Update *Updated*

Thank you all for all of your prayers!  Sorry for the delay in the update, it's been a bit of a crazy weekend.  We have good news and not so good news.

 

The good news.  The biopsy came back benign with no signs of cancer.  Wahoo!

 

The not so good news (depending on how you look at it).  The biopsy did show that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  In a way, this isn't so good because, well, who wants an autoimmune disease that pretty much isn't curable?  But, (and I'm choosing to just be happy about this part for now) I FINALLY have a diagnosis!  FINALLY!!!!!  I can't even tell you how happy that makes me.  I've been dealing with this crap for years.  I'm over it!  I'm over feeling awful all the time.  To the general public (and most people other than my husband), I'm a fabulous faker.  Fabulous I tell you.  But I'm dying.  I have been for years.  At least the past 10, probably longer.  I have absolutely zero energy, total brain fog, a keep gaining weight despite exercise and pretty awesome diet, my hair is dry, my skin is itchy, I have debilitating anxiety, etc. etc.  Miserable.  This finally puts a name on it and helps me to realize that I'm not crazy.  Because let me tell you, I was beginning to wonder.

 

And while the endocrinologist that I have been seeing is very nice, I won't be continuing my care with her.  I guess this part is also part of the not so good news.  The problem is that she is only willing to treat me based on labs.  The issue with that is a few things...

1. I feel like crap ALL.THE.TIME.  Why should I have to continue to live like this if I don't have to just because my lab work looks pretty?
2. With Hashimoto's your thyroid levels can change from day to day.  So, just because they are pretty on the day that I have blood drawn, doesn't mean they will be pretty tomorrow.
3. She only treats with synthroid.  I've done my research, I'd prefer Armour. 
4. My body is destroying my thyroid.  Why not be proactive?  She is sort of a wait and see doctor and basically told me that my thyroid will eventually shut down (I don't doubt that) and there wasn't much we can do about it.  I do doubt that.  Again, I've researched, we can at least try to prolong it and make me feel better in the process.

So, I'm heading to my primary doctor in 2 hours.  He is a former OB who is now an Integrative Medicine doctor.  He's a little hippy dippy, but so far he has actually been listening to me.  The only reason he suggested the Endocrinologist in the first place is because my ultrasound indicated cancer.  As far as treating me for Hashimoto's, he can handle that.  At my last appointment, he told me he was open to trying Armour and that he was willing to treat based on symptoms.  I'm hoping he still feels that way today.  The thing that worries me slightly, is that I'm now pregnant.  Will he still be willing to treat?  I'm not sure.  I pray he will.  I looked up the safety of Armour in pregnancy, sounds pretty dang safe.  Rated class A.  I'm comfortable with that.

 

So, that's where we stand.  Seriously praying things go well today.  I've been asking St. Blaise all morning to help me out on this one.  I am so desperate to feel better.  I'm tired of being sick.  If any of you see this this morning and want to ask him with me, I would greatly appreciate it.  My appointment is at 11:30 eastern time.  I'll try to come back this evening and update.

 

Thanks again!


*UPDATE*

It took a little convincing but I got Armour.  Only one refill, but that's because he wants to make sure it's working well for me and to be sure I come back for follow up blood work etc.  I did not however get Cortef for my adrenals.  He wasn't totally comfortable with giving it to me pregnant since it's a steroid.  We are going to revisit the idea when I come back for my follow up in 8 weeks.  In the mean time a fellow blogger friend who may have called me the most difficult patient she's ever had as well as a pain in the a** told me about some over the counter adrenal support I'm going to try.

To say that I am happy is an understatement.  I may have cried.  I still don't have everything I need, but this is such a huge leap in the right direction.  I feel like 10+ years of feeling like absolute crap are finally coming to an end.  Well, maybe not an end, Hashimoto's isn't going to just magically go away, but at least I am finally getting treatment from a doctor who is at least open to me making suggestions.

And I'm also continuing on iron and vitamin d since my levels were abysmal at best.  Annnnnnd, I'm going gluten free...again.  For real this time.  Hashimoto's and Celiac's go hand in hand.  Time to stop fooling myself.

Thanks again for all of your prayers.  Hopefully this hormonal-hell freight train is coming to a stop.

Oh, and just because it's exciting to me.  I talked to my midwife today and have my first appointment set for July 10th.  Wahoo!!!  I'll be 8.5 weeks.  FUN!