Infertility Vent---long

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2007
Infertility Vent---long
4
Thu, 06-28-2007 - 12:29pm

Hi! everyone...I've been a board lurker for sometime...have found a lot of useful info and encouragement from reading your words, so a huge thank you to all.

Just wanted to vent a bit...in Nov 2005 I came to know that I was hypothyroid. For years I unwittingly went through life with many of the classic symptoms (painful menstruation to the point of fainting a few times, hair loss, sluggishness, dry skin, inability to lose weight in spite of a healthy diet and strenuous exercise, carpal tunnel's syndrome, etc.), but it wasn't until my husband suggested that I do a hormone panel, that I finally found out about my problem. Perhaps foolishly, I opted not to take any meds at the time and did some research on my own...read an excellent book by Dr. Shames and based on his suggestions, I started to take raw thyroid glandular capsules, plus selenium, sea kelp, tyrosine and some other supplements. Within 3 weeks, I rechecked my TSH with a different doc, and I was now at 2.9. Still, my symptoms were very much a part of daily life. When I probed with the new doc, he point blank made me feel crazy, in spite of his own analysis of my neck a week prior to receiving the lab results, during which he said that my thyroid gland was inflamed by at least 30% of the norm. When he gave me the lab results, he refused to look at my eyes and was just cold and mean, telling me that I was normal and that I could have been making up my hair loss and other symptoms. I left the office practically in tears...::sigh::

During this entire time, I was not taking birth control and I was just using the basal temp method to predict my fertility. There were a few times when my DH and I were not safe, but none of those times ended up in pregnancy. I never suspected an underlying infertility issue b/c based on my charts, there was a clear rise in my temps mid-cycle.

Earlier this year, because my hubby and I were thinking about having a child, I decided to do a check-up and this time, based on my continuing thyroid symptoms, I asked the doc to check for the presence of thyroid antibodies. She seemed skeptical b/c according to her I was in the normal range of TSH, but I persuaded her to do the test anyhow. It ended up being positive with a high presence in spite of having been on Synthroid for a month before. I had been experiencing heart palpitations and I felt my symptoms get worse on Synthroid so I asked the doc to put me on Armour. I think just to make me shut-up she put me on 30 mg, and immediately I felt better, though I'd crash mid-day and post-ovulation for 2 weeks. Due to this, I've been put on 60 mg this month. However, I suspect due to bad food decisions, I've been especially hypo this month (I can tell based on my temps and my carpal tunnel, which takes its toll on my wrists if I'm more hypo than usual).

I noticed a huge dip in temps and increase in symptoms after stupidly eating jerky, which I later found out had MSG in it. After doing some research, I found out that MSG kills the thyroid...I've noticed the same bad reaction after eating food with soy in it...has anyone else noticed this?

Sorry for the long story but the main point is that I'm fed-up and frustrated because half the year has flown by and I'm TTC to no avail...I have an appt with an actual endocrinologist for the first time in July...I pray that he can get to the bottom of this...I am 25 and I realize that I've been in denial of possibly being infertile and I'm scared to death. My husband is 8 yrs older than I am, so I'm especially concerned about conceiving ASAP...ahhhhhhhhhh, I know I sound like a crazy person...and I do feel crazy and this hypo has wreaked havoc on my emotions...for the entire 2 and a half years that my DH and I have been married, I have been ultra sensitive and crying for no reason at times...after getting on Armour, I realize what a ridiculous toll the thyroid has on emotional well-being...anyway, ne words of advice would really be appreciated...thanks in advance for listening!

FYI, I am taking 60 mg Armour in the AM and mid-afternoon, I a bunch of vitamins, including the ones I mentioned above. I am just praying that its my antibodies that need to be taken care of via perhaps an increased dosage of meds and that there isn't any other issue with myself or my husband...please advise...should I ask the endo in July to perform any other tests...will a regular endo perform these tests or do I need to be referred to a reproductive endo?

THANK YOU TAHNK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 06-28-2007 - 8:42pm

Hi thyroidhelp,


Welcome to our board.


Your thyroid journey is very interesting.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2007
Sun, 07-15-2007 - 6:59pm

I really empathise with your struggle with TTC. I too am hypothyroid and have had several miscarriages and a stillbirth, then was diagnosed. I was on Synthroid for 14 months and TTC to no avail, until I switched to Armour. The first complete cycle on Armour I got pregnant (90 mg) and later it was increased to 120mg. I am currently 11 weeks pregnant and feel pretty good and the baby looks great. You may need to talk to your endo about finding optimal dosages for you. Good luck and don't give up!

Rose

Mommy to angel Yeraz born beautiful & still 11, April 2005 and precious Meg born alert and healthy in our home 4, February 2008
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2007
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 11:05am

Thank You Calley and Rose :-)

This Friday is my appointment with the endo. As you both suggested, I have compiled a "patient history" and have listed all the supplements I'm taking plus testing that I would like to have done.

Thanks for having read my vent...it's unlike me to be so vocal but I recall feeling so angry at the time I wrote that. I'm far more empowered now, and I'm determined to tackle this health obstacle. Rose, reading about your struggles TTC and now your happy ending really uplifted me, so thanks very much for sharing your story.

I will let you know what happens as my journey continues. Please keep me in your prayers...I will keep you both in mine :-)

Diana

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2007
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 11:34am

You're welcome!!

I would also advise working with an endo who is open to trying different things to help you get to your optimal health. If need more medical resources you can google "Mary Shomon" (who is a fantastic thyroid advocate and has great articles, a website and written several books), you can find a "Dr. Finder" on her site that lists providers throughout the nation.

Rose

Mommy to angel Yeraz born beautiful & still 11, April 2005 and precious Meg born alert and healthy in our home 4, February 2008