I mentioned this before, but I've received several more 'replies' to really old posts which mentioned thyroid supplements. Those 'replies' all included links to advertisements for 'natural thyroid' (dessicated bovine thyroid). So I'll say this again:
I'm not interested in 'natural thyroid'. I need to adjust my T3 and T4, because I don't easily convert T4 to T3. 'Natural thyroid' has a fixed proportion of T4 to T3 (I believe that's 4 to 1). I take more T3 than T4.
My point is: If you post a reply mentioning a link to 'natural thyroid' advertisements, I WILL CLASSIFY YOUR REPLY AS SPAM AND DELETE YOUR POST. IN THE FUTURE, YOUR POSTS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE CATEGORIZED AS SPAM AND NEVER APPEAR ON MY BLOG.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Test Results and Baking Obsession
I finally received the results of my 24 hour urine collection test for adrenal steroids and enyme activity. My doc had suspected that I had 'adrenal fatigue', which made me more vulnerable to respiratory infections. I also seem to need more and more thyroid supplement (mostly T3, because my body doesn't easily convert T4 to T3) to eliminate my hypothyroid symptoms. My test results showed I was low in DHEA, androsterone and etiocholanolone. I tried to research the relationship between low DHEA and hypothyroidism, but I couldn't really find much. So I definitely need to book an appointment to talk to my doctor next week. I hope she understands what those results mean and whether that explains my challenged immunity and thryoid problems.
Meanwhile I've been enjoying 2 new allergy free baking books I discovered at my local library. Both books include recipes that are free of 4 and sometimes 5 of my diagnosed allergens (gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and cane sugar). However, I can easily subsitute beet sugar for granulated white sugar and coconut palm sugar for brown sugar in recipes. I can also substitute allspice for nutmeg in other recipes. I liked those books so well that I ordered them on Amazon.com. I've received one, but I'm still using the library copy of the other book. My purchased copy of that book must have been slowed by holiday orders.
However, reading those cookbooks reminded me that my portable mixer is 30? years old and very weak. The lower speeds don't work at all and the beaters make noise at the higher speeds. Also my blender was almost worthless. I can only use one low speed, without getting power deficits. (The blender doesn't run smoothly.) It also 'walks' across the counter. LOL
So we found a great deal on a 'Ninja' blender which is powerful enough to easily crush ice and make peanut butter. I need to cruch cashews for my homemade (allergy free) mayonnaise and ice creams). My husband will take my old blender to work, where his fellow employees only make fruit smoothees. I hope they only need the 'stir' speed on my old blender. LOL
However, finding a great stand mixer took much longer. I didn't want the 'all-purpose' Kitchen Aid with the possibility of all those attachments. I already have a a food processer, a blender, and an ice cream maker (which are all Kitchen Aid attachments). I don't want to make pasta or grind meat (other attachments). So why pay more for possibilties that I don't need? I found online a great mixer with glass bowls (a little heavier, but you can see whether stuff is stuck to the bottom or sides of a glass bowl, unlike a stainless steel bowl) and 3 different mixer blades. It also has some features which the Kitchen Aid lacks. Unfortunately I had to order it online to get exactly what I want. So my great stand mixer won't arrive for another week even though I ordered it a week ago. SIGH
Nevertheless, I've been using my old mixer (before it completely dies?) to make date nut bread and my husband's birthday cake (a lemon poppy seed bundt cake). That was my FIRST bundt cake and a gluten, dairy, egg, soy, cane sugar, vanilla and nutmeg free cake at that! LOL My husband loved it and I'm so proud of my creation. I also liked the taste and texture. However, I'm looking forward to tasting my 'impossible' pumpkin pie. After making a birthday cake the day before, I didn't want to make a pie crust AND filling for a pumptin pie yesterday. So I found a great allergy pumpkin pie recipe that makes it own crust. I hope to eat some for dessert after our Thanksgiving dinner in about 2 hours.
I kinda gave up on baking before I found those 2 allergy free cookbooks. I previously bought cookbooks which were free of gluten, but still used dairy, eggs, cane sugar, vanilla, soy and nutmeg. So I had to make all those allergy free substitutions all the time. I never did find a decent substitution for brown sugar (derived from cane sugar) UNTIL I met that baker in Maui who custom made some peanut butter cookies for me using coconut palm sugar. I loved those cookies so much I'm STILL eating them. I have 6 left, luckly because my husband didn't like them so well. Since we got home from Maui he already made 3 dozen chcolate chip cookies, which he consumed in less than a week. Ive had my peanut butter cookies for over a month now. I eat about a half cooky a day on days that I want a cooky. I have so many other desserts (that date nut bread, ice cream, candied ginger (which I eat daily), maple sugar candy, etc. So I don't need to eat everything everyday.
Before my new mixer arrives, I'll probably begin making Christmas cookies. I'll need to hide some (from my husband) in the downstairs freezer, if I hope to have any of those near Christmas time. He's a big fan of my baking. Fortunately we now have his birthday cake, another loaf of pumpkin date bread (which I hid in the freezer) and Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. So maybe I can distract him from the Christmas cookies, while he still has cake and pie in the kitchen.
Meanwhile I've been enjoying 2 new allergy free baking books I discovered at my local library. Both books include recipes that are free of 4 and sometimes 5 of my diagnosed allergens (gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and cane sugar). However, I can easily subsitute beet sugar for granulated white sugar and coconut palm sugar for brown sugar in recipes. I can also substitute allspice for nutmeg in other recipes. I liked those books so well that I ordered them on Amazon.com. I've received one, but I'm still using the library copy of the other book. My purchased copy of that book must have been slowed by holiday orders.
However, reading those cookbooks reminded me that my portable mixer is 30? years old and very weak. The lower speeds don't work at all and the beaters make noise at the higher speeds. Also my blender was almost worthless. I can only use one low speed, without getting power deficits. (The blender doesn't run smoothly.) It also 'walks' across the counter. LOL
So we found a great deal on a 'Ninja' blender which is powerful enough to easily crush ice and make peanut butter. I need to cruch cashews for my homemade (allergy free) mayonnaise and ice creams). My husband will take my old blender to work, where his fellow employees only make fruit smoothees. I hope they only need the 'stir' speed on my old blender. LOL
However, finding a great stand mixer took much longer. I didn't want the 'all-purpose' Kitchen Aid with the possibility of all those attachments. I already have a a food processer, a blender, and an ice cream maker (which are all Kitchen Aid attachments). I don't want to make pasta or grind meat (other attachments). So why pay more for possibilties that I don't need? I found online a great mixer with glass bowls (a little heavier, but you can see whether stuff is stuck to the bottom or sides of a glass bowl, unlike a stainless steel bowl) and 3 different mixer blades. It also has some features which the Kitchen Aid lacks. Unfortunately I had to order it online to get exactly what I want. So my great stand mixer won't arrive for another week even though I ordered it a week ago. SIGH
Nevertheless, I've been using my old mixer (before it completely dies?) to make date nut bread and my husband's birthday cake (a lemon poppy seed bundt cake). That was my FIRST bundt cake and a gluten, dairy, egg, soy, cane sugar, vanilla and nutmeg free cake at that! LOL My husband loved it and I'm so proud of my creation. I also liked the taste and texture. However, I'm looking forward to tasting my 'impossible' pumpkin pie. After making a birthday cake the day before, I didn't want to make a pie crust AND filling for a pumptin pie yesterday. So I found a great allergy pumpkin pie recipe that makes it own crust. I hope to eat some for dessert after our Thanksgiving dinner in about 2 hours.
I kinda gave up on baking before I found those 2 allergy free cookbooks. I previously bought cookbooks which were free of gluten, but still used dairy, eggs, cane sugar, vanilla, soy and nutmeg. So I had to make all those allergy free substitutions all the time. I never did find a decent substitution for brown sugar (derived from cane sugar) UNTIL I met that baker in Maui who custom made some peanut butter cookies for me using coconut palm sugar. I loved those cookies so much I'm STILL eating them. I have 6 left, luckly because my husband didn't like them so well. Since we got home from Maui he already made 3 dozen chcolate chip cookies, which he consumed in less than a week. Ive had my peanut butter cookies for over a month now. I eat about a half cooky a day on days that I want a cooky. I have so many other desserts (that date nut bread, ice cream, candied ginger (which I eat daily), maple sugar candy, etc. So I don't need to eat everything everyday.
Before my new mixer arrives, I'll probably begin making Christmas cookies. I'll need to hide some (from my husband) in the downstairs freezer, if I hope to have any of those near Christmas time. He's a big fan of my baking. Fortunately we now have his birthday cake, another loaf of pumpkin date bread (which I hid in the freezer) and Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. So maybe I can distract him from the Christmas cookies, while he still has cake and pie in the kitchen.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
November Update
WOW! I returned from Maui 10 days ago and still haven't updated this blog. I had a great vacation, bought too many clothes again SIGH, and came home tan and tired. I'll post more about my vacation, if/when anyone asks. However, for now I'm facing/dreading another test to determine why my immunity is still challenged. (I can avoid colds if I take my arabinogalactin daily and get plenty of sleep. I'm also obsessive about washing my hands. My doc talked me into taking a 24 hour urine sample test for adrenal function. She thinks adrenal deficiency may influence my tendency to get frequent colds and need more and more thyroid hormone.
Usually people who lead stressful lifes deplete their adrenals. My life has not been stressful during the past few years. Nevertheless, my childhood with a very abusive parent and first marriage with a controlling, abusive man could have fatigued my adrenals. However, I don't have many 'adrenal fatigue' symptoms (listed on the test questionnaire). Maybe thyroid supplements have resolved those symptoms. Yet I seem to need more and more thyroid to resolve those hypothyroid syptoms (esp. fatigue and irregularity).
On a somewhat related topic, I've received many reply comments to this blog from people suggesting I try 'natural thyroid' (often Armour brand with a T4/T3 proportion of 4/1). My husband takes that brand and does well, because he easily converts T4 to T3. I don't easily convert T4 to T3. So I need separate T4/T3 products to increase my T4/T3 proportion to about 5/3 or a bit more than 2/1. So if any of you reading this blog wants to post their reply about 'natural thyroid', be advised that I will designate your post as 'scam'. That means your post will never appear on this blog, because I moderate every 'reply' post that I receive. If those reply posts are automatically generated, I've just wasted this paragraph (and time). Nevertheless I'm getting very perturbed by those freqent spammy posts!!
That's all I have time or inclination to post for now. At least my few readers will know I returned from my vacation happy and healthy (for now). More later ...
Usually people who lead stressful lifes deplete their adrenals. My life has not been stressful during the past few years. Nevertheless, my childhood with a very abusive parent and first marriage with a controlling, abusive man could have fatigued my adrenals. However, I don't have many 'adrenal fatigue' symptoms (listed on the test questionnaire). Maybe thyroid supplements have resolved those symptoms. Yet I seem to need more and more thyroid to resolve those hypothyroid syptoms (esp. fatigue and irregularity).
On a somewhat related topic, I've received many reply comments to this blog from people suggesting I try 'natural thyroid' (often Armour brand with a T4/T3 proportion of 4/1). My husband takes that brand and does well, because he easily converts T4 to T3. I don't easily convert T4 to T3. So I need separate T4/T3 products to increase my T4/T3 proportion to about 5/3 or a bit more than 2/1. So if any of you reading this blog wants to post their reply about 'natural thyroid', be advised that I will designate your post as 'scam'. That means your post will never appear on this blog, because I moderate every 'reply' post that I receive. If those reply posts are automatically generated, I've just wasted this paragraph (and time). Nevertheless I'm getting very perturbed by those freqent spammy posts!!
That's all I have time or inclination to post for now. At least my few readers will know I returned from my vacation happy and healthy (for now). More later ...
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
August Update
Over another month passed since my last post. I've been busy sewing, harvesting garden fruits and vegies, playing tennis, walking daily and enjoying opera and musicals. We've had season tickets to Seattle's 5th Avenue theatre for a few years and enjoy most of the musicals there. However, Seattle Opera offered us a trial subscription (3 operas of our choice) for a reasonable price. Since my husband doesn't understand opera, we chose the most famous operas (Porgy and Bess, Madame Butterfly and Carmen). I was very impressed with Porgy and Bess and hope the other 2operas will also be outstanding.
Healthwise, I've done well on the increased thyroid supplement dosage (25mcg of T3 in 2 divided daily doses and one 50mcg dose of T4). However, I noticed more hypothyroid symptoms when I don't wait long enough after taking my thyroid before taking magnesium supplements. My doc warned me to wait 4 hours, but I've read that 3 hours is okay. I've noticed that I need to wait 3-1/2 to 4 hours to get the full affect of my thyroid dose.
I got tired of sewing skirts and moved onto dress patterns. I only completely the muslin on the first pattern. I had so much difficulty fitting the linen dress from that pattern that I gave up. I realized the linen was too stiff, I added too much extra 'ease' to the pattern and I moved the front dart incorrectly. Of course I realized all that AFTER I wasted the linen and lining fabric. SIGH However, I really needed some summer dresses, because we're having really warm August weather. So I moved onto the next pattern and made the first attempt from an inexpensive cotton, which I could wear if it fit or put in my charity bag if it didn't fit. Fortunately, I recognized and corrected fitting problems before I completed the garment. So the first attempt is 'wearable'. Nevertheless, I learned how I need to alter the pattern before making my second garment from that pattern.
Since I stopped taking the LDN, I did well with no cold symptoms while taking arabinogalactin daily. Even one teaspoon daily is enough to stop slight symptoms (like sore throat) before I develop a cold. However, when I ran out of the effective brand of arabinogalactin (IAG), I tried taking a cheaper brand, which causes more gas, bloating and pain (from the FOS prebiotics). So recently I've not taken any arabinogalactin at night, but continue to take vitamin D and get some sunshine daily. (Vitamin D also fights infections.) I seem to be doing well (no actual colds) without any IAG, when I get enough vitamin D. Nevertheless, I also snack on cantaloupe (which is high in both vitamin A and C, which both fight infections).
After my last post I tried a new hair stylist. A new salon opened 2 blocks from my house. I was really tired of trying to communicate with my former hair stylist. She was Vietnamese and didn't always understand what I told her. She was VERY skilled at cutting hair, However, she couldn't understand that I didn't want a cut exactly like the pictures I showed her. I would tell her that I liked the bangs from one picture, the length on another picture and the angles on another picture. She just didn't get that I didn't want a cut exactly like the picture. She kept telling me I couldn't get that cut until my hair grew 3 more inches (6 more months). So I finally decided to try a new stylist. I showed the new stylist the same pictures. She 'got it' and gave me a great cut. She's also close enough that I can pop in for free bang trims or neck shaves. (My hair grows down my neck in 2 places.) While I still have a short 'inverted' bob (shorter in back, longer in front), I need to keep the back trim (and shaved). Almost a month after my cut with the new stylist I love the style even more. However, I'll wait another month before my next cut to precede my trip to Maui.
I'm looking forward to our Maui vacation, especially now that we have temperatures in the low 80s in Seattle. We usually have mid 80s in Maui. So I'm ready for more warm weather. However, my husband tells me that I will experience Maui very differently this year. Taking thyroid supplements has finally increased my core body temperature. I used to easily tolerate 80 degree weather, because I wsa sooooo cold all the time. Now I sweat when the weather is in the low 70s. I wear sundresses or tank tops and shorts when my husband wears long sleeved shirts and slacks. I only get cold just before I need to take my second T3 dose. T3 has an 8 hour half life. So when I take my first T3 at 5:30-6 am, by 3pm I have an energy and temperature 'crash'. I have to wait 1 hour after lunch before taking my T3. If I don't get my lunch until after 2pm (which often occurs), I suffer the energy 'crash'. I just get too busy sewing and don't want to stop to eat. So I don't eat until I'm starving and then have to wait longer for my T3 dose.
I need to go out now to harvest more brocolli, blueberries and strawberries. Our grapes won't be ripe for another week or so. Hopefully, the berries will finhish ripening by then. So much to harvest, so little time. Actually too much sewing ... LOL
Healthwise, I've done well on the increased thyroid supplement dosage (25mcg of T3 in 2 divided daily doses and one 50mcg dose of T4). However, I noticed more hypothyroid symptoms when I don't wait long enough after taking my thyroid before taking magnesium supplements. My doc warned me to wait 4 hours, but I've read that 3 hours is okay. I've noticed that I need to wait 3-1/2 to 4 hours to get the full affect of my thyroid dose.
I got tired of sewing skirts and moved onto dress patterns. I only completely the muslin on the first pattern. I had so much difficulty fitting the linen dress from that pattern that I gave up. I realized the linen was too stiff, I added too much extra 'ease' to the pattern and I moved the front dart incorrectly. Of course I realized all that AFTER I wasted the linen and lining fabric. SIGH However, I really needed some summer dresses, because we're having really warm August weather. So I moved onto the next pattern and made the first attempt from an inexpensive cotton, which I could wear if it fit or put in my charity bag if it didn't fit. Fortunately, I recognized and corrected fitting problems before I completed the garment. So the first attempt is 'wearable'. Nevertheless, I learned how I need to alter the pattern before making my second garment from that pattern.
Since I stopped taking the LDN, I did well with no cold symptoms while taking arabinogalactin daily. Even one teaspoon daily is enough to stop slight symptoms (like sore throat) before I develop a cold. However, when I ran out of the effective brand of arabinogalactin (IAG), I tried taking a cheaper brand, which causes more gas, bloating and pain (from the FOS prebiotics). So recently I've not taken any arabinogalactin at night, but continue to take vitamin D and get some sunshine daily. (Vitamin D also fights infections.) I seem to be doing well (no actual colds) without any IAG, when I get enough vitamin D. Nevertheless, I also snack on cantaloupe (which is high in both vitamin A and C, which both fight infections).
After my last post I tried a new hair stylist. A new salon opened 2 blocks from my house. I was really tired of trying to communicate with my former hair stylist. She was Vietnamese and didn't always understand what I told her. She was VERY skilled at cutting hair, However, she couldn't understand that I didn't want a cut exactly like the pictures I showed her. I would tell her that I liked the bangs from one picture, the length on another picture and the angles on another picture. She just didn't get that I didn't want a cut exactly like the picture. She kept telling me I couldn't get that cut until my hair grew 3 more inches (6 more months). So I finally decided to try a new stylist. I showed the new stylist the same pictures. She 'got it' and gave me a great cut. She's also close enough that I can pop in for free bang trims or neck shaves. (My hair grows down my neck in 2 places.) While I still have a short 'inverted' bob (shorter in back, longer in front), I need to keep the back trim (and shaved). Almost a month after my cut with the new stylist I love the style even more. However, I'll wait another month before my next cut to precede my trip to Maui.
I'm looking forward to our Maui vacation, especially now that we have temperatures in the low 80s in Seattle. We usually have mid 80s in Maui. So I'm ready for more warm weather. However, my husband tells me that I will experience Maui very differently this year. Taking thyroid supplements has finally increased my core body temperature. I used to easily tolerate 80 degree weather, because I wsa sooooo cold all the time. Now I sweat when the weather is in the low 70s. I wear sundresses or tank tops and shorts when my husband wears long sleeved shirts and slacks. I only get cold just before I need to take my second T3 dose. T3 has an 8 hour half life. So when I take my first T3 at 5:30-6 am, by 3pm I have an energy and temperature 'crash'. I have to wait 1 hour after lunch before taking my T3. If I don't get my lunch until after 2pm (which often occurs), I suffer the energy 'crash'. I just get too busy sewing and don't want to stop to eat. So I don't eat until I'm starving and then have to wait longer for my T3 dose.
I need to go out now to harvest more brocolli, blueberries and strawberries. Our grapes won't be ripe for another week or so. Hopefully, the berries will finhish ripening by then. So much to harvest, so little time. Actually too much sewing ... LOL
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Summer Update
I haven't posted here for almost 2 months. I need to add an update. I've been busy sewing skirts (mostly lined, cotton or linen A-line and pencil). Our garden is flourishing. I'm picking strawberries, raspberries and brocolli now. My husband picks the lettuce and sugar snap peas. Also we play tennis at least once a week. Our usual biketrail is partially closed for renovations. So we decided to focus on tennis and improve our skills before we go to Maui in October. We have free courts near our Lahaina condo. So we take our rackets and play frequently even in hot Maui weather.
Healthwise I'm doing well. I haven't had a real cold since April (3 months ago). Whenever I get symptoms, I just get to bed ontime and get enough sleep. The next morning I feel fine with no symptoms. I will finish my last prescription of low dose naltrexone (to increase my immunity) in a few days. My last CBC showed my white blood cells were in the normal range. However, I opted to continue LDN for another 3 months, because I still had frequent colds. During my second 3 months of LDN, I had no colds.
I will pick up my new prescriptions for thyroid supplements today. I asked my doc to increase my T3 (liothyronine) dose from 5mcg 2x daily (total 10mcg) to 25 mcg (1/2 dose 2x daily for a total of 25). Perhaps as my body adjusted to LDN, I didn't get quite the effect of thyroid supplements as I did when I began LDN. (LDN initially exacerbates the effect of thyroid supps and can cause hyper symptoms.) I'll stay on my same initial dose of T3 (Levoxyl), which is 50mcg 1x daily. I don't convert T4 to T3 easily. So I really don't know how much actual useable T3 I get from those 50mcg of T4. I wish there was a T4/T3 conversion test. However, my doc wants to see my T4 in a normal range. So I'll keep taking that T4 supplement.
Before I requested that increased T3 dosage, I did a trial increase with my current 5mcg prescription. Rather than just taking 5mcg 2x daily, I took 10mcg 2x daily to increase my total to 20mcg daily. I did well (no afternoon energy crash, normal body temperature, normal regularity) and didn't get any hyperthyroid symptoms (like heart palpitations or diarrhea). So I'm ready to begin the new prescription with 25mcg of T3 daily after I finish my 'trial' increase from my old prescription (20mcg daily). I don't think that 5 extra mcg will make much difference. If I get hyper symptoms, I can decrease my afternoon dose.
I've also noticed that my trial increased afternoon dose of 10mcg (formerly 5mcg) didn't affect my sleep, even if I take that as late as 5:45pm. My doc told me to take the afternoon dose no later than 4pm, because that might keep me awake. Amazingly I haven't noticed sleep problems, even when I took that increased dose at 5:45pm. I prefer to take that between 2 and 4pm, but I don't get the energy crash. So I sometimes forget to take the afternoon dose exactly one hour after lunch.
Despite the increased T3 dose my weight stayed in my usual 3 pound range. When I don't drink enough fluids and eat a salty dinner (usually salad with dressing, because I don't like dry, salty foods like chips), I weigh more. When I eat more fruit, sweat more while playing tennis, or drink enough fluids my weight is down. Nevertheless, I'm happy with my body. I've lost an inch in my waist by doing waist exercises. I've also firmed up my former underarm flab flaps by lifting weights and doing other upper arm exercises. So I often wear sleeveless tops during warm weather.
I also wear skirts more often, because I've made so many. After 2 more skirts, I will start making dresses. I have several summer dress patterns which I want to try. I'm addicted to sewing. So I'm shopping less and prefer sweaters (because I don't knit) or shoes, when I do buy garments.
I plan to get a maintenance check on my sewing machine and serger while I'm in Maui. I'll take those to the shop just before I leave. I'm so addicted to sewing that I need those 2 machines every day before my vacation. I have such a stash of fabric, which I purchased from a local discount fabric shop before they closed, that I can keep sewing for years without needing to purchase more than thread, blades for my rotary cutter and occasional lining fabric. Fortunately I consider sewing a 'healthy' addiction!
Healthwise I'm doing well. I haven't had a real cold since April (3 months ago). Whenever I get symptoms, I just get to bed ontime and get enough sleep. The next morning I feel fine with no symptoms. I will finish my last prescription of low dose naltrexone (to increase my immunity) in a few days. My last CBC showed my white blood cells were in the normal range. However, I opted to continue LDN for another 3 months, because I still had frequent colds. During my second 3 months of LDN, I had no colds.
I will pick up my new prescriptions for thyroid supplements today. I asked my doc to increase my T3 (liothyronine) dose from 5mcg 2x daily (total 10mcg) to 25 mcg (1/2 dose 2x daily for a total of 25). Perhaps as my body adjusted to LDN, I didn't get quite the effect of thyroid supplements as I did when I began LDN. (LDN initially exacerbates the effect of thyroid supps and can cause hyper symptoms.) I'll stay on my same initial dose of T3 (Levoxyl), which is 50mcg 1x daily. I don't convert T4 to T3 easily. So I really don't know how much actual useable T3 I get from those 50mcg of T4. I wish there was a T4/T3 conversion test. However, my doc wants to see my T4 in a normal range. So I'll keep taking that T4 supplement.
Before I requested that increased T3 dosage, I did a trial increase with my current 5mcg prescription. Rather than just taking 5mcg 2x daily, I took 10mcg 2x daily to increase my total to 20mcg daily. I did well (no afternoon energy crash, normal body temperature, normal regularity) and didn't get any hyperthyroid symptoms (like heart palpitations or diarrhea). So I'm ready to begin the new prescription with 25mcg of T3 daily after I finish my 'trial' increase from my old prescription (20mcg daily). I don't think that 5 extra mcg will make much difference. If I get hyper symptoms, I can decrease my afternoon dose.
I've also noticed that my trial increased afternoon dose of 10mcg (formerly 5mcg) didn't affect my sleep, even if I take that as late as 5:45pm. My doc told me to take the afternoon dose no later than 4pm, because that might keep me awake. Amazingly I haven't noticed sleep problems, even when I took that increased dose at 5:45pm. I prefer to take that between 2 and 4pm, but I don't get the energy crash. So I sometimes forget to take the afternoon dose exactly one hour after lunch.
Despite the increased T3 dose my weight stayed in my usual 3 pound range. When I don't drink enough fluids and eat a salty dinner (usually salad with dressing, because I don't like dry, salty foods like chips), I weigh more. When I eat more fruit, sweat more while playing tennis, or drink enough fluids my weight is down. Nevertheless, I'm happy with my body. I've lost an inch in my waist by doing waist exercises. I've also firmed up my former underarm flab flaps by lifting weights and doing other upper arm exercises. So I often wear sleeveless tops during warm weather.
I also wear skirts more often, because I've made so many. After 2 more skirts, I will start making dresses. I have several summer dress patterns which I want to try. I'm addicted to sewing. So I'm shopping less and prefer sweaters (because I don't knit) or shoes, when I do buy garments.
I plan to get a maintenance check on my sewing machine and serger while I'm in Maui. I'll take those to the shop just before I leave. I'm so addicted to sewing that I need those 2 machines every day before my vacation. I have such a stash of fabric, which I purchased from a local discount fabric shop before they closed, that I can keep sewing for years without needing to purchase more than thread, blades for my rotary cutter and occasional lining fabric. Fortunately I consider sewing a 'healthy' addiction!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Restaurant Food Got Me!
10 days ago I began to experience cramping, bloating, some diarrhea and nausea. Because I ate at a local restaurant before I had those symptoms. I suspected bacteria (or other bugs) or allergens (maybe cross-contamination) from the restaurant food caused my symptoms. However, I had eaten the same entree at that restaurant many previous times and had NO reaction. So I was really puzzled.
However, I put away (froze) 2 meals from my leftovers before I got those symptoms. I decided to wait until I recovered from the symptoms to eat one of those (frozen leftover) meals. If I again experienced those (cramping, bloating, nausea) symptoms after eating the lefotver meal, I would know something in the food caused my symptoms.
Friday night (2 days ago) I felt well and decided to try the restuarant leftovers again. Saturday morning I began having the same (but more intense) symptoms of bloating, nausea, diarrhea andd cramping pain. So I know for sure that resturant meal caused my symptoms. Last week I didn't know whether a foodborn bacteria (or parasite) in the food caused my symptoms or whether I was reacting to an allergen. This week my symptoms seem more like previous allergen reactions, maybe because the symptoms are more intense. (I remembered my reactions to gluten, dairy and soy being more painful.)
Today I visited that resturant and talked to the waitress who often serves me the same entree I always eat. She reassured me that the dish containined none of my allergens. However, since we visited the restaurant on a very busy night, I suspect cross-contamination. Perhaps one of the cooks used hastily washed utensils or pans to prepare my dish. That utensil or dish could have been contaminated with wheat (from flour tortillas) or dairy (from cheese or sour cream) from other previously prepared dishes. The waitress told me that the cooks are very careful, but my body says it was exposed to an allergen.
I won't return to that restaurant again very soon. However, when I do want to eat there again, I'll go at a slower time when the staff isn't so busy. I can't risk cross-contamination. Even though I eventually recover (symptoms disappear), allergen antibodies damage my intestines and make me more susceptible to new allergies or other autoimmune diaeases. I already have celiac disease, 6 other delayed reaction food allergies, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Sjogren's disease. I don't want more autoimmune conditions. SIGH
However, I put away (froze) 2 meals from my leftovers before I got those symptoms. I decided to wait until I recovered from the symptoms to eat one of those (frozen leftover) meals. If I again experienced those (cramping, bloating, nausea) symptoms after eating the lefotver meal, I would know something in the food caused my symptoms.
Friday night (2 days ago) I felt well and decided to try the restuarant leftovers again. Saturday morning I began having the same (but more intense) symptoms of bloating, nausea, diarrhea andd cramping pain. So I know for sure that resturant meal caused my symptoms. Last week I didn't know whether a foodborn bacteria (or parasite) in the food caused my symptoms or whether I was reacting to an allergen. This week my symptoms seem more like previous allergen reactions, maybe because the symptoms are more intense. (I remembered my reactions to gluten, dairy and soy being more painful.)
Today I visited that resturant and talked to the waitress who often serves me the same entree I always eat. She reassured me that the dish containined none of my allergens. However, since we visited the restaurant on a very busy night, I suspect cross-contamination. Perhaps one of the cooks used hastily washed utensils or pans to prepare my dish. That utensil or dish could have been contaminated with wheat (from flour tortillas) or dairy (from cheese or sour cream) from other previously prepared dishes. The waitress told me that the cooks are very careful, but my body says it was exposed to an allergen.
I won't return to that restaurant again very soon. However, when I do want to eat there again, I'll go at a slower time when the staff isn't so busy. I can't risk cross-contamination. Even though I eventually recover (symptoms disappear), allergen antibodies damage my intestines and make me more susceptible to new allergies or other autoimmune diaeases. I already have celiac disease, 6 other delayed reaction food allergies, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Sjogren's disease. I don't want more autoimmune conditions. SIGH
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Better But Still Puzzled
Those intestinal cramping symptoms gradually decreased over the past 3 days. However, I still don't know what caused the symptoms. Perhaps taking extra probiotics (2 capsules for daily 100 billion live cells vs. my usual daily 50 billion) helped fight off a possible gut bug infection. Perhaps eating coconut ice cream (not just coconut milk, but actual coconut bits) helped calm my gut. I've read that coconut helps decrease diarrhea. I didn't actually have diarrhea, but I had all the urgency and cramps that accompany diarrhea. I also decreased my magnesium supplement consumption. So maybe that helped.
Possibly I contracted a bacteria or reacted to an allergen from the restaurant meal, which I consumed last Saturday night. If so, I will get the same gut symptoms when I eat my restaurant meal leftovers. I hope not, because I always order that same dish and look forward to my 2 meals from leftovers. Nevertheless, I visited that restaurant on a sunny Saturday evening. We got the last open table before a line formed outside. I've never seen that restaurant so crowded. Perhaps someone in the kitchen accidentally contaminated my entree?? However, my recent symptoms didn't feel like an allergy reaction. They did feel like a gut bug. Maybe my gut is healthy enough to rid itself of bad bugs now. I don't know what I had, but I'm glad it's gone ... at least until I thaw, heat and eat my restaurant leftovers. SIGH
Possibly I contracted a bacteria or reacted to an allergen from the restaurant meal, which I consumed last Saturday night. If so, I will get the same gut symptoms when I eat my restaurant meal leftovers. I hope not, because I always order that same dish and look forward to my 2 meals from leftovers. Nevertheless, I visited that restaurant on a sunny Saturday evening. We got the last open table before a line formed outside. I've never seen that restaurant so crowded. Perhaps someone in the kitchen accidentally contaminated my entree?? However, my recent symptoms didn't feel like an allergy reaction. They did feel like a gut bug. Maybe my gut is healthy enough to rid itself of bad bugs now. I don't know what I had, but I'm glad it's gone ... at least until I thaw, heat and eat my restaurant leftovers. SIGH
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