Symptoms of thyroid problems to look out for
A few months after the birth of my son, my wedding ring no longer fit my swollen fingers. I had insomnia I was panicky. My heart was racing and my baby's room had two different types of monitors, one alerting me with its cries and the other moving if it stopped breathing. I was obsessed with preventing SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) beyond the norm. Since I was not asleep, I searched for articles and information on this topic on Google. I couldn't breathe. I was exhausted, but I couldn't sleep, let alone fall asleep, even when the baby was finally asleep. However, my family doctor simply noticed my symptoms as a young mother. But I knew something was wrong. I asked for blood tests. But my doctor ridiculed me and said visit after visit: "You are a new mother. What are you waiting for?" I was told to accept my symptoms. It would be the beginning of a lesson from which we can all learn; You are your own health attorney.
I was fed up with this answer and decided to contact my gynecologist. My OBGYN was able to refer me to an endocrinologist who supported my request for blood tests.
The poll says?
Hyperthyroid.
I have won.
At least I won the diagnosis award.
I was far, far, far from the normal range. My endocrinologist confirmed after months that what I thought was not "the normal exhaustion of the new mother" that I suffered from was really REAL. a thyroid disorder. As my endocrinologist predicts, many women have thyroid problems after birth and there is a name for it, postpartum inflammation of the thyroid. However, if it is monitored and I believe that all women should be monitored after childbirth, it will usually be reset without any temporary or permanent drug intervention. My endocrinologist and I monitored my thyroid. We were patient. He was not recovering. In fact, in line with most common scenarios, it went from the area in the opposite direction and stuck in and stayed forever, underactive thyroid. In other words, if I eat raw salad and gain weight, I could eat like a hamster all day. I was even more tired when I switched from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism. The dark circles under my eyes could keep up with actor Benicio Del Toro, and I had a salty and sweet craving for PMS that Mommie Dearest's PMS could beat.
Enter Synthroid, one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for synthetic hormones to stabilize the thyroid. Your doctor will most likely slowly increase the dose of Synthroid (or the generic version) to carefully restore the delicate balance of hormone therapy that your body cannot produce. Together, my endocrinologist and I were able to get my thyroid back to normal.
This return to normal took months. Patience is the key. You won't want to paint the pink city overnight. Thyroid health is possible. My health and livelihood would not be where they are today if I had not campaigned for medical intervention and were my own health advocate. Yes, doctors have been studying for years. Yes, they are most likely brilliant, but who ends up knowing your body and mind better than you? Nobody. You do that.
"What we call genius is an abundance of life and health." - Henry David Thoreau
Before synthroid treatment
-Panoramic diseases-insomnia-exhaustion-weight fluctuations-sweating-foggy memory
After synthroid treatment
- Stabilize weight - Increase energy - End panic attacks - Reduce anxiety - Reduce sweating - Clarity of mind
Praise cholesterol
Can we all overcome our fixation on cholesterol? I mean, now that it is clear that cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease?
But, but if cholesterol builds up in my arteries, doesn't that mean cholesterol is the problem?
Indeed, no. Your cholesterol level is just trying to clog the areas of inflammation in your arteries, which is the problem. Cholesterol has been revised, the subtype estimated in the scenario.
Get rid of the inflammation and eliminate many problems, including cardiovascular "events". But that's another article for another day.
Since the medical community is slowly moving from cholesterol to inflammation as the bad guy in the room, here are a few facts you should know.
The brain needs a lot of cholesterol to function. A brain is a terrible thing to lose, especially for a mistake.
The endocrine system - thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads, etc. - needs cholesterol to be awake, alert, and ready to make life possible.
Think of the thyroid gland: Most doctors prescribe Synthroid or an equivalent T4 drug for patients with an underactive thyroid. However, the fact is that the T4 can't do much; Our body needs to convert T4 to T3 to remove the thyroid function from the mat. The change cannot be made without cholesterol, so that patients with hypothyroidism can take their medication faithfully and still feel as if they have been hit by the brick. The conversion isn't guaranteed in all cases (and don't ask me why it makes T4 medication inappropriate and not worth spitting), but it absolutely can't happen without enough cholesterol.
The adrenal glands, which provide general energy and the ability to cope with stress, also need cholesterol to prevent pulling down. And this is not the case even with a small blow.
And low cholesterol also means low libido.
I could go on, but why? Millions and millions of people have thyroid problems. Most of them also have adrenal problems. These people need cholesterol. A good healthy level of 200, maybe more.
People with endocrine problems should not take cholesterol-lowering drugs. Or eat low-fat diets. Or drive over the salt shaker. Bad, wrong and wrong.
People who think a functioning brain is a good idea should also look at cholesterol-lowering drugs. Working liver and muscle strength are also good reasons to avoid these drugs.
We have to overcome this obsession with cholesterol before it kills us more.