Do you know what you might be missing?

Since I mentioned sharing my latest health information and update a couple of weeks ago, I've been in the process of chickening out on writing this... because I'm still a work in progress. What I'm going to share is what I've learned from research on the Internet, (and in speaking with my doctor). I've been digging on numerous reputable sites; hospitals, specialists, drug trials, research studies, and also on patient forums. I like to think of myself an informed patient, who doesn't sit there passively believing everything I hear. I actively check information and facts and opinions; important health information, and drugs I've been prescribed. But unfortunately, I had been lulled into a false sense of security over the years.

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I had unknowingly accepted previous doctor opinions and statements concerning my health, even though I knew I was still sick and wasn't finding the answers that I really needed. But I've had a "door of enlightenment" open for me; prayers answered. ( I know that sounds sort of kookie, mystical and "out there", but that's how I feel) so I'm now on a mission, and I want you to be aware of something that I stupidly took for granted. You may know this information, and if you do that's wonderful, but I didn't know this, so I'm betting there are a few of you out there that don't know it either. I'm aware that I may have to add on or amend this post at a later date as my own experience becomes more clear. But for now, I want you to read what I've been living through for the last almost 2 years.

Try to imagine "fatigue" that you can barely drag yourself out of bed in the morning. You're up for a few hours and then you're ready to go back for a nap. You have limited physical energy, motivation, and libido. Your muscles and joints hurt. You think about exercising (maybe that will help), but your arms and legs get weak, then you feel drained and worse than you did before. Your dry brittle hair is falling out, you're gaining weight, or can't take it off, no matter that you're eating healthy and taking the usual vitamins and supplements.

Your digestive system is your constant "enemy". You're lactose intolerant, constipated no matter what you do or take, and you retain fluid... even in your face (puffy eyes, and bags that won't go away no matter how much $100 eye cream you throw at it). Your skin is thin, dry, and you're often cold. Your hands and feet feel like ice-cubes, especially when you go to bed.

Your memory is scary, you forget where you put things, walk into a room and don't know why you're there, and don't remember conversations. You try and put a cohesive sentence together...forget  about it. Having a conversation gets annoying. You ramble on or forget words, are often anxious, and you feel like a big gray cloud is hanging over you; you're depressed more often than not. Mostly depression takes the form of disinterest, and loss of hope for things to change. blah...

You have unexplained Neuropathy. what's that? Pins and needles in your fingers, toes and feet, but can be anywhere. Weird pains that are frequently sharp, stabbing, feels like an electrical shock, and in the same exact place over and over. And oh yes, they are often on your scalp, face, in your eyes or behind them, or ears, like you have an earache. You have pain in your neck and the base of your skull, and you feel like you're trying to balance a bowling ball on your weary neck.

Here's the big one for me... you are dizzy. all. the. time.

You have anemia, low Red Blood Count (RBC, why is my red blood cell count in the ditch consistently?), High Cholesterol no matter what you eat,  Low Vitamin D, and low B Vitamins, especially B-12. Gee, you start supplementing with Iron, (Horse Pills), but you just can't get your Ferritin Levels out of the basement. You gag when you have to take the pills, as it tastes like you're sucking on a rusted metal pipe.

You can't get much accomplished, you compare yourself to others and you feel guilty. You want things to get better, but you don't know how to do that. You're tired of talking about it, tired of trying to explain how you feel over and over, and you're tired of yourself. You're a spiritual person and you pray, everyday, for wisdom and healing. Your life is a hamster wheel.

You talk to your doctors about all this stuff (over and over) and they look at you, and you know what they're thinking, (that it's all in your head: you must need attention, you're a hypochondriac, you're nuts) The doctors acknowledge all these issues, but don't see how all these symptoms can all fit together. You're wondering if you have other health problems that can stem from auto-immune problems like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Heart Disease, Adrenal Fatigue, Lupus, MS. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, CFS, Meniere's Disease.  The doctors have a glazed look in their eyes, (overload) and then they start talking about something else... moving on. You leave the office with no new information or real help. "Try this or try that", they say, when you know good and well, you've already tried those things and that it's not going to help... enough.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? Even if it's just a few of those symptoms?  Maybe it's not you, but do you have a friend or loved one that suffers like this?

And the most ironic part of all this? You were diagnosed with Low Thyroid (Auto-Immune Hashimoto's Disease) and have been taking a Thyroid replacement medication for almost 30 years. 

So, what's wrong with me and why isn't my Synthroid or Levothyroxine making me feel better? Aren't all these symptoms supposed to go away when you're diagnosed and taking the Thyroid medication? Yes, they are, but sometimes the standard Thyroid medication isn't all that you need.

I'm going to leave you with one thought. One word, one big deficit in my life and health: A Thyroid Hormone called T3. It's rarely tested for when you have a Thyroid Blood Panel done. Doctors know about it, but don't give it much thought, even though it has credible research and findings. A Thyroid blood panel can be easily misleading, even to the doctors. They probably won't test you for T3 unless you ask for it specifically. Why? Well, in a perfect world our bodies convert the main Thyroid Hormone, T4, into T3 once it gets into our system, but guess what... there are some of us who don't convert T4 into T3. And we're the ones that are sitting there like we're not taking Thyroid Replacement at all.  Because in reality, we're not getting the most important, end game hormone. Sorry, I don't live in a perfect world and no telling how long I've not been converting over. My body has been starved for a hormone that literally controls and affects most of our body systems.

Top 16 symptoms of Hypothyroid

1. Fatigue
2. Increased sensitivity to cold
3. Constipation
4. Dry skin
5. Unexplained weight gain
6. Puffy face
7. Hoarseness
8. Muscle weakness
9. Elevated blood cholesterol level
10. Muscle aches and pain
11. Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
12. Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
13. Thinning hair
14. Slower heart rate
15. Depressed mood
16. Impaired memory

Here's a link to a great website. This is just one post to start with, especially if you're not very familiar with Thyroid problems: Low Thyroid specifically.  Check it out and see if any of this fits what you're going through. Hypothyroidmom.com HypoThyroidMom.com

I'll  have more on this in a few days, as it's too much to post in one sitting. If you've been diagnosed with any kind of Thyroid problem or you think you might need to be tested, just do an Internet Search of T3 Thyroid Replacement and you will have an ocean of information at your fingertips. The only problem with this? You have to KNOW what you're looking for. If you have or think you might have one of the diseases or conditions that I mentioned earlier, then do an Internet Search for "Thyroid Replacement Hormone", and then, "T3 Thyroid Replacement", and then the condition you're checking on. I imagine you'll find some kind of connection.

I'm sharing all this not because I want anyone to feel sorry for me. HECK NO!!! I just wish someone, preferably a doctor, would have told me about this years ago. So maybe this will get someone else the help they need. I've been on T3 for the last 3 weeks and I'm seeing slow signs of improvement. I have to take a very small dose because I have Cardiovascular issues, but even on a small dose my dizziness and fatigue are improving. I'm expecting that this answers a lot of the questions I've had about my symptoms and lack of improvement. I have a doctor's appointment in another month for a complete retest of my Thyroid Panel. Hopefully I'm heading in the right direction.

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