Hyper is Winning
After my honey-moon of feeling and testing thyroid levels like a normal human being this past winter, I started to feel crazy again. If you remember, last summer I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease. I learned too, that Grave’s Disease is its own immunity thing, that causes Hyper-Thyroidism. I thought it was one and the same.
My symptoms present themselves as a pretty elevated heart rate (I do work out and keep active, so it shouldn’t be in the low 100’s while sitting!) I also started having tremors in my hands. I really noticed this while trying to pour some tinctures into their tiny bottles and I was spilling all over! I have also lost 4-5 lbs within the last month (finally, but probbaly not the best way.) My Fitbit shows that I am burning up to 3500 calories some days on the weekends. I understand the elevated heart rate could mess up their algorithm, but obviously I’m running on high.
So I finally relented and asked for a Beta-Blocker persecription. I’m actually glad I did. By day 2, my heart rate was down 10 pts pretty consistantly. I feel calmer and can actually get to sleep faster. It seems to be hanging out in the mid 80’s during the day and the 70’s at night, so that is feeling much better.
I also decided to really look into what I can do to support my thyroid better. Because I was feeling pretty normal this winter, I was eating bread and all the glutens. So, as of today, the day after Memorial Day, I’m on the gluten and soy-free bandwagon again. If you do some reasearch, much of it shows that an immune-comprimised thyroids can be further-annoyed by gluten and soy.
I also spent the weekend looking into vitamins and mineral supplements. I was already taking Selenium since last year (but then I ran out and just didn’t get more!) but other than that, nothing else really. Since my thyroid is getting beat up from both sides, I’m taking things that are over-all supportive of adrenal and cardiovascular systems since Grave’s can wreak havoc on your heart too. So, here’s the list of products that I read up on and just received. I had to get out the daily vitamin organizer container thing because some of these are better taken at different times and with or without (certain) food.
Glutathione (anti-oxidant, oxidative stress regulation)
L-Carnitine (cardio-vascular support, metabolism)
Selenium (thyroid function, lessen chance/symptoms of TED)
CoQ10 (heart health)
Vitamin D3 (lower anti-thyroid antibodies, bone health (aparently GD can increase chances of osteoperosis)
Magnesium Glycinate (reduces inflammation, supports sleep, adrenal functions and cardio-vascular health)
By starting my gluten-free eating and supplement adventure, I’m hoping to not have to take Methemizole for the Grave’s Disease, as its pretty toxic. Maybe I can get my thyroid levels in a nice, happy place…we’ll see. I have to get my labs done again in the next couple weeks.