"It's all in your head!"

Last night I was talking with friends about the controversial diagnosis of "mass hysteria" going on at a local high school. It's been all over the news, and even though I don't watch or read our local news, I've read strange reports online about the students who are exhibiting Tourette's-like symptoms.

Of course, one woman was quick to say she basically thought they were all making it up. I don't know where she got her information from, but she alluded that of the ones who stayed out of the spotlight and sought treatment, they recovered. The ones who were on the news and in the media, though, didn't. And apparently the alleged victims did not all receive Gardasil injections, and are not all girls (it includes one boy and an adult female, supposedly).

One article, though, contradicts what this woman is saying: officials do not believe the students involved are making up their symptoms. However, the neurologist this lady apparently spoke to does. What does that tell you?

Sometimes when it comes to finding
out what's wrong with you,
you have to think outside the box. 

If all those details are so skewed, it makes me continue to lose faith in the media. I mean, do they ever get the story right? And if the officials involved think the students are telling the truth, it also makes me lose more faith in the doctors. It seems like whenever they can't find the solution to something, they blame the patient: "It's all in your head."

The medical field's love of medicating doesn't help. As I've found in my research on thyroid diseases, and in my own personal experience, many people get a cocktail of drugs for each symptom - fatigue, depression, memory loss, etc. - and their real problem gets untreated and ignored. Could this be the case at this school? Who really knows.

I've been going through my own struggles lately that make me sympathize with these students. Long story short, since November I've been having weird feelings - vague at times, hard to describe but definitely there - in my head that I can't explain. Not quite a headache, but a pressure sensation that comes and goes. I know in the end probably the only thing to do is get an MRI, but I dread asking a neurologist about this: because he will likely tell me I'm nuts. I wonder, "Brain tumor? Middle ear? What the heck?" Considering I have Hashimoto's Disease, it could be linked to that: a "rare" neurological condition called Hashimoto's encephalopathy, which in some cases can actually mimic Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In many people with it, they were all misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and even a variant of Mad Cow Disease (Crutzfeld-Jacob Disease), when really they all had Hashimoto's encephalopathy, which usually responds well to steroid treatment.

I think of people who are on tons of medications and yet still doing badly. One woman in particular comes to mind - a woman from my church who was morbidly obese and in very poor health. Looking back I bet a lot of her weight was contributed to fluid retention, and doctors eventually didn't know what was wrong with her - and she died.

The thing that further complicates a disease like this is that many of those symptoms - swelling, memory loss, tremors, weight gain, high cholesterol, and diabetes - can all be complications of long-term, untreated hypothyroidism. Not only that, but they strongly suspect that many people with suspected Hashimoto's encephalopathy are actually undiagnosed because doctors don't know how to treat it - and often ignore Hashimoto's Disease. Despite access to several blood tests, MRI technology and new research that suggests not only could Hashi's patients benefit from treatment, but that a simple TSH will not adequately diagnose them - doctors continue to ignore the evidence and wait for these people to slowly wither on the vine, which is disgusting. In the age of internet diagnostics (which many doctors heavily criticize and roll their eyes at), it's imperative for people to find answers and support from others, which is vital - while it's a double-edged sword of anxiety wondering whether you're actually right or not, it might be more information than your doctor is willing to give you.

It's easy to lose faith in a system that, at least in this case, often sticks to outdated, false logic in diagnosing, doesn't always listen to the patient, and treats the patient like they're working for you, instead of the other way around. The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry, your doctor and your insurance company is a complex hamster wheel that's often driven by one thing: money. "Big Pharma" airs their commercials on television and in magazines, convincing you that whatever you have is worthy of being treated. Maybe it is, maybe not. You visit your doctor to find out more. Or, you really do have something - but your doctor doesn't know how to treat it except to push more pills, which are conveniently provided by the drug manufacturer. Your insurance company might decide they want you to use something different, cheaper, perhaps - that might not have worked for you in the past, but because they're footing the bill they will insist you take it even though you and your doctor want to use something else. Or your doctor might suggest a new, better, faster (and more expensive) pill that does the same thing as the old, cheap one - simply because a drug rep told them it's the latest, greatest way to treat XYZ Disease.

They don't want you to know - or don't know themselves - that untreated conditions like thyroid diseases, for one, can cause the same symptoms they're treating ineffectively. Or that vitamin and mineral deficiencies can also mimic some of the symptoms you're having, for a fraction of the cost. If you knew all that, and approached it with the skepticism that you probably should, then your medicine cabinet wouldn't look like a mini pharmacy, and you wouldn't be filling their pockets nearly as full.

Food for thought:
Some of the most prescribed medications for 2011 include statins and cholesterol-lowering drugs. It's no secret that untreated (or under treated) hypothyroidism can cause high cholesterol, even among patients who follow a good diet and get reasonable exercise.

Other commonly prescribed drugs include antihypertensives, diabetic medications, antidepressants, migraine medications, and drugs to treat memory loss. Not coincidentally, hypothyroidism can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure, and among the symptoms are poor cognitive function ("brain fog"), migraines and headaches, and depression.

Low vitamin levels can also be a culprit. With vitamin and mineral enriched foods so readily available, you'd think that these deficiencies  wouldn't be as common as they are. However, a number of factors - heavy alcohol use, poor diet and digestive disorders can affect how you absorb nutrients. It's also been speculated that use of chemicals and preservatives in our food can block nutrient absorption (or cause a number of health problems, at the very least) despite all the "good stuff" they add to it to make us healthier. (Said tongue in cheek, of course)

While not absolute, I've listed symptoms in the table that tend to be commonly treated with prescription drugs (which can include anxiety meds, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, pain relievers and NSAIDs, birth control pills, and GI drugs). And while these are common deficiencies - especially among women - I've found in my experience that you can't always expect your doctor to automatically test you for it.

More reading:
How to eat right to overcome vitamin deficiencies 
Are vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism related?
Have you tested your B12? It's a deficiency thyroid patients need to catch. 

The Deranged Housewife.... crafts!

Call it a beginning of the year inspiration, maybe the coffee's kicking in.... but I've been debating on what to do for months with the craft blog I (don't) maintain. Yes, there is another.... said in my best Darth Vader voice. I have a craft blog, and for the longest time I've been wondering what to do with it.

I haven't maintained it in over a year, but it's obvious someone's watching/reading (really?!). One of my photos got lots of hits, which means crafty people like me are searching the net for ideas and perhaps got something out of my blog. Wonders never cease! So perhaps that was the impetus for me finally getting off my butt and doing something about it, by announcing it here. Just so you know I do more than eat, sleep, dream, write, breathe and talk birth and all things pregnancy-related.

I've been an (mostly) avid sewer since I was a kid, and have periods where I wax and wane when it comes to crafting in my Woman Cave. But hopefully maintaining this blog will help me to be more motivated to share with others who might be interested. I hope you enjoy what you see! And I hope I can remember to post more often!

Click here: Craftiest Mom on the Block

On birth suites and breastfeeding: what a busy week!

I've been slacking - I'm supposed to be writing posts about thyroid awareness, but considering the busy week the entertainment industry's been having, I couldn't help but get distracted!

Beyonce's Birth Suite
First, Beyonce had her baby. Woo. I know, I'm like the 400th person to write a blog post about it, and really, it doesn't matter to me whether she had a natural birth or a cesarean. Well, in some ways it matters, yes - but not in the way some people think it does. Without rehashing too much of what everyone else has said, I do think how a woman gives birth matters: in the sense that surgical births are completely downplayed and approached with almost a blasé attitude, to the point where vaginal births - normal ones, anyway - are almost considered "old-fashioned." If she got the birth she wanted, then great - either way. When the entire world thought she had a cesarean at 37 weeks for breech, though, I wondered aloud, "What if this is the best information she had at the time? Many of us, including myself, have been there."

Photo: TMZ

Anyway, once photos of her birth suite were leaked, it got me thinking: why does someone have to be of "celebrity" or important status to have a comfortable, homey-looking place like this? Why do the rest of us get relegated to a double room with a complaining, loud roommate and plastic furniture?

I thought back to my own births. I gave birth to three children in two hospitals. My first was a cesarean, I was ill-informed, scared, and alone. My husband wasn't allowed to stay overnight with me, despite the fact there was a very empty bed next to mine the entire time I was there. Nurses ignored my repeated requests for pain medication, despite the obvious fact that something was wrong, and it was just a miserable experience overall. When my baby was born, he was quickly shown to me and then taken out in the hallway to be weighed and measured - which my husband witnessed - as I lay on the operating table, hearing his first cries. I thought to myself, I've just given birth, but this is so freaking surreal. I want to hold my child. When my husband cried tears of joy, they actually asked him if he was going to be okay, like something was wrong with him. Seriously?!

When it was time to get up and move around for the first time, I was in such pain I felt like my body was being seared in half. The nurse was unsympathetic. They actually told me to go get my own breakfast. I was confused, half-drugged with drugs that only half-worked, wondering where I was supposed to go to get it. Someone felt sorry for me and brought me a turkey sandwich. I thought this was odd, considering when I had my VBAC two years later (the birth I could have done cartwheels after) they brought me all my meals. What? 

For many women, just to have an unmedicated birth, they have to practically fight tooth and nail for it. Many are laughed at when they walk into the doctor's office with a birth plan. Many don't want anything all that special, except to maybe keep vaginal exams to a minimum, dim the lights and let them push in a position that feels comfortable to them, instead of to the doctor. In other words, they want their personal space respected as much as humanly possible, instead of be made to feel like a human science experiment, especially when it isn't necessary.

It's sad that we can't afford more laboring women the comforts of home within the "safe" confines of a hospital setting, since most people think hospitals are the best, safest place to give birth. Fine. Birthing centers seem to offer the best of both worlds, if you can find one. I know my city doesn't have any, that's for sure.

I think only within the last four or five years did my hospital convert their maternity rooms to private. In fact, there are those that can be reserved - as if you're a celebrity - but of course there's so few of them that they often get taken first. Birthing tubs and jacuzzis? Only four, available first-come, first-serve. I was denied access to them with my second birth because I was having a VBAC. Whatever. Apparently waterproof dopplers hadn't yet been invented in 2006. *eyeroll*

(Although they do mention CPMs, how they can lower infection and cesarean rates, fewer complications and healthier outcomes, based on WHO recommendations. So I'll give them that.)

Although hospitals go through expensive remodeling projects and blab endlessly about having expensive equipment to 'ensure you the best outcome,' it seems like they pour all their money into technology - which hasn't been shown to improve outcomes - and ignore some of the basics, like getting rid of that damned plastic furniture.

Seeing Beyonce's birth suite photos just reminds you of how in the Dark Ages many hospitals are when it comes to serving laboring women. And consider this - roughly only five percent are considered "Mother-baby friendly."

Sesame Street and breastfeeding in public
Like it hasn't already been done before, some think that breastfeeding should be "brought back" to The Street. I don't say that in a sarcastic tone - but mainly to say to all the haters, "It's already been done before. Twice. I don't remember hearing a lot of hoopla over it then or since, until now. One viewer remembers in retrospect:

Buffy breastfed Dakota in one episode; a former Canadian politician recently commented that "I remember seeing that and thinking about how proud she made aboriginal women because nursing is a part of our culture. During those days it was kind of a hidden thing, so to see Buffy doing it on Sesame Street was really something."

I've been embroiled in a heated, rather idiotic debate on Facebook over the last few days with some people who think it's wrong. I have repeated myself at least three or four times: "It's already been done before, twice, and no one raised a stink about it then." Someone complained, "Our tax dollars at work!" I corrected him and said, "Actually, the US government subsidizes half of the infant formula consumed in this country." No response. I don't think anyone actually bothers to read any of the comments before issuing their own thoughtful gem. What a bunch of idiots.

Some argued that that kind of thing "should be taught at home," and compared it with bodily fluids and functions (as usual) - even going so far as to say, "What next? Abortions? Conception?" I mean, come on. The reason these people don't see many women nursing in public anymore is because numbskulls like them have effectively driven women to either choose formula because they don't want to run the risk of their baby getting hungry in public, or they are currently feeding their child in a disgusting toilet stall somewhere.

And how can you teach something at home when that behavior, for whatever reason, isn't modeled at home? That's just the way it is, unfortunately. Kids are less likely to learn about something they're never going to see.

Many of the people who complained have probably never seen a woman nurse in public, or if they did, they didn't realize it. When they hear the word "breast" they immediately think "full frontal nudity," pasties and dancing around like you're a stripper.

I pointed out that, until formula started heavily being marketed to mothers, women nursing in public, tops open, was not unusual. As the formula industry moved into hospitals at an alarming rate, the sexual revolution gave way to an attitude that changed our ideas about what breasts were for, and, I think, the porn industry found new and more convenient outlets to reinforce those ideas. Before, public, open breastfeeding was normal and seen every day, and sex was not. Suddenly, those roles were reversed: sex was brought out into the spotlight, de-shamed, and breastfeeding was relegated to the back closet as old-fashioned and "dirty." Now people argue that if you're a breastfeeding mother, you should just "stay at home." But if you want to flash cleavage at all times for no reason, well - that's okay, I guess.

Where's Maria when you need her?

More reading:
You're my baby (bottled-fed version) - Sesame Street
Does breastfeeding belong on Sesame Street? - San Francisco Gate

Why I don't use my real name - here or on Facebook

I've toyed with the idea over the past three years of blogging to finally reveal my real identity. I was this close to doing so, perhaps in an effort for "transparency" (I hate that term) and then something happened. I think it was in the midst of Mrs. BWF's blow up over on her blog Birth Without Fear and all the trouble she was having with trolls that finally did it for me. I took a lesson from her: do not give out your real name except to those whom you really trust. We've either been in the middle of it or seen it from the sidelines, but you do have to admit - there is quite a bit of snark going on in the birth nerd world.

It's estimated that 27 percent
of users on FB are fake.
So what? 

Not that I don't trust all the wonderful people who read my blog, "like" my fan page and friend me through my anonymous account on Facebook, but you get the idea.

This morning when I logged into my Deranged Housewife FB account, I was blocked from entering, presumably because they are going through a "fake name" purge and decided I was on the list. Fine, whatever. I realize they have those policies for a reason, but it is not the paragon of security and honest social networking they'd like to think it is, and they're not really fooling anyone. It's often been said that privacy settings are hard to figure out, more complicated than they should be, and it's no secret to anyone that they purposefully try to get you to share more than most people would be comfortable with. (Just check out what they consider 'default settings' sometime and you'll see what I mean.)

I've heard people say, "I don't care, I've got nothing to hide." Perhaps. But yes, in some ways we all have something to hide: considering identity theft is a huge problem, and (from what I've heard) FB's new policies on harassment actually make it easier to harass people than hinder the process, I think many people should rethink how much they want to share. Some of us are having a hard time because of policies that immediately think you're spamming or doing something evil simply because you don't want to share what they consider relevant details (name and birthdate).

Who, really, needs to know my real birthdate? I mean, what does it really matter to the social networking world? I find it scary, considering if you did know my real name and birthdate, you could probably - just by those two kernels of information - find out where I live, and where I have lived, in the past decade. (Check out that site "Intelius," I'm sure you've seen it.) Is FB really that stupid?

Because of that brand new "ticker" feature, I can see content on fan pages that I'm not supposed to see because I don't subscribe (which is against their TOS, too, apparently). One classic example of why people use fake accounts is when they subscribe to groups - one such group is a haven for people with illness to connect and share ideas about their condition. The only problem was, because certain information can't be hidden, and thanks to that damned ticker, their problems were blasted to everyone on their friends list. They'd come back and say, "So and so said, 'I didn't know you were sick.' Or "You just use your illness as an excuse,' kind of thing," because they can read so and so's comments on that group. I responded, "Yeah, like I really want everyone to know that "XYZ Disease has killed my sex drive!" I'm sure that would go over well. Using a fake account means they can more openly share information without having to worry about "friends" listening in on the conversation. (Again, there may be super-duper complicated privacy settings to switch somewhere in the bowels of your FB account that can change all that, but who knows, really.)

I've read that upwards of 27 percent of people use fake names. Not all of them are malicious spammers; some just want to get around the 'filter' that means they can't vent their feelings, true thoughts and frustrations when grandma, Pastor So and So and perhaps a gossipy aunt are watching. And you know they are. Can't FB understand this? I have actually seen several custody disputes and family arguments unfold on FB, and it's sad and scary to think those people can't even say anything without someone jumping on the defensive. And honestly, if I shared half of the birth nerd info on my 'real' profile that I do on my "business" one, no one would comment, few would "like," and I'm sure I'd get unfriended several times over.

There is that "lists" feature (or whatever you want to call it) that separates people into groups based on your criteria - but I wonder if many people know how to use it. And if you have to go to a separate (non-FB) tutorial just to learn how to use some of their crazy complicated security features, then it means things should probably be simplified a bit. I bet many people don't even realize how much info they share on any given day and they would probably be horrified. We can tell them "Don't use it, then!" all we want, but for some, this is the primary - albeit flawed, perhaps - way they contact friends, relatives and business contacts. (When an older relative asks me "Should I get on Facebook?" I often bluntly tell them, "No - you'll never be able to figure out their privacy settings.")

As for my personal account, I've taken myself out of Google search, Facebook search, instant personalization (yeah, what a joke) and all the stuff I can think of and it still doesn't seem to help. On my anonymous account, I don't care who knows what I'm reading, when I'm reading it; on my private account? Heck yeah, I care, so stop sharing that info even though I've unchecked that stupid box 100 times already and it doesn't seem to change anything. Months ago, my relatives were getting fake requests from Facebook users who claimed to be friends with me, even though I had no idea who they were. How'd they know who to target? Who knows. (The only link I can make is that data between my email account and Facebook was shared. I never did find out the answer to that one.)

When it comes to the business of FB friends, it's rather perplexing. If you get too many of them, they don't like it. If they suspect that you've sent too many friend requests (even though you haven't) they don't like it. Apparently they want you to be a social butterfly, but only to a certain point.

Last night my husband and I were watching a movie about the Nazis, and at one point they mentioned how the gestapo were made up of very few people, who relied solely on the reports of common citizens to do their jobs. Well, it's kind of the same thing at FB: they have, apparently, very few employees worldwide as compared to the number of users, and depend on others to report every seemingly offensive political, religious, or breastfeeding post that just might offend someone. Sound scary? It should. If only we knew just how many people - people who are supposedly acquaintances and friends, otherwise people you trusted - "turn in" someone for content that just happened to make them mad. Yet the "F*ck Jesus/Christians/Islam" fan pages are still up and running, despite numerous complaints and reports. 

When you think about it, the age of internet use, sharing information and social networking is both revolutionary and some scary sh!t. Think for a moment about all the information you're required to submit when you sign up for an online account - whether it's with Facebook, a cooking website, even your bank - and then think of all the people out there who are trying, sometimes successfully, to gain access to that data. There have been security breaches at bank companies (my credit card number was compromised in just such a breach just a few months ago), and FB has admitted to losses of data in recent months and years because of hackers. And they get mad because there are some details you'd rather keep private, even though you can easily prove you mean no ill will?

If you're spamming people with bogus friend requests, porn pictures or other stupid products, it's going to show up on someone's wall. It will be obvious. But if you've never received a complaint from anyone, and have the public wall to prove that the links you share are anything but spam, then honestly I don't know why they get their shorts in such a bunch. They want to maintain credibility, says their CEO, because if it were loaded with fake accounts then "no one would take them seriously." Seriously?! I think it's way too late for that.

In the meantime, I'm not sure what I plan to do. I have considered trying to reactive my blogging profile, gather any pertinent information I need and close it, using FB under my fan page. I hesitate to send personal information to verify my name (although FB encourages you to blot out any other personal details and promises (pinky swear!) that they will immediately shred all details as soon as the information has been verified. I hate hate hate to lose the wonderful artwork I've posted, and all the friends I've made, if they don't get the memo, will go up in smoke. I really want you all to know how important you are to me: the wonderful connections we've made, conversations shared and ideas exchanged has been more fulfilling than you'll ever know! Many of you interact with me on a regular basis and have almost become friends (in more than a FB sense, I guess) and I would be terribly upset if those connections were broken forever.

Stay tuned and please, keep in touch!

More reading:
Why the number of people using fake names on Facebook is increasing (or something) - I don't know who wrote this article, but a lot of their assumptions are totally stupid.
Real users caught in Facebook fake name purge - God forbid your mother gives you a name like 'Anakin' because no one at Facebook will really believe you.
Facebook privacy settings are too complicated
Facebook Privacy: a bewildering tangle of options - NY Times

Testing your thyroid: why you can't always trust the TSH

For years, my wonderful gastroenterologist was testing my thyroid (or so I thought) and the results were always "normal!" I thought nothing of it until last winter, when I became concerned that I felt crummy more often than not. Things I used to love doing now seemed like a huge chore, and housework and laundry felt like the most unsurmountable tasks ever.

My mom kept asking me, "Have you had your thyroid checked?" I insisted that yes, it's been checked, and yes, it's normal. She told me how unreliable the TSH can often be for some people, and I dismissed it as more of her "woo" medicine. Until I started making a mental note of how I felt and decided to look into it. What a shocker I was in for.

Many of the symptoms I was experiencing showed up on lists all over the internet, including an explanation of why the often-hailed TSH can sometimes leave many people under treated or even undiagnosed. I learned to be wary of doctors who told me that the TSH was the 'best way' to determine if you had a thyroid problem.

The TSH is kind of like a complex math problem: it's one component of the equation, but without the other numbers, it might not make much sense. It could look okay on its own, but not really be complete. By only looking at the TSH, it is a very misleading piece of the puzzle, when in fact there's much more that needs to be considered before solving the problem.

Photo credit: thevreelandclinic.wordpress.com

Before the TSH blood test was invented in the 1970s, doctors often paid attention to the symptoms a patient was experiencing. While not always a perfect science, I think it also reflected how more patient-centered the medical profession used to be; now with the advent of more tests and drugs to treat everything, we've definitely gone in the opposite direction. The TSH test was developed with a pool of approximately 200 volunteers (that's it?!) to test for 'normal' ranges of thyroid function, and has been used as a guideline ever since. The problem is, not everyone is the same - some people can feel relatively great with a higher TSH than others, and some feel like crap when their TSH is in the normal range. To confuse you even further, even though there are clear guidelines established, different labs use different "normal ranges."

Some thyroid advocates argue that since hypothyroidism is so prevalent, the volunteers themselves were not really 'normal' and our guidelines are false. As our medical community moved away from a more individualized approach to medicine and pharmaceuticals became more widely available, doctors treated blood tests as all-encompassing methods to diagnose patients, which has backfired for many who fall within gray areas of the spectrum.

Just among the friends that I've talked to, I know that my neighbor is on medication (a higher dose than I am, even) and yet she said she had no symptoms. Without trying to pry, I concluded that her TSH must have been high and that her doctor was simply doing routine blood work (wow!). Someone else I know said that her TSH "was at the high end of normal" and her doctor didn't think she needed medication just yet, even though she is the most miserably tired-looking person I think I've ever met. I tried to explain it to her gently, but of course since I'm not a doctor my opinion is invalid. She is definitely someone I think who could benefit from treatment, but I guess she'll just have to wait until her TSH explodes off the charts before she gets it.

Normal reference ranges for TSH function have been changed within the last few years, and are from 0.3-3.0. Before that, 0.5-5.0 were considered "normal." And still, I read of physicians who refuse to treat someone with a TSH hovering at 5.0, acting as if everything is all in the patient's head. In comments read around the web, one patient said her doctor routinely doesn't treat you until your TSH is above 10. Time to find a new doctor!

One patient tells her story about having trouble reaching her normal weight (that she had maintained for years) and asked her doctor about the possibility of a thyroid problem.

I scheduled an appointment with my doctor. I explained why I thought I may be having thyroid problems. He just laughed at me, when I suggested I might be hypothyroid. I even took my documented temperature readings, plus hypothyroid symptoms with me, but he discounted them all. He said temperature readings to test for hypothyroidism dated back to the 1920's. He intimated that since at 130lbs I wasn't "fat" by medical standards, I therefore couldn't possibly have a problem with my thyroid. I still insisted on blood tests to check TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels. This test came back showing a TSH level of 6.7, and in Canada, the reference range of 0.5 - 4.5 means, "No Problem", 4.5 - 10 means "Euthryoid - perhaps there may be a problem developing" and > 10 means "Possibly we had better treat the patient." Now this is where the issue starts getting murky. You see, the American Endocrinology Association and the British Medical Journal have all (for years) been saying that these reference ranges are incorrect, that since thyroid problems are actually extremely common (especially in women), that these numbers include large numbers of people with underlying thyroid problems - thus the numbers are skewed and actually anything > 2 (some say 2.5) should be treated as "suspect".

So, anyhow, despite my many symptoms such as dry skin, thinning hair, memory problems, low temperature, emotional spells, low energy at times, and now a TSH of 6.72 (obviously greater than the new TSH reference ranges) my doctor was unimpressed and wrote "Euthryoid" on my form and sent me packing.

This attitude prevails, even though TSH guidelines have been lowered in an attempt to diagnose more missed patients who fall through the cracks.

If your TSH is within normal limits, they will often ignore your symptoms. If it's high, it often means the majority of the damage to your thyroid has already been done. It doesn't mean it's too late to treat it, but it often signifies that thyroid damage has slowly been occurring for years before you finally pieced two and two together and sought treatment. This is why the most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's Disease, which is an autoimmune precursor that begins to destroy the thyroid gland first (more on this later).

If your TSH is normal, it doesn't mean that damage isn't occurring. It just means that oftentimes it's not that bad yet that it's registering on a blood test. There are other tests that can be done, including ones that examine each level of thyroid hormone and how your body is converting that hormone into energy. Also, antibody tests can be ordered (peroxidase and thyroglobulin) to determine if you have Hashimoto's. However, beware: a certain percentage of the population do have Hashi's but do not have elevated antibodies; just because you don't doesn't mean you don't have a thyroid disorder. If your doctor is reluctant to order any thyroid tests, or wants to adhere strictly to the TSH, question his position or find a new doctor who will take you more seriously.

If left untreated (or under-treated), thyroid disease can cause major complications such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, infertility and other autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, the modern medical approach is to treat symptoms instead of the root cause, which could explain why so many Americans are being treated with expensive drugs for diabetes, depression and high cholesterol. In fact, upwards of 20 percent of people treated for depression may really have underlying hypothyroidism that is undiagnosed. There's also evidence to suggest that hypothyroidism "brain fog" can mimic symptoms of fibromyalgia Alzheimer's, which means more expensive medications to treat the symptom rather than the root cause (and true Alzheimer's can only be diagnosed with autopsy).

The bottom line: when it comes to thyroid disease, there is no "normal," it seems. Healthcare professionals are too quick to put you in a neat, tidy little box that explains - or dismisses - your symptoms entirely. This could explain why so many people say "My doctor refuses to order more blood tests," or "My doctor refuses to put me on medication" - because they're either stuck to ridiculous, often flawed guidelines or are attempting to treat something that they don't fully understand.

More reading:
Rethinking the TSH Test - Mary Shomon interviews Dr. David Derry

Understanding and diagnosing thyroid problems

I feel like crap all the time and I want to know why! 

Considering that there are anywhere from 20 to 27 million people with thyroid disorders in the US alone, you might wonder, Do I have this? I used to think it was mostly something that old people got - before really talking to people about it, my elderly grandma was the only one I knew who had this condition. I didn't know anything about it: where the thyroid was, what it looked like, or why we even had one. What is it good for, anyway?

The answer: just about everything! It's amazing to think that such a small part of the body could be responsible for so much - basically every system in the body is regulated by the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of the throat. We'd like to think that when something goes wonky with a part of our bodies that we'd know about it, but that's not always the case.

For an organ so small, it does have a major job to do: it affects all the other glands of the body, which in turn regulate our other body systems. So if something is off with the thyroid gland, you can bet other things will follow sooner or later.

Since I'm no endocrinologist, and the study of the thyroid can get rather complicated, I'll try and simplify it as much as possible. In fact, even some doctors don't really have a full understanding of how it works, which can be extremely frustrating for patients. While my primary doctor is okay, at least he is open to trying other forms of medication and ordering regular blood tests. Some people complain that their doctor won't even let them order a simple blood test to check things out. Seriously?! I think it's because they're afraid of what they'll find, and even more, they won't know what to do with the information they receive.

I found one such article that sums that up pretty well:

What the heck does the thyroid gland do? Most physicians will tell you “it controls metabolism,” which is what we all learned in medical school. That statement is basically the same as saying “it’s really complicated and I don’t understand it.” - Dr. Rob Lamberts 

If you don't know much about your condition, and your doctor doesn't really know, either, then that can mean months, years, even - of feeling like crap when you don't have to.

The thyroid is responsible for our metabolism, which, by definition is "The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life." Sounds pretty important! In a nutshell, it affects every cell in the body and how it uses energy. It does this by absorbing iodine from our food supply to produce essential thyroid hormones.

The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland, which is really why when you have a TSH test (Thyroid stimulating hormone) done, it's more a determinant of how the pituitary is functioning. You can have a completely normal TSH result and yet still have symptoms, which is why some people go undiagnosed for years - but more on that later. The thyroid converts this iodine into important thyroid hormones - thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). In a normally functioning thyroid, the body converts the T4 (storage hormone) into T3 for energy. As a result, the body produces much less of the "business" hormone T3, because otherwise you would be hyperthyroid - when the thyroid is "sped up." This can happen either on its own or if you are being improperly treated with medications.

When thyroid levels become too low, the pituitary produces more TSH, which in turn makes the thyroid produce more hormones. As a result, someone with hypothyroidism would often - but not always - have a high TSH.

If you've felt like crap for years or are wondering if you're hypo, there is quite an extensive list of symptoms, depending on who you consult. Unfortunately, many of the lists can say completely different things, which I always found confusing and frustrating. Don't ever underestimate the power of your thyroid gland to screw things up; if in doubt, google it and see for yourself.

Symptoms can include:
• feeling cold all the time
• low energy and fatigue, wanting to sleep all the time
• hair loss, loss of outer eyebrow hair
• depression or feeling extremely unmotivated
• low sex drive (more on that later!)
• dry skin
• constipation
• swelling, especially in the face
• pain and stiffness in your joints
• heavier (or sometimes lighter) than usual periods
• infertility or repeated miscarriages
• brain fog and/or memory loss
• muscle cramps and aches
• irritability
• weight gain, even with diet and exercise
• increased cholesterol
• consistently low body temperature
• shortness of breath
• dry, brittle nails
• dizziness and headaches
• migraines
• easily upset or emotional, scares easily
• choking easily
• feeling lumps or sensations in your throat

It's important to note that in some people, symptoms creep up very gradually, and are often dismissed as something else - we often contribute many of these things to "just getting old." Well, I call BS!

I went to several websites to come up with somewhat of a comprehensive list of symptoms for this list, because many times they are very inadequate. I have also consulted my father-in-law's Physicians Desk Reference and noticed, almost amused, that according to their list you'd practically have to be dead before they'd stand up and take note. There's a difference, to them, between symptoms and "signs" - symptoms are things you complain about and only you notice going on inside you, and signs are those outward things (like near heart failure, she says sarcastically) that a doctor can see going on. For example, goiter, or enlarged neck, would be a "sign." (But who really wants to have to wait until their neck swells up like a balloon? Oh wait... been there, done that...)

Granted, everyone is different, and not everyone will experience a full range of symptoms, or even close. Some can have relatively high TSH numbers and feel great; others, like myself, can be in the "normal range" and still feel like crap. I had to laugh when I consulted the almost pathetic list at Wikipedia - which lists a set of common and uncommon symptoms. Some were indeed abnormal and rare, and others on that uncommon list were actually quite common! What the heck?

Even more annoying is when patients give the run down of complaints to physicians who don't  know what all the comprehensive symptoms even are. Apparently, yes - shortness of breath can be a symptom of hypo and not just hyperthyroidism; and yet often I was feeling like I literally needed to gasp for breath. My doctor assumed it was anxiety; I told him I was not anxious. I explained how I would literally have to stop for breath just while reading a bedtime story to my kids. How is that anxiety?

Considering how prevalent hypothyroidism is, I don't know why more doctors don't do regular panels on their patients just to prevent them from falling through the cracks. Some don't know what the full range of symptoms are and just think it's normal for them. Some don't know their family history, some don't understand how it can affect them and what it means for their diagnosis. While it can affect men as well, it is more commonly inherited from mother to daughter.

It's important to not only understand the basics of how your thyroid works and what it should be doing, but take a proactive role in finding a physician who will take your complaints seriously. If possible, it's very helpful to know your family history, know your treatment options and know your rights as a patient so you can feel your best.

January is Thyroid Awareness Month!

What a perfect time of year to have "Thyroid Awareness Month" - the weather is usually cold, dreary and generally yuk outside, and a time when most people are just ready for spring to hurry up and get here. Is it just the weather making you feel unmotivated and crappy, or could it be your thyroid?

Thyroid disorders affect millions of Americans. Are you
one of them? 

As a recent newcomer to the thyroid scene, I have talked to many, many people who have thryoid problems and are on medication. Some of those same people, I've noticed, are taking meds and yet have no idea what their thyroid does or how important it is to their overall health. Others are merely vaguely aware of basically feeling like shit more often than not, but aren't really sure why. There's no time like the present to evaluate your overall health, take stock in how you feel and discovering that perhaps there is a reason for  why you feel the way you do.

Hypothyroidism can affect both men and women, and can often be the root cause of many other underlying illnesses and problems in the body - from weight gain and general tiredness, to arthritis, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, repeated miscarriages, infertility, low breast milk supply, among other things.

Some quick facts on thyroid diseases:

• Thyroid disease is the most common endocrine disorder.
• Eight out of ten (80 percent) diagnosed thyroid cases are hypothyroid; 20 percent are hyperthyroid.
• 27 million people in the US, and approximately 200 million worldwide, have a thyroid disorder.
• Of that 27 million, about half are considered undiagnosed.
• As of 2010, sales of Synthroid, the most popular drug used to treat hypothyroidism, went up 18.1% to $123 million.