I've been holding off posting as I don't want to burst the bubble... since the beginning of Feb I've actually felt like my old self, gone the constant feeling of low battery and instant muscle fatigue, memory still improving and an urge to dance around the kitchen when a tune comes on
I've actually been out reclaiming the veg patch that has been neglected for years, building new raised beds and gravelling, a sense of spring optimism is with me... ( all the time expecting a down turn in ability)
So this is a really big thank you really ๐ค
I've done the tests, followed the advice given freely here, optimised my vits and mins, sex hormones and gradually rehabilitated myself and walked out of the twilight zone back into spring
I did bloods last week, so these will be the first ones I've done feeling well and I will check my saliva cortisol next week so I will actually have some results to show where wellness sits ๐
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TiggerMe
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I remember telling Scottish GP I was โsleepingโ 18 hrs /day & they blanked. an established thyroid patient with zero medication yet they blanked. Breast cancer treatment knocked me down a couple days / month otherwise I was same busy (surgeon thought I was crazy doing so much). Only in nhs could someone normally healthy becoming bedridden be seen as fine.
Guard your health eeyore. As I seem to owe Thailand my life maybe I should consider moving there.
I used to Google โwhat sickness makes you fall asleepโ - nothing useful came back. My doctor too absolutely didnโt believe me when I said how much I napped and slept. Convinced I needed antidepressants. I am constantly jaw-on-the-floor at the lack of basic knowledge by these presumably educated and experienced doctors. I really donโt get it.
Yup. When I put in my symptoms (proper sites) myxoedema coma came back. I didnโt realise you werenโt fully comatose with it! I started telling everyone & they ignored it. 60% mortality rate at 5 years & I was 6 years in during a pandemic!!! They are so STUPID. Stupidity is always expensive ๐
I should add when I mentioned the 18 hr/day stupor & they failed to act I pointed out it was unrealistic to expect me to work so they needed to write me a no-work note thing. They did & so i have full proof of everything. I was stupid & didnโt claim, thought that would inspire someone to get it sorted. Was I unrealistically optimistic? Just a bit.
Oh eeyore, this is just the best news, Iโm incredibly pleased for you. And grateful, too, for your invaluable advice and support over the past year.
Iโve tentatively added my name to an allotment waiting list, itโs perhaps a little over ambitious but, hey, itโs a waiting list and buys me time ๐ฅด
You give me hope! X
Ps. Iโm saving this post to refer to on the days where Iโm really struggling x
I've been on pretty much the same dose T3 15mcg (dropped to 10mcg in the summer) and T4 100mcg + 100mcg per week... last February was a result of first NHS Endo consultation and a reduction to 75mcg T4 and 10mcg T3 to chase the illusive TSH ๐ not actually seen her since but got my original dose reinstated ๐
I used the hydrocortisone 5mg for 8 months and swapped back to adrenal cortex mid January
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Can I ask why you changed back to the adrenal glandular please? Also in what way did the adrenavive/hydrocortisone help? I am curious as I suspect this may be the missing piece of the puzzle for me. I have a complicated history as on my profile and never feel well. I have osteoporosis which make me wary of hydrocortisone as steroids are know to cause bone thinning. I don't know if adrenal glandular would be the same and my research so far has yielded little info on this.
More than happy to share though the whole adrenal support thing isn't straight forward as there are differing views but doing something seemed the most important step and learn from there
Hydrocortisone is stronger than the adrenal cortex, I started on cortex and built up, then switched to HC... so I thought 6 months initially would be my trial but I felt good and able to do more so continued for 8 months the way my body then seemed to have more resilience meant I thought it was time to reduce the support and see how things went... the idea being that you give your adrenals a little support in the hope they will be rested and less overwhelmed or they will then respond better within the HPA Axis...
There are two lines of thinking on this... some say adrenals don't get fatigued that it is just the signalling that gets distorted.... others think adrenals get exhausted and are unable to function properly ๐คทโโ๏ธ
I found I have osteopenia in my hips having booked a Dexa in August to see where I am after at least a few years of low fT3, so like you I don't want to be on long term steroids unless I can possibly help it, I've not noticed any downturn since swapping so next will be to gradually reduce the adrenal cortex and see how that goes, ideally dropping as many supplements as I can once things are back on track (apart from the essentials)
p.s I'm using bonebalance.co.uk in the hope of improving my T scores
( I see you are in the Bone Forum do they ever mention it?)
along with HRT (all of them), plenty of magnesium, Vit D, K2 MK7 and upped my calcium intake as being dairy intolerant is was very low
I've also been adding DHEA as mine was 74 and that seems to be having some effect... going to retest tomorrow so I'll know more in 2 weeks
Many thanks TiggerMe. As a first step I think I will try Adrenavive and see if it makes my Levo more effective. I still have all the hypo symptomsโฆ.freezing cold, constipated, lack of stamina, love sleeping!! I used to be up before 6am , worked all day, raised 2 children etc etc. Now I drag myself through the day.
The Bone Forum hasnโt mentioned Bone Balance as far as I can recall. I have been reading about strontium citrate supplements recently as a way of improving bone density but off course there are also numerous reports warning about the dangers of such supplements. Itโs so hard to know what to do.
I was on HRT for about 8 years but dr advised me to stop it last year. Well she didnโt actually tell me to stop โฆ.said it was up to me. So off course I got scared of the long term risks especially re Breast cancer. I know thinking around this seems to have changed.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Sounds like you are definitely going in the right direction. Enjoy feeling well.
Sounds like you aren't converting well, how are your bloods looking?
There is good science and trials behind Bone Balance, others are making marked improvements, with no downside ๐ .... yes I've weighed up the HRT pro's and con's and I shan't be giving it up as the increased risk is minimal and life is too miserable without it! Don't think there is anything quite as good for your bones as oestrogen which keeps them springy? Along with heart and brain benefits
I whole heartedly agree about oestrogen for bone health. I will check out Bone Balance. It can't do any harm I guess.Quite right....I'm a lousy converter. Have added T3 in the past but to no avail. That's what makes me think I should try adrenavive and then after a few months try T3 again.
It's part of the cortisol saliva test by CNS Labs or Regenerus... saliva being the more useful, you can get blood serum DHEA but it doesn't correlate...
Thatโs blooming marvellous. Can I be honest and say I envy you? I still think itโs blooming marvellous. I so recognise the tempting fate thing too. How do you take the extra 100mcg per week? Break it down over the week?
thatโs interesting. suppose you break it down slowly or such. I really miss my 2 New Zealand based lifesavers - had zero idea that was as good as it would get. I used to believe a fully qualified endo was the bees knees ๐ตโ๐ซ๐๐คจ
I've certainly learnt that medics can keep you from wellness, as their view is too narrow, you must learn to interpret your own results and to research everything well, trust your instincts as you have the truly holistic view and listen to others that have walked the same path as they leave such valuable crumbs
The even better news is that my blood results are just in and everything is moving in the right direction ๐
Previous results showed raised ALT and ALP so the addition of Glutathione has resolved this issue (DNA showed I'm predisposed to be low on it) and TUDCA to increase bile to aid digestion and help clear the sludge... and does make for a perfect ๐ฉ๐
TPO antibodies down to 63 (<34)
Digestive health good... negative for H.pylori (never tested before) and Coeliac
MCV has come down to 68% through range normally at 98%
CRP dropped from 88% to 33%
Albumin levels up 5 from 36 so the full spectrum amino acids are doing the trick
So the only red mark is my waist size... fair enough I have gotten a bit of a spare tyre but heck it's winter and I do so love a biscuit or three ๐
Hi really don't want to spoil your joyous news but as a kidney patient albumin to go up is a negative - be aware that everything you take has to process the product through the kidneys and liver. Just thought you ought to know. Take care
Thanks for pointing this out but it was very near deficient last year so it is now only just below mid range which is good as I believe it acts as a hormone carrier... but I'd need to check that ๐
I've been out of things owing to hubby being in hospital for 3 weeks. So very thrilled to hear your news - it's absolutely well deserved! I have to say that you will always be my beloved wonky donkey even though you've changed your name ๐
Looks like it will be a long and slow recovery๐ข Had two very unexpected major ops within 3 days but he's here to tell the tale and that's all that matters๐ Do we now call you Prof TiggerMe๐คฃ
I think he has the right idea a surprise, quick in and out drama rather than our prolonged torment... don't spoil him too much ๐
Let's see if I last out the month before reverting to Eeyore ๐ I had a 15 min encounter with a kettlebell today, early signs are that it won the first round but at least I didn't drop it on my foot!
I'm rather wishing for another body, as the morning after 15 mins of kettlebelling and I'm walking like a robot ๐ and let out a yelp when about to sit ๐
It's so exciting when you realise your strength is returning! But do take it easy, Rome wasn't built in a day and your bones and muscles need to take it slowly but surely too. ๐
Thanks Red ๐ค .... 15 minutes is about my limit in the morning but it gets things moving... the need for tea and a biscuit is too great ๐.... I did get a good walk, a sweaty hour of garden taming and a 3 mile row in today and I'm feeling remarkably perky!!
I'm resting when told my recovery is flagging and this seems to stave off the crashes, I'm actually feeling achy for the right reasons for a change
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