Texas_Thyroid_Groups] help with fatigue

[Guest guest]

: I think you just described me to a tee! I can walk into a

room and forget why I walked in there. I do experience both temp

problems- cold, yet have heat intolerance. My temp is low - I have not

been up to 98 deg. in years (except when I get sick and then, the doc

thinks it's not that bad since it's not as high as most people's). I know

it's my thyroid, but it just drives me crazy. You sound like me - I had

to get back on depression meds this summer, as I was at that point of

ending my life, too. I think what's bothering me is that I homeschool my

daughter and I have multiple projects going on in my house which only

compounds the daily chores. I am suppose to be putting a new floor down

in my bathroom, living room and hall way. I have half of my living room

re-painted, but the the other half still has to be done. I have cabinets

and trim to paint in the bathroom and I haven't even begun the hallway,

yet. Paper...I hate that word! I have so many stacks and so many full

rubbermaid containers that I don't know what to do with them anymore. I

have seriously been considering having a " bon-fire " night,

complete with marshmallows and hot dogs. Unfortunately, I don't think my

home owner's assoc. would appreciate that. I know I am hypo and I don't

think anyone has ever fully figured out how to treat me. I take 2.5

grains of Armour daily, 1 Adrenal supplement per day, and 10 mg of

Lexapro, too. My reflexologist suggested that I take Vit.C, B-complex and

Pantothenic Acid 3-x's a day, but I never remember to take the stuff. I

have liver problems, so I have to contend with that, too. I wrote to this

group back in the spring when I had my last set of labs done, but the doc

didn't run the correct labs. I have a new doc now, so perhaps it's time

to have him re-run my labs. I haven't had a well woman exam in years and

have been considering one, especially since the swelling of my lymph

nodes. My reflexologist thinks my swelling is also part of a

possible cyst in my left breast. I just hate going to the doc. Like most

of the women on this board, I have seen a zillion doctors and they all

have an opinion, but no solutions. I went for months without having a

period (I'm only 35) and actually had gyno's tell me that that was okay.

My reflexologist used essential oils a few months ago along with her

usual therapy and since that treatment, I am back to having monthly

cycles.

Anyway, I appreciate your email so much. You are right, I know I am not

crazy, but it helps to hear that from someone else every now and then.

Moonlady: Thank you for your kind words, too. I have often thought of

trying Atkins, but with my liver problems, the added protein from meat

would kill me faster than my weight gain. I am actually working at

converting to being vegan. I know to some that sounds very harsh, but I

tried once and actually felt better. It didn't cure my ailments, but I

did feel a difference in my energy levels. It's just hard making the

switch when you live in a household full of meat eaters and when you

don't have the energy to cook, either. I live in Katy(west of Houston),

so there aren't very many vegan friendly restaurants. It would be easier

if I only had to worry with feeding myself. Thank you for your kind

suggestion.

I will try to schedule an appt. with my doc and have new blood work

drawn. Any suggestions on what test to have request?

[Guest guest]

I know that most of you have done much better on the Armour, but since starting in June and readjusting the doses, I really don't feel that much better than taking the synthroid. I know everything takes time, but I guess I am getting impatient!!

I am going to find out where to have my adrenals checked, because that seems like the next step in helping me with being so TIRED. That seems to be a common symtom.

Shouldn't I have noticed feeling a bit better with the Armour?

I will have to wait a few more weeks before being tested again, since I just upped the dose from 90 to 120mg. Still no difference.

What to do???

Sue

[Guest guest]

Hi --I'm not an expert, but I know that you want FREE T3 and

FREE T4 tests. If your doc does not want to do those, it is

probably a signal that you need to find yet another doc.

I understand about the liver issue. I don't really like meat, so it

is a little hard to figure out what to eat. I gave up red meat 30

years ago, which brings me to the next point. If you go vegan,

consider taking a sublingual B12 supplement every day. I have a

hard time time keeping my iron up because of no red meat, and the

supplement helps. There are people on Atkins who are vegan--they

use a lot of soy for their protein, which is a bad thing for hypo

people. But you could concentrate on veggies and fruits instead of

grains, and that might help.

On a lighter note--I have decided that my closet is the worst room

in the house. Not only do I have clothes all over floor, I have all

sizes from 4 to I am too embarrassed to say how big because of this

hypo stuff. When I lose weight (thinking positive here!) I will not

have to shop for " in between " clothes because I have all the sizes

crammed in there.

Moonlady

> : I think you just described me to a tee! I can walk into a

room and

> forget why I walked in there. I do experience both temp problems-

cold, yet

> have heat intolerance. My temp is low - I have not been up to 98

deg. in

> years (except when I get sick and then, the doc thinks it's not

that bad

> since it's not as high as most people's). I know it's my thyroid,

but it

> just drives me crazy. You sound like me - I had to get back on

depression

> meds this summer, as I was at that point of ending my life, too. I

think

> what's bothering me is that I homeschool my daughter and I have

multiple

> projects going on in my house which only compounds the daily

chores. I am

> suppose to be putting a new floor down in my bathroom, living room

and hall

> way. I have half of my living room re-painted, but the the other

half still

> has to be done. I have cabinets and trim to paint in the bathroom

and I

> haven't even begun the hallway, yet. Paper...I hate that word! I

have so

> many stacks and so many full rubbermaid containers that I don't

know what

> to do with them anymore. I have seriously been considering having

a

> " bon-fire " night, complete with marshmallows and hot dogs.

Unfortunately, I

> don't think my home owner's assoc. would appreciate that. I know I

am hypo

> and I don't think anyone has ever fully figured out how to treat

me. I take

> 2.5 grains of Armour daily, 1 Adrenal supplement per day, and 10

mg of

> Lexapro, too. My reflexologist suggested that I take Vit.C, B-

complex and

> Pantothenic Acid 3-x's a day, but I never remember to take the

stuff. I

> have liver problems, so I have to contend with that, too. I wrote

to this

> group back in the spring when I had my last set of labs done, but

the doc

> didn't run the correct labs. I have a new doc now, so perhaps it's

time to

> have him re-run my labs. I haven't had a well woman exam in years

and have

> been considering one, especially since the swelling of my lymph

nodes. My

> reflexologist thinks my swelling is also part of a possible cyst

in my

> left breast. I just hate going to the doc. Like most of the women

on this

> board, I have seen a zillion doctors and they all have an opinion,

but no

> solutions. I went for months without having a period (I'm only 35)

and

> actually had gyno's tell me that that was okay. My reflexologist

used

> essential oils a few months ago along with her usual therapy and

since that

> treatment, I am back to having monthly cycles.

>

> Anyway, I appreciate your email so much. You are right, I know I

am not

> crazy, but it helps to hear that from someone else every now and

then.

>

> Moonlady: Thank you for your kind words, too. I have often thought

of

> trying Atkins, but with my liver problems, the added protein from

meat

> would kill me faster than my weight gain. I am actually working at

> converting to being vegan. I know to some that sounds very harsh,

but I

> tried once and actually felt better. It didn't cure my ailments,

but I did

> feel a difference in my energy levels. It's just hard making the

switch

> when you live in a household full of meat eaters and when you

don't have

> the energy to cook, either. I live in Katy(west of Houston), so

there

> aren't very many vegan friendly restaurants. It would be easier if

I only

> had to worry with feeding myself. Thank you for your kind

suggestion.

>

> I will try to schedule an appt. with my doc and have new blood

work drawn.

> Any suggestions on what test to have request?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sue,

Get the

adrenal testing done first, then have the results looked at by your

doctor. The Armour may not be the whole answer for you.

I am now

taking 120 Armour in the morning, but am having symptoms of adrenal

fatigue, so I am in the same boat that you are in right now.

We can

compare notes?

Dianne

At 11:51 AM 10/13/03 -0400, you wrote:

I know that most of

you have done much better on the Armour, but since starting in June and

readjusting the doses, I really don't feel that much better than

taking the synthroid. I know everything takes time, but I guess I

am getting impatient!!

I am going to find out where to have my adrenals checked, because that

seems like the next step in helping me with being so TIRED. That

seems to be a common symtom.

Shouldn't I have noticed feeling a bit better with the Armour?

I will have to wait a few more weeks before being tested again, since I

just upped the dose from 90 to 120mg. Still no

difference.

What to do???

Sue

[Guest guest]

, Wow! You have a lot on your plate right now! I think you need to think of priorities and first things first! I know I need to do that listing all the time because everything becomes a priority without it. Have you had antibodies blood testing for Hashimotos by your doctor? It is an auto-immune thyroid disorder and can cause cellular damage and alter thyroid gland function. Alterations inthyroid gland function result form the action of stimulating or blocking autoantibodies. Get TPO antibodies testing. Also, ask for TSH, Ft3 (free triiodothyronine), & Ft4 (free thyroxine) thyroid blood tests. These tests can help with diagnoses and determine what is almost free for your body to utilize (not bound by other proteins in your body, i.e. estrogen, progesterone, antidepressants, etc.). What kind of liver problems do you have? And does the doc prescribing Lexapro know about these liver problems? What caused them? Forget about all those projects and all those piles and papers. Priorities: 1. Get your disease treated quickly and accurately WITH A GOOD DOCTOR!; in order to" 2. Take care of your family, i.e. daughter. (Is home schooling demanding? How old is your daughter? Can you postpone the homeschooling part and allow her to go public while you are recovering? 3. Adding 200 mg. of Selenium is important for thyroid function, as well as the B vitamins. 4. Get plenty of rest and get rid of needless stress (even if it is dumping everything into one room with the door closed! PILE IT UP! GOD BLESS YOU! I am going to a move with my 18 yr old so must go for now. Talk to you later, Hon! YOU AND YOUR THYROID DISEASE IS #1 PRIORITY RIGHT NOW or you are heading for a lot of big problems in the future......i.e. diabetes, HBP, etc. Love, B. Hn/S.L. Thyroid Support Gp Coordinator (meeting this month). Re: Texas_Thyroid_Groups] help with fatigue : I think you just described me to a tee! I can walk into a room and forget why I walked in there. I do experience both temp problems- cold, yet have heat intolerance. My temp is low - I have not been up to 98 deg. in years (except when I get sick and then, the doc thinks it's not that bad since it's not as high as most people's). I know it's my thyroid, but it just drives me crazy. You sound like me - I had to get back on depression meds this summer, as I was at that point of ending my life, too. I think what's bothering me is that I homeschool my daughter and I have multiple projects going on in my house which only compounds the daily chores. I am suppose to be putting a new floor down in my bathroom, living room and hall way. I have half of my living room re-painted, but the the other half still has to be done. I have cabinets and trim to paint in the bathroom and I haven't even begun the hallway, yet. Paper...I hate that word! I have so many stacks and so many full rubbermaid containers that I don't know what to do with them anymore. I have seriously been considering having a "bon-fire" night, complete with marshmallows and hot dogs. Unfortunately, I don't think my home owner's assoc. would appreciate that. I know I am hypo and I don't think anyone has ever fully figured out how to treat me. I take 2.5 grains of Armour daily, 1 Adrenal supplement per day, and 10 mg of Lexapro, too. My reflexologist suggested that I take Vit.C, B-complex and Pantothenic Acid 3-x's a day, but I never remember to take the stuff. I have liver problems, so I have to contend with that, too. I wrote to this group back in the spring when I had my last set of labs done, but the doc didn't run the correct labs. I have a new doc now, so perhaps it's time to have him re-run my labs. I haven't had a well woman exam in years and have been considering one, especially since the swelling of my lymph nodes. My reflexologist thinks my swelling is also part of a possible cyst in my left breast. I just hate going to the doc. Like most of the women on this board, I have seen a zillion doctors and they all have an opinion, but no solutions. I went for months without having a period (I'm only 35) and actually had gyno's tell me that that was okay. My reflexologist used essential oils a few months ago along with her usual therapy and since that treatment, I am back to having monthly cycles. Anyway, I appreciate your email so much. You are right, I know I am not crazy, but it helps to hear that from someone else every now and then. Moonlady: Thank you for your kind words, too. I have often thought of trying Atkins, but with my liver problems, the added protein from meat would kill me faster than my weight gain. I am actually working at converting to being vegan. I know to some that sounds very harsh, but I tried once and actually felt better. It didn't cure my ailments, but I did feel a difference in my energy levels. It's just hard making the switch when you live in a household full of meat eaters and when you don't have the energy to cook, either. I live in Katy(west of Houston), so there aren't very many vegan friendly restaurants. It would be easier if I only had to worry with feeding myself. Thank you for your kind suggestion.I will try to schedule an appt. with my doc and have new blood work drawn. Any suggestions on what test to have request?

[Guest guest]

Hi Dianne,

Where are you going to get your adrenals tested? The overwhelming tiredness in the am is really depressing. How long have you been on the Armour? Any difference for you?

Sue

[Guest guest]

Michells, may I ask what the liver problem is that does not allow you to eat meat? As thyroid patients, we need more protein than most people. I'm concerned about the liver and also, you don't mention whether you've had a mammogram or thermography to determine what type of cyst you have in your breast. I've been taking my temp several times a day, even at work, while I'm increasing my Armour. Only trouble about this is that when you're having a case of thyroiditis (inflammation in the thyroid), sometimes the temp will go up slightly because of the inflammation, so it may be hard to determine where you stand there, as far as thyroid med dosage.

Re: Texas_Thyroid_Groups] help with fatigue

: I think you just described me to a tee! I can walk into a room and forget why I walked in there. I do experience both temp problems- cold, yet have heat intolerance. My temp is low - I have not been up to 98 deg. in years (except when I get sick and then, the doc thinks it's not that bad since it's not as high as most people's). I know it's my thyroid, but it just drives me crazy. You sound like me - I had to get back on depression meds this summer, as I was at that point of ending my life, too. I think what's bothering me is that I homeschool my daughter and I have multiple projects going on in my house which only compounds the daily chores. I am suppose to be putting a new floor down in my bathroom, living room and hall way. I have half of my living room re-painted, but the the other half still has to be done. I have cabinets and trim to paint in the bathroom and I haven't even begun the hallway, yet. Paper...I hate that word! I have so many stacks and so many full rubbermaid containers that I don't know what to do with them anymore. I have seriously been considering having a "bon-fire" night, complete with marshmallows and hot dogs. Unfortunately, I don't think my home owner's assoc. would appreciate that. I know I am hypo and I don't think anyone has ever fully figured out how to treat me. I take 2.5 grains of Armour daily, 1 Adrenal supplement per day, and 10 mg of Lexapro, too. My reflexologist suggested that I take Vit.C, B-complex and Pantothenic Acid 3-x's a day, but I never remember to take the stuff. I have liver problems, so I have to contend with that, too. I wrote to this group back in the spring when I had my last set of labs done, but the doc didn't run the correct labs. I have a new doc now, so perhaps it's time to have him re-run my labs. I haven't had a well woman exam in years and have been considering one, especially since the swelling of my lymph nodes. My reflexologist thinks my swelling is also part of a possible cyst in my left breast. I just hate going to the doc. Like most of the women on this board, I have seen a zillion doctors and they all have an opinion, but no solutions. I went for months without having a period (I'm only 35) and actually had gyno's tell me that that was okay. My reflexologist used essential oils a few months ago along with her usual therapy and since that treatment, I am back to having monthly cycles. Anyway, I appreciate your email so much. You are right, I know I am not crazy, but it helps to hear that from someone else every now and then. Moonlady: Thank you for your kind words, too. I have often thought of trying Atkins, but with my liver problems, the added protein from meat would kill me faster than my weight gain. I am actually working at converting to being vegan. I know to some that sounds very harsh, but I tried once and actually felt better. It didn't cure my ailments, but I did feel a difference in my energy levels. It's just hard making the switch when you live in a household full of meat eaters and when you don't have the energy to cook, either. I live in Katy(west of Houston), so there aren't very many vegan friendly restaurants. It would be easier if I only had to worry with feeding myself. Thank you for your kind suggestion.I will try to schedule an appt. with my doc and have new blood work drawn. Any suggestions on what test to have request?

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sue,

I have

been taking Armour since November 1998, and the same doctor I have now

was prevailed upon to try it for me. After more than eight years on

Synthroid with no improvement, even after repeated increases, I figured I

had nothing to lose... I hesitated to give him the " I am the

consumer " speech, but finally decided that it was better to do that

then to just put up with inadequate treatment... He understood it

and support it. So now we talk about what is going on with me and

get along much better.

I do feel

better on Armour than on Synthroid or Levoxyl, which are the only other

meds I have taken for Thyroid problems. I take 120 mg of Armour

each morning, but am experiencing more fatigue than when I was taking

synthetics, so I talked to the doctor and he thinks that there might be

an early adrenal problem. I also have Lupus, so this could be

another factor. I won't know until the testing is done.

My concern

about the adrenals is based on how I feel these days. It has been a

slow journey from feeling really good to going backward to not feeling so

good most of the time, which was where I started back in 1998....

The depression was killing me. He mentioned taking a different

antidepressant and I refused to do that. I showed him an article

found on the web about using T3 to treat depression and since my thyroid

was already a known problem, all he had to do was call the pharmacist to

get the conversion dose to Armour. I just switched from Synthroid

to Armour with no problems. I now understand that doing such a

rapid switch can cause problems, but I was spared that...

In any

event, I am going to have the tests done and then start taking L-Tyrosine

for my ADD and the adrenals. If my body temperature rises above

97F, then I will know that I am doing something to help myself...

Initially, my family doctor, internal medicine specialist, will do the

testing. If he finds something that he cannot deal with, then he

will refer me to another specialist.

Dianne

At 06:44 PM 10/13/03 -0400, you wrote:

Hi Dianne,

Where are you going to get your adrenals tested? The overwhelming

tiredness in the am is really depressing. How long have you been on

the Armour? Any difference for you?

Sue