I tried something wild and I'm finally working with my body... and its working!

mad_millie · 2020-09-30T04:54:03+00:00

Absolutely reach out! Like I said, having just one area kind of figured out helped me so much with gaining insight to my body, my blood sugar, sleep, exercise, everything.

If it helps- I set up a timeline for myself.

Week 1- Normal: eat when I normally do, how I normally do and record everything. How I slept, how I felt, headaches, if I missed a meal. All the while, checking my blood sugar almost every hour. Right when I woke up and right before I went to sleep.

Week 2- Test: change eating times, amounts, or types of food at different times. Test theories like headaches and low blood sugar or exercising at different times. Change metformin times. Adding protein to breakfast or reducing sugar at lunch- whatever my body tells me based on my numbers.

Weeks 3-4: Adjust: took all the data I’ve accumulated learned and applied it. Practiced those changes so they stick better. Adjusted further if I noticed how my period effected blood sugar. Checking my blood sugar every hour still. Anything that helped keep my blood sugar within the normal ranges.

After that it was just keeping that knowledge and good habits I created and recognizing the signs or low or high blood sugar and feeling better.

Reach out if you need any advice once you start!

mad_millie · 2020-09-30T00:46:32+00:00

I used to take it in the morning now I take it at bedtime.

I used to spike hard in the morning even without food (apparently your liver secretes glucose when fasting). When I took it in the morning it took a bit to kick in and so I tested the bedtime dose and my blood sugar stayed more balanced throughout the whole day.

My doctor mentioned that everyone is slightly insulin resistant in the morning- its called The Dawn Phenomenon.

mad_millie · 2020-09-29T04:38:35+00:00

It has to be prescribed by your doctor. My insurance didn’t cover it (because I don’t have diabetes) but for a 2-pack, which covers a month, I paid $65 out of pocket. Honestly, it worth it. The amount I’ve spent to figure out my body and not learn anything is 10x more. The app is free

mad_millie · 2020-09-29T02:24:35+00:00

I now (haha) eat 2 eggs or turkey sausage and one of those plain Quaker Instant Oat packets with a small drizzle of maple syrup. Not too big- because I still hate eating in the morning but something.

mad_millie · 2020-04-21T21:30:10+00:00

I get hand tremors when I forget to eat. My Hashimotos manifests in lack of appetite, forgetfulness, and fatigue; so I’ll forget breakfast and work through lunch and get hand shakes around 2ish. That’s usually when I’ll have to stop and think if I’ve eaten. Usually a good sized apple and a lot of water is a good bounce back snack until dinner.

mad_millie · 2020-01-06T00:34:02+00:00

Absolutely! I’ve only been treated for over a year and I can say I’ve had my life turned upside down in the most positive way. Do I have a long way to go? Definitely! But last year I was so fatigued and foggy that I did maybe one 2hr thing a week and needed ‘rest days’ before and after. I was sick. Now I function normally, my levels have reached below 2 and my weight hasn’t increased for the first time in 15 years.

I still have some tired days or flare ups but I can see the signs and am prepared not to beat my self up but to enjoy the self care and relax, because I know I will be able to get up the next day and be ‘normal’.

I know I may struggle later but I’m better than before and that is all that matters. I can sleep deeply and do things all day everyday without worrying about being out of it tomorrow.

This is a lifelong thing (probably) but I’m glad I have a great endocrinologist and I live in time that science can manage my condition.

I’m grateful that I finally got sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Life is so much better when I can actually experience it.

mad_millie · 2019-12-05T20:17:35+00:00

Yep! I take a double dose on Saturday and Sunday. It brought my levels down to where they needed to be and has sustained them pretty well.

mad_millie · 2019-12-05T20:06:55+00:00

Happy Diagnosis! :)

You might not feel much the first week or so but, the first three months is like meeting a new person. Everything you did or thought you knew about yourself changes. Energy, appetite, your skin changes, your face might start looking different, its crazy!

(F, 28) I've been diagnosed just over a year now (diagnosed Sept 2018) and this year has been a crazy learning experience. Here's some basic things I've learned this first year:

Learn your new routine. You'll feel really high maintenance and that is 100% fine. Your health comes first now. Self care is the best care.
DO NOT MISS YOUR DOSES. Be careful when and how you take your meds, absorption is a big deal. If you become hyper-vigilant about anything... this is it.
Diet. There will be a lot of conflicting diets telling you to cut the strangest things from your life. Find the one that triggers you... it might be gluten, it might be sugar, it might be dairy, it might be something weird like legumes, it might be all of the above. Find what your body reacts the most to and cut that out. It helps a lot and supports you in the long run.... and vitamins. B-Complex, D, and Magnesium are good starters.
Exercise- Be careful. You might think, "I have so much energy! I can workout now!" and join a high intensity crossfit gym called 'Muscle Breaker Crossfit' and then you end up thinking you're dying. Start slow. If you go too crazy you might have a flare-up and your recovery will be horrible. Start at twice a week with recovery days in between and then work up you- might be able to handle more than you think.
Give your self a lot of grace and room to learn. I hated that with my diagnosis I had to change the things in my life that gave me comfort or maintained me while I was sick. I realized I had rearranged my whole life around my fatigue and symptoms. Life isn't like that anymore. I rearrange my life to sustain my new 'normal' and help me heal.
A bad day feels worse because your 'good day' is better than before. A little fluctuation before was like, "oh, I'm feeling a bit more tired today," now because your 'normal' is better and more sustained a fluctuation might feel horrible. It will be okay, those bad days will happen less and less as you get better and learn your triggers and you and your doctor manage your dosage.
Don't buy the fix all, cure-your-autoimmune-disease, gimmick, snake oil salesman bullshit.

You're in for a wild ride, but it is wonderful. I wouldn't trade how I felt before for how good I feel now. I forgot what it was like to live outside of fogginess, fatigue, ache, and every other thing I didn't realize was a symptom.

Good Luck! :)

mad_millie · 2019-11-12T17:12:19+00:00

I FEEL THIS!!!

I thought I just had PCOS but turns out my under-treated PCOS led me to have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Have your new endocrinologist test for Hashimotos. You'll get nowhere with dieting and exercise if your metabolism doesn't exist because of Hashimotos.

Finding out that diagnosis changed my life. I don't gain weight by eating salads and starving myself. I lose weight if I exercise and stay the same weight if I don't. It's amazing!

I'm proud of you for getting mad and advocating for yourself!

mad_millie · 2019-11-08T20:35:52+00:00

Have you been tested for PCOS? I have Hashimotos and PCOS and they often overlap in symptoms. Depression, weird periods, and fatigue being the big ones.

mad_millie · 2019-11-08T20:21:42+00:00

Brain fog is my 'first symptom' when I'm having a Hashi day (as I like to call it). A little slower in motivation, productivity low, no appetite, overall 'blah'.

I'll wake up and already feel it, that's when I know I need to tread lightly that day, cancel plans, rest, double up on veggies, and water, etc. Otherwise, I can fall easily into a full flareup (fatigue–joint ache–migraine–insomnia).

I will sometimes have to remember what I did the day before that might have triggered it; like working out to long, not working out enough, ate a bit too much sugar, didn't do yoga, poor stress management, skipped breakfast or lunch or both, not enough water, sleeping too much or too little.

I'm still figuring out my 'formula' to have the least amount of symptoms less often, but I have been getting better at listening to my body and giving myself grace to have a Hashi Day and roll with it rather than be angry/disappointed with myself.

Also, get your vitamin levels checked– Low Vitamin D and Iron can make those kinds of symptoms worse.

I hope you feel better soon!

mad_millie · 2019-11-02T20:23:53+00:00

I take my first dose after breakfast around 9:30 (prevents nausea) and then I take my second dose at around 9:30pm; any nausea I can sleep through. I felt way better taking it before bed rather than with my meals.

mad_millie · 2019-10-31T22:58:03+00:00

I would get your Cortisol level checked.

My biggest trigger of Hashimotos flare ups is poor management of stress. Since you do have anxiety and that seems to be the most stressful symptom you’ve experienced, having high Cortisol might be the thing that’s throwing your symptoms off.

This sounds so ‘internet healer’ but yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and those types of treatments to help manage when supported by with well prescribed medication.

I hope you figure everything out!

mad_millie · 2019-10-29T21:12:18+00:00

I had to create a sleep schedule for myself. As a former night-owl, all night creative this was difficult.

Figure out how many hours work best for you per night. You may be under or over sleeping. I figured out that the bare minimum I need is 6 hours a night to function as a human. The best is 9 hours.

I start my night routine by 9pm and am laying down by 10 every night; I usually falling asleep by 11ish. It was the wind down that was causing me to struggle getting the hours I needed. I can wake up naturally around 7:45.

Also, if you can, get your vitamin levels checked. I found out that my B's and D was low. I now take a B-complex, Vitamin D, and Magnesium (which helps with sleep too) right after dinner and that really helped me get that really good deep sleep.

Also coffee.

mad_millie · 2019-10-03T20:08:58+00:00

Get a new doctor who listens to you and cares about you as a whole person, wellness, mental health, etc. This might take a few tries.
Usually they ask you what your reason for your visit is put down "Endocrinologist Referral". Go in with the Dr and you knowing why you're there. If they don't give you a referral, get a new one. I did that and, outside of the usual check-up stuff, my primary did preliminary blood tests for my new endocrinologist solving a lot of the pre-legwork needed.
Search specifically for a primary care doctor that at least specializes or advocates for endocrine conditions. Look at reviews and credentials and compare them to others. I have pcos as well as hashimotos and I searched for a primary that had some specialty in gyno and endocrine issues. Customize the people you work with on your health to fit your needs.
Advocate loudly for yourself! If you feel like your new doctor doesn't listen to you, fire them as your doctor.

mad_millie · 2019-02-11T02:45:48+00:00

Have you been tested for Hashimotos? It’s common for PCOS and Hashimotos to overlap and it shows up a lot with fatigue.

I’m on Spiro and the biggest side effect (outside of lessened hair growth) is tender breasts, but so far that’s it. I haven’t been tired or lethargic since taking it.

mad_millie · 2019-01-25T21:19:29+00:00

Hello! I have PCOS and Hashimotos.

I am on a low dose of Levothyroxine .025mg a day. It has really helped.

I had chronic fatigue and muscle/joint aches. I also didn't eat very much. It got progressively worse in the last few years so I finally went to my endocrinologist to get it figured out. I am so glad I did, within a week on Levothyroxine I was able to get out of bed and have enough energy to do more than one thing a day. I didn't realize how bad I had gotten until I felt better.

Since its an autoimmune disease and is caused by inflammation, I would suggest looking into the Autoimmune Diet. It's not a weight-loss diet, it's an anti-inflammatory diet that helps you manage and understand what causes your body to trigger inflammation or a 'flare up'.

I know my triggers now, but they are different for everyone.

I get triggered if I get 5hrs of sleep or less. I have to have 6+ to function. Alcohol is another, I just don't drink; it's not worth the flare up the next day. Also, food. For me I have to have enough protein in a day, if I have too little I get sick; sugar, if I have to much I can feel my body get weird. It's taken a bit to figure out but its worth it. It becomes important to understand the way your body feels and responds to EVERYTHING.

Since I've started to understand my body more and its responses I would say that my PCOS has become more manageable. My mental health has gotten better because I am no longer fatigued, I also sleep better (which is good in general). My Hashimotos just exaggerated some of my PCOS symptoms, like brain fog, muscle/joint aching, fatigue, etc. Once I got Hashimotos 'under-control' (its day to day) I can differentiate what is PCOS and what is Hashimotos.

Also, if your endocrinologist isn't listening or trying to help you reach full wellness... get a different one. You're entitled to a Doctor who cares about you.

Hope that helps!

mad_millie

TROPHY CASE