3 Years Dx'd And Still Feel Like Crap! Please Help!1

[Joni63]

Hi,

I used to post on this site regularly and all of your support was wonderful! I am once again in need of some advice/direction.

History: dx'd August 1st, 2007 w/ celiac disease

Know that I am lactose intolerant and caffeine sensitive. Kept eating and drinking them both despite several times taking them out of my diet and feeling better. Now, when I try to add any dairy in I get severe stomach pains and 'd' the next day. I have pretty much removed them, just test it once in a while and know now that it is not good for me.

Constantly am monitored by nutritionist for vitamin levels, thyroid and urine. My iron was low, but is now too high. My vitamin D is still low, but improving. I take about 30 vitamins/herbs a day and when I stick to the regimen, I do feel better. I am committed to continue them this time.

My TSH is currently at 2.99 - I feel so tired and unmotivated. I'm going to get retested in 6 weeks with free t3, t4, tsh, and dhea (which runs high) She said if it is still high then, I will probably need to go on synthroid or armour thyroid for the rest of my life. Can too little salt in the diet cause this? Is there anything I can do to prevent going on meds?

I also have high epstein barr numbers and if I do too much, I literally crash. It's like chronic fatigue, takes months to get back to normal. I have to say when I build up exercise very slowly I start to get a lot more energy.

I started weight lifting and exercising in March and have felt horrible ever since. My goal is to train for and complete a sprint triathlon. I'm sure I overdid it this time.

Where do I start and how am I ever going to be able to accomplish that goal???

Any help/suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

I pretty much have felt like crying a lot lately and I am usually optimistic. I just feel like there is always another problem to deal with.

Joni

[Skylark]

I pretty much have felt like crying a lot lately and I am usually optimistic. I just feel like there is always another problem to deal with.

Joni

Oh, Joni. That's your low thyroid. I feel so bad for you because mine is out of whack the past few weeks and I've been feeling exactly the same way.

As well as the fatigue, hypothyroidism causes depression and lots of other problems. Cold hands, dry hair and skin, weight gain, sluggish metabolism. Many people with celiac end up hypothyroid and yes, you will probably have to go on synthroid. The one thing that can looked at as far a diet is iodine, but iodine deficiency is relatively rare and you would probably have some goiter. Most celiacs with low thyroid have autoimmunity and unfortunately it tends to get progressively worse and worse.

The good news is that you will feel much better on thyroid supplements, and your body will be a little more resilient for exercise. The synthroid really does "cure" hypothyroidism and it has no side effects once your doctor gets you on the right amount. Your low motivation and mild depression should clear up fairly quickly. To be honest, six weeks seems like too long to wait. Does your doctor know you're having the mental symptoms of thyroid disease?

It sounds like you'll have to be kind to your body and increase your level of workouts much more gradually than some athletes. You might set the goal for your triathlon for next summer or even in two years, and then lay out a very gradual plan for training. Sometimes around here we have to take baby steps when we'd rather leap but we still get there.

[bluebonnet]

sounds like a slug of a thyroid to me. your thyroid controls everything! i was diagnosed with hypothyroid back in 1992 because i had all those symptoms + some. i would definitely try for sooner than 6 weeks. unfortunately nothing you do on your own will help your thyroid function properly if it is in fact hypo. you will feel better once you get the meds dosed at the right amount. a pill a day isn't all that terrible. you may want to try different brands too. its preference of course but synthroid didn't work all that great for me. after almost 20 years of taking it i think i've tried most of them! i hope you feel better soon.

[Joni63]

Thank you both for your replies. I feel a little bit better the last 2 days. I'm trying the blood type diet and seeing if that will help. I realize it's not the worst thing to take meds if it makes me feel so much better. I will do what I have to!

[Joni63]

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know I got the lab work back and my thyroid is ok now. I didn't ask her what the numbers were, but I did completely stop caffeine and dairy and feel so much better! I'm trying to get lots of rest and I've made some huge gains in my training. I strongly believe I am allergic to caffeine. : )

Joni

[dilettantesteph]

I trained last year for the sprint triathlon that I did this summer. I found symptoms returning when I pushed myself with exercise. I think that it made me sensitive to lower levels of gluten. Or maybe, it just made me aware of low level glutening. Anyways, I cleaned up my diet by reducing processed foods and got so that I could train without feeling symptoms. I had to get rid of my delicious instant espresso coffee. What I do instead is buy organic whole coffee beans and wash them carefully with soap, dry and grind. Than I don't react to the coffee. That might work for you, or you might just have a problem with coffee.

[Skylark]

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know I got the lab work back and my thyroid is ok now. I didn't ask her what the numbers were, but I did completely stop caffeine and dairy and feel so much better! I'm trying to get lots of rest and I've made some huge gains in my training. I strongly believe I am allergic to caffeine. : )

Joni

I'm glad to hear you're feeling better!