Heavens to Murgatroid

[MBombardier]

That's as close as I come to cursing these days... But what's going on is enough to make me curse more than that.

I was looking through my old posts to see if I could tag on to one, but they were all over the place, so I am starting a new one.

The issues:

1) I've lost about 16 lbs. (happy dance) and my BP is good, but I am starting to experience some heart palpitations after eating. I tried to cut back my Armour by 30mg/day and my get-up-and-go got up and went. My average temp went down, too. I'm going to have to finesse my dose, like I don't have anything else to do.

I have been researching, and long story short--about 90% of people with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto's, and Hashimoto's is not the cause of the thyroid going bonkers, it's the result of inflammation causing the thyroid to go bonkers. Okay... Supposedly, if you get the inflammation under control, you shouldn't even have to have thyroid supplementation, unless it's really bad off, like mine. Figures.

2) I have been in a flare since about the 1st of April. I did not realize it had been so long until I read my posts. I seem to be reacting to everything. I feel like Gloria--I have to eat something, even if I react to it. I don't remember what norman is like. I'm happy if it's not WD, and my family is not disturbed by the bowel sounds, for goodness sake!

3) My granuloma annulare is raging. There is a definite relationship with allergies, but what the heck that is, God only knows. I read on Medscape that (among other things) causes of GA may include lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction with macrophage activation, and cytokine-mediated degradation of connective tissue. GA can be a result of EBV among other infections. Somewhere I also read about a connection between GA and mast cells, and between GA and thyroiditis. And people with raging GA like mine should probably be checked for RA and lupus. Lovely.

I found some forum where there were people discussing GA and food allergies and how their GA (some of many years duration) went away when they cut gluten, dairy, and soy from their diets. Done that... Didn't help. Although I should look on the bright side and think about how much worse it could be if I hadn't cut those foods out.

I just have to buckle down and keep on researching and trying to find answers, though I am sick of it. I just want to live my life. I am fine with being gluten-, dairy-, and legume-free, but my body isn't. I hate being tied to the computer trying to figure this stuff out, keeping records, only having a few foods that I can eat and even they aren't safe. And I'm sick of them, too.

Then of course there's the personal issues that might be alleviated if I could devote the time to them that I use on trying to figure out my health and what I can eat. I am generally a positive, optimistic person, but I've been depressed for a few days. Thanks for listening.

[tex]

Hi Marliss,

Bummer! I hear you though. Solutions are elusive when we're in uncharted waters. And everything just seems to run together and runs right over us when the symptoms seem invincible, no matter what we do.

Are you still taking 4 grains (240mg) of dessicated thyroid extract? This may be irrelevant, but remember that hyperthyroidism (and presumably, thyroid supplement overdose) is associated with more frequent BMs, and in some cases, D, whereas hypothyroidism (or undertreated hypothyroidism) is associated with C. And, of course, heart palpitations are also associated with hyperthyroidism or thyroid supplement overdose.

When both hyper and hypo symptoms are present, it's a mighty tricky situation, as you're well aware. Is pollen still a problem in the PNW, or is there some other air-borne allergen that could be possibly be triggering your symptoms? And as you are aware, the stress of an unrelenting reaction can be enough to perpetuate a reaction, especially when its not the only source of stress.

I hope you can find some solutions, soon.

Tex

[coryhub]

Hi Marliss,

I couldn't get your cursing substitute expression out of my head because I kept thinking, "who was it used to say that?" finally I looked it up on Wikepedia and it was:
Snagglepuss a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character created in 1959, a pink mountain lion voiced the catchphrase, "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" Thanks for that memory!
I hope your tomorrow feels better.

"Exit, stage Left" ~Cory

[Sue777]

Wish I could offer some comfort but if there is truth to the saying that misery loves company, then consider yourself with company. I, too, have been in a flare since early April and got very depressed the other day when I realized how long it's been going on. I am sick of the research, the reading, the experimenting, the logging, the analyzing, etc. etc. etc. "Is what I ate 30 minutes ago causing the problem? Or is it what I ate last night? Or yesterday morning? Is it the increased dosage of med? Is it the absence of the other med?" Too many variable and too little consistency.

I also got depressed when I realized it's the end of June and I haven't been able to enjoy much of this season because of this disease. I try to stay optimistic and upbeat but there are times, especially when you're not getting enough sleep or nutrition, that you just want to give in to the depression and sit on the pity pot for a while. And then I get mad at myself for doing that.

And yes, there are also other issues that are starting to rear their ugly heads mostly because I have been too consumed with colitis to maintain them. The stress of knowing other things are falling apart can't be helping the colitis.... it's a vicious cycle.

And then there is the emotional rollercoaster that really takes it's toll on me. I will have an afternoon or evening or even morning when I jump up and down and get very excited thinking "OK, things are FINALLY getting better - whoohoo!" and then BAM - a few hours later you are feeling worse than ever and all your hopes and optimism are back in the toilet.

Sorry I vented in your thread...... I probably should have started my own, but suffice it to say that I do totally understand what you're going through and I know how hard it is to stay positive and keep up the good fight when you keep getting sucker-punched.
Sue

[Deb]

All I can offer are hugs. I sure relate to the (waste of?) time that's spent trying to feel good. Love, Deb

[Martha]

Hugs from me, too.



Martha

[MBombardier]

Aw, thanks... back to you all!!

Tex~ I am still on 4 grains of Armour, but I'm going to taper, maybe 30mg every other day, see how that works. Palpitations are also a symptom of hypothyroidism, but since I was doing fine on the 4 grains with no other symptoms of hypo, until I lost the weight, I'm sure the palpitations are from being over-medicated.

It's been raining a lot up here but we don't have to worry about mold because the humidity is so low. I suspect it's grass pollen--my girls have been inside with the doors and windows closed most of the day because working in the garden did a number on them, even with allergy medication, which we all take every day. But the GA flares seem to be random, so I am apparently reacting to foods as well.

Sue, don't apologize--I'm glad that you took the opportunity to unload. I hope you are feeling better, or feel better soon.

I do--I guess I just needed to vent to clear my mind enough to realize that the underlying cause of everything is inflammation. I knew that about MC, of course, but for some reason I had not connected MC, Hashi's, and GA together under the same inflammation umbrella. So strange that I had not. It makes so much sense. I have no idea why I thought they would be different inflammatory processes. So I am going to be reading Gabes' posts and some other stuff, and see if I can pull together a plan. It will probably be some kind of rotation diet. It's nice to have a course of action in mind.

[Leah]

Good luck with your plan Marliss. I hope it brings you some relief soon. You have been suffering much too long :(
Keep us posted

Leah

[Gloria]

Marliss,
When I read your first post, my first thought was to hope Tex would come through with some insight - and he did! What a guy...we're very lucky to have him.

It sounds like you have some things you can tinker with to improve your symptoms. I hope you can find the right combination/dosages so that all is better.

Gloria

[Sheila]

I wish I had your self-control when it comes to cursing. I'm a lot better than I used to be, especially around the grandchildren, but when I'm by myself I sometimes just left it rip. I was listening to PBS this a.m. on the way to a Dr. appt and there is actually a study that proves that swearing helps when you hurt yourself. You actually feel better if you vent when you slam your thumb with a hammer than if you just suck it up.

Anyway, I hope you get to the bottom of your problems and begin to feel better. It is depressing to feel so bad for such a long time and when food becomes such an over-riding issue you have no time for a real life.

Sheila W

[Deb]

Sheila, I still manage some control around my grands when it comes to cursing.......but I remember being surprised when my thoughts turned to cursing (usually after dropping something). I have gotten worse over the years. I'm scared what I might say if I'm ever sedated! :) Deb

[Kari]

Marliss,

Glad to read you're starting to get back on track. You've been there before, and I'm sure you'll get there again. Congrats on your weight loss, I know that has been a goal of yours for a long time.

I seem to be quite fortunate in terms of managing my hypothyroid condition. I settled with 88 mcg synthroid 25 years ago and am still doing well on that dose. However, I remember it took quite a bit of tweaking before I got it right. Hope you manage to figure out your workable dose quickly, so you can put that issue on the back burner - at least for a while.

Love,
Kari

[MBombardier]

You are all sweethearts! Thank you!!

I switched to cutting 30 mg of thyroid every other day on Thursday. We'll see how that goes. I've also decided to modify my intermittent fasting, because eating larger meals is what brings on the palpitations, whether they are low-carb or not. Sometimes I just eat two meals in the 8-9 hours I eat per day. I'm not sure if I will eat several small meals during that time, or increase the number of hours during which I eat, or what. It will depend on my gut, which (of course) has randomly decided to start behaving.

I'm so thankful that I have you all to talk to and learn from. You are great!!

[Sheila]

It seems like a good idea, Marliss, to eat smaller meals, more often during the day. Dumping a lot of food into your stomach and intestines all at once may be too much to handle. It is for me. I don't have a large appetite to start with and usually eat 3-5 small meals a day. However, there is always that time when whatever I'm eating is just SO GOOD, I eat too much. Invariably, I am nauseated and have to go lay down somewhere and moan until some of it gets digested. It sounds crazy, but I really feel too sick to do anything but lay down and hope I don't barf, faint or get D.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Sheila W

[MaggieRedwings]

Good luck with the plan Marliss. I know what a long flare is like and it sure aint pretty.

Love, Maggie