Thursday, April 14, 2011

"HORMONE-eous" living ...

So I'm trying something new.  Although I have a split decision from the medical field on whether or not I have Lupus, I just don't feel good.  I WANT TO FEEL GOOD!  I have never been one who sits around waiting to be healed.  I believe that we have so many resources that have been handed to us during these high-tech medicine times, and if we don't take advantage of them ... it's our own fault that we don't feel well!

For example, at one point in my life, my face hurt.  I mean, my face REALLY hurt.  I experienced what has been best described by other patients as "lightening bolts shooting down my face".  Seriously.  This crummy situation was misdiagnosed by 6 ... SIX different doctors until I was finally correctly diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia.  Long story short, I had a craniotomy with microvascular decompression (they cut through my scull, wrapped some shredded teflon around my trigeminal nerves and adhered my fractured skull with a titanium plate) ... and I was healed!  Never an ounce of that lightening bolt pain since the moment I woke up from surgery back in 2004ish.  Now what if I hadn't continued to search for an answer?  Well, I can tell you that there are numerous documented statistics that reveal a dastardly nickname for other Trigeminal Neuralgia patients ... they call it The Suicide Disease.  It would have been very hard to live life with that kind of tremendous chronic pain, and I am very grateful that we found answers for my universe.

So I'm on the hunt again ... to find answers.  In the process, I've found a doctor that is putting me on a regimen of vitamins, minerals and natural hormones.  I'm taking more little pills now than I've ever taken in my life ... but they're good pills ... none of them are synthetic ... some might call them happy pills (but not that kind).  Here is my daily dose of this new trial run ...

Thyroid
Vitamin D
DHEA
Probiotic
Fish Oil
CoQ10
Multi Vitamin
Progesterone
Estrogen
Niacin
Testosterone (I'm a little nervous about this one ... a hairy chest immediately comes to mind.)
Iodoral
Glucosamine Chondroitin

Apparently these are all super important, and apparently I was SEVERELY lacking in every department.  Which shocks me because I always eat right and exercise (ha ha NOT).

So this is my new thing.  I'm gradually beginning the process and I'll keep you posted on the effects.  I took the Niacin last night for the first time, and it was a rush!  Seriously, I got a weird rushy feeling ... which I was warned about.  But when I read about the positive effects of this little pill, it made me happy to swallow it.

Here's the deal.  I'm getting old.  I know that, and for the most part, I accept that.  But I will be doing all that I can do to be able to enjoy my life, enjoy my grandkids (nope, no big announcement) and to live!  I hope that this natural process will be the answer for me.  But let me tell you, it can't make me feel any worse!  I'm excited!

How about you?  Do you take at least a Vitamin each day? 

6 comments:

Miss Stace said...

You know, I kind of went through the same thing a couple of years ago...some days i was in bed with pain, and others i was better and then some days i just had that malaise feeling.... so I went to the Doctor over and over and over and finally just went in and bawled and he sent me to a rheumatologist. The Rheumatologist diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthiritis, which is a cousin to Lupus. The other doc didn't think to look at that because the test for it came back negative, but my Rheum doc told me that like 60% come back negative when they really are positive. Long story short. Grandpa McK had it, its hereditary, it sucks, its not osteo arthiritis, its different. BUT - i am on medicine and feel much better already! :) Have you looked into that?

Karen said...

Yep! I've been to 2 different Rheumatologists, I told them about you, and they both tested me for RA ... and both times came back negative. I usually leave no stone unturned when I'm on these little journeys. However, as I understand it, it could still show up positively at a later time. I still have appointments with the Rheumatologist every six months. I'm glad you're doing better!

Miss Stace said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nancy said...

Don't forget your calcium and baby aspirin. Don's and my medicine cabinet looks like an arsenal. You do what it takes to feel good!

Julie Mooney said...

Karen, I know you are just excited to be getting a comment from me. I will try to visit your blog on a more regular basis. I can't believe you are going natural. You really MUST be desperate. I'm proud of you for trying. Love you sister.

lori.huffaker said...

Are all these natural? Thyroid and the hormones? Are you still taking your prescribed thyroid stuff? I need more info. As my VT I need a personal report. I need all the help I can get.