Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Hashi what?

Today was a great day!  Why?  Because I FINALLY have answers.  Since 2011, I've felt like crap...to be quite honest.  I know a lot of people who say they are tired all the time, and they have normal stressors in life like a tough job, kids, busy schedules, etc.  I chalked up my lack of energy and feeling sluggish to these things as well.  However, mine got progressively worse.  There have been several days where I have fallen asleep behind the wheel of my car.  I have 2 kids in the backseat.  Holy cow.  Praise Jesus for always keeping us safe.

So after months of blood work (12-14 tubes drawn at each appointment), today I was given a definitive diagnosis.  Hashimoto's Disease.  Hashi what?  My dear friend asked if I was turning Asian.  Haha!  She said my nickname would be Moo Goo Gai Pan...but for short, she'll call me Moogy.  I'm diggin' it!

Hashimoto's thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is attacked by a variety of cell- and antibody-mediated immune processes. It was the first disease to be recognized as an autoimmune disease.[1] It was first described by the Japanese specialist Hakaru Hashimoto in Germany in 1912.


Hashimoto's disease is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, a small gland at the base of your neck below your Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's activities.
The resulting inflammation from Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. It primarily affects middle-aged women but also can occur in men and women of any age and in children.
You might not notice signs or symptoms of Hashimoto's disease at first, or you may notice a swelling at the front of your throat (goiter). Hashimoto's disease typically progresses slowly over years and causes chronic thyroid damage, leading to a drop in thyroid hormone levels in your blood. The signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
  • Fatigue and sluggishness
  • Increased sensitivity to cold
  • Constipation
  • Pale, dry skin
  • A puffy face
  • Hoarse voice
  • Unexplained weight gain — occurring infrequently and rarely exceeding 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid
  • Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
  • Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
  • Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
  • Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
  • Depression

My endocrinologist did an ultrasound of my thyroid gland today and found mine to be, in her words, huge and diseased as seen in classic Hashimoto's.  She said the ultrasound confirmed what she suspected with the lab results that came back on Monday.  So, time to start Synthroid, a very commonly prescribed drug to replace TSH in my body.
In addition to my thyroid issues, I also have a pituitary tumor.  Your pituitary gland is located in your brain.  Now, technically, that would make it a brain tumor.  However, mine is a very common and very benign microadenoma...or teeny tiny tumor.  Haha!  More specifically mine tells my pituitary gland to produce prolactin which is the hormone found in breast milk.  So, despite me not breastfeeding per doctor's orders, I still produce breast milk.  I also don't have a cycle.  In order to stop my pituitary gland from producing prolactin, my endo also prescribed Cabergoline to be taken twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.  I'm a little nervous about this med just due to the side effects...nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lowered blood pressure.  So that's why they start you at a low dose and only twice a week.  Prayers that my side effects will stay at bay are greatly appreciated.  


Answers are good!  Now I know what to do to make me feel better.  I can't wait to have energy again and not want to sleep all day and night.  It's crazy how much I want to sleep.  When I don't I can't focus at all which makes my ADD crazy.  Maybe that will improve too!  I'm also ready to work out and eat right and actually see results.  

Here's an Irish toast that was on all of the glasses when Randy and I worked at Bennigan's.  Slainte!  It means, to your health!  

Hit it Mr. Marley!

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