CaliforniaKat's Baby Steps To Health

CaliforniaKat

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Sep 11, 2015
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127
I'm exhausted. Too many things have happened in the last year to list, so I'll start with that. I'm exhausted.

My temps are in the mid-97's during the day. Waking temp is 97.0 most days. Pulse is low 60s and sometimes 50s overnight. I do take 2 grains of Armour. My HMO doc just switched it to Acella NT without talking to me about it and the temp drop corresponds roughly to the time of the switch. I have a cortisol test done and will get results later this week. I'm impatient to feel better but feel like there are too many moving parts to keep track of. I've written about some on other threads here.

Here are the big 3-4. I'm weaning off of Gabapentin. I'm at 300 mg now, was on 700 in July. Dropping 100 mg every 2 weeks. I'm taking 7.5 mg of Mirtazapine. Both are taken at night. I want off both but have to wean one at a time. I had high cortisol at 3 points of the day on last cortisol test in Feb 2018.

I'm 5'7 and weigh 196 pounds. I'd like to be thinner, but got here after a stint of keto and 55 pound weight loss. The other 30ish pounds can wait a few months. I just don't want to gain...

Right now I eat beef, some chicken here and there, CO, dark chocolate, milk, cream, cheese, fruit, zome fruit-vegetables, some gelatin, and potatoes here and there. Rarely fruit juice or ice cream. Rarely grains, though will eat rice occasionally. Decaf coffee for now until I'm done weaning meds.

I am currently taking iron in the form of blackstrap molasses pills from Swanson's. My ferritin is low (like 15) and I have heavy periods. The rest of my iron labs looked ok. Labs were posted in the bloodwork part of the forum. I wonder if I am still under medicated for thyroid?

Right now I am taking things a day at a time. Hopefully cortisol results will be of some help on Thursday. I wish there was a Peat-friendly doc where I live. *sigh*

I know I sound defeated and I hate it. I just want to feel better, like many of us here. One day at a time I can do this. It is what I have to keep telling myself.
 

managing

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Joined
Jun 19, 2014
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2,262
I wonder if the gabapentin is the cause of (or exacerbates) the iron labs and rough periods. Not sure how long you've been taking, but weaning seems like a very good idea. Supplementing iron is something RP would say is almost never a good idea. You might find that a magnesium supplement (glycinate) will help more with iron metabolism than iron itself.

The mirtazapine has some desirable effects (antihistamine, antiserotonin) but also bad (norepinephrine, estrogen agonist). I also believe weight gain is associated with it. It might be exacerbating cortisol if your adrenals are burnt (and with temps/overweight, probably are). Sounds like you are considering curtailing this too. More thoughts:
Mirtazapine Experiences

But before you do, I would use apple cider vinegar (1 T 3-4 x day) to clean out and stabilize the microbiome. This, along with the magnesium might help w/ any depression symptoms the mirtazapine is meant to address. But, as always, go slowly if you taper off mirtazapine and listen to your body. Depression can be worse than med side effects, as I am sure you know. The ACV can be cut back to 2x day afeter a few weeks, but I wouldn't stop it for a long long time. The only side effect will be irritated bowel for the first few days to week. This is good. If it is too harsh, taper into the dose and frequency. But I prefer to rip the band-aid off so to speak.

As for NDT, you might want to find a high quality substitute either imported or one of Haidut's products perhaps.

I am not a doctor. I don't know jack. Don't listen to a word I say.
 

managing

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Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,262
I wonder if the gabapentin is the cause of (or exacerbates) the iron labs and rough periods. Not sure how long you've been taking, but weaning seems like a very good idea. Supplementing iron is something RP would say is almost never a good idea. You might find that a magnesium supplement (glycinate) will help more with iron metabolism than iron itself.

The mirtazapine has some desirable effects (antihistamine, antiserotonin) but also bad (norepinephrine, estrogen agonist). I also believe weight gain is associated with it. It might be exacerbating cortisol if your adrenals are burnt (and with temps/overweight, probably are). Sounds like you are considering curtailing this too. More thoughts:
Mirtazapine Experiences

But before you do, I would use apple cider vinegar (1 T 3-4 x day) to clean out and stabilize the microbiome. This, along with the magnesium might help w/ any depression symptoms the mirtazapine is meant to address. But, as always, go slowly if you taper off mirtazapine and listen to your body. Depression can be worse than med side effects, as I am sure you know. The ACV can be cut back to 2x day afeter a few weeks, but I wouldn't stop it for a long long time. The only side effect will be irritated bowel for the first few days to week. This is good. If it is too harsh, taper into the dose and frequency. But I prefer to rip the band-aid off so to speak.

As for NDT, you might want to find a high quality substitute either imported or one of Haidut's products perhaps.

I am not a doctor. I don't know jack. Don't listen to a word I say.
BTW, apple cider vinegar will need to be diluted with water or juice to make it possible to drink.
 
OP
C

CaliforniaKat

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Sep 11, 2015
Messages
127
@managing

I didn't see this until today. Thank you. I am weaned from the gabapentin, it was o ly taken short term.

I am not weaned from the Mirt, and am not sleeping well. It has only been since June. I want off it desperately but also need to sleep. I'm not sleeping well, which contributes to this while cycle negatively. I as already heavy, am trying not to get heavier.
The while thing just frustrates me to no end. Lots of stressors in my life at the moment.
 

managing

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Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,262
@managing

I didn't see this until today. Thank you. I am weaned from the gabapentin, it was o ly taken short term.

I am not weaned from the Mirt, and am not sleeping well. It has only been since June. I want off it desperately but also need to sleep. I'm not sleeping well, which contributes to this while cycle negatively. I as already heavy, am trying not to get heavier.
The while thing just frustrates me to no end. Lots of stressors in my life at the moment.
If you are in fact in california how about CBD?
 
OP
C

CaliforniaKat

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Sep 11, 2015
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If you are in fact in california how about CBD?
I haven't tried CBD, and have had negative reactions to a few things in the last several months. That is how I ended up on Mirt/gaba in the first place. 6 weeks of constant panic/insomnia that resulted in a forced hospitalization. Now I am trying to undo what they did, and am struggling. I feel like I am grasping at straws.

I wrote on another thread about my sleep issues. Waking at 4 am hot and sweaty after attempting to move from NDT to T3 only (a move I have made successfully before, years ago before good quality T3 was hard to get). Sleep got much worse, I gained pounds and inches on my waist literally within a week. I was getting good sleep prior, and now that I am back on NDT the same symptoms are back, which also means I am still hypo and likely high cortisol (I was before, when tested using saliva). Coldness, lowered basal and daytime temps, constipation. Ugh.

So, do I wait a week to (hopefully) let sleep normalize? Do I try to raise NDT, because the last labs I had on this dose were still bottom of range? Try to wean Mirt first, and know that sleep may be even more negatively impacted?
 

managing

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Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,262
I haven't tried CBD, and have had negative reactions to a few things in the last several months. That is how I ended up on Mirt/gaba in the first place. 6 weeks of constant panic/insomnia that resulted in a forced hospitalization. Now I am trying to undo what they did, and am struggling. I feel like I am grasping at straws.

I wrote on another thread about my sleep issues. Waking at 4 am hot and sweaty after attempting to move from NDT to T3 only (a move I have made successfully before, years ago before good quality T3 was hard to get). Sleep got much worse, I gained pounds and inches on my waist literally within a week. I was getting good sleep prior, and now that I am back on NDT the same symptoms are back, which also means I am still hypo and likely high cortisol (I was before, when tested using saliva). Coldness, lowered basal and daytime temps, constipation. Ugh.

So, do I wait a week to (hopefully) let sleep normalize? Do I try to raise NDT, because the last labs I had on this dose were still bottom of range? Try to wean Mirt first, and know that sleep may be even more negatively impacted?
I think sleep quality before all. W/o it, you cannot achieve health. 5 mg CBD should be about $20 for 10-20 doses at your friendly local neighborhood dispensary.
 
OP
C

CaliforniaKat

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Sep 11, 2015
Messages
127
But before you do, I would use apple cider vinegar (1 T 3-4 x day) to clean out and stabilize the microbiome. This, along with the magnesium might help w/ any depression symptoms the mirtazapine is meant to address. But, as always, go slowly if you taper off mirtazapine and listen to your body. Depression can be worse than med side effects, as I am sure you know. The ACV can be cut back to 2x day afeter a few weeks, but I wouldn't stop it for a long long time. The only side effect will be irritated bowel for the first few days to week. This is good. If it is too harsh, taper into the dose and frequency. But I prefer to rip the band-aid off so to speak.

I did start the ACV today at a half tablespoon before breakfast. I will also take a half tablespoon before dinner tonight. Another symptom I have had on and off since January is strange pressure in my ears, but nothing shows up on any tests Docs have done. They said it is "stress". I am wondering if it is related to low thyroid or gut dysbiosis. It seemed to clear for a while after the morning ACV dose, but is back now. Will have to see what happens after the dinner dose, and over the next few days. I have read extensively that ACV can be used to help with insulin resistance, etc. too. I had thought of trying sodium acetate through Nathan Hatch's book, but also read that it can be constipating (which is already a problem).

I do want to wean the Mirt, and see what happens to sleep. I also want to up the NDT and doc said I could. I just don't want to do both at the same time, and not sure what order in which to proceed. Another few days back at this dose of NDT may sort out some of it, and then I proceed from there.
 
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CaliforniaKat

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I am freezing today. I am indoors with heat on, and still in a shirt, sweater and jacket...in Ca...and it is mid 60's outside. Daytime temp is 97.9. This is why I tried to go back to t3. My sleep is still sucky, worse actually. I woke up this morning at 3:15 and nothing I tried put me back to sleep. I am seriously worrying now.

2 grains NDT on labs showed a free T4 of .9 (bottom of range is .8) and free t3 of 2.9 (range 2.3-4.2) and I was taking it all in the morning as a single dose at the time. So this test is 24 hrs after last dose. TSH was suppressed at 0.03. These results are from August. I was sleeping good then, so reverse t3 was in range. I'm not sleeping now. I can say now that breaking the NDT up during the day so far hasn't seemed to make a difference. I'm still cold, constipated, dry skin, heavy periods. Pulse and temp goes up after I eat, but not by much. Daily average is still sitting at about 98.1 after meals.

So I'm considering a coach. It is a huge expense. I am terrified of spending that kind of money on my health, but trying to chase this by myself seems futile right now--and I could easily spend as much on supps that are just as unsuccessful.
 
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CaliforniaKat

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Sep 11, 2015
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So, a few things that have come up this week.

1. I have lowered my supplements. I currently take these:
Magnesium--mostly as Mag Carbonate (Calm brand)
D3 most days but not all-5000 iu
K2-100% of RDA, which is around 100 micrograms
baby aspirin
Liver capsules most days
Cronometer says I don't get all my B vitamins, nor enough potassium. :(

2. The adrenaline/hot and sweaty wakings happen more on days where I eat starch. I had mac and cheese and birthday cake (both homemade, so only the flour was objectionable), and woke at 4:15 am today. Hot and sweaty. Had trouble going back to sleep even with butter/salt/sugar.

3. Salt really does attenuate the cold hands/feet feeling. I keep pickling salt in my classroom now, and when I feel cold I wet my finger and eat three or four fingerfulls. (Is that really a word?)

4. I don't think I can go really high carb/low fat right now. I feel better with Coconut oil and butter in my diet. And I sleep better too. I still wake several times per night, but I can go back to sleep most of the time. It is still a work in progress though.

Sleep is still elusive. Some nights I get a broken 7 hours, others (like last night) only about 5 hours. Ugh.

I'm still considering a coach. I have reached out to several, and just need to bite the bullet and pick one.
 
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CaliforniaKat

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Sep 11, 2015
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I still haven't chosen a coach. But I am leaning toward 2, and just waiting to hear back about cost.

Updates about the last days or so. I have been sleeping better. I still wake up between 3 and 4 am, not so much hot and sweaty like a week or so ago, but most of the time a spoonful of a mixture of butter/salt/sugar helps me go back to sleep. I toss and turn but I do sleep some between 4 and 6 am. I can usually sleep until 7 am on weekends. So improvements for sure, and I'm hoping to keep going in the right direction. Today I actually feel really good, and noticed several BM's yesterday so reduced endotoxin?

I have cut many of the supp's I was using to just these, pretty much daily:
2 grains Acella NDT, split into 3 parts across the day
still taking Mirt just shy of 7 mg--I have 15 mg pills. I break them in half (have never taken a whole one), shave off a bit of the half I am taking. I am trying to wean slowly since sleep is not great on. I'm hoping a slow wean, while incorporating stress management and better foods, etc; will be okay without further disrupting my sleep patterns. I have taken it since mid-June.

81 mg low dose aspirin (might go up to 325)
1000 mg vitamin C (now brand)
magnesium carbonate at night (about 350 mg)
5000 iu D3 (don't take it every day, but more days than not)
115 mcg K2

every few days, sporadic and not usaully on the same days: Liver capsules, biotin, methylfolate, thiamine, vitamin e, calcium carbonate only if I didn't have enough calcium to offset phosphorus

I have a cup of half caff instant coffee at about 10 am, but that is the only caffiene I am getting. I have decaf coffee with 1 tsp sugar in the morning with breakfast.

I have been using Mg sulfate once a week to help with constipation. Today I notice that my eyes are much less puffy than they have been the last several weeks and bags are reduced (though still there).

Foods are:
breakfast--daisy cottage cheese (not the lowfat one), and homemade applesauce, salt, milky decaf and 4 oz of tart cherry, OJ or applejuice. 1 grain of NDT with breakfast.

snack--milky coffee with 1 tsp sugar, fruit, salt, sometimes bone broth or gelatin

lunch: 10 shrimp or about 4 oz meat from previous night's dinner (beef), fruit, sometimes one oz of potato chips cooked in CO, or a half cup of white rice, or about 1.5 oz sweet potato

snack: carrots, CO, sometimes mozzarella cheese and some fruit

dinner: most often beef, milk, fruit, sometimes a small portion of a potato or rice. I tend to have starch only once a day at about 1-2 oz, if at all--but it does seem to warm me/make me tired more than fruit (but fruit/fructose keeps my blood sugar more balanced I think).

I try to do bone broth or gelatin or a little milk before bed, but not much. Eating right before bed didn't seem to help with the early morning waking.

I take waking temp/pulse, and again 3 times per day. Basal is in the 97.2-97.4 range, and fitbit says my resting pulse is 70. My afternoon temps are 98.2-ish and pulse during the day about an hour after food is between 80-85.

Some days I use a 1/2 tsp of ACV in water after meals (when I remember). I have some wierd ear congestion that has gone on off for most of the last year. Not sure if it is SIBO or hypoT related or what. I have seen several specialists over the year and nobody has helped.

I have tried small doses of sodium acetate instead of just ACV, don't really feel a difference so far. I'm trying not to do too many things at a time. I'd like to try taurine too, because my hands still get cold periodically during the day, and have read here several studies linking it to better glycogen storage, insulin control, and cortisol reduction.

I try to walk a few times a week in the afternoon sun, and try to get at least 10 minutes in the morning before work. Stil likely not enough sun. I have a desk lamp that I point at my face during the day, and am contemplating a stronger incandescent bulb for it. I sprint or do platform weights once a week, but am trying not to overdo it because of the sleeping issues.

I'm pretty sure prolactin is still high, probably estrogen too. I may test them and D the next time I test thyroid.

Progress is progress, and even though the small steps forward are small, I need to acknowledge them. Today is a good day.
 
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