Brief Update

[MBombardier]

I think I may have gotten a handle on this apparently mast cell-related flare that's been going on since allergy season started, weeks now. I reluctantly eliminated eggs and nuts except for coconut. We'll see if I can eat them as part of something else. I am sad because nuts is (was) a major source of protein for me, not to mention crunch satisfaction.

I have been doing the intermittent fasting that I posted about. I eat during eight hours out of every 24, and manage to have three meals during that eight hours. I think my GI tract really likes having that time off. Even in the midst of this flare I have a lot of energy, no pain, sharp thinking, and good mood. In fact, I'm hoping that later I will be able to add at least nuts back after allergy season is over. We'll see.

Part of how well I am feeling may be from bumping my dessicated thyroid to four grains as of three weeks ago. I take two grains in the morning on an empty stomach and wait an hour to eat, and two grains in the afternoon three hours after eating and an hour before eating again. One of the best things about this, probably also related to the intermittent fasting, is that the weight I've complained about as sticking like cement is finally starting to come off. I have lost 10 lbs. I have no rapid heart beat or any other symptoms from the higher thyroid intake.

My average temp is fairly steady, which I have read means that I am not freaking out my adrenals with the extra thyroid, which is, of course, good news. I see a new PCP on Monday who lets her patients take a hand in their own medical care and who has no thyroid herself because of thyroid cancer.

The granuloma annulare has quieted down, too. My hypothesis, based on its reaction to what I eat is that it has a mast cell component.

So all in all... Pretty good.

[tex]

Hi Marliss,

It sounds as though you finally have things going your way.

I ordered some dessicated thyroid yesterday (from Thailand). I picked up my regular prescription Armour this morning, and I couldn't help but notice that the cost was up by approximately 50% from last month. (It now costs over $24 for only 30 pills -- the Thai stuff was roughly 30 bucks for 120 pills, and shipping is free. I had intended to supplement my regular treatment with the bootleg product, but after seeing that unjustified price increase, I may just replace it entirely, if the imported stuff works OK.

Anyway, good for you. That's a great update.

Tex

[MBombardier]

Thanks, Tex!

Wow, that's a high price for the Armour. I get mine at Costco, and it's $2.80 for 30 1-grain pills. Shows how your pharmacy is ripping you off, sad to say.

[tex]

Well, you see, the problem is that Armour is not covered by my insurance plan, so they feel justified in charging jacked-up insurance company rates. Obviously, I need to separate that particular item, and get it somewhere else, but it never caught my attention until now.

Tex

[MBombardier]

Totally understand the insurance thing. I think the non-insurance rate is still less than $8, though, at least that's what I would be charged if I refilled it early. But pharmacies are in the business of making money just like any company...

[Gabes-Apg]

Marliss
thanks for the update and i want to thank you for your regular posts about thyroid.


even though my GP told me the thyroid 'was fine' based on the discussions on this forum (mostly yours and tex's) and the symptoms i was having i knew it 'wasnt fine'

The current treatments i am having, the main focuss is thyroid and hormones, and i am starting to see improvements.
i am not seeing the weight change yet, but i am going to look at the intermittant fasting more closely and the times that i am eating and see if i can tweak that
with the gerd and histamine situation under control at the moment i am hesitant to make any changes.....

i still love that photo of yours, it always makes me smile - thanks

[MBombardier]

back to you, Gabies! I am glad you are starting to see improvements in your thyroid and hormone issues. I think this (like MC) is highly under-diagnosed and treated.

My granddaughter is a sweetheart, that's for sure. My son and DIL went to visit my father in late April, and at a mere 17 months old Elena had my 88-year-old grumpy father wrapped around her little finger.

[Lesley]

Hey Marliss, although my thyroid tests were fine I think I have some issues too. Is the dessicated thyroid you take OTC? Or do you need a prescription?

[Lucy]

Thyroid has to be monitored carefully via blood tests for levels. Once you've established the correct dose, then you can go longer...usually a year... taking that amount regularly.

I have heard that Costco is cheaper.

One thing you can do to keep the price lower, if you're going outside of your insurance plan, is to see what the bulk price would be...like bottles of 100 instead of just thirty. It's surely a lot more convenient. I really need to do this myself.

When Armour becomes hard to get, it seems to be hard to get from suppliers everywhere. I've had this same problem with my hormone patches as I use one that's not one of the more common ones due to less adhesive which bothers me. Fortunately, that hasn't happened very often. It's scary when I can't get the Armour as I have no thyroid, but I could go back to the synthetic, I guess. Already titrate with Levoxyl anyway. Thinking is that some of our bodies can't do the conversion between the T3 and T4, so those two taken together put both levels where they need to be.
Some people think this isn't necessary, but I've felt good on this combination, so figure I won't change anything as long as I can get the meds here.

Luce

[tex]

Luce,

Armour isn't the only game in town. Forest Laboratories "reformulated" it a couple of years ago (when it was scarce), and ever since then it doesn't seem to work the same for a lot of people. These days, you can buy all the dessicated thyroid you want on Amazon (no prescription needed).

The standard thyroid blood tests are pretty much worthless for me (does that ring a bell? -- yep, the celiac blood tests are also worthless). My Free T4 is always below range, even though my TSH is below range or at the very bottom of the normal range, yet I still show plenty of hypothyroid symptoms. My doc is pretty much clueless, and I'm not naive enough to believe that there is an endocrinologist within reasonable driving distance around here, who doesn't go by the book, (which simply won't work), so I'm pretty much on my own.

Tex

[Kari]

Marliss,

Glad to hear you're doing so well in different areas of your healing. As hard as it is, giving up a couple of more foods certainly pales in comparison to feeling energized and well. Thanks for the positive update - hope your progress continues.

After reading your earlier note about intermittent fasting, I decided to give it try. Can't say how much it's helping with my GI symptoms, but one surprising benefit is that it feels like a great relief not to worry about what to eat for a few hours . Those "free" hours have made me realize how much thinking about food occupies my mind.

Love,
Kari

[MBombardier]

Thanks, Kari! I feel the same way about the intermittent fasting. Also, now that my body is used to it, I don't struggle with hunger much at all during the hours I don't eat.

Intermittent fasting can have many variations--what I do works best for me, and may not for someone else. Others may fast for a day once or twice a week. Some fast three meals, like dinner, breakfast and lunch rather than a full day of meals, or fast a couple of meals during the day once or twice a week.

There is research that fasting can have a number of health benefits, but it's not for everybody, that's for sure.

[Kari]

Marliss,

Thanks for the heads up about other ways of doing the fasting. I'm finding that the system of eating for about 8 hours of the day and giving it a rest for the other 16 is quite suitable for me. Because I'm worried about losing more weight, food was always on my mind, and I often ate when I was not even hungry. It's a great relief to wake up in the morning and feel like I don't have to think about food right away. Like you, I don't really feel hungry during the fasting hours.

Another benefit I've noticed that I did not mention in my earlier post, is that my nights seem to be more restful. I attribute this to the fact that my GI system has a chance to calm down during the few hours of not eating before going to bed. Thanks again for posting about this very interesting concept. As with anything else, I will not be fanatical about it, but it sure is a nice addition to my MC management tool chest.

Love,
Kari

[Zizzle]

Marliss,
Have you done any research on GA? My sister has it, but doesn't believe it is linked to all my immune issues. She also has classic cramping-style IBS from stress.

[MaggieRedwings]

Marliss,

I also fast for a whole day about once a week and it is a real joy not worrying about food during that period. I also feel that it energizes me.

Love, Maggie