General Update

I'm hanging in there.  I went up to a full 60 mg tablet of Armour, but still feeling fairly tired all of the time.  I do "hit the wall" if I'm out doing things about half way through the day.  I've upped my effexor to 225mg.  Not sure if there is a change in that area.

I've started counseling with Taunya Cox at Suncrest and really like her.  I'm working on a breathing technique that helps get oxygen to my organs and helps with depression etc.

Endochrinologist

Yesterday, I had my first visit with an endocrinologist. Actually, she is a 60 year old nurse practitioner.  She sure thinks she knows what she's talking about.  I've read enough comments from people to be skeptical.  IE, I asked about a gluten free diet which I hear is practically a must.  She said it's "malarkey."  She only tests for TSH which I've also heard isn't enough.  She talked very quickly and expected me to understand all of the thyroid lingo, which I've heard but it's like a new language I can't wrap my head around yet.

Basically, she wants me to get my blood checked in 6 weeks.  My TSH is very low, too low.  She wants me to take 45mg of Armour, which I think it too low.  A starting dose is 60mg.  She usually doesn't prescribe it but the more common Synthroid.

I haven't done enough research and studying to combat some of the things she said, but even if I did have ammo, she would shut it down.

My favorite part was where she told me that thousands of women have come to her over her 20x years of doing this, and all have said "I just don't feel like I used to."  And you never will.  That's uplifting and possibly realistic.  Kill me now cuz this Thyroid train is sucky.

I left feeling unimpressed and $55 poorer.

Culprit: Geodon

After doing some google searches, I found several places that talk about brain zaps.  Usually it is from going off of a medication, which I was not.

I found this to be 100% accurate:

Eye movements: It has been speculated that moving the eyes side to side may provoke or intensify brain zap sensations. While this is purely speculation, there are online accounts of individuals that found things like “looking to the side” can trigger them.

Geodon or Armour

What a shitty week.  Truly it was one of the most shitty weeks ever. I woke up Wednesday with small zings going down my arms.  As the day progressed they got worse.  Be evening it was going through my head and face.  Zaps every 3-20 seconds.
I had an apt with my psychiatrist Allie Shapiro that evening (regular apt) and couldn't stop shaking. She thought it was unlikely Geodon (since I'd been on it about a month with no symptoms) but more my thyroid, to get it checked tomorrow.

I took an Ambien to see if it would help knock me out more because I haven't been sleeping well. Horrible night.  Had massive scary dreams about every 10 minutes and finally woke at 4am.
 
Thursday morning, Jacob drove Isaac to school, then took me to Dr Wilson's office.  He wasn't in the rest of the week and had to basically beg to get a blood draw to check thyroid. (Still haven't heard the results.)

Thursday, I couldn't stop crying, sobbing. And the zings were horrible and I had lots of shaking.  I called Kim Anderson to come sit with me and we decided to drive me to the ER.  Justin met us at Timp. Hospital in Orem.
They treated me kind of like an idiot.  That I should have been in contact with my pcp. They would do nothing to touch my medications.  They gave me a (very bruising) iv and some medication to calm me down, anti-anxiety.  I was very drowsy and possibly slept a little.  My thryoid test came back normal. I forgot that I need to have about four tests check so am not sold on this.

They weren't doing anything to help me.  I didn't want to go home with the same symptoms because it was making me very suicidal in thoughts.  Which I mentioned, so they set me up for a psych eval, which I passed.  Then sent me on my way.

I took a Klonopin which really helped me to sleep much better.  I was sleepy all day.  I took a nap and when I woke up, the zaps were gone.  Praise the Lord!  Still nauseated and very weak. (I have lost 10 lbs over the past week due to loss of appetite.)

Saturday, took it easy, and this morning, I'm feeling pretty good.

Medications taking:
Doxycycline (acne)
Armour 90 tabs
Venlafaxine 150mg
Melatonin
Vitamin D2 (ergocal) 1.25 cap once per week

Off of Geodon, taking once per night 20mg (half dose)