good/bad news

[linda]

First, the good news:

FINALLY, a lab confirmed diagnosis of hypothyroidism; I know that should be the bad news, but it's not. It means it will finally get treated and I might even lose some weight and get some energy. 🙂 No antibodies against the thyroid, so it's more than likely due to prednisone – isn't everything?

the bad news: I'm also hyperglycemic due to insulin resistance, no big surprise there. :X A light at then end of the tunnel tho, some medication to slow the absorption of carbs which gives the insulin more time to work its magic. Again, hopefully with the result of more energy and weight loss, but not a good prognosis if I can't get off the demon prednisone.

Now for my appt Thurs. with Dr. K…

[Kim]

Hey Linda,

Glad you're getting some answers.  Hypothyroidsm seems to go hand-in-hand with all of these diseases.  My thyroid has been on a wild ride and it's anybody's guess where it will settle out.  I too was hoping thyroid meds would help regulate metabolism, but that didn't really change.  The whole endocrine system is so complicated and really hard to get just right, especially when you're dealing with infections that keep everything out of whack.

I know you're anxious about going to Lufkin and I'm sorry about that, but do believe you'll be glad you went.  Please fill us in when you can and tell us how it went.

Hugs………kim

[Maz]

Hi Linda,

I ditto everything Kim said – she's such a smart cookie, dear Kim. 🙂 I've also had thyroid troubles that all coincided with all this for me, too. At least you don't have the AI variety….Hashimoto's is a bear with all the cycling from hyper to hypo until everything finally burns out….then you're just hypo. I'm still in the cycling phase…UGH!

If Dr K offers you the IVs, don't forget to ask her about the low-cost rooming while you're there. Poor ol' Gayg wound up sleeping in her car once and don't want to think of you doing that! 😯

Can't wait to hear how it all goes for you!  Fingers and toes crossed in CT for you!!

Peace, Maz

[JBJBJB]

Linda,

I am sorry about these test results. I had exactly the same thing. When I went to Australia to visit my mom, she mentioned to have my thyroid checked. She also said she wasn't surprised if TSH was high because I lack a lot of energy.

I was 5.08 TSH and now I have TSH 0.17 (too low). I also have insulin resistant problem. It was triggered by prednisone. I have to be very careful with starchy food. I don't like sugary food, so high sugar food is not a problem for me. My A1C was 5.5% which is okay. 5% is good.

In a way I was glad to find out these things earlier so that I can have control over. I don't know about losing weight but I sure have a lot more energy.

Hope you will find a good endo to take care of them.  JB

 

[linda]

You girls are so wonderful, I don't know if you realize how much strength you give me. I feel like crud and I'm going to drive 5.5 hrs alone, I don't think I could even attempt it without your support. I may sleep thru my appt!

It also helped today when my endo doc asked me if I had been able to decrease the pred. I told her no, but that I had an appt Thurs with a doctor who rxs abx for arthritis. She was very interested in that, and pretty much said,'Why not?', if it gets you off the pred, go for it. I like this doctor, she runs 1-1.5 hr late for her appts, but it's because she spends so much time with her patients; nothing wrong with that in my book.

We're going to have to start transplanting extra toes and fingers on Maz' hands and feet if she's going to keep crossing them for me! Thanks for the hugs and love, girls, I will definitely post when I recover from this trip.

One little sad note, my son was coming down last weekend to see me, but he had a bad cold, so I had to tell him not to come and see me because I'm on Enbrel. A mother is supposed to take care of her kids when they are sick, not tell them to stay away. It was a very depressing weekend, but it makes me more determeined than ever to “blast the bastards” and get off of these other nasty meds. My most important stewardship on this earth is my children; if I can't take care of them or help them I'm …I don't know what I am. Not happy, that's for sure. So off to Lufkin I go.

“I'm off the see the doctor, the wonderful doctor of Lufkin. She really, really, really is a wonderful doctor of Lufkin…if ever, if ever a doc there was, the doctor of Lufkin she was, she was, because because because because because!……………because of the wonderful things she does! I'm off to see the doctor, the wonderful doctor of Lufkin.”

Okay, the joyfulness is over. I'm not Dorothy, altho I do have a little dog. Just felt a silly attack coming on and couldn't resist.:P

Thanks everyone, linda

[Maz]

[user=11]linda[/user] wrote:

Okay, the joyfulness is over. I'm not Dorothy, altho I do have a little dog. Just felt a silly attack coming on and couldn't resist.:P

Dorothy…uhhh…I mean Linda…why shouldn't you be Dorothy??? I once heard a spiritual teacher speaking about the movie, The Wizard of Oz. Sounds strange, but he used it as a metaphor to explain how we are always in charge of our destiny and we always do have the power within us to click our red slippers together and choose our paths in life. So, be sure to pack those red slippers of yours, because you really are Dorothy now! The Wizard behing the curtain isn't as frightening when the curtain (our fears) is drawn aside and we step into our power by making a choice and going for it….so, I now dub thee, “Dorothy of Oz.” :dude:

You'll be fine on the trip…just stop for breaks when you need it and take all your creature comforts along. My hubby commutes to Boston every week for a couple days and he goes to the local library and gets books on tape to play in the car. Says it keeps him awake and is company for the long drive.

So sorry to hear you couldn't look after your lovely son. No one should have to live in fear like this…I won't cross my fingers and toes again, but I am putting it out there for you that this is going to be life-changing for you, even if it takes a while for you to see some results, which it may well do. You can do it!

Peace, Maz

[Trudi]

[user=11]linda[/user] wrote:

Okay, the joyfulness is over. I'm not Dorothy, altho I do have a little dog. Just felt a silly attack coming on and couldn't resist.:P

Thanks everyone, linda

I'm continually amazed at your good sense of humor during some obviously very difficult times.  I've got you in my prayers; 5.5 hours is a loooong drive, solo to boot. 

Take care and be safe–

Trudi 

Lyme/RA; AP 4/2008 off and on to 3/2010; past use of quinolones may be the cause of my current problems, (including wheelchair use); all supplements (which can aggravate the condition) were discontinued on 10/14/2012. Am now treating for the homozygous MTHFR 1298 mutation. Off of all pain meds since Spring '14 (was on them for years--doctor is amazed--me too). Back on pain med 1/2017. Reinfected? Frozen shoulder?

[linda]

Cool!, I accept my new name, but do I have to do the silly dance? Don't have any ruby slippers, will birkenstocks do? And my grandmother's name was Dorothy, but everyone called her Dot. I like Dot.

It's now official, tomorrow my new avatar is Dorothy,aka Dot. So who's the wicked witch? an unconvinced rheumy or the microbes themselves? I say she's the rheumy and the broom is the abx she won't give us, so we have to get it ourselves. There's an image, our resistant rheumatologists melting, melting…..
This is really not a bad story for analogies; we all need courage, knowledge and heart to get thru these diseases, and we are following the 'Road Back'. So now it's a yellow brick road, no biggie. And Glenda, the Good Witch?, all the wonderful members (even the guys) here who support each other. Let's just leave the flying monkeys out of it, K? :shock:- altho they are a “pain”.

It does feel as tho I've been thru a tornado to finally get on the path I needed to be on.

Over the rainbow, Dot/linda

I'm going to have to work on that name.

[Kim]

Please don't try any of this out on Dr. K., I mean, don't put Dorothy or Dot on the patient form or talk about flying monkeys because she will personally escort you to the nearest psych ward.

Safe travels…….kim

p.s.  I think the wicked witch is the pred.

[linda]

Kim, I like your assignment to the wicked witch. It sure would be nice if that pred would just melt away.
And yes, I think it's best if we keep this analogy to ourselves, it's a little out there, even for me!

[Maz]

 [user=11]linda[/user] wrote:

And yes, I think it's best if we keep this analogy to ourselves, it's a little out there, even for me!

Nah, not you, Linda, aka “Star Trek Girl!” I know I'm a bit Pollyannish at times, but gotta admit, no matter how trite, the Wiz of Oz metaphor is kinda apt…i.e. yellow brick road = road back, the wizard = Dr K, evil witch = pred, flying monkeys = herxes, tin man (ouch, those joints), scarecrow (freaked out moments) and cowardly lion (wanna give in moments) = pieces of ourselves along the yellow brick road….and best of all ruby red slippers = AP and “going home” = a return to health!

Just keep clicking those ruby red slippers! And, btw, Linda, you've dropped decades at just the thought of going to Lufkin…I mean, just look at your avatar pic! :roll-laugh: You're such a hoot, girl!

Peace, Maz

[linda]

Okie dokie, but we left out the Munchkins. Sorry, but since they are the people that put Dorothy on the right path, they have to be our own wonderful roadback volunteers. I get to drop a few yrs, but you guys have to drop a few feet! Hardly seems fair, considering the tall task you've taken on, but, everyone loves the Munchkinlanders!:D

[Maz]

Linda, sheesh…that really brought quite a tear to the old peepers….but a loud chuckle, too! Anyone would think me mad sitting here all alone.

Now, who is the “good witch?” I had to think hard about this one…perhaps it's all of us…that part of us that comes in with hope just when we need her?

Munchkins?!!  :roll-laugh:  Will have to share that one with the “behind the scenes” volunteers! They'll get a kick out of that.

Peace, Maz

 

[lynnie_sydney]

The Good Witch is (G)linda….:roll-laugh: Lynnie

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

[linda]

Thanks Lynnie…I wish I had her magic wand, I'd swish it until we were all 100% healthy. I'd lose the voice, but keep the dress, just in case Prince Charming wandered out of his story into OZ.

[Author]

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