What's wrong with me? Hormones??

[raeanna74]

I quit my BC pills last weekend. I start new ones this weekend. It's possible that stopping them has caused some of this but it all seems abnormal, at least for my body.

-I have edema so heavy that the rings on my fingers that are normally quite loose are so tight they are making indentations and absolutely will not come off or even move much.

-I have gained a lot of weight (17lbs). This could simply be because of inactivity but it seems odd that I've only gained it in my waist. My bust and hip measurements are exactly what they were a year ago. My waist measurement is 5 inches greater than it was 3 months ago. For the past week I have quit eating nearly as much (I normally eat small meals anyway) and tried to be more active and yet I gained 2 lbs in the last week. (I took a pregnancy test Monday and that was negative so that's not the case.)

-I have had hot flashes at least 3-4 times a day.

-I have been running a mild fever for at least the past 3 days that I know of. About 99.9 or so. The fever tells me I could have a virus but I also have allergies and hayfever does give me a mild lowgrade fever at times as well. I have been having some trouble with hayfever at this time anyway.

-The last two days I have felt like I had arthritis in every joint. It's somewhat similar to the ache that you feel when you are sick with a virus. This is more intense than any ache like that I've felt before. My hands and back in particular are affected. Hot showers, Icy Hot, Asprin... Nothing seems to help.

-Breathing deaply hurts. The pain from that is almost similar to the ache in my bones. It hurts down at the bottom of my ribs when I breath in and expand my chest. I'm not sure if it's my chest bones aching or something deeper than that.

-After being off my pill for 5 days I have yet to start my period. (Again - the test was negative.)

These symptoms are more intense than I've known before for anything.
I do intend to call my Dr but I feel as if I'm dreaming up these symptoms. The hot flashes, the aching bones... It seems like I could have dreamed them up and yet I can be working on something and I feel the throbbing ache come back and penetrate my concentration.

[JustJess]

I have no idea. Really. A couple things come to mind - early menopause, rheumatoid arthritis... but again, I have no idea. Not a doctor.

I'd say it's a damn good thing you're calling yours. Call them right now, pretty please?? and let us know how it goes.

[raeanna74]

I called today. The suggestion was that I wait until I begin my new hormones to see if I get a period, if getting the period helps, and if the addition of hormones back into my system helps my situation.

On other thing I had worried about is Lupus. My Dad has a Lupus type of immune disorder that attacks his joints. My brother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at only 16. Both are immune problems that tend to follow family lines at times.

My mom keeps recognizing symptoms that I'm having as things she dealt with during menopause. I know that while you take BC your body adjusts it's levels of hormone output and that it takes a while for it to return to normal. But the possibility of beginning early menopause worries me. My mother started her perimenopause only 4 years older than I am now. Hopefully the new BC will control all this. Wish me luck.

[raeanna74]

Well finally ended up at the Dr's. They felt I should come in. They themselves did their own pregnancy test and it came back negative.

They also did some other tests, one for thyroid which is the Dr's primary suspicion but also for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory diseases. I should have the results as early as tomarrow but no later than Thursday.

I hope it's something with the thyroid because that is easier to treat than the other possibilities. Even so it could still be hormones and after I've been on the newer medication for a month or two my body could adjust and calm down.

[typette]

I may be out in left field, but the syptoms you're having sound like what people around here have had with West Nile virus. It's that time of year again when the mosquitoes are coming out in full force! If none of your other tests show anything it may be worth checking into.

[raeanna74]

OK - got my results. For now the Dr is just going to wait to see if anything changes because the numbers aren't far from normal.

Sedimentation test (inflammatory diseases) results were 27mm/hr
Normal ranges for adult women under 50 are 0-25mm/hr

Thryoid (Total Thyroxine) results were 1.12 ug/dL
Normal ranges are 5-12 ug/dL in adults.

They said the two things together are hard to say what is causing this. Anemia can cause the sedimentation levels to be different and I am to up my dosage of Iron. As for the Thyroid I am hoping you guys can help suggest ways of improving my thyroid health. The Dr just basically told me to lower my caloric intake. I'm searching for more specific ways of boosting the thyroid. I intend to do some research on it but I'd love, if any of you could suggest foods or exercise that can help it.

Thanks

[hossified]

well if he's telling you to lower your caloric intake, that would explain the weight gain. Maybe as you get 'older' your metabolism is getting slower so what you once ate, now turns into a 'spare tire'. I'm sure changing the bc isn't helping either but try to get extra excercise and eat better. Less processed foods and more fruits and vegetables (fresh). I'm also guessing you don't eat much red meat as this would take care of your iron deficiency.

[raeanna74]

My diet is already fairly good. I've been trying to eat oatmeal and either fresh fruit or fruit juice for breakfast. I've completely cut out coffee and caffiene. I've stopped putting sugar in my green tea. For lunches I've been having salads with bits of ham, chicken, or tuna (usually tuna because I like it best) and 1 Tbsp of French dressing. I've been drinking water all day or sugar free crystal light. For supper meals I've had either chicken or beef. No gravies. I try to always have a vegetable or fruit with it and only milk or water to drink.
My caloric intake today was only 1200 calories today. I also walked a half mile and hoed and weeded the garden.

This is my typical diet and activity level. Any less food and my stomach is growling. Any more activity and my chip in my foot starts aggravating me more.

BTW the Dr didn't ask what my caloric intake was or what I ate. Just told me to reduce my caloric intake. When I said "and ad more vegetables I'm sure." he said - "whatever, just don't eat as much." I felt irritated that he didn't bother to find out HOW much or little I WAS eating.

[Ripsaw]

The Doctor did not need to know what you were eating. The formula for weight loss, speaking strictly in terms of calories, is

Calorie Intake < Calories Used
Nearly all of the weight loss threads mention this fact. If your caloric intake was 1200 (I have no idea what mine is) then somehow you have a net gain.

Re the chipped bone. Can you swim? That's the only intensive full body workout that I can think of that doesn't involve impact on your feet. Smooth, gradual movement lubricates the joints.

Hope you find a solution.

[hossified]

welll something must be going on, because 1200 calories is not alot, and the only way you gain weight is through what you eat. So I would double check the count and be sure to follow it everyday...

[raeanna74]

Yes I can swim but around here there's not many places I can go to swim without paying several bucks each time. Plus I either have to pay for a sitter or drag my kid with and then I have to stay close by her to keep her from drowning (she's only almost 5). I plan to go swimming as much as possible once it's warm enough. I'm only a block from the Wisconsin River and a small rocky beach there. It's still quite cold at this point yet.

As far as I can figure with all the calorie counters and calculators I'm eating about 300 calories less each day than I use. Based on length of strenuous activity and other things. I usually watch MAYBE an hour of TV each day. Sometimes a couple hours to watch 1 movie on a weekend.

I am trying my utmost at this point to find information to help heal my thyroid and get my body back on track. The weight loss is minor compared the the arthritic joints, hot flashes (I'm only 31 - not menopause age), missed period, racing heartbeat at times, dry skin, yellow skin, and daily headaches. I really don't care about the weight gain if I can get rid of the other ailments I'm sure I'll have more energy and then hopefully the weight will come off easier. So..

How do I help my thyroid??

[Sage]

raeanna- you've been concerned about your health, about your weight, about your thyroid, AND YOUR DOCTOR IS NOT LISTENING!!! I used to work in a hospital lab and trust me, when your total thyroid level is 1.12 out of a range of 5-12, there's something wrong!!! Up this doctor's nose with a rubber hose! Your body is telling you there's something W-R-O-N-G!!! Go to another doctor, get a second opnion- and perhaps think about going to a doctor that specialises in thyroid conditions as well, because they'd be able to figure out what was wrong with your thyroid a hell of a lot better than a general practitioner could. I've sort of been lurking this thread, because I haven't had anything to say, but boy howdy do I ever now!

GET THEE TO A THYROID SPECIALIST ON THE DOUBLE! You owe it to yourself, to your husband, and tripily so to your daughter to find the source of the trouble and nip it in the bud!

again, I say that based on what I've seen in my three years at the hospital, your total thyroid levels are well below normal! (not a doctor or a nurse, just recognize a low lab result when I see one)

[raeanna74]

Thankyou. I've felt that something was wrong and wanted to go elsewhere but no one has even mentioned it to me. I've had heart palpatations twice today and almost felt like I was choking once. I've also noticed more depression. My daughter even asked me yesterday why I was so sad and I didn't have any reason for her either. She's only four and could tell something was wrong. I do think I'm gonna go to someone else. It may take longer to see someone though because the other Dr's in this clinic are all quite busy. Otherwise I might go to a nearby town where I know one of the RN's in the Walk-in and she's really the 'patients advocate'. I was sorry to see her transfer from our clinic.

[thingstodo]

Sage gives some sage advice. OK, sorry for the pun! You doctor sounds like he/she sucks!! But all doctors are pretty busy these days. Go see someone who cares!!

[raeanna74]

Thanks. I've hit the jackpot in information. Mom and Dad got back from a week long vacation. I told Mom about my Dr's appointment and the TSH test results. Come to find out, Grandma (Maternal side) and her 3 sisters as well as her mother all ended up having to take Thyroid hormones for Hypothyroidism. My Paternal Grandma is ALSO on Thyroid Hormone currently. My mother dealt with goiters, Dad has had an immune disorder, and my brother as well. It seems like I was doomed to develop something. Mom was telling me all kinds of information that I couldn't remember it all. She apparently went with Grandma to a lot of her Dr's appointments, knows the better kinds of synthetic or natural hormones to take, and knows how to control it with diet. She also offered to go with me to the Dr's. She's suggesting that I get off my BC. The thought had crossed my mind. I'm so afraid of going off though because I had 3 migranes the last time I was on the placebos. I cannot deal with that. The reason is that estrogen can be damaging to thyrosine production. Perhaps I can go onto a progesterone only pills. They did work well for me before. We'll have to see. Calling the Dr's office tomarrow morning. Wish me luck.

[Sage]

Hey- perhaps the migranes are from the thyroid problem and *not* because of the hormones!

Hormones make you wacky. Go get this thyroid problem taken care of, and then go off of BC for a while and see if your migranes aren't better. Also, if you are feeling overwhelmed by all this (not just the thyroid but the things you have mentioned in your journal) please, please go talk to a counselor or a thearapist, if for no other reason than to have someone to talk to! I might give sage advice (ha ha ha) but even I can't solve every problem- only YOU can do that and getting help is a great thing to do!

raeanna, I'm so proud of you for taking control of your body and your life!

[raeanna74]

Well I got an appointment with the Dr I wanted. I hate to wait a month and a half to see her though.

I've started Iron and Iodine suppliments as well as a number of other vitamine/minerals that I looked up in a dozen books on thryoid disorders. Since the books all agreed on these particular ones I'm taking them. Already feeling a little better. I still want a Dr to be aware of what is going on for future reference because I may need their help more later. I just wish I'd know more about the family history of this condition before I started developing symptoms.

I'm also gonna see my Chiropractor tomarrow. He's really great with a lot of things and not just manipulating bones. Just see what he says.

[JustJess]

Raeanna - just got back, so I'm catching up on your thread. THANK GOODNESS you're going to a thyroid person. Regular doctors often seem to screw up thyroid questions, and with your family history... no surprises. Thyroid could account for all the things you're concerned about - and since you're HYPO, that could even account for some of your emotions as well. Definitely influences headaches too. You're doing the right things - do as much research as possible, so that you can tell whether the dr. is full of shit. and call more than one!!!! Don't wait the month and a half - what if they aren't any good either?? A good friend has been going through this, and she didn't find a decent person until the third specialist. Be determined. You deserve someone who will listen, and make measured decisions. Be wary if all they want to do is iodine treatments, etc - that's the most extreme and not always necessary (tho I'm not sure if that's only appropriate for HYPER instead).

You'll see - now that you have a starting point, things are definitely going to get better.

[raeanna74]

The iodine is only iodine suppliments not irradiated iodine (or something like that) for slowing the thyroid down when it's hyperactive.

My mom is aware of all the possible treatments and my mother-in-law has started on Synthroid recently and found a good Dr. It seems these Dr's are booked well in advance. I have been amazed at the difference the iodine and iron suppliments alone have done for me. I pretty much have no more symptoms of the problem at this time. I am loosing the weight and I have no heart palpatations or headaches anymore. I've gone 2 weeks or so now with no headaches whereas I was having one nearly every day before starting the suppliments. Thanks. I'm glad I'm going to be getting more help.

[JustJess]

I'm so happy for you - it's amazing when you're able to fix the things that hurting, isn't it?
Keep us updated!!!