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Originally Posted by Becs101
Its very strange but just seeing what I was doing to myself in your words made me finally realise....I haven't started out to be like this but I think the fear of gaining weight has done it for me, and I have got worse and worse over time.
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Becs, I'm so glad you were able to see this. It's understandable that when we want something very badly we will do almost anything to get it, but sometimes the 'it' takes over our lives without our even realizing it. Now that you've seen and admitted it openly, you can change it. You have that power.
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I have stopped taking the Synthoid
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Terrific. And now you understand why your doctor said he would no longer prescribe it. He could have done a much better job of explaining it to you!
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I am going to start eating, and eating well and I am going to get the tests done you have suggested. No one has suggested this before and I am eager to get it done ASAP.
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Please post the results here when you get them, and make sure you give the range (as you did before) as well as the score. Along with rT3 problems stemming from v. LC and v. low calories, it can also stem from or be exacerbated by low ferritin and/or low or high cortisol.
The ferritin is tested by blood, but the cortisol needs to be done via saliva. I'd be stunned if, given the stress starvation puts on the body, you didn't also have either or both of these problems -- which MUST be fixed before T3 (Cytomel) supplementation can begin. If not, you won't be able to tolerate the Cytomel. The cortisol issue is especially important, because if not addressed can completely burn out your adrenals. If your regular blood bank test doesn't have a DHEA report on it, add that to the list.
To understand this a bit better, go to:
http://www.chronicfatigue.org/ASI%20Normal.html
At the bottom of each page you can click through from stages 1 to 7 -- there may be information there that rings a bell with you.
More 'food' for thought: From
The Type 2 Diabetes Diet Book page 54:
"Thyroid function is sensitive to dietary influences. During starvation a
significant reduction in circulating T3 is always observed. The SAME OCCURS in
subjects on a carbohydrate-restricted diet, as a result of decreased reduction
of T4 to T3. Normal serum levels of TSH and T4 indicate that these subjects are
not hypothyroid in the usually accepted sense of the term."
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Can I ask if you would still suggest LC given what I have been doing?
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As long as it's very high in fat (mostly animal/dairy - saturated fat), with a decent amount of animal protein, especially organ meats (I suspect your ferritin test will probably show you low in iron if not anemic) -- and with enough carbs to keep you out of ketosis. That would probably be about 50 - 70 carbs a day, a small portion of which should be from glucose foods like potato or rice.
This small amount of glucose will allow your glycogen tank to remain filled, and allow all the protein you eat to be used for rebuilding your muscle and tissue, which are all sacrificed by the body on starvation calories. It saves the fat for last, so eating a lot of it (and I mean a LOT -- about 125 - 150g a day, which alone is a minimum of 1125 calories, and 1350 if it's the 150g) will allow your body to release some fat while building back all the muscle and other tissue you've lost.
This is going to take time, lots of it, maybe a year. You will gain weight at first (an easy 5 - 10 pounds of water because of the 4 H2O molecules attached to each carb), plus muscle and tissue weight. But once you begin to truly heal, and deal with your metabolism issues, you're going to see a leaner, far healthier body.
If the idea of gaining some healthy weight and/or waiting a year to see results seems frightening to you or impossible to do, please seek some counseling to deal with the underlying emotional issues that brought you here. There's nothing wrong in needing help or hand-holding to get you through an emotionally and/or physically difficult time. That's the epitome of strength, not weakness.
If you have any questions for me that you might prefer to be private, please PM me and I'll be happy to help or give support in any way I can.
I'm so glad you heard me.
Lisa
Going to self prescribe - advice needed! :0)
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