In late January, a persistent pain in my right side just below the rib cage brought me into a clinic nearby. Blood tests returned normal. Ok so what IS that pain, anyway? By late February, we had established medical insurance and I went to a second clinic for another opinion. I was diagnosed with "costochondritis" - pain in the rib! Then why was there pain below my rib cage!! In addition, the doctor said my vitamin D level was low (doh! sub zero temperatures with zero sun exposure!). I endured the sensitivity in my side which eventually became less noticeable.
The weather turned nice in May so my husband and I trekked up to the north shore of Lake Superior, a 2-1/2 hour drive, and drove another 2 hours north to Grand Marais. Short walks would leave me winded. Adventure beckoned, so before heading home, we started up the Gunflint Trail and then off on a side road where a sign pointed to "Twin Lakes". Our GPS indicated we could get back to Grand Marais by this side road. It didn't...so we backtracked to the Gunflint trail and headed home. All totaled we probably were in the car for around 10 hours or more.
The following day I went to my chiropractor for a routine visit. He did a quick assessment, then expressed concern for my over-swollen ankles (from sitting too long in the car) and recommended I go straight to my doctor as this usually indicated a heart condition.
We ruled out heart and kidney problems. More blood tests.... this time to test my TSH levels -- which were very high. An RAI test was ordered to see confirmed hyperthyroidism. My thyroid at this point was seriously overproducing and my heart was trying to keep up with the output, making me jittery, hyper, and sleepless.
I had also lost weight without trying...about 30 pounds between January and May, which I thought interesting and attributed to my metabolism, but I wasn't complaining!! :)
The options I were given to deal with the overactive thyroid were ablation (radioactive iodine would "kill" my thyroid), removal of the thyroid, or PTU or Methimazole treatment. None sounded particularly pleasant and I did not want to be on drugs the remainder of my life. I was referred to an endocrinologist for further testing. But I requested more time for natural research before permanently disabling my thyroid.
My husband and I did extensive research on alternative treatments, what causes the thyroid to overproduce, what natural options were available, etc. We quickly learned that the thyroid is just the victim of a disrupted autoimmune system which was sending the signals to the thyroid to produce more hormones. Okay...so who or what is the culprit? How do we find the source, and how do we change the signals to the thyroid?
Finding a naturalist or homeopathic doctor in an area dominated by Mayo Clinic-trained clinicians is no small task! There were two that I found and both had long waiting lists of patients wanting their time and diagnosis. I made an appointment with an osteopathic doctor, Dr. Wand, for five months out and was added to a first-come waiting list.
Meanwhile my chiropractor recommended an acupuncturist who practiced "clinically" meaning she used a scientific approach. So I began a treatment plan of 3x per week to try to help my body regain meridian balances. Not sure of the terminology, but four months of treatments saw my "readings" change significantly.
I also changed to a gluten free diet - no wheat, rye, barley - and only fresh fruits and vegetables, not processed foods. Well...I'm trying, and have changed the way I eat and what I eat as a whole. It's a learning process.
I discovered a natural herbal product called Thyrosoothe that would help calm my thyroid, and a naturalist recommended vitamins and supplements that would help my autoimmune system.
I did include a prescription beta-blocker, atenolol, as a regular routine, but I had to adjust the dosage down because I was too drowsy and out-of-it to function normally on 50 mg a day! Initially I split it to 25mg pm but found when my heart started racing more, I needed another 12.5 mg in the morning. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor about lower (or higher) doses!
I finally got in to see Dr. Wand, the osteopath, who ran another battery of tests beyond normal blood panels to look at the whole picture and for things like celiac's, heavy metals, and other imbalances. i have been taking a number of vitamins and supplements to address the highs and lows. My heart rate is under control for now, mostly because of the atenolol.
Next step...see the OTHER doctor who has months of waiting patients.
