I am worried about weight gain.
Kim: Amy, you take great care of yourself, your weight has hardly changed, you exercise and keep on top of your diet, and you always make adjustments when you need them. You take better care of yourself and know yourself better than most of my patients.

I sat there looking at Kim and I could tell the moment she saw the terror and desperation in my eyes...

Me: No, you don't get it. My mother-in-law and sisters-in-law and nieces are all hypothyroid and on hormone replacement. Kim, they are overweight, and I'm not talking just a little...I'm talking, obese. Huge. [pause] And Kim...I can't get out of my own way. I haven't been this exhausted in ages. I fall asleep twice a day...and my sis needs me as one of her drivers back and forth to her radiation and chemo...

Kim sat there and looked at me as what I was saying dawned on her. Weight gain is not an option for me...period. And I have to absolutely get back on my feet. Someone I love needs me and I intend to be there for her.
She looked me straight in the eye and pretty much repeated what she had told me adding: You always do what you need to do to get better. If we don't find the right dose or prescription for you I will send you to an endocrinologist. We'll test you again in two months. And if your meds are not right call me and come back in and we'll adjust them again. But Amy, it may be 4-6 weeks before you notice your weight shift.

I nodded numbly and for the first time ever I doubted my ability to pull myself through a health crisis. Gaining weight uncontrollably terrifies me to no end. (I'm a bit prideful about my hard earned body.) Being 'off' and not being able to pull myself together...well it just pisses me off to no end.

I went home to find that the first of two books I ordered had arrived. So I put aside everything else I've been working on and reading and got busy reading that book...and was totally shocked at what I learned.

I have a tough road ahead of me...and there is a lot of disinformation and especially a huge lack of information about hypothyroid disorders in particular.

In my research I learned that women, particularly women over 40, or women like my daughter that have one female relative or more that is hypothyroid are at risk and very likely to become hypothyroid themselves. I actually had many, many more risk factors than I realized, even though as far as we know none of my female family members are or were hypothyroid.
I also discovered that due to changes in 2002 as to what constitutes 'normal' TSH levels that have not been adopted by the vast majority of doctors in this country a very great percentage of people struggling with weight gain may in fact be hypothyroid.

So...after realizing that there are other people out there like myself that lift 3 or more days a week, do cardio 3 or more days a week and watch their diet carefully yet cannot lose weight or struggle not to gain weight...that maybe I should share my battle in the hope that someone reading this may look at their mom, wife, sister or even a male family member that does 'everything right'...but just cannot keep the weight off and possibly help them to seek help. All it takes is some simple tests...but unless you know what you are looking at and can advocate for yourself...your doctor may not take you seriously, or may think your risk is not 'bad enough yet' and you or they can suffer needless heartache over ballooning weight and exhaustion and host of other thyroid related symptoms.

Put simply...hypothyroid is a hormone imbalance...for whatever reason your thyroid is not producing enough hormone to keep your metabolism going.

Continued...

[Hawkwind]

Even with a straight forward diagnosis of hypothyroid most patients road to some semblance of recovery is a bit rocky. Usually because hypothyroid was the last thing they or their doctor suspected and tested for...and by that time they are terribly overweight and now suffering from a host of other problems.

In my case things have been complicated by a few other problems:
-Fibromyalgia
-Lactose intolerance
-Gluten intolerance
-Medicine sensitivities...
-and...to add another curve...there is a good chance I'm now insulin resistant.

...Oh! Did I mention that there are also a bunch of veggies and fruits that are 'goitrogenic' (sp)...meaning that they slow the thyroid down, that I love to eat that I should now avoid?

Yeah....you should see my diet now...

Want to talk about having a bad day...oy!

The good news is:
-I have been 'on top' of that fibro biatch for a while now...
-I had recognized my lactose intolerance and adjusted my diet accordingly...
-I had just realized I was gluten intolerant and was adjusting my diet accordingly...
-I've figured out that my levothyroxine 'script is not working and will be calling Kim back this week...
-And I'm now adjusting to the possibility of being insulin resistant.

The other good news is:
-I still train 2-3 hours (in 30-60 minute increments though out the day) 5-6 days a week, with three nights being specifically in the kwoon...yes...you heard that right. (I really love my ma training.)
-I still lift (when I'm not so exhausted that I'm worried I'll hurt myself.)
-I still do cardio 30 minutes 3+ days a week...
-I still stretch (yoga/pilates) almost daily...
-When I'm not sleepy due to the hormone imbalance that we haven't quite got right...I'm constantly in motion.
-My diet is still 'tight' and has in fact gotten tighter
-The 5 pounds I gained during the three weeks I 'relaxed' my diet while I was with my family over the holidays is off...as well as an additional pound.
-I'm still a fairly lean 40-something female, but the battle is getting harder at this point to keep lean. (I cannot wait to get back on the trails 3 or more days a week for my 10-20 mile days...spoken 'tongue-in-cheek'.)

So let's put it this way...when Kim said, "Amy, your weight has hardly changed.." the second time. And after I nodded numbly, because I knew that to her (and a lot of other people) I did/do look great and I am at a very acceptable weight and fitness level for my age. I looked her in the eye and said, "Kim, for all the training that I do, and for as careful as I am with my diet...I should be 15 pounds less than what I am...at the very least."

And for the first time in my life...I finally understand why some people just 'give up' and 'let nature take its course' with their bodies...when it comes to weight gain.

But, I have never been one to just give up. I am a scrapin', fightin', determined little thing if ever there was one. I just have never been a quitter...even when I've had the hellz beaten outta me.

So...in the posts that follow. I'm going to introduce you to hypothyroid disorder. Unfortunately at this point I won't be here daily...so the information is going to be added when I have time. My sis needs me and when she doesn't need me and I'm not training...I'm resting until we get my thyroid balanced out and 'functioning' correctly again.

If you have questions that I haven't gotten around to answering yet as I walk through this battle...feel free to PM me. I'll get back to you as soon as I can at the very least with some helpful links if I don't have time to type up a detailed answer.

Hopefully by the time I've posted up what I've learned about my condition I'll be back on my feet and kicking a$$ in the gym (Instead of lifting like a timid little grannie...well okay, I'm a grandma, but I'm not usually timid by any means!). And dayum...I have a test for my next sash coming up! I have got to be my best for that!

[bbskupak]

Sorry to hear about all the misfortune you have been facing lately. Unless there was something I missed though hypothyroid is no real big deal. I used to be hyperthyroid and now am hypothyroid (due to radioactive iodine treatment) just gotta take some synthroid each day and get blood work done every now and again. It is def something that can easily be lived with, as my grandma has been hypothyroid for over 60 years now. Just make sure you have a good endocrinologist and you'll get things straightened out. Best of luck.

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by bbskupak

Sorry to hear about all the misfortune you have been facing lately. Unless there was something I missed though hypothyroid is no real big deal. I used to be hyperthyroid and now am hypothyroid (due to radioactive iodine treatment) just gotta take some synthroid each day and get blood work done every now and again. It is def something that can easily be lived with, as my grandma has been hypothyroid for over 60 years now. Just make sure you have a good endocrinologist and you'll get things straightened out. Best of luck.

Thanks bbskupak,
I'm glad you and your grandma have been treated so successfully. That has not been the case with my in-laws, all but one of them still have some very serious weight and health issues because their treatments have not gone so smoothly.

And...actually, for me. It is a big deal. We have to change my meds again...and I have a lot of diet and health issues to work around as well. Just taking synthroid each day is not going to work for me. I really, really wish it was that easy.

[vassille]

Wow, what else can go wrong.......I hope you get a handle on your medical issues Hawkwind!
My girlfriend has the same problem as you, she is very sensitive to weight gain......so much so that she started on synthyroid at 25mcg I believe and now she is at 100mcg/day. Likely she found that she has this issue early and I can understand what you going through with the weight issues.
What dosage you on right now?
You mentioned that some foods caused the thyroid to get worse.....what food was that?
Please post up on this if you don't mind your experiences with this and the best to you in your recovery!

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by vassille

Wow, what else can go wrong.......I hope you get a handle on your medical issues Hawkwind!
My girlfriend has the same problem as you, she is very sensitive to weight gain......so much so that she started on synthyroid at 25mcg I believe and now she is at 100mcg/day. Likely she found that she has this issue early and I can understand what you going through with the weight issues.
What dosage you on right now?
You mentioned that some foods caused the thyroid to get worse.....what food was that?
Please post up on this if you don't mind your experiences with this and the best to you in your recovery!

Hi Vassille,
I am on the low 25mcg of levothyroxine right now...but my symptoms are showing that I'm going to need a 'blend' ...but instead of having my doc write an additional 'script for cytomel I'm going to push for a more 'complete' and natural thyroid meds like armour.

Because I discovered that for many people (I'm one of them) it's not always just a simple matter of just taking synthroid and adjusting the dose...I decided to share my experiences here is this particular journal in more detail.

I was actually going to start with risk factors for thyroid disorders...but that is going to be a longish post and I have limited time...so I'll start with the list of foods that can slow the thyroid down since I happen to have that list right in front of me at the desk!

Next post Goitrogens...

[chriscarr_78]

I wish you all the very best for the future. From what you say you sound like a fighter and your not going to take this lying down and for that you should be thoroughly commended.

Also, coming out here and laying yourself bare, informing others about this condition and hopefully, giving yourself a kind of release from putting all this into writing, again you should be commended.

I wont be posting in this thread again but I'll certainly be reading it.

Good luck Hawkwind.

[Hawkwind]

Goitrogens are products and foods that promote the formation of goiters and they can also act like antithyroid drugs as they could disable the thyroid and cause hypothyroidism.

Vegetables:

• Cabbage
• Brussels sprouts
• Rutabagas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Turnips
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Mustard greens
• Millet
• Watercress
• Carrots
• Corn
• Horseradish
• Soy beans
• African Cassava
• Babassu (Palm nut found in Brazil and Africa)
• Peanuts

Although they are not a vegetable ...Walnuts are also considered goitrogenic.

Fruits:

• Peaches
• Pears
• Strawberries

Any of the above should only be eaten in limited quantities raw.

Cooking the above foods eliminates the goitrogens as it eliminates the enzymes involved in the formation of goiter. Those that have had a thyroidectomy (removal of the thyroid) do not have to be concerned about goitrogens.

There were quite a few things on the list that I love and have always eaten raw in rather high quantities. (You can bet your buttons I have adjusted my diet!)

On a similar diet related note:
Unless you are eating tempeh or miso...soy products of any sort are a very, very bad idea for those that are hypothyroid. (I'll get into this more on a day I have more time.) I'm also lactose intolerant and replaced milk with rice or almond milk years ago. Thankfully I eat very little soy. But my daughter is a vegan...as she said to me: "Mom, if I become hypothyroid I'm in trouble...I eat and drink a lot of soy!"

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by chriscarr_78

I wish you all the very best for the future. From what you say you sound like a fighter and your not going to take this lying down and for that you should be thoroughly commended.

Also, coming out here and laying yourself bare, informing others about this condition and hopefully, giving yourself a kind of release from putting all this into writing, again you should be commended.

I wont be posting in this thread again but I'll certainly be reading it.

Good luck Hawkwind.

Thank you Chris,
I had to think long and hard about sharing this quite honestly. I know a lot of people that are hypothyroid for one reason or another and they cannot get some of their health and weight issues under control.

Quite honestly...I looked down my nose at them to some extent. I honestly thought: If they didn't eat so much and would get off their butt and exercise they wouldn't be so heavy...

I absolutely do not look like most people I know that are hypothyroid...and I've always been 'hyper'...I do not sit still well. So constantly moving is very easy for me. But the past two months my energy levels dropped drastically and I could barely get out of my own way and my weight started to creep up even though I had cut back my caloric intake to account for less activity. What a reality check.

You are right...I am a fighter and I will find my way through this. And hopefully someone or their friend or loved one will find answers or at least gain some insight that will help them live better with hypothyroidism.

Thanks again.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Healing thoughts and many prayers go your way Amy

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

Healing thoughts and many prayers go your way Amy

Can't say it any better then BiggerGuns did!

Prayers and hugs to you and your Hawkie!

[Hawkwind]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

Healing thoughts and many prayers go your way Amy

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Can't say it any better then BiggerGuns did!

Prayers and hugs to you and your Hawkie!

Thanks guys! Very much appreciated.

[vassille]

That's great info., Hawkwind!
I will tell my finace about this or I'll just have her read it. She does drink soy....I wander!
Thanks a lot,

[Hawkwind]

You are welcome. I'll be posting more about diet and supplementation as well as I have time available to me. There is a lot of information out there that I had not known...and over half the women in my husbands side of the family are hypothyroid and they didn't know either!

Anyhow...I haven't been lifting faithfully. But I have been training almost daily in my MArts of choice.

Monday
Had a one on one class with Sifu last night. He worked my backside off! He's totally set on me testing (for my next sash) in a couple weeks and he pushed me through everything I know and then some. I don't mind as he knows I'm a perfectionist and I like having one on one classes with him so I can clean up my form.

He took me through some more advanced arm work for self-defense last night. After getting through more than six ways to break apart an attacker from their fingers to their shoulders and back...I broke down into a fit of laughter and said, "Eric! Who in the world would continue a fight through over 6 broken joints?!?! Every guy I ever hit stopped dead in his tracks and said, "Oh my gawd, a chick just punched me and made me bleed...!" and then they backed off from the fight they started with me!"

He laughed, took my arm and showed me 6 more moves! I was laughing hysterically at that point! I pity anyone that grabs my hand anytime soon! Eric made me go over and over the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder breaks...with both sides until I had it all down fast, clean and without hesitation.

My abs and glutes are cranky from all the conditioning and kicking and my shoulders and upper back are sore from all the punches and blocks. I love my training.

On the meds side...I still have to call Kim. I slept most of yesterday. I had two goods and then bam...hit again with a down day. I am having more good days though...so that is a plus.

[phat chick]

Omigosh Hawk, this is insane!

I can't even begin to imagine what it is like to deal with all this. You are an incredibly strong woman, and kind of like a hero for me and a wonderful role model to the comminuty in general. You don't make lemonade with lemons---you make lemon-drop martinis!

Your resiliance is truly inspirational.

Many hugs and healthing thoughts to you...