The World Will End on December 22nd.

December 22nd is the big cortisol challenge day. So you have even less time than you thought. On the up side, don't bother wrapping the Christmas presents.

According to the toddler Santa is coming tonight, so if the big guy is changing his schedule, well, you've been warned.

I am taking 25 mg of Hydrocortizone now. I don't think that 1 extra pill is doing much. When it wears off it hurts. Big time. Ouch.

Today I will be cleaning house right when it stops working as we have the toddler's very first dance recital tonight (last night by the time this posts) and the grandparents will be visiting.

I'm in a weird mood that does not feel like me. Kind of down and out. Unhappy. Feeling pretty much ganged up on by my body and it's medicine that's holding me down so I can't even defend myself against the next sucker punch.

The drama with the damn cortisol test was the last straw and I've been having a bit of a break down. Even though they did squeeze me in this month still.

This is month 9 and I'm no closer to any resolution than I was back in March/April.

I've read some unpleasant things that I can't unsee. Did you know some of this hormone autoimmune stuff can be cancer?

I had no idea. I merely thought it was all about replacing hormones and going on your merry way.

Assuming I understand everything correctly, if it's an autoimmune thingie then I enter a category of ailments that could include cancer.

Now I really don't want to have Hashimoto's. Or nodules on my thyroid or anything at all growing in my lungs.

I need a time out, where all this just stops for a while but I don't know how to make that happen.

If I am lucky maybe I'll get a call that the CT scan couldn't find the growth or that, if it's still there, it didn't grow. Wouldn't that be nice?

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Answering a Reader Question RE: Hashimoto's

Here's a comment to one of my posts asking me some questions about Hashimoto's.

"Have you read stopthethyroidmadness.com. What are your impressions of the site. I would think that is an excellent site. Your supplements etc are totally different from their recommendations. It would be nice to know your impressions on that site. My brother has very recently discovered to have Hashimoto's. The advice on there website seemed quite good.
thanks "

And my answer....

1. My supplements are almost all geared toward dealing with insulin resistance and my cholesterol issues. They have nothing to do with Hashimoto's. My Hashimoto's is in the early stages and is on the very bottom of my triage list. I'm focusing very much on the adrenals and weight loss right now.

Although, your question did remind me of an omission. I do eat my toddler's gummi vitamins to get some iodine in my body. However, iodine is a tricky subject when it comes to Hashimoto's, it can hurt or help depending on the patient. I opted for it because I'm likely deficient.

So, please do not copy my vitamin regimen if you have Hashimoto's. It's not going to do much for you in that regard.

2.I like the Stop the Thyroid Madness site. I don't agree with every single thing over there, but it is a great place to start and there's a lot to learn over there.

I would also suggest looking into Mary Shomon's books and website too. She has a ton of articles on About.com as well.

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Lost

I am so confused by all this thyroid stuff.

So, with Hashimoto's, like what do I do? Endlessly cycle through hypo and hyper until the thyroid dies and then take medication?

But how often/frequent is hypo/hyper cycling?

What are the long term health effects of that process?

I think I just went through a hypo cycle. If that is even possible.

My hair was falling out. Still is actually.

Pretty awful muscle pain, akin to arthritis and all over my body for no known reason.

My blood pressure was spiking for no known reason.

The blood pressure is the sticking point for me. It can't be good for me to go high and then drop low. Even if the high pressure is temporary, it's not benign. So do I take bp meds preemptively? Then how do I handle the unnatural lows?

There's just not a lot of info on Hashimoto's because the prevailing medical wisdom treats it as a non-issue until the thyroid is in bad enough shape to need meds. I don't think it's as simple as that. Heck I know it's not as simple as that. Little details matter and if I have an active autoimmune issue, there's no way that's benign.

It's like saying because my asthma is controlled on asthma meds, I don't have asthma (I have met docs who think like that too). Just because I don't meet arbitrary criteria for needing thyroid meds, doesn't mean things are great.

I'm just not convinced medicine has all this thyroid stuff figured out.

I am aware of the studies showing that patients who take meds before the thyroid is decimated do better and I believe that is the direction the standard of care will eventually go. Until then, I'm s.o.l.

I think I may be coming out of the hypo cycle or, if it's the adrenals, they are coming back. I still need a nap every day, but I feel better otherwise and am able to do about 80% of what needs doing.

For example, today I will clean the house but not exercise. I'm just short on energy to 'do it all.'

My goal right now is to ask the endo for some bloodwork and to clarify some questions on the adrenals.

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