It all started in July 2010, we had gone on vacation and I gained about 10lbs. I didn't think much of it at first since I have always had a struggle to evacuate my bowels while I am traveling. I started to have the heaviest periods to the point that I had to wear adult diapers! I was 31 years old and had always had regular menstrual cycles and this scared me. Every month for the next 6 months my weight steadily increased 10 more pounds. I have always been pretty tall 5' 10'' , 165-175 lbs give or take normal size 12 and happy...I'm not skinny and never really have been or wanted to be, just wanted to feel healthy. I had an active job, some work and family stress but nothing I felt that I couldn't handle. I sank into a deep depression when the scale hit 215 lbs. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was going on. I started to isolate myself, wanted to sleep constantly, always tired, migrane headaches that made me want to die almost on a daily basis, thirsty, constantly moody and irritable(even more so during PMS), I truly felt like I was going crazy. I cried about everything, hungry all the time. I felt old, never felt like I thought I should feel for being barely into my 30's.
I went to several doctors and had labs, ultrasounds, you name it and nothing ever showed up as abnormal UNTIL this past April. Everything in my full lab workup was smack dab normal (including my TSH) EXCEPT my T4, it was high and my Triglycerides were high by 158 points! I had mostly signs and symptoms of Hypothyridism but lab results looked more Hyperthyroid.....WHAT?!
I got scared BIG TIME. I have two adolescent daughters that I wanted to be there for. I immediately went into a lifestyle change mode. I put myself on a strict 1500 calorie a day diet with lots of fresh veggies and fruits, smoothies for breakfast, calcium and fiber supplements, lots of turkey, chicken, fish, NO pork or beef. And my doctor put me on a RX for Prozac, which I do admit has helped take the "edge" off but I still do not feel like I know I should be feeling. I do not feel like any doctors I have explained this to have even payed attention to a word I have said.
So, I have been doing some research of my own and I have come across some Holistic remedies suggested by some other doctors. I do not like to take medication unless it is a last resort. I feel the human body is designed to heal things naturally... but, if all else fails then MEDS it is. The things I have read suggested that Iodine, selenium, iron, zinc and manganese can greatly impact the conversion of T4 into T3..which is what I have self diagnosed in my extensive reading about my specific case... Also, that near infared light therapy can help destress, detoxify the body and help those with auto-immune disorders...which does run in my genetic history.
I have yet to try anything as of now since I have also read that, depending on the case self medication of the above mentioned vitamins and minerals can be toxic if not needed or if over dosage occurs.
Thank you for listening to my story, sorry if I rambled, I think that is also a Hypothyroidism side effect. :)
My question is; Has anyone reading this tried the herbal supplements/methods mentions and/or had any positive success with their symptoms/disease? I would love to hear that I am not alone in this and that there may be a light at the end of this tunnel.
Thank you for listening
D-