Saturday, October 6, 2012

A Work In Progress

So, obviously, the blog is still under construction. 
I have just had no time to post, cook, or anything really! 

In addition to my incredibly hectic schedule, my current health issues are not taking any mercy on me. 

There may be a light at the end of the tunnel.  I have a doctors appointment on Monday that I am axiously awaiting.  I will be requesting a long list of blood panels to search out definitive proof of what I believe to be an ever-worsening thyroid condition. 

I know what you're thinking, "Of course you think you have a thyroid problem because you're overweight!"  It has been the stand-by cop-out of overweight women for years. However, my uncontrollable weight gain over the past year is only a minor concern of mine as it relates to this condition.  It is alarming how many things our thyroid gland is responsible, so if yours is fully functional I recommend you thank it for working so hard every day! Thyroid Respect! I digress. 

The list of symptoms started with a couple concerning things such as excessive fatigue, the weight gain, and the complete whackiness of my menstrual cycle *TMI* but then they grew to include dozens of symptoms that impeded the quality of my daily life.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism may be categorized by Early, Late, and Uncommon. Check yourself for these symptoms!  I have bolded and elaborated on my personal symptoms (from Wikipedia)


Early

[edit]Late

  • Goiter
  • Slow speech and hoarse, breaking voice – deepening of the voice can also be noticed, caused by Reinke's Edema.  *I have had no voice/cracking voice for a solid 6 months. It's like always having a cold.
  • Dry puffy skin, especially on the face
  • Thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows (sign of Hertoghe)
  • Abnormal menstrual cycles *See above
  • Low basal body temperature *My "normal" body temperature is 97.0
  • Thyroid-related depression *Severe

[edit]Uncommon

  • Impaired memory *I forget things so fast! Bryan and I are frequently arguing over whether or not I said something, because I don't remember saying it! 
  • Impaired cognitive function (brain fog) and inattentiveness.  *I have the attention span of a gnat now.
  • slow heart rate with ECG changes including low voltage signals. Diminished cardiac output and decreased contractility
  • Reactive (or post-prandial) hypoglycemia[15]
  • Sluggish reflexes
  • Hair loss
  • Anemia caused by impaired haemoglobin synthesis (decreased EPO levels), impaired intestinal iron and folate absorption or B12 deficiency[16] from pernicious anemia
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Shortness of breath with a shallow and slow respiratory pattern
  • Increased need for sleep *I could sleep for days and 
  • Irritability and mood instability  *I'm a roller coaster of emotions! 
  • Yellowing of the skin due to impaired conversion of beta-carotene[17] to vitamin A (carotoderma)
  • Impaired renal function with decreased glomerular filtration rate *Don't get me started on my kidney/bladder problems. 
  • Acute psychosis (myxedema madness) (a rare presentation of hypothyroidism)
  • Decreased libido *This sucks.
  • Decreased sense of taste and smell (anosmia)
  • Puffy face, hands and feet (late, less common symptoms)
  • Gynecomastia
  • Deafness[19]
  • Enlarged tongue[20]
  • Tinnitis *RIIIINGINGGGG In my ears. All the time. 

Needless to say, I have been less than a happy camper lately.  

As it turns out, hypothyroidism is not only attributed to low levels ot Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and is, in about 90% of the cases, due to an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's.  If your doctor only tests for TSH4 in your thyroid screening...find a new doctor.  A TSH blood test will not show Hashimoto's as the issue is with the immune system. The doctor will need to run an antibody test to definitively diagnose Hashimoto's.  However, if you feel like crap and your tests come back "normal" and you're realllly convinced it is your thyroid, get a second opinion.  There is still much to learn about the thyroid and autoimmune disorders. Doctors are still somewhat in the dark in terms of treating these sort of things. Also, there is no consensus on "normal" levels of TSH or other hormones in our bodies. What is within the "normal" range for others might not be adequate for your body! 

Waiting for blood tests can be lengthy and agitating.  How can you help yourself manage symptoms in the mean time?  Turns out eliminating gluten from your diet will make a world of difference and once definitively diagnosed with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's it is strongly suggested that you turn your back on gluten and never look back. 

Alas, my mind has been made up.  I am going to try to give up gluten.  I am already skilled at making substitutions in the kitchen, and live on whole foods the majority of the time, so I think I will be able to manage. However, I'm concerned that I won't have the will power to be as strict as I need to be.  Even trace amounts of gluten are damaging to the system and there will be no "cheating" or "free-days" without consequence. 

I will still post old recipes that include whole wheat and other glutinous ingredients, but new recipes posted will most likely be gluten free.  

I will keep you posted on the results of my blood tests and such! 

Thanks for reading! 

Haley

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