12.27.2011

Thyroid Follow Up and First Cycle Since Nursing

First of all, I am so grateful for all who read and commented on my thyroid post.  All of it was helpful and caused me to be prepared when the nurses and I did make contact.

It turns out the Synthroid was to supplement the T3, not to replace it.  Jasmine was spot on.  Here is an exerpt from her comment:

"...Anyway being on T3 after a while really suppresses your TSH and ultimately your T4, and adding a bit of T4 after a while can help. I hit a sweet spot with my T3 for only about 2 months, and then needed to adjust again with some T4. See the book "What your doctor May not tell you about Hypothyroidism." Though I don't believe his physiological dosing fits everyone. Anyway, so while Sew and the others are right in that T3 is the active hormone, T4 sometimes needs to be added. The T3 dosage is supplementary to what the body makes, so whatever T4 we are making is also being broken down into T3, ideally. My addition of T4 (in the form of Armour, which has a bit of T1, T2, T3, and T4) seems to be the right track for me. I think a mix of dosing off symptoms and labs is working for me. I would give Dr. H's treatment a try, and if not improving find some other help. Oh yeah, and thyroid treatment often times need adrenal support, though I am NOT suggesting hydrocortisone. Lifestyle and vitamins can support that too. An interesting book on those hormones was brought up at the conference as well: The Schwarzbein Principle. Ignore the aging stuff, it's really about hormones."

It is clear the T3 is working because my T3/RT3 ration was good (39.7) when before it was 6.4.  And I can tell the difference, which is why I was hesitant to go off of it.  However, my T4 was low (2.6 when it should be between 4.5 and 12.5).  So they just put me on the tiniest dose (.075mg) once a day and are going to retest in 6 weeks.  I like that I can get it locally and that I can retest to see if that is enough.  I realize, like Sew said, it may just give me nicer numbers, but since I am on T3, I imagine I can use the T4 as intended.  I am not ready to seek a thyroid doc yet b/c I really don't feel like I have thyroid symptoms.  I feel good on the T3 and this little boost of T4 may be just what I need.  If not, then I will do some more research.  And I definitely plan on learning more by reading the books and sites Jasmine and Sew suggested, including about adrenal support using lifestyle and vitamins.

So, for now I am good and happy.  My cycle returned and it was quite light, just like the one after Charlie now that I have had time to look back.  However, I am reminding myself it was the 2nd cycle that wasn't so light, and the 3rd and 4th before I became more regulated.  So...this cycle I start my peak plus 7 draws and its back to familiar territory.  I had good mucus this cycle, more days than normal, so hopefully all is well, but I don't take anything for granted and all of my tests and my lap are starting to seem really old (2005).  Time will tell...

Baby update-AJ is doing well, but driving me nuts in the sleeping dept after being spoiled for several months.  After schedule changes the week before Christmas at a time he was already starting to shake one of his naps (by fighting it and going down way later, sleeping late), he is now seeming to nap normal and yet wake an hour earlier.  It is brutal.  I have been spoiled and do well with anything after 7am, but now he is crying several times in the night (I don't go to him, he doesn't need anything) and now the early waking.  Starting to feel like a zombie again, a feeling I never wanted to get back to.  I can only handle one change at a time folks, lol!

Christmas was good here.  Hope yours was Merry as well!

12.14.2011

Synthroid, Cycle Update (and Pics at the end)

Calling all Dr. Hilger's peeps.  Tell me what you know about Synthroid. :)

I tried to start taking my T3 awhile back and I was terrible about it still.  I was totally forgetful and never had a full stomach.  So I took a break, and when my painful mouth full of canker sores returned for the second time, I decided I was all in.  Dr. Hilger's filled the script, but wanted to update my blood draw.  So back to the lab I went, giving lots of love to my lab ladies (the lab manager is 39 and has PCOS, never been pregnant).  I was caught off guard because this was one that won't ship room temp, but lovely lab ladies came the rescue happily shipping it for me on ice.  So grateful!  I guess they started doing the shipping when they got so many requests.  I know there are lots of Dr. Hilgers fans in the area thanks to our Napro docs.

Anyway, Dr. H's office is playing phone tag with me, but the gist is Dr. H wants me to start synthroid.  Not sure he has all the facts though, so looking forward to talking to the nurses.  I thought I would get the scoop on it from you all so I would be prepared with any additional questions.  The reason I say they don't have all the facts is they told me to do it at a certain point in my cycle.  I wasn't cycling, so I am pretty sure what they told me to do was take it anytime.  However, I don't know if they gave me any other instructions.  I mean, pretty sure I took T3 the day I did the draw etc, normal like any other day.  But that doesn't make sense if they are drawing for hype and hypo etc (they did a few thyroid tests).  I may have goofed it up.  I looked up symptoms and I used to get cold easily and I do have dry skin, but my temps are better on T3 and the dry skin, well I definitely need to drink more water.  No hair loss.  And no weight to lose which seems to be a biggie.  I don't know.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Is Synthroid basically the new T3 that Dr Hilgers is using or is it just for hypo?  How much is it a month?  Do you get it from Kubats or locally?  Does it help with Sx?  What Sx do you experience?  Any side effects? 

By the way, wasn't cycling that I knew of, but probably was about two weeks prior to cycling so I should have just been paying more attn.  After 12 months of mostly dry days, you get a little lazy with NFP.  But back it came, like clockwork, when AJ was a few days shy of 13 months, just like with Charlie.  We quit nursing at a year (little bugger was teething on me for at least a month prior and starting to do some serious damage!) I am on CD 4 now (and this is so weird, but it isn't crazy heavy like I expected) so I am looking forward to discussing the plan with Dr. H's nurse re: ttc.  Last time it was standard to do blood work on cycle 2, medicate and bloodwork cycle 3, and then ttc on cycle 4.  Anyone know if this has changed?

Okay, gotta give you pics now since I totally missed blogging that they turned 3 (Oct. 8th) and 1 (Nov. 11).  AJ has taken up to 9 steps but isn't full on walking by any stretch.  He'd rather walk on his knees, silly boy! He keeps us smiling by folding his hands at mealtime, the occasional spontaneous words ("gentle", "chug chug chug choo choo" and barking at the dog). He will seriously rock out to any time of tune.  He is still our bruiser, very physical boy, and also very tall.  I still can't believe he has 8 teeth when Charlie had 2 at this age.  Charlie is still the preformer, always talking ninety miles a minute, has a huge imagination, and a million facial expressions that he has perfected (I catch him trying to se himself in the mirror if he is crying).  He kept it real with Santa, talking about how dad was caulking the tub all day, that he gets treats for pooping at school, and carried on a lengthy conversation about the tractor tipping scene from the movie Cars.  Always on my toes with these two, who love each other as much as we love them, which is so fun to see!

Keeping you all in thoughts and prayers and wishing you a very merry Christmas!







AJ never looks this petrified.  He was not a fan at first and burst into uncertain tears, but they didn't last long.  He got distracted by the beard, he even managed to get a good yank on the beard in, I wish they would have caught that on film! 

Pretty sure I have never seen Charlie with his hand in his pocket.  How funny!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

12.12.2011

Prayer Requests!

I had a friend contact me today asking me to post this request on my blog.  She knows how powerful your prayers can be!  She just returned from a lap with Dr. Hilgers where he addressed a lot of adhesions from a "sloppy C-section." Now they have (full) treatment scheduled with Dr. Toth for January 2nd through 12th.  This is an intensive treatment for an infection that has been diagnosed.  Originally she was going for this treatment and found out she was pregnant and had to cancel it. That was a very scary pregnancy, knowing she had the infection, but by the grace of God and with a high level of antibiotics and Dr. Hilgers and Toth's help, she had a healthy baby!  Now, the full treatment is back on, but she is lacking the peace she expected to have.  She worries about the level of antibiotics on top of what she has already had.  She is asking God for a clear sign of discernment about doing this full treatment. Please pray that she finds some peace!

Please also pray for my great aunt Sarah.  She is basically my grandmother, I have no grandparents living, but with a little more saucy attitude.  She is amazing and sharp as a tack! However, she is 89, and ready to move on to what God has in store for her.  She lost her husband many years ago.  She is ready.  But we are not.  Her recent nausea and stomach aches turned up a large mass and they are doing an MRI as we speak. They really think it is cancer in her pancreas, called a silent killer b/c it is always so far advanced before it is diagnosed. Like, she may only have a month, or less.  Pray we can be as good to her through this as she is to us and not be selfish.

Thank you all for your unceasing prayers! I hope you all have a wonderful Advent season and a very Merry Christmas!

12.07.2011

Liebster Nomination

Does being absence make the heart grow fonder?  Well, one friend and follower seems to think so!
Thank you so much, Alive in Hope, for the blog award! Really, that is incredibly sweet of you.  You are such a beautiful person and your amazing faith is something I have long admired.
This is what I learned about the Liebster award from Alive in Hope: it spotlights up and coming bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.  I guess you could say I am more like a "coming and going" blogger rather than an "up and coming blogger", but I hope even in my absence that my blog is a source of hope and a resource for those struggling with IF, especially those that are new to working long distance with Dr. Hilgers.  As many say, I have a million posts in my head that leave me by time I get to the computer-nada.  That is if I get to the computer by the end of the day.  And then there is everything equaling a quick takes lately.  Most recently everyone at my house has had the stomach flu...bagh!  No more excuses...because it is time to recognize some amazing women that somehow have time to do it all!
So the way this works is to pay forward this blog award with some of my favorite bloggers.  There are so many amazing women out there that I am blessed to have found.  The following is just a short list of those I found were not yet recognized. 
  1. His Grace is Sufficient
  2. More Like Mary~More Like Me
  3. Seeking the Lamp
  4. Shoved to Them
  5. Magnify the Lord with Me
Upon receipt of the Liebster Blog Award, there are a few very simple rules:

1) Copy and paste the award to your blog.

2) Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

3) Reveal your top 5 blog picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

4) Hope that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers
 
That's it!  :)  Wishing everyone a Happy and Productive Season of Advent!