Good morning - yeah, it's actually still morning!! How is everyone this morning? We have a nice cool-down in progress and it's a beautiful 66° outside with an awesome breeze. It was a lovely morning for a brisk walk and my neighbor and I took advantage of it.
It's been a busy week here. I had an appointment with my primary care physician on Thursday. That went much better than I'd thought it would. He actually acknowledged that my thyroid hormone levels were too low and OFFERED an increase in my medication!! Of course, I accepted gratefully since I've felt I needed an increase for some time. He went over the blood tests that the NP ordered back in the spring and which she said were "no big deal" (eye roll). He confirmed my thoughts that they are, in fact, a big deal. He verified that I'm taking vitamin D for my deficiency (I am). He acknowledged that my RBC was too low, diagnosed anemia and subsequently, suggested an iron supplement (the PA said RBC wasn't low enough to matter). He also pointed out that I've gained 7 pounds since my last visit in the spring - I didn't really need that reminder, but at least he didn't just put it down to lack of exercise and/or too much food. He acknowledged the low thyroid, along with medication(s) that can cause weight gain. Along with increasing my thyroid medication, he agreed to change the medication for my neuropathy from the current medication (Duloxetine) that doesn't work to one I was on a couple of years ago that did work (Topiramate), but my neurologist at the time, wanted me off. Topiramate also helped keep my weight in check. Within a month of going off it in 2019, I'd gained approximately 20 lbs and of course, even more since then.
I'd asked for follow up blood work to recheck the parameters that were out of range, but those were not ordered. He has ordered them for my next visit, which will be in January. It takes a few weeks for the thyroid increase to take full effect and it will also take some time for the Topiramate to start working, while I get off the Duloxetine, but I'm hopeful that this will be a turn in the right direction.
All that said, I climbed 4 lbs from last Sunday to Thursday when I saw the doctor, then dropped the 4 lbs back off, so we know that had to have been fluid. Overall, I'm down 0.6 from last week, so I'll take that and hope it keeps going down over the next few weeks.
So that's my story. How was your week? I hope it was good and that you were able to meet your goal(s).
~~Wishing everyone a wonderful, successful week~~