Thyroid Testing Results

I had my thyroid appointment last Thursday. I went to Dr. O. I really liked him. He actually sat and spoke with me for 30 minutes which most doctors that I have seen have not done that. He was very easy to talk to and was in agreement with everything that I am doing. He also has treated a patient that has the same thing I do so I really feel like he gets it.

I received my test results this morning. My thyroid is mildly underactive with a mildly elevated TSH. Ideal is 0.7 - 1.0 and this number elevates if your thyroid is underactive. Mine is 2.74 so it is elevated. So I have officially been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. He is suggesting I start a trial of Armour thyroid - I will take one pill a day for 6 - 8 weeks and then get my hormone levels tested again. We spoke last week about the pill as well - it is a more natural pill so I like that aspect of it, it goes along with my path that I am taking. He told me that he likes to start dosages out low and go through a trial period and then increase it if we aren't seeing results. My pill that I will start out on is 30mg.

He also told me that I don't have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. I was so sure that I had it that I wasn't prepared at all for that answer. I was fine initially finding out about it. But, the hard part for me is telling people. The first thing I did was call my husband and I just broke down in tears. Each time that I have to tell him this isn't it just kills me. I just feel like when there is a problem I should be able to fix it. And I can't do that with this.

I asked the lab since they were taking my blood if they could test my FSH and LH while I was there. FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) is the hormone that they tested at the beginning, since it was so high that is how they diagnosed me with POF. The highest it has been is 123, then it has also been 114 and 104 so I guess a positive would be this is the lowest reading I have had - 94. However, in order to get pregnant they say it should be under 10. Other things that I have researched say that it isn't a true reading anyway unless it is on day 3 of your cycle and since I don't have one it is an inaccurate reading. I guess it is all in the way you look at things.

All of this and the fact that it is freezing cold and dreary outside, my husband is out of town on business and I feel like I am coming down with a cold didn't make for a great day. Lots of tears and disappointment. I normally try and be positive but this is real life and I am blogging so that I can look back once I am pregnant and see all that I have been able to overcome. So, I am just putting all the truth out there, even if it isn't pretty.

Below are all of my test results:

Test	Result
TSH	2.74
Free T3	3.5
Free T4	1.28
Reverse T3, Serum	14.1
Thyroid Peroxidase	8
FSH	94.5
LH	34.3

I picked up my pills this evening and am going to start taking them in the morning. 

Another Piece to the Puzzle

I have been on a mission ever since I finished my thyroid test. 

I went back to acupuncture yesterday and she told me more than likely based on my low temperatures and symptoms I have hypothyroidism. She started me on an iodine supplement - taking 225mcg per day with the rest of my supplements that I take. I will do this for 2 months and then retake my temperatures to see if there are any changes.

So with that I looked up hypothyroidism: Often called under active thyroid. This is a common endocrine disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones.

On Friday night I had a girl reach out to me that was reading my blog post about my thyroid test and she told me she too has thyroid problems. To be exact, Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is known as the most common cause of hypothyroidism, it is known as an autoimmune condition. {Everything happens for a reason}

Now, when I started my whole journey and when I was diagnosed all three doctors that I have been to have told me that the cause of my POF is unknown (most cases are). This is due to the other test that I had completed coming back as negative (Fragile X ). But one thing that has always stuck out in my mind with POF is that when you look at the causes that are known from it a lot of them are attributed to autoimmune disorders. Lightbulb!

That led me to look up Hashimoto's thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis: this 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.

I have the following signs of Hashimoto's thyroiditis:

• Weight gain
• Sensitivity to heat and cold
• Dry, itchy skin
• Memory loss
• Infertility

I just really feel like I have finally figured out another piece to all of this. I won't know for sure that I have it until I get some additional blood tests taken. I will be going to a local doctor that specializes in thyroid on the 23rd, I can't wait!

I also did some additional research on Hashimoto's - I found this on the Cedars Sinai health conditions. 

Other Associated Disorders

Although the majority of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and their genetic family members will never experience any other autoimmune condition, they do have a statistically increased risk of developing the following disorders:

• Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (insulin-requiring)
• Graves' disease (goiter and hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Pernicious anemia (inability to absorb vitamin B12, potentially causing anemia and neurologic problems)
• Addison's disease (adrenal failure; the adrenal gland provides cortisol to handle stress and illness)
• Premature ovarian failure (early menopause)
• Vitiligo (patchy loss of skin pigmentation)
• Thrombocytopenic purpura (bleeding disorder due to inadequate platelets in the blood)
• Lupus erythematosus (autoimmune disease that involves skin, heart, lungs, kidneys)

Do you see the 6th point?! Seriously...this is the only infertility disorder on here and only 1% of the population have POF. I don't think this is a coincidence. I feel like this is HUGE!!!

I was telling my mom this whole story today at lunch and I teared up when I told her. I finally feel like I am getting somewhere. Like all of the things that I have been doing have finally paid off. I have struggled with this part of it. Doing everything and then getting blood tests taken that show no improvement. Not starting my period after finishing my 12 sessions of Merciér therapy. Let down after let down. But, I have kept the faith and stayed positive and this is what it is all for. 

FINALLY - a breakthrough. January 23rd can't come soon enough!