Monthly Archives: May 2014

Qi and Blood Deficiency– Feb 2014

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My OB/Gyn recommended (a few months prior) I try acupuncture. Being I was feeling good about my health I decided to try something new. After the acupuncturist’s review, she indicated I had Qi (pronounced ‘chi’) and blood deficiency, dampness and heat (infection) in my bladder and kidneys and also phlegm.

Acupuncture would help remove the heat and dampness from my abdominal area and eating the right foods could also help heighten my Qi. An additional item would be to remove citrus food, coffee, and alcohol, all irritants of the bladder.

After my first procedure, I felt I could have run a marathon! I had so much energy and felt so much better. Didn’t feel heavy, sore or tired! However, one item I was not thrilled about was eliminating yet another food from my already small selection. But if this helped, I’m willing to give it a try!

Liver Dysfunction – January 2014

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Within a few minutes of talking with the Naturopath, she said it was my liver! Alleluia! An answer to all my problems. She said it sounds like my liver is not processing my food which causes brain fog, depression, allergies, bloating, weight gain, puffy eyes, acne and gas. I had all of those things, so maybe this is what needs to be treated!

Again, I did as I was instructed…. removed all chemicals from home, replace plastic with glass, completed a 21 day liver cleanse (remove dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, some fruits, some vegetables, beef, sugar, alcohol, and a bunch of other things), do not exercise, started cold therapy (last few minutes of shower turn to cold water) and dry skin brushing.   I also took her recommended supplements such as Bladder Ease, DHEA, Bio cleanse all to aid in my aliments. All of these things would help aid my liver to function properly since it wasn’t doing so on its own.

After completing the 21-day cleanse (I actually did 40 days), I felt better. Hip Hip Hurray!! I felt better, I lost weight, and I had energy.   There may be hope after all!

Nutritionist Nov 2013

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After hearing I had IC (bladder inflammation) and all the things I was supposed to do for that (along with the stuff I was doing for the endometriosis), I decided to take a more natural path. I didn’t want to take medicine for the endometriosis, anti-depressants to counter the medicine for the endometriosis, medicine for my bladder along with bladder installations and vaginal velum suppositories.   I contacted a Nutritionist.

After meeting with her, she said I was eating healthy so she couldn’t help, but recommended I see a Naturopathic doctor since it could be my adrenals.

Interstitial Cystitis – Nov 2013

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To top matters off, I went back to my OB/GYN to talk about other options beside progesterone (still have massive side effects) and pelvic floor therapy (quit that). After several questions and hearing about my symptoms (those other than thyroid) like pressure and pain in bladder, frequent urination day and night, consent UTIs and painful intercourse (its back), he said I had Interstitial Cystitis (an inflammatory condition in the bladder). He said to start taking Elmiron (but that would take up to 12 months before I saw any benefit), Bladder installations (they injection medicine directly into your bladder) for 6 weeks and vaginal velum suppositories (insert the capsules then lay down for 30 minutes) and of course pelvic floor therapy!

I came home and lost it! I threw in the towel or so I thought I would. I changed gears and decided to go the holistic approach!

Hashimoto – Nov 2013

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Now through all of this, I did follow instructions and went back to the endocrinologist in 8 weeks for another blood test to see where my thyroid levels were. My levels were improving; however, I also showed positive for Hashimoto antibodies. Yet again, since the thyroid levels were low, but normal, they wouldn’t do anything!

Central Hypothyroidism July 2013

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During this time I went back to the chiropractor, he suggested I complete another round of blood tests especially after all the surgery I’ve had. This time the blood tests came back even lower. He said I had Central Hypothyroidism.  I was suffering from fatigue, dry skin, weight gain (after all that work with my diet and exercise I did after 2010 I felt very defeated), muscle weakness, thinning hair, and depression.

A General Practitioner at Park Nicollet confirmed the results and then referred me to an endocrinologist also at Park Nicollet.

Blood test with this new endocrinologist showed the same result. Low T4, Low TSH – very rare condition so they scheduled a Thyroid Uptake and Scan.

They also tested me for Grave’s disease. Well, the Thyroid Scan showed lower thyroid function, but nothing of great concern and the uptake was pretty good. The Graves’ disease test came back with positive antibodies.

Because I was central hypothyroid (symptoms of both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid), the doctor said to come back in 8 weeks so they can monitor my blood. They would continue to monitor my blood until the blood test showed which way my thyroid had decided to go. Basically they couldn’t treat me because I was both hyper or hypo! Seriously?

Ok, now I think I’ve about reached my threshold! Endometriosis, thyroid problems, now autoimmune disease!

I did end up going for a third opinion to see if a third endocrinologist would do something. Their blood tests showed slightly higher results and said technically it’s within normal range, definitely on the low end, but normal. Nothing more he would do.

At this point, I felt like I was running in circles!

Depo Lupron – Dec 2012 to May 2013

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Let the journey begin….I started the shots in December 2012. This would put me into menopause with side effects included severe fatigue, tired muscles, night sweats, acne (felt like I was 16 again), weight gain, joint/muscle aches, hot flashes and depression.

I cannot begin to tell you how awful those 6 months were. I would never wish that upon my worst enemy (well maybe…. Ok, no I wouldn’t). It was miserable, I felt miserable, my body looked miserable, my life was miserable!   I tried daily to put on a happy face, but this was wearing me down!

After the 6 months of shots, I had to start taking progesterone to reduce/maintain the levels of estrogen in order to avoid reoccurring endometriosis. After about 2 weeks, I fell into a deep depression. Basically I wanted to quit my job, divorce my husband and leave my kids. I felt like I had hit rock bottom. The progesterone made me depressed, gain weight, suffer memory loss…Oh it was not wonderful! Needless to say, this lead to anti-depressants.

At this point, my journey was becoming more difficult. After a month of progesterone and anti-depressants, I went back to my OB to find out if there were other ways to deal with endometriosis.   I could try other drugs; I could acupuncture; I could try pelvic floor therapy as well.

I tried Pelvic floor therapy – I wasn’t a fan! With devices inserted into your vagina and someone telling you to flex your pelvic floor muscles wasn’t something I wanted to do everyday or every other day!

Laparoscopy for Endometriosis-Nov 2012

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Now on to dealing with the endometriosis…. I had a laparoscopic surgery to remove the endometriosis from my abdominal cavity (Remember I don’t have a uterus or cervix anymore). Surgery was successful expect yet again I developed another infection. After the infection cleared, my OB said I also needed to kill the micro-endometriosis and recommended I have Depo Lupron shots (puts your body into menopause which stops your ovaries from producing estrogen) for 6 months to rid my system of all endometriosis.

Hypothyroidism – 2012

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Since my head-on collision in 1998, I have been seeing a chiropractor. I hadn’t gone to a chiropractor since I moved to the Cities, but found one very quickly in 2004 when I was rear-ended going 60 miles an hour on Hwy 100 when Ella (my first born) was 4 weeks old.   Since I had a relationship already with him, I told him about the hole-in-my-bladder surgery and he suggested I complete more blood tests to see how my body was adjusting after surgery.

A change up happened…. Blood tests came back with low TSH and low T4. Hypothyroidism not hyperthyroidism. Yes, this is the opposite of what the Endocrinologist said but I went with it since my chiropractor was willing to help. I started taking iodine supplements and found improvement with my fatigue and weight loss within days!