Hello
Have had bloods done twice this year. May 2015: TSH 0.52, Free T4, 13.2 and T3
not tested.
Jan 2015: TSH 0.40, Free T4 12.1, T3 not tested
Sept 2014 - on notes "likely peri-menopausal"
Feb 2013 TSH 0.89, Free T4, 13.4, T3 not tested
I have been having symptoms for a long time. I have always been predisposed to anxiety, though this is better through my own personal development. I had a baby last year via IVF and had synthetic hormones at the start of the pregnancy. Since September 2014 I have had pins and needles in my arms and hands, Gp said carpal tunnel syndrome and suggested surgery. No way i thought. I went to osteopath and herbalist and has got better, though its still here. MRI scan showed some wear and tear to the neck, consultant wanted me to have nerve tests, but I declined.
Sleep started getting poor about 7 years ago, no trigger, on holiday. Though have had my share of traumas throughout life.
Sleep since February this year very bad. Was waking every two hours. Went to GP and almost finished a months worth of zopiclone. Despite going to bed early, wake at 3 am and cant get back to sleep, exhausted, Have hypoglycaemia, and get very irritable and anxious , and slightly paranoid if don't eat, so generally graze to keep my energy levels up.
I have lost my libido and often feel cold. Cant lose the last 4Kg of weight and have cut out sugar and alcohol and have a healthy diet.
Have been very tearful, which improved in March this year. but this could have been post natal depression, had emergency C section, exhausted and also a bit isolated. Gp gave me antidepressants, but did not take them as didn't want to..
I feel lightheaded a couple of hours after eating and have cut out sugar, alcohol, eat brown rice and have rye bread. The osteopath said when he treated me, sometimes my adrenals reacted and my goitre was swollen. On one occasion whilst at work I lost my voice completely for a few minutes. I have had occasional bouts where I get hoarse.
Daytime, I am taking nutri adrenal extra, a multivitiman, fish oil x 3, rhodiola, 2.5 mls, and chromium, iron supplement, calcium and magnesium, 30 mls dark cherry juice, spirulina.
Nighttime, compose LT, ashphalia, serrotone 300mg, 30 mls dark cherry juice. I have a snack of oatcakes and nut butter before bed.
The nutritionist had this to say about the saliva samples and gave advice as follows:
Your post awakening and midday cortisol samples were in the reference range. These samples are good indicators of peak adrenal function and adaptive adrenal function. Your afternoon and evening cortisol samples were both below the reference range and these samples are a good indicator of glycemic control and baseline adrenal function.
It is important at this time to support your adrenal glands-especially in relation to blood sugar balancing. Please ensure you eat a protein dominant breakfast such as a 2 to 3 egg omelette stuffed with vegetables or 2 to 3 eggs scrambled with vegetables such as spinach and tomato or 2 poached eggs and smoked salmon or a home made protein shake. If you can, please eliminate starchy carbohydrates such as bread and refined cereals from your breakfast as these will spike blood sugars even when eaten alongside protein.
Please avoid fruit during the first part of the day and eat no more than 2 to 3 portions of fruit a day. When you do eat fruit then focus on berries and apples or pears. I would avoid juicing with fruit as when juiced fruit lacks fibre and becomes high in fast release sugars. Try using vegetables to juice with instead as they are naturally far lower in sugar than fruit. For example, spinach or kale or another green leafy vegetable, cucumber (leaving the skin on), avocado and carrot.
It would be best to have a protein dominant breakfast which should keep you full until lunch, please eat protein again with lunch, please have an snack at around 2.30pm to keep cortisol secreting evenly through the afternoon, a good example of a snack would be a couple of oatcakes with a nut butter or natural yoghurt with berries or a Nakd bar. Have dinner as normal. It would also be useful for you to have a snack before bed to keep blood sugar stable throughout the night. Examples are the same as for your afternoon snack.
Lifestyle is also key to supporting your adrenals at this time and encouraging your body into the parasympathetic state (relaxed) rather than the sympathetic state (aroused and responding to stress). You can do this by using relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga and other forms of gentle exercise and by taking time out at points during the day.
Your melatonin was a little high in the morning and for this it would be useful to increase your morning exposure to daylight. With the lighter mornings this should be easy but towards the end of the year it may be useful for you to consider getting a light lamp to waken you on the dark mornings.
The osteopath (he is also a naturopath) suggests coming off all the supplements for 2-3 months, haven't started this yet
I now see a Chinese doctor for acupuncture, Chinese acupressure. He thinks that my pituitary is not working due to loss of blood with first pregnancy, and has given me some pills to take. also he said my metabolism is slow. He thought my hormones weren't working properly too.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but as you can see I am trying everything at the moment as it is really affecting me and I have had to take time off work.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks.
Kathy