Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Low Side of Normal

The first week of January 2012 my health crisis began.

It started with one symptom and quickly turned into more.  By December 2012 I was having a hysterectomy.  Then the crippling fatigue began.  I had to quit work. 

Test after test.  Nothing.  My blood work for thyroid and hormones were normal.  Low- but within normal ranges.

I started having new symptoms.  Pain in my gluts and quad muscles. My joints hurt.  My head was fuzzy.  I couldn't remember things.  I gained 40+ pounds.

I researched my symptoms. I diagnosed myself with Adrenal Fatigue, low progesterone, high estrogen, and Insulin Resistant.

Months turned into years.  I would give up and stop going to doctors for testing.  Then go back only to be told – everything looked normal- low but normal.  I was tested for Lupus, other auto-immune diseases, cancer... thankfully I tested negative for everything.  Blood work still showed normal ranges of thyroid and hormones- but low.

I kept researching my symptoms. I started reading about low thyroid.  I had 90% of the symptoms.  I researched Armor Thyroid.  I went to my doctor and begged to try Armor Thyroid.  He referred me to a nurse who specialized in women's hormones.  (He confused her and another woman who specializes in endocrine hormones).

The nurse put me on bio-identical progesterone.  She said that "my" low and "someone else's" low might not be the same thing.  She said she was going to get me up to the middle range and see how I felt.  That helped so much but didn't help with all of it.

She referred me to the endocrine hormone specialist. She said the same thing about being low.  She wanted to get me up to the middle. SHE put me on Armor Thyroid.

TADA!!!  That was it.  Amour Thyroid helped get my life back.  Fatigue- 90% gone.   Now I just get a little tired around 6pm every once in awhile.  Pain in muscles- gone.  Joints don't hurt as much. (I have a little arthritis in a few joints).   I was/am also pre-diabetic.  

If you are going through a health crisis and the doctors can't/ won't give you a diagnosis.  Keep researching for yourself.  Be your own advocate.  If your blood work is 'low' in an area….  Remember 'low' for you might mean 'not normal'.

My thyroid numbers were low.  But now my numbers are in the middle of normal.  I feel so much better.  I feel like a person again.  I can do things with my family.  I'm back to work.

I love life again.


I will tell you I turned to God first for healing and I know He led me to natural supplements, herbs, therapeutic essential oils, eating changes, and life style changes.

Above all- keep praying and seeking Him for healing and wisdom for what to do.


Keep fighting.  Keep praying.  Keep searching.





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5 comments:

  1. You are a miracle and I'm so happy you found the right path for YOU! Read this blog at the Plant Based Party Link Up. I'm a first time visitor to your site and thank you for sharing your story. Warm regards, Nancy A@obloggernewbie.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments. That's a great point- that was my path. I hope that everyone who doesn't fit neatly inside a health issue box- wll seek their own path for healing. :)

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  2. Thank you for sharing. So happy you kept researching and found a solution! It's frustrating that you had to do some much of that yourself, but it's often the case. Way to take charge, and thanks for encouraging others to do the same. #fitfamlove

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  3. Thanks for your comment. I hope to encourage those out there that are still struggling. There were times I was so exhausted that washing my hair left me resting against the wall in the shower.

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  4. I am so glad that you persisted and persisted in this challenging and frustrating medical situation. It is so important for us to do our own research, talk to others, ask questions and look for solutions for our health concerns. Your experience is a real inspiration for others. Thank you so much for sharing The Low Side of Normal at the Plant-based Potluck Party Blog Hop. I'm pinning and sharing.

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