Mr. Hashimoto (How I hate you so!) - Battle of the Thyroid

Who is Mr. Hashimoto you ask???? Well he the S.O.B. that I battle on daily basis to feel good. Some days he gets the best of me and some days I kick his.......well.  Mr. Hashimoto is not a person, but a thyroid disease.  However, it is like a fight with a samurai warrior.  Symptoms of Hashimoto's includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Weight Gain
2. Depression
3. Mania
4. Sensitivity to heat 
5. Sensitivity to cold
6. Chronic Fatigue
7. Panic Attacks
8. Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
9. Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
10. High Cholesterol
11. Reactive Hypoglycemia
12. Constipation
13. Migraines
14. Muscle Weakness
15. Joint Stiffness
16. Myxedematous Psychosis
17. Craps
18. Memory Loss
19. Vision Problems
20. Infertility 
21. Hair Loss

Sound like fun yet?  Heck no!!!!!

I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 1-1/2 years ago.  I was placed on a Synthroid (a synthetic T4 thyroid replacement) and sent on my way.   I left with the belief that this miracle medicine was going to brighten the light bulb within.  Wrong!!! I was more tired than before and gained 10 pounds the first month without changing any habits.  I went back the the doctor and said I don't think this medicine is working.  More blood was drawn for labs and my dose was upped.  The next month I only gained 5 pounds.  So to this point I had gained 15 pounds and felt like crap.  I went back again and said.....hummm I really think something is not right.  I was told you are just getting older and that happens.  Evidently the doctor that graduates last in his class is called doctor, but I have another work for you.

That night I went researching (kind of my thing).  I ran across a Facebook page called Thyroid Sexy.  It is a page dedicated to helping people with hypothyroidism.  I sent a message describing my symptoms and within 30 minutes I got a response from the lady who ran the group.  I was diagnosed off of two values, according to her I needed several values drawn from my blood.  She went on to tell me there are different types of hypothyroidism and most likely by my symptoms, I had Hashimotos and the meds I was on would not do me any good.  Well no joke!!!

Come to find out the group was ran by Gena Nolin (Baywatch star).  We sent several messages back and forth as she helped me find a possible doctor within 2 hours from here that would get outside of cookbook medicine approach to hypothyroidism.   She located Dr. Corbin Petty in Lowell.  He too didn't want to prescribe me a natural thyroid replacement. He only added a synthetic T3.

Time to explain T4 and T3......T4 is produced to give the T3 energy (metabolism) to use.  T4 is no good if your body can't convert it.  That is a scaled down explanation of how T4 and T3 works.  Think of T4 as fuel and T3 as the engine.

I felt a little better, but nothing to write home about.  Hashimoto patients apparently respond better to natural hormone replacements such as Armour.  However doctors don't like to prescribe it. So I researched the equivalent dose of Armour (contains both T4/T3) and went to a new doctor.  I explained that Dr. Corbin was out of network and I couldn't afford to keep going to him.  I told her that I was on 90mg of Armour and doing well on it and synthetics make me feel horrible. She wrote me a three month prescription and said I will not treat you with Armour long term and you are going to have to see a Endocrinologist if you want to continue this treatment.  Well, I had three months to find out if it was going to work.

Within two weeks, my energy surged and my neck (thyroid area) started to shrink.  Hot dang!

So I went back to researching the area for a possible doctor.  That was Dr. Tammy Tucker.  I watched some youtube videos that she has.  This lady gets it!!!!  Treatment is going well.  Mr. Hashimoto still wins the battle about three days a month, but I will give that to him.

Learning points:
Trust you gut
Educate yourself, because you are the only one who has to live with it
Don't take no for an answer
Find people who have been where you are
You are not alone

Where am I now:
90mg Armour

Lowered Testosterone to 75mg a week.  After working out at GPP for three months my T level has went from 1100 to 1500

Ran my first 5k on 11/23

Weight: 231 (down 46 pounds)

Vegan for nine month strong

Testosterone (Acne, Emotions, Estrogen....Oh my!)

My journey down the path of testosterone replacement started with a follow up visit to my family physician after my yearly fire department physical.  I went to see my doctor after years of having my cholesterol hovering at the 201 - 235 range since I was 20 years old.  As we were wrapping up the visit, he asked the question....."anything else bothering you?"  I answered without hesitation, yes everyday around 4 p.m. I am zapped and I am done.  He responded just your energy? Yep just my energy.  Well we are going to draw some blood work and see if we can find a reason.  Cool!!!!! I would love a reason.

A few days later I got called back to the doctors office for a follow up.  Of course my mind starts running what could it be........  Okay Hollis, just push it out of your mind you will find out soon enough.  I sat in that waiting room for what seemed like eternity.   Finally the nurse opened the door and called Travis.  I walk back and waiting patiently.  The doctor came in and said, we can fix your problem.  You have two things working against you. Your thyroid function is low and your testosterone count is low.  He said we will give you an injection of testosterone before you leave and you will need to come back every three weeks.  Well I have an answer, but now I am taking two pills a day and have to get an injection every three weeks.  Great, lovely! geesh!  Okay, Hollis you are going to live another day and now you know what is going on.  I happily dropped my pants and took that injection.  This was on a Thursday.

I woke up Friday and I didn't notice any difference.  Hum, well okay this sucks. I woke up Saturday and I was whistling and felt a pep in my step.  Thought I feel good!  I finished getting ready that morning and walked outside to retrieve something from the Jeep and I took a foot outside and something stopped me.  I started looking at the woods across the street and everything seemed vibrant.  I stood there and cried.  I felt alive............ It was a fog had been lifted.  I got so much done that weekend, I had my drive back.  Okay garage clean (check), yard work done (check), check, check, check, and check.  I had played it off as just getting older, but it was just a lack of a hormone.  The next week and half was good.  Then I noticed the drive starting to wear off.  Whoa...this is not good.

Okay it was time for my next injection, so I go dragging into the doctor's office to get another injection.  The woman behind the desk said sorry Mr. Hollis we are out of testosterone, it will be Monday before we get any.  What?  I need to talk to a nurse and I need to talk to a nurse ASAP.  Wait does that make me a junkie?  Maybe so, but I need my T.  So the nurse calls me back to an exam room and asked what is going on.  I responded, "I need my testosterone injection".  Write my a prescription and I will inject myself.  She responded, you can't give it to yourself.  I countered with I have been a paramedic for 14 years, pretty sure I can administer the injection.  So I got the prescription and immediately gave it to myself.  I needed that surge energy and drive back.

I ended up leaving that doctor after the whole your just depressed and your going to die comment discussed in an earlier blog. THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION, especially if you are take T injections.  When I researched physicians who specialized in endro system.  First thing he told me after looking at my records is you are on a testosterone roller coaster and today you are getting off.   What? Sorry doc, I am not giving up the T.  He laughed and said no, you are going to take injections weekly.  Okay, I hate injections, but I cool with that.  Since that time, I have been consistent (no up and downs).

What I have learned:

1. Injections every 3-4 weeks will jack with your mood and emotions.  Insist on weekly or bi-weekly injections.  
2. T effects people different ways.  For me it calms me emotionally and gives me drive.
3. MAN BOOB ALERT!  Have your Estrogen checked, as T will be converted to estrogen.  Doctors don't test for this.  You have to be your own advocate and insist on it.  Normal estrogen levels for a male is 15-60 pg/ml after being on T mine was at 205 pg/ml.  To reference that for you a woman in ovulatory peak has levels of 130-300 pg/ml.  Glad I found this doctor. I take an anti-estrogen pill once a week and my level are now 34 pg/ml.  Avoided the T Man boobs.  
4. Have your PSA levels checked yearly.  Taking T will put you a greater risk of developing prostrate cancer. 
5. Listen to your body.
6. You will experience acne.  
7. Your not alone.  Low T effects 1 in 200 men.  
8. Firefighters at a high risk of having low T?  Not sure........The Rogers Fire Department has 113 men on the job and I personally know of 9 how are receiving treatment.  Sure there are more.  

Where am I today:
236 pounds (down 39 pounds)
Working out 5 days a week
Running getting faster and endurance building.
Sciatic nerve, has kept me off my bike.  Ugg!  Foam rolling to get rid of the pinch. 

Next Blog.........Hashimoto's Disease (Bring it Samurai) 

BYE, BYE CRESTOR!

Okay in my last post that I made to this blog, I felt like I vomited words on the keyboard.  Stop gather thoughts and take your time Hollis.

Okay back to the weight gain over the last three years.  Back to our friend Jack Pike......."you can't out exercise your fork".  Okay I have my Fitness Pal app downloaded and I am tracking everything that goes into my mouth.  Day after day hitting the target. So what is the deal.

Remember me talking about several issues going on the Hashimoto's disease (thyroid), testosterone, and high cholesterol.   I didn't know which one to tackle, so I choose the high cholesterol.  That medication made me feel horrible and I wanted off of it.  Prior to this point, I was debating getting lapband surgery. I was getting to the point of doing anything, I was sick and tired.  Literally sick and tired.  At this point, I was doing good to make it through the day.  I was using my lunch hour to take a nap under my desk at work.  I was wiped out.  I wanted to feel good period.  Weight loss didn't matter.  I was desperate and willing to do anything to feel better.

So there I was in the Doctor's office loaded with my journal of medication dosage and how my health was from my point of view.  So I explain to him that my muscle hurt deep and my joints are stiff (side effect of cholesterol meds FYI).  I was told that I needed to exercise.  Well duh, I think....I reply with I have been trying to, but I can walk maybe 1/4 of mile and I am in pain.  He simply looks at me and said you are depressed.  Matter of fact you are going to die and die young.  I got up grabbed my Crestor (cholesterol meds), said kiss my ass, and throw the Crestor in the trash and said I don't need those or you anymore.  I was mad now!!!!!

I went to Wal~Mart and bought a juicer, vegetables, and fruit.  I had didn't know what I was going to do, but I had to do something different.  I had to just feel better, weight aside.  That night I found the documentary of Joe Cross, it was called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.  He juiced for 60 days and changed his health.  I thought well I will do this for 5 days, that will give me a plan while I figure out what the flip I was going to do.

So I juiced everything from kale to cactus pads.  My suggestion is to buy some mason jars and juice like a madman for 2 hours.  This will give you enough juice for a few days, if you decide you want to try it. Juice, juice, juice and more juice.  The second day was the hardest for sure.  On the third day, I was at work and bam!!!!  It hit me, so much energy that I had goose bumps.   Wow!  I got up from my desk and walked around the building 5 times.  I knew right then, there was something to a plant based diet.  So I thought I will try a vegetarian or is it a vegan diet.  What is the difference I thought???? I didn't know, so I googled it.  Hum a vegetarian doesn't eat meat, but still cheese and milk and a vegan eats nothing from an animal.  Milk is good for you right??  (I will talk about this in a later blog)  I was turned on to the book Engine 2 diet by another firefighter who had heard about it.

The Engine 2 diet is a strict vegan diet with no oils.  I thought this is extreme, but so is open heart surgery right?  Well at the end of the fifth day, I had dinner at Burger Life in Fayetteville.  I ordered a Veggie Burger with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce.  Oh my God, who is the gourmet chef who created this masterpiece.  See when you haven't ate anything in 5 days, anything taste great.

After the 28 days on the Engine 2 diet, I had lost 20 lbs and my cholesterol was the lowest since I started having it checked (Age 20).  More importantly, I felt alive.  This felt great!!!!!  Did I crave a fat juicing New York Strip Steak?  Heck yeah!  I still do from time to time.  But honestly I wouldn't eat one for $100 and those who know me, I will do just about anything for $100.

It now has been 6 months since going vegan and I have no regrets, but I wish I would have done it before.  Now I my weight loss has stopped (2 months +), however my cloths are starting to fall off of my again.  This past weekend, I put on a shirt I found at a garage sale that I loved, but knew I would never fit.  Coach Moe from GGP FIT NWA asked me the other day, how much weight have you lost.  My answer 3 pounds since I started coming here.  With that being said, I can tell I have leaned out and muscle density has increased.  I will cover the coaches at GPP FIT NWA in a later blog, but a huge shout out to them.  Especially Coach Mark "Moe", Coach Chip, Coach Spencer, and Coach Patty.  These coaches are top notch!

Where am I today:
237 pounds (down 38 pounds)
Working out 5 days a week
Purchased a Felt Z95 road bike
Working to increase my range in both running and bicycling
Getting the courage up to tackle the swimming aspect, so I can do a Sprint Triathlon next Spring.

Next Blog.........Testosterone Grrr!

My first blog....I think that is what they call it?????

A little about me.......I am a 36 year old father of three.   I work in the fire service where I serve as a Battalion Chief over the Risk Reduction Division.  I am a part time study and close to finishing my B.S. in Public Safety Administration.  I am an avid football fan.  Professional or College fan??? The answer is neither; while I enjoy both, it is watching my sons play on the field that brings me the most joy.

Here is my story............Before I tell you my story on how I made (making) my way back to health, you need some background.

I was lucky enough to get hired as a full-time firefighter when I was only twenty years old.  I absolutely loved putting on that uniform and going to work and making a difference where I could.  Sixteen years later, I still love it.  So I have basically spent my entire adult life in or around a fire station.  Some of the traditions include large unhealthy meals. As one fellow firefighter once told me.....we eat until we are sleepy and we sleep until we are hungry.  Never got to experience that, but we will take his word on it.  I entered the fire service at 195 lbs on my six foot frame.  It only took a couple of years to notice that all this biscuits and gravy, tater tot casserole, and smoked meat will take a toll on your body.

By the age of twenty-five I was 230 lbs and hated it.  I took back up running.  By saying I took it back up, I mean I hated every moment of it.  I was always in sports growing up and where I went to high school we didn't have football, so everyone who played baseball or basketball was forced to run cross country. I never found joy in it, just a chore to get to the end of the 3.2 miles.  Anyways, I dropped twenty pounds over the course of a couple of months.  Wow exercise worked.

A fellow firefighter Jack Pike (our token fitness guru) would always say you can't out work your fork.  Okay whatever Jack.......

Over the next several years I would watch my weight yo-yo as I mixed exercise into the mix.  Then somewhere around 32, I started noticing a huge difference in my energy.  I was zapped all the time.  Zapped is probably an understatement.  Nothing I did help.  Depression??? Getting older????  I didn't know.

I had always had high cholesterol (202-248) since I my very first physical at the age of twenty.  So in April of 2012 after a fire department physical, I decided to go see my family doctor to get a prescription for my high cholesterol seeing how my family history placed me at a high risk.   And he asked the magic question, "any other concerns you have?".  Yes I am exhausted all the time and I am gaining weigh no matter what I do.

He tested my thyroid level and testosterone levels. Shazam!  Low T4 levels and and low testosterone.  I was excited, finally a reason.  So I started take Crestor, Synthroid (Synthetic T4) and a testosterone shot every three week.  The testosterone made me feel better, but something still didn't feel right. The first month I gain 15 pounds.  I went back to the doctor and said something isn't right.  So they rechecked my levels and upped my Synthroid. The next month I gained 7 pounds on and on as we go.  I went on a low carb diet and as you know we produce results, but the are temporary.

After a year and 35 lbs later...........I went back and said your medicine is not working.  He said you need to exercise and I responded, "it is hard just to get out of bed".  He responded with you are depressed and if you don't change your lifestyle, you are going to die young.  Kiss my a$$!  I through my cholesterol meds in the trash and walked out of his office. I stopped and WalMart and bought a juicer.  I didn't know what I was going to do, but something had to change.  That night I watched "Fat, sick and almost dead".  I went on a five day juice fast.....nothing but plant-based foods.  During that five days, I had a surge of energy that I hadn't felt in years.  A fellow firefighter turned me on to Engine 2 diet, which is a plant-based diet.  From April of 2013 to July I lost 35 pounds and felt alive again.  After 1 month of being on a vegan diet, my cholesterol was the lowest it had ever been and even lower than being on 20 mg of Crestor.  You tell me.

I sought out another doctor to deal with my thyroid and testosterone issues.  He adjusted my testosterone dosage and ran more comprehensive test.  I had Hashimoto Disease.  What is Hashimoto I asked.  Here is a definition:

Hashimoto's thyroiditis very often results in hypothyroidism with bouts of hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis include weight gain, depression, mania, sensitivity to heat and cold, paresthesia, chronic fatigue, panic attacks, bradycardia, tachycardia, high cholesterol, reactive hypoglycemia, constipation, migraines, muscle weakness, joint stiffness, menorrhagia, myxedematous psychosis, cramps, memory loss, vision problems, infertility and hair loss 

 In bold you see the symptoms that I suffer from.  Yay me right????  I started off with the mission to feel better, weight loss was just a great side effect of my desire to just feel good.  In July 2013 I was turned on to GPP Fit of NWA.  This has taken my health to a new level.  Now to the rest my story in blogs to come.

There you go I am now a blogger.