Mara77
Member
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2020
- Messages
- 8
Hello,
I am new to the forum and the Ray Peat way of life. I have spent the last two weeks as time has permitted immersed in this forum and other online resources to try to find an answer to my problem, but still confused.
A bit of background: I am a 54 year old lady deep into peri-menopause. I have gone now 7 months without a cycle. In the last year I have tried the Keto/Atkins diet. On these two, my cravings for food never went away, although I was successful in losing 10 lbs. I am overweight at 210 lbs., I should weigh 140. I started to pile on the weight two years ago when suddenly I found myself in a thyroid storm after taking NDT for ten years for hypothyroidism. No issues before that. Over time in that first year, I had labs done every 3-4 months and saw different doctors to determine why I could no longer even tolerate a small amount of thyroid hormone without hyper-stimulating on it. We found no reason why-although liver enzymes were slightly elevated and I don't like the look of my A1C level ranging from 5-6. Iron in range, no elevated antibodies, all checked out. I have been on Progesterone for the last ten years as well for PCOS/fibroids and sleep issues, and low levels. That dosage has remained constant at either 20 mg. cream or 200 mg. oral dosage. At the moment, I am taking 200 mg. Prometrium at night.
All the while, my TSH is hovering at between 4-7, with small nodules I am sure are growing. I have no energy, I drag myself through the day. I feel very poorly, no motivation, no sex drive, feel like most times I'm walking underwater. I take a handful of vitamins every day-multi, D3, fish oil, magnesium, DIM, Calcium D-Glucarate. I wake up at least twice a night, I'm up by 4 a.m. I have ADHD, have since a small child, and I take no medication for it because I have heart valve issues. The ADHD is now out of control, it's very hard to concentrate and focus.
These last two years have been complete hell. I am simply out of options to try except Peat. I am going wrong somewhere, and I am missing something obvious, I'm sure. My thought is from reading here, that my estrogen is high and hiding in cells and not showing on labs. I had some genetic testing done, and I have two genes that actually do not work well at processing estrogen out of my body.
The good things I am doing are that I am walking a mile a day at the track without fail (even though it's difficult), I have changed my sources for food by finding a local farmer for grass fed beef and liver, and will be picking up a 1/4th of one to fill my freezer with for better protein. I have chickens who are grass pastured (but who still need some daily layer feed) that will be laying soon. Some veggies growing in a new garden like squashes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, sweet/regular potatoes.
If anyone can help with ideas, and where I might be going wrong and point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it so much. I have an appointment with my doctor the 23rd of this month, and will have new labs then.
I am new to the forum and the Ray Peat way of life. I have spent the last two weeks as time has permitted immersed in this forum and other online resources to try to find an answer to my problem, but still confused.
A bit of background: I am a 54 year old lady deep into peri-menopause. I have gone now 7 months without a cycle. In the last year I have tried the Keto/Atkins diet. On these two, my cravings for food never went away, although I was successful in losing 10 lbs. I am overweight at 210 lbs., I should weigh 140. I started to pile on the weight two years ago when suddenly I found myself in a thyroid storm after taking NDT for ten years for hypothyroidism. No issues before that. Over time in that first year, I had labs done every 3-4 months and saw different doctors to determine why I could no longer even tolerate a small amount of thyroid hormone without hyper-stimulating on it. We found no reason why-although liver enzymes were slightly elevated and I don't like the look of my A1C level ranging from 5-6. Iron in range, no elevated antibodies, all checked out. I have been on Progesterone for the last ten years as well for PCOS/fibroids and sleep issues, and low levels. That dosage has remained constant at either 20 mg. cream or 200 mg. oral dosage. At the moment, I am taking 200 mg. Prometrium at night.
All the while, my TSH is hovering at between 4-7, with small nodules I am sure are growing. I have no energy, I drag myself through the day. I feel very poorly, no motivation, no sex drive, feel like most times I'm walking underwater. I take a handful of vitamins every day-multi, D3, fish oil, magnesium, DIM, Calcium D-Glucarate. I wake up at least twice a night, I'm up by 4 a.m. I have ADHD, have since a small child, and I take no medication for it because I have heart valve issues. The ADHD is now out of control, it's very hard to concentrate and focus.
These last two years have been complete hell. I am simply out of options to try except Peat. I am going wrong somewhere, and I am missing something obvious, I'm sure. My thought is from reading here, that my estrogen is high and hiding in cells and not showing on labs. I had some genetic testing done, and I have two genes that actually do not work well at processing estrogen out of my body.
The good things I am doing are that I am walking a mile a day at the track without fail (even though it's difficult), I have changed my sources for food by finding a local farmer for grass fed beef and liver, and will be picking up a 1/4th of one to fill my freezer with for better protein. I have chickens who are grass pastured (but who still need some daily layer feed) that will be laying soon. Some veggies growing in a new garden like squashes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, sweet/regular potatoes.
If anyone can help with ideas, and where I might be going wrong and point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it so much. I have an appointment with my doctor the 23rd of this month, and will have new labs then.