Faith & FamilyThat Stupid Thyroid February 19, 2016Hey friends. I’m sorry it’s been a little quiet around here lately. We’ve had all of our final inspections of the renovation this week. So, for the last several weeks, we’ve had to focus on fun things like code, wiring, and small details when I just want to be designing and finishing rooms! Thankfully, that’s about all behind us and we can FINALLY start to settle in this house and really work towards finishing rooms. On top of that, though, I’ve had some fun and unexpected health developments with my thyroid that have put me nearly out of commission these last two weeks. You guys were so sweet back in January when I told my thyroid story. I couldn’t believe how many people commented with such helpful advice and soooo many of you struggled with it too! I think that’s what has blown me away…it is such a common struggle and I had no clue until I was diagnosed with it. Some of you have been so sweet and have asked for health updates. I wanted to pop in and give you a quick one today since so much has happened with it in the last two weeks. As I said in my post a month ago, I thought I was finally regulated and would have blood work to confirm that the following week. But I was feeling so good. My energy was back, the crippling fatigue and sick symptoms were gone. I felt like myself again. I had that blood work done and my TSH number came back at a .5. I know thyroid levels can be confusing if you don’t have experience with it. Some doctors say that ideal is .36 to 3.5. Some say they want you to be more up around 1 or 1.5, so that you don’t risk swinging to hyperthyroid. My doctor was fine with me staying at .5 since I was feeling so good. I was so relieved to finally have made progress and know this thing was going to work! Many of you asked about what medicine I was taking and gave suggestions to take NDT’s like Armour. I hear ya! I was adamant from the beginning I wanted to take an NDT based on my research and am on Armour. I’ve had a great experience with the medicine so far. These issues I’ve had would’ve happened with any brand…it’s just a balance of finding the right dosage for my body. Well, about three weeks after that blood work (end of January), I started exhibiting hyperthyroid symptoms. The fatigue was back, though not quite as strong as before. But the worst and most frightening part came at night. I would feel so tired, go to lay down, and my heart would start to race. It almost felt like an anxiety attack. My heart was literally beating out of my chest in a way I’ve never felt and really scared me. I was shaky, nervous for no reason. And it would take an hour or two to calm down and go to bed. Obviously, my level was too low and needed to be brought back up slightly. A week and a half ago, we lowered my dosage just slightly to hopefully bring me back into ideal range. And these last two weeks or so have been rough. With every other time I started a new dosage, it took about two weeks to feel better if I was going to, but I didn’t expect to feel so bad during this two week period. I feel much worse than I did with the hyper symptoms, but the doctor told me to expect that. Starting a new dosage and your body figuring it out can send you into some tailspins, it seems. The fatigue these last two weeks has been no joke, y’all. I can’t keep my eyes open all day and just feel achey. These last two weeks with the symptoms coming back have been discouraging. I keep telling myself to chill out! It’s working, we just have to find the right dosage and I’ll be feeling good again. But it’s been hard to trust in that in the midst of the symptoms here lately. It makes it so hard to work and get things done in the house. I have soooo much less energy and really have to devote that to taking care of Rosie. But these last two weeks there have been behind the scenes planning, inspection stuff, etc. that HAD to happen, so it’s definitely gotten the little time I had for work. I think the worst part, though, is that I just feel like I’m checked out with sweet Rosie. When we’re playing or I’m holding her, I am so exhausted and know I’m not being present. She’s just growing up before our very eyes and I’ve been down these last few weeks feeling like my stupid thyroid is making me miss it. I know it will get better soon. Yesterday, I only had the symptoms in the afternoon and felt more like myself in the morning, instead of it being around the clock. I’ve been trying to force myself this week to stop all the noise that I’m failing at so many things because of this sickness and just rest with my girl. Earlier this week, we spent the entire morning out on the porch. I didn’t bring my phone (though I went to get it to film her babbling) and we just got outside. We ate breakfast out there together. We read books. We chatted about life. It was such restful time that this mama needed right now. Thanks so much for the encouragement y’all have given me about this issue! I appreciate y’all walking through not just our renovation journey, but also the journey of our family.
Susan says February 19, 2016 at 10:22 am Thyroid issues can be challenging and will be with you the rest of your life. Don’t feel bad about it. You’re certainly not alone. I lost my thyroid to cancer 10 years ago. No one (meaning my doctor) warned me that the body goes through a period of not recognizing the replacement hormone and so, yes, it thinks it’s dying. I had days of sobbing and sobbing and actually told my husband and a good friend that something deep inside me was saying, “You’re DYING,” though logically I knew this wasn’t so. My body had not yet chosen to use the replacement hormone. My dose also needed increased, and my doctor pretty much blew me off. Thank God for my SURGEON and the followup with her. She got me switched to a different endocrinologist with more thyroid cancer experience, and life has been much better since. Thyroid cancer is not much of a struggle compared to other kinds–no chemo or radiation, just surgery, which also isn’t too traumatic. So I go through that “I don’t have the right to complain” thing too. Hang in there. Better times ARE ahead. Reply
Lindsay says February 24, 2016 at 4:28 pm Susan, thanks so much for sharing your journey! I think that hearing others’ stories is so encouraging! This really can feel isolating and I think it’s so important to be reminded we’re not alone! Reply
Ann Flora says February 19, 2016 at 12:18 pm I’ve been adjusting to a medication recently, as you have, to even out my heart rate. I know what you mean about the fear when your heart is doing wild things. It can cause an anxiety attack if you aren’t already having one! It’s also hard to have so many things you need and want to do that you can’t get to because of your health. You will be regulated eventually–my mom and three sisters are–but I know it’s hard now. Please be as kind to yourself as possible. It sounds as if you’re directing your energies where they really need to go–your healing and your daughter, and then home. I will be right here to see your posts when you get to them. This is real life, my unmet friend. Take care…. Reply
Katie says February 19, 2016 at 12:19 pm I’m sorry to hear this! Cheering you on and believing for a full recovery! 🙂 Reply
cathyv says February 19, 2016 at 2:40 pm My husband and daughter both suffer from hypothyroidism. They have both found that they must take the name brand drug as the generic does not have the best calibration. Just a thought. Reply
Lindsay says February 24, 2016 at 4:27 pm Cathy, thanks for your feedback! Yes, I definitely experienced this. I was on a generic when this happened and have switched to a name brand and my symptoms are gone two weeks in! I’m so thankful. We’ll see how it holds out 🙂 Reply
Kim @ Irishman Acres says February 19, 2016 at 3:22 pm You just take care of you (and Rosie!) and don’t worry about blog stuff. Just make sure to take a quick pic on Instagram every now and then so we can see you!! 🙂 ~Kim Reply
Autumn says February 19, 2016 at 11:18 pm I’m so sorry you are going through this. It is totally normal to have a suppressed TSH while on an NDT. (Mine is at .03) But, I must warn you about Armour!!! It was recently sold to a new laboratory and they changed the formula. I had been on it for 13 years and all of a sudden, heart palps, fatigue, aches and pains. When I went to the Thyroid forums (I like “stop the Thyroid Madness) I realized it was happening to everyone else on there too! I switched to Nature-throid and within a week, I started to feel like myself again. You may find that you need to support your adrenals, too (vit c, active forms of the b vitamins). And, check you iron/feritin levels. Vit D, too, while you are at it. All of these things affect how our body tolerates and uses NDT. Best wishes! Reply
Melissa Jessberger says February 20, 2016 at 12:45 am My mother has gone through the same thing. She had an exceptionally low level of thyroid for over ten years of her life until they figured out that it was her thyroid. My mom had heart palpitations, fatigue, headache, her hands would shake, she would drop things, and she had a bitter taste in her mouth. She found out that Armour (the thyroid medicine she was taking) was causing the problems. This alleviated many of the symptoms. My mother has been regulating her thyroid for over six years and is still not at a normal level. Her body was used to such a low level for ten years that it cannot get used to normal levels. She struggles with thyroid as well as many other health issues daily. I can understand the pain that you are going through! Praying for you!! Reply
Lindsay says February 24, 2016 at 4:26 pm Melissa, thank you so much for your sweet feedback! I’ve heard that about Armour! I have some friends who’ve had amazing results with it and I’ve heard that some find something else works better. I actually wasn’t on Armour when this happened and have now switched to it. So far, all my symptoms are gone again. Yay!!! But I’m considering switching to Naturethroid in the future because I’ve heard good things about it. I feel for your mom! I can’t imagine walking this journey for so long 🙁 Reply
Meg says February 21, 2016 at 10:40 pm Sending hugs from Canada:) Sorry you’re going through this and so grateful for your openness about your struggles. Makes me feel less alone:) Take good care while you recover. Xo Reply
Elizabeth says March 4, 2016 at 10:25 am I had very minor thyroid issues compared to you, but young living thyromin helped me straighten it out. Hope you can get yours straightened out, it’s no fun when your too exhausted to enjoy your baby’s. Reply
Lindsay says March 9, 2016 at 12:30 pm Elizabeth, seriously! It is no fun. I’m finally feeling soooo much better! I have energy for Rosie and work and I’m loving life. Hoping it lasts 🙂 Reply