Dave's story

[Guest guest]

Let me see if I can give everyone the story of my Hyper turned

Hypothyroidism. My first, and uknown, experience with Hyperthyroidism was

back in late 88 I believe. As I had told I experienced some scary

anxiety feelings after eating a tuna sandwhich. My wife had been gone

shopping and upon her return I was a bit out of sorts. Things settled down

in a bit and I forgot about the episode...for the time being. Days later I

again experienced the anxiety, but this time after eating a lunch, a candy

bar and glass of iced tea. I couldn't explain these things and was a bit

more concerned at this point. I believe it was that night or the next

morning I woke and found myself in a pool of sweat. At this point I

decided to go to a doctor-navy doctor. Keep in mind I didn't know then

what I know now. I was quickly diagnoised having Graves disease. I

received minimal information with those gifted medical men leading me down

their own path of cure.

At this point I was experiening an increased appetite and night sweats

on a regular basis. Time went by and I was treated by conventional

methods-levothyroxin. I was sent to a major navy hospital for scanning of

my thyroid to see its size of my and what the iodine uptake was (I regret

that now). Shortly after that I was given the opportunity to decide how and

what treatment I wanted for my thyroids over production. I was offered the

radioactive Iodine treatment, surgery or...I don't remember the third

choice. Anyway, I decided that surgery wasn't my idea of a good time and

went with the Iodine-Bad Choice! After the ablation (killing off/limiting

the thyroid function) I ended upn going thru some real ups and downs getting

my thryoid hormone replacement leveled out. Unfortunately my doctor wasn't

the brightest guy and had me over medicated with Levothyroxin and I was

doing the " E " ticket ride for days on end. Not only did I go thru ups and

downs, but I ended up in the emergency room because I couldn't stop

shivering when he undermedicated me. Not long after that he and I realized

I was Hypothyroid and to a great degree....cold, never getting warm

regardless of what exercise I participated in etc.. Well things changed and

I'll suffice it to say that I moved on and ended up at another base with

another doctor.

After arriving at my new base with my new doctor I ended up in the

hospital, again, this time in Atrial Fibrilation (heart beating out of

rythum). One of the contributing factors of the A-fib was, I believe,

stress. (Kind of a tail chase since the Hypothyroidism creates anxieties

and that inturn creates more) I found out years later from a pharmasist

friend that A-Fib, as they call it, is completely normal and expected. His

observation or knowledge of it was that Vitamin K is lacking in hypothyroids

(Vit K has to do with the neural network around the heart). At this point I

hadn't even started looking into the cause and effect because I was still

trusting the god like doctor. Well the doc lost his aura and I started my

quest of looking for answers and knowledge about Hyper and Hypothyroidism.

I have dug and dug and dug. I have used the internet, picked doctors

brains, found misc. books on the subject at the library or wherever I can.

I ended up at a Natropath and she helped me see some things clearly. She

told me that she blieved I was a functional Hypothyroid-meaning that my

thyroid was working, but at a lower level. My regular doctor, who has been

very sympathetic to my plight, has humored me and my Natropath by doing test

that she has asked for. He not only humors me, but he has gone along with

my desire to get away from the synthetic replacement hormone even though he

feels that the Bovine one is less controlable a replacement. Let me mention

one of the outgrowths of Hypothyroidism and that is High Cholesterol. It

makes sense when you think about it. Your metabolism is down and it

certainly isn't keeping things going like it should.

Some Misc. things I'd like to mention: Watchout for stress. Don't feel

bad if you go thru some anxities that is normal from what I found in talking

to people. Find yourself someone that is understanding and ask them if it

is okay to call them when things get out of hand emotionally. Just having

someone there to talk to or touch you is really important in those times.

I have used Dr. Wallach's liquid vitamins for better assimilation.

I have used psyllium to help knock down the cholesterol by cutting the

transit time thru the digestive system-which slows down as a Hypo.

Another thing to consider is bowel health. Your bowels are important to

your health. There are some great books on colon cleansing and I believe it

is necessary, but that is aside from the main point of this letter.

I would at this point in my journey, and I do consider this a journey,

suggest that everyone take charge of your life/health by researching your

situation so you can make an informed choice about your health.

I also recommend that if you take any supplements take the best you can

afford to buy. As said " Rather be poor and well than rich and sick " .

Please folks, remember that your doctor is NO god. You live in your body

not her/him. You know how you feel and if your doctor doesn't hear what

you're saying, find another doctor. I hope this information is of use to

some or all of you. I'm hoping that I didn't forget any many points.

Dave

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