Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Symptoms today
Horrible migraine started suddenly mid-day. Very constipated and some stomach pains. I had flashy lights in my vision, mostly left eye - almost completely obstructed vision on that side. Pain was quite bad and after some sleep seemed relieved but returned due to a short trip out of bedroom into the lights. I did a water enema, skin brushing and salt water bath, felt some better but not completely. I was nauseous and finally gave in and took some tylenol. It took at least a good hour until I could sit up and then was able to eat dinner and visit as long as it was dark in the room. Around 11pm, I got up and turned off most of the lights around the house and then worked on office work until around 4am when I went back to bed and slept until 7:30. Another symptom I had was my heart was racing and I was jumpy all day. I was wondering if it was too much of the glandular support, but it started before that.
Food Considerations
From the book Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health
Things to Avoid
- caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and sugar / impair conversion of T3 from T4
- large quantities of walnuts, almonds, sorghum, peanuts, pine nuts, millet, and cassava (tapioca) / contain goitrogens
- high intake of (esp uncooked) brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, mustard greens, spinach, and rutabaga / contain goitrogens
- soy products / estrogenic and goitrogens
- flouridated water and toothpaste
- iodine from fast food, canned food, prepackaged food ****
- aspartame
**** Iodine controversy: According to this book, "...most people believe that (iodine) is good for thyroid function. Iodine is indeed a major constituent of thyroid hormone. In fact, worldwide, the enormous problem of low thyroid is basically one of iodine deficiency, though this is hardly the case in the United States. ... "
Things to Avoid
- caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and sugar / impair conversion of T3 from T4
- large quantities of walnuts, almonds, sorghum, peanuts, pine nuts, millet, and cassava (tapioca) / contain goitrogens
- high intake of (esp uncooked) brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, mustard greens, spinach, and rutabaga / contain goitrogens
- soy products / estrogenic and goitrogens
- flouridated water and toothpaste
- iodine from fast food, canned food, prepackaged food ****
- aspartame
**** Iodine controversy: According to this book, "...most people believe that (iodine) is good for thyroid function. Iodine is indeed a major constituent of thyroid hormone. In fact, worldwide, the enormous problem of low thyroid is basically one of iodine deficiency, though this is hardly the case in the United States. ... "
"Iodine is a double-edged sword for throid sufferers. More than adequate amounts (i.e. anything more than the standard 150 micrograms in a multivitamin mineral combination), may further irritate and inflame an already ailing thyroid gland. ..."
"How does excess iodine harm the thyroid system? A high amount of iodine in the body becomes concentrated in the thyroid gland, in the hormone precursor protein called thyroglobulin. A high amount of iodinated thryglobulin triggers the autoimmune response. ...
"In fact, some scientists suggest that part of the reason for the present epidemic of low thyroid in the United States may be the high amount of iodine in many people's diets. Not surprisingly, we may have gone too far in attempting to eliminate goiters in small regions by adding iodine to the entire country's salt."
They recommend avoiding iodized table salt, fast food, canned food, prepackaged foods. I already do most of that and we love our Redmond's Real Salt, but I am confused by which way is the right way to go on this. Angstrom's Iodine is supposed to be good for hypothyroid, and I have taken it in the past. I will research it some more and decide whether to try small doses and see how I feel.
Recommended Supplements
From the book Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health
VITAMINS
- Vit A, 10,000-20,000 IU (never take more than 25,000 IU daily) / antioxidant
- Vit C, at least 1,000 mg daily / antioxidant
- Vit E, 400 IU daily / antioxidant
- B Complex, 50mg of each, but make B6 100 mg
- The Bioflavonoids quercitin((250-500mg) and pygnogenol (100-150mg) / reduce inflammation
MINERALS
- Copper (1mg), Zinc (25mg) and Selenium (100 mcg) / especially crucial to formation and utlization of thyroid hormone
- Chromium, 100-200 mcg / carb metabolism, normalize blood sugar fluctuations
- Manganese, 10-20 mg
- Calcium, 1200 mg
- Magnesium, 400 mg
* adding sea vegetables is a great way to get these essential minerals in. Kelp, dulse, nori, etc...
FATS
- EFAs from fish, flaxseed, primrose, or borage
- avoid transfats
- easy way to get both GLA and EPA is in 2 tsp flaxseed oil daily, or grind up 2 Tbsp flaxseeds and sprinkle in food
AMINO ACIDS
- Tyrosine is the basis for both kids of thyroid hormone,a s well as for adrenaline and noradrenaline
- Glutamine is also recommended for brain function and better digestion
** A morning shake can be a good way to get many of these minerals, fats and amino acids... milk, protein powder, tyrosine, kelp, flaxseed oil with some cocoa powder would be a good idea.
NATURAL GLANDULAR SUPPORT
- freeze dried, purified animal glands, with associated hormones removed, nutritional over-the-counter products that border on medicinal
- if it makes you feel "speedy" it is due to both cortisone and adrenaline being present and you may need only one, in which case pregnenolone or DHEA may be better choices
- Licorice root stimulates production and utilization of adrenal hormones
- Low thyroid sufferers who also need female hormone balance should consider glandular ovary or mexican yam products
HERBS
- Ashwagandha Withania somnifera can stimulate both T3 and T4
- Milk thistle, 300 mg daily / antioxidant
VITAMINS
- Vit A, 10,000-20,000 IU (never take more than 25,000 IU daily) / antioxidant
- Vit C, at least 1,000 mg daily / antioxidant
- Vit E, 400 IU daily / antioxidant
- B Complex, 50mg of each, but make B6 100 mg
- The Bioflavonoids quercitin((250-500mg) and pygnogenol (100-150mg) / reduce inflammation
MINERALS
- Copper (1mg), Zinc (25mg) and Selenium (100 mcg) / especially crucial to formation and utlization of thyroid hormone
- Chromium, 100-200 mcg / carb metabolism, normalize blood sugar fluctuations
- Manganese, 10-20 mg
- Calcium, 1200 mg
- Magnesium, 400 mg
* adding sea vegetables is a great way to get these essential minerals in. Kelp, dulse, nori, etc...
FATS
- EFAs from fish, flaxseed, primrose, or borage
- avoid transfats
- easy way to get both GLA and EPA is in 2 tsp flaxseed oil daily, or grind up 2 Tbsp flaxseeds and sprinkle in food
AMINO ACIDS
- Tyrosine is the basis for both kids of thyroid hormone,a s well as for adrenaline and noradrenaline
- Glutamine is also recommended for brain function and better digestion
** A morning shake can be a good way to get many of these minerals, fats and amino acids... milk, protein powder, tyrosine, kelp, flaxseed oil with some cocoa powder would be a good idea.
NATURAL GLANDULAR SUPPORT
- freeze dried, purified animal glands, with associated hormones removed, nutritional over-the-counter products that border on medicinal
- if it makes you feel "speedy" it is due to both cortisone and adrenaline being present and you may need only one, in which case pregnenolone or DHEA may be better choices
- Licorice root stimulates production and utilization of adrenal hormones
- Low thyroid sufferers who also need female hormone balance should consider glandular ovary or mexican yam products
HERBS
- Ashwagandha Withania somnifera can stimulate both T3 and T4
- Milk thistle, 300 mg daily / antioxidant
Snippets from reading
From Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health by Richard L. Shames, M.D. and Karilee Halo Shames, R.N., PhD
From chapter entitled "Reestablish Balance in Your Reproductive System"...
- too much estrogen opposes thyroid function, while natural progesterone is supportive of it
- natural progesterone cream can augment the benefits of thyroid replacement therapy
- proper diagnosis and treatment of low thyroid can generally improve the health of reproductive organs and sexual function
- specific problems with menstruation, libido, fertility, and miscarriage are frequently thyroid related
- rebalancing hormonal systems can frequently improve one's overall thyroid recovery
From the chapter entitled "Determine If Low Adrenal Should Also Be Treated"...
- major connection exists between low thyroid and low adrenal
- low adrenal can actually cause low thyroid to be much worse than it would be otherwise
- low doses of natural adrenal hormone (hydrocortisone) can bring adrenal function back to it's normal range (not to be confused with high-dose synthetic adrenal supplements, i.e. steroids)
- three stages of adrenal response are adaptation, alarm, and exhaustion
- in exhaustion the bodies ability to cope with stress is now depleted, adrenal hormones plummet from excessively high (alarm) to excessively low
- this exhaustion phase sometimes accompanies or is confused with low thyroid
- suggested dose of 5 mg of natural hydrocortisone 1-4 times per day
- symptoms of too much adrenal hormone are puffy face, weakened bones and skin, high blood pressure, water retention
From chapter entitled "Reestablish Balance in Your Reproductive System"...
- too much estrogen opposes thyroid function, while natural progesterone is supportive of it
- natural progesterone cream can augment the benefits of thyroid replacement therapy
- proper diagnosis and treatment of low thyroid can generally improve the health of reproductive organs and sexual function
- specific problems with menstruation, libido, fertility, and miscarriage are frequently thyroid related
- rebalancing hormonal systems can frequently improve one's overall thyroid recovery
From the chapter entitled "Determine If Low Adrenal Should Also Be Treated"...
- major connection exists between low thyroid and low adrenal
- low adrenal can actually cause low thyroid to be much worse than it would be otherwise
- low doses of natural adrenal hormone (hydrocortisone) can bring adrenal function back to it's normal range (not to be confused with high-dose synthetic adrenal supplements, i.e. steroids)
- three stages of adrenal response are adaptation, alarm, and exhaustion
- in exhaustion the bodies ability to cope with stress is now depleted, adrenal hormones plummet from excessively high (alarm) to excessively low
- this exhaustion phase sometimes accompanies or is confused with low thyroid
- suggested dose of 5 mg of natural hydrocortisone 1-4 times per day
- symptoms of too much adrenal hormone are puffy face, weakened bones and skin, high blood pressure, water retention
Monday, August 3, 2009
Evaluation - Part 2, Diagnosis
Based on symptoms and past tests, I know that I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, I also am Hypothyroid and have Adrenal Insufficiency/Exhaustion.
When I was 9-10 years old I was hospitalized for about a week with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (an autoimmune disorder with low platelets). I was treated with steroids. When I was in high school I developed asthma for a time and used an inhaler that also contained steroids. The use of steroids has been cited as a cause of hypothyroidism, as have the hormones in oral birth control pills (I took them for a month when we were first married, before we knew of the abortifacient effects). The hormonal imbalances and hypothyroid, kidney problems, adrenal issues all go hand-in-hand. It has been interesting to find some connections and sources for the problems.
A book that I am currently reading and finding helpful is Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health. A self-assessment from that book and others showed that I have a vast majority of symptoms (see earlier post), and the basal temp and iodine patch test further confirm my suspicions. I have long suspected sluggish thyroid and after researching the various panels of testing done by doctors I have not been convinced that it would be helpful at this time (especially considering our threatened health care system reform) to go that route.
I will post further on some of the interesting things found in my reading and also the treatments I do plan to explore.
When I was 9-10 years old I was hospitalized for about a week with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (an autoimmune disorder with low platelets). I was treated with steroids. When I was in high school I developed asthma for a time and used an inhaler that also contained steroids. The use of steroids has been cited as a cause of hypothyroidism, as have the hormones in oral birth control pills (I took them for a month when we were first married, before we knew of the abortifacient effects). The hormonal imbalances and hypothyroid, kidney problems, adrenal issues all go hand-in-hand. It has been interesting to find some connections and sources for the problems.
A book that I am currently reading and finding helpful is Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health. A self-assessment from that book and others showed that I have a vast majority of symptoms (see earlier post), and the basal temp and iodine patch test further confirm my suspicions. I have long suspected sluggish thyroid and after researching the various panels of testing done by doctors I have not been convinced that it would be helpful at this time (especially considering our threatened health care system reform) to go that route.
I will post further on some of the interesting things found in my reading and also the treatments I do plan to explore.
Evaluation, part 1 - Symptoms
Alright, I've been doing pretty poorly the last few weeks and so am re-evaluating where I am and what I should be doing to take care of myself.
Here are my current symptoms:
- achy joints, esp in the morning
- very difficult to wake up - can't think or speak for a while after rising
- bloating, constipation and stomach discomfort
- swollen tongue
- hoarseness
- tonsil stones (ick!)
- occasional hypoglycemic "sugar crash" feeling
- light-headed upon standing up
- scant, painful, irregular menses with no ovulation
- dry skin on face, elbows, feet
- rapid re-gain of all the weight I lost
- always feel tired, can fall asleep sitting esp around 3pm
- difficulty falling asleep, tired but "wired", time when I have most energy
- heart palpitations, hard thumping in chest
- frequent headaches and light sensitivity
- sensitivity to noise
- cold hands and feet
- depression, moodiness esp mid-cycle
- thirsty, but nauseous when drinking water
- kidney pain in lower back
- dark, sweet-smelling urine
- dry, coarse hair that falls out easily
- increased facial hair
- dry feet
- difficulty remembering facts, names, dates
- inability to concentrate/focus
- stressed and overwhelmed very easily
- puffy face, bags under eyes
- slow movement and slow/slurred speech
- difficulty in drawing a full breath
- dry/burning eyes
- low body temperature in the AM
- itchy face at times
Here are my current symptoms:
- achy joints, esp in the morning
- very difficult to wake up - can't think or speak for a while after rising
- bloating, constipation and stomach discomfort
- swollen tongue
- hoarseness
- tonsil stones (ick!)
- occasional hypoglycemic "sugar crash" feeling
- light-headed upon standing up
- scant, painful, irregular menses with no ovulation
- dry skin on face, elbows, feet
- rapid re-gain of all the weight I lost
- always feel tired, can fall asleep sitting esp around 3pm
- difficulty falling asleep, tired but "wired", time when I have most energy
- heart palpitations, hard thumping in chest
- frequent headaches and light sensitivity
- sensitivity to noise
- cold hands and feet
- depression, moodiness esp mid-cycle
- thirsty, but nauseous when drinking water
- kidney pain in lower back
- dark, sweet-smelling urine
- dry, coarse hair that falls out easily
- increased facial hair
- dry feet
- difficulty remembering facts, names, dates
- inability to concentrate/focus
- stressed and overwhelmed very easily
- puffy face, bags under eyes
- slow movement and slow/slurred speech
- difficulty in drawing a full breath
- dry/burning eyes
- low body temperature in the AM
- itchy face at times
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Acupuncture article
First article published from the acupuncture/PCOS study that I took part in at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Go here to read, it is just about the recruitment procedures so far but there will be more and I will post them as I get them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
