I have had many symptoms that I would blame on many different things including age, medications, Migraines and just being a woman. Many of my symptoms fit these categories perfectly and for a long time so I really was not expecting anything but a normal blood result back - just like I always get back. Well, my TSH levels were a little high.
What this result really meant to me right now is that I would have to do a lot of heads down research on something I know little about in a very condensed period of time so I could start to make some decisions on what I need to do to help myself. Just a minute while I get a couple of sweaters and put on some lotion. Much better, thanks for waiting. One of my biggest problems is that I have been totally exhausted and have been for a while. I can't seem to get enough sleep and then even wake up feeling tired. When I am on-line, I have been known to fall asleep right in the middle of posting entries. I'm embarrassed to tell you how little energy I have to do anything especially given the amount of sleep I have been getting and that's not even mentioning how hard it is to remember the simplest things that should be a no brainer.
Do you know what? The symptoms I just complained about plus a few others that I had noticed and just pushed off toward other logical things are also symptoms of an issue with the thyroid. Wow! I really don't want to read anything into this one test. I know I will have other blood tests that I need to take, but I know my body. Many of these symptoms are not me, but I have been complaining about some of them for a while. I don't want to self diagnose, but I think we might be onto something here. Honestly, I really don't want anything to be wrong with my thyroid, but I would love to get rid of the symptoms I have and been blaming on other things especially if it would help with my Migraines; I would consider that a win-win!
Having a thyroid condition is not that unusual for people with Migraine disease. They are known to be comorbid conditions which is where two diseases are known to occur at the same time but are independent of each other; one does not cause the other. Teri Robert wrote an article on Migraine, Headache and Thyroid. In this article, Teri explains how taking into account other conditions which may be affecting us, can help improve our headache and Migraine management. In some cases, the treatment of even borderline hypothyroidism has had a dramatic affect on the response of our Migraines. In my preliminary research on the thyroid, I fit almost every symptom that I have seen listed for thyroid.
I also started my doctor searching which is one of the things I dread the most because finding the right doctor is so important. I fear a repeat of some of the neurologist experiences I've gone through in the past. I don't want to waste my time or money with the likes of any doctor that would be like some of my old neurologists, but know there is only so much I can do before I had to take the plunge to choose one.
I did the best I could and picked an endocrinologist I am ok with for a first visit. I called their office and will need to wait three months before my appointment. There are a few reasons I picked this doctor and really don't want to choose another doctor at this time. Although I want to start feeling better NOW, I also do not want a repeat of going to any of the horrible doctors I had gone to for my Migraines. I realize I am not the same patient I was with the first few neurologists, but I want to try to get it right from the beginning if I can. I know it's still a crap shoot, but I will keep trying if I need to after my first visit.
I can't wait to start feeling more normal again. Right now, that even means having my normal Migraines and trying to deal with them without all of these other symptoms. I can't keep going on with this level of fatigue or how extremely cold I feel all of the time along with the many other symptoms. I'm not really sure what I can do in the meantime to help alleviate some of this. I believe I am getting enough iodine and don't want to start increasing it even more at this time especially on my own. I guess it helps knowing that I have this new real path to go down to try to help with my overall health.
4 comments:
I sure hope that this latest find will help you to feel better or at least more like yourself.
Thanks, Migrainista. I'd like to at least be the old me again.
MP: I was diagnosed hypothyroid when I was in my thirties. I was sooo tired, cold, itchy, hair brittle and falling out. I had heart irregularities, my feet and ankles were swollen, and only had a bowel movement every couple of weeks. I slept slept slept but never felt restored. After starting thyroid supplmentation I realized that I was dreaming again! Never knew I quit dreaming but now I know it's a sign my medication may need adjustment. Sleep was like standing in a waterfall - cool refreshing and relaxing. For me the medication has been a godsend. Hoping this is the problem that is causing all your other probelms!
Thanks Winny. It would be real nice to be able to take care of some of these symptoms. Being tired and cold all of the time is too frustrating. If that is what it is, I can't wait to get all of them under control.
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