D
Deleted member 67185
Guest
It has been a challenging year, and until recently I was so weary of it that my life felt almost out of control.
Last August and September the inguinal hernia required the interruption of my pilgrimage at Burgos to fly home for surgery. It took a while, but recovery went well, and I was able to drag myself back into shape.
In December, Restless Body Syndrome became seriously disruptive of sleep, which began to affect daily life from the sleep deficit.
In January, bounding heart palpitations and mild heart arrythmias began occurring during times of rest and at bed time, further compounding sleep difficulties. After testing failed to identify a specific cause, and I was assured that it was a condition which was not life threatening. Two days later, my blood pressure started severely spiking far higher than my normal BP. Blood pressure medication was started.
In late February all symptoms did a sort of “perfect storm” convergence. The crisis point was reached. My mental resilience was so compromised that I broke down in my primary provider’s office begging her to come up with an answer. She started me on an additional BP medication and a beta blocker with hopes that the symptoms of high BP and Restless Body would start to subside. Additionally, she ordered a new comprehensive blood panel, and a multi week portable heart monitor device to collect a multi-week reading of all heart responses during my daily activities.
At the end of the visit, I had my blood drawn for the lab work and went home. I had been instructed that cardiology would contact me for the appointment to set up the monitor.
That evening after dinner, my provider called. She was audibly excited. “I know what’s causing your symptoms, Dave”.
“Seriously, Carol?”
“Your thyroid is in a severe hyperactive state. Your thyroid levels are so high that I was able to get you an appointment with an endocrinologist for tomorrow.”
“That quick?”
“That’s right, and you d---- well better be at that appointment.”
The endocrinologist was fantastic with me. Medications were started, thorough instructions given, and over the next 8 weeks, things really improved both physically and mentally.
Until they didn’t.
Two weeks ago, I crumped. First, I could barely sustain a normal workout. Then, my peak heart rate would not go above 121 bpm when it normally would go to around 161 -- even when I pushed myself far above my typical workout limits. Next, my BP started crashing and my resting heart rate started plummeting till it ended up around 51 beats per minute from a normal of 66 bpm. Lethargy, mild depression, irritability . . .; I was -- and still am -- recovering from being a real mess. Add in the losing proposition of trying to make my body work like normal, and frustration lies like a fog around me.
My endocrinologist had me take a new round of labs (the last was about weeks prior) to look for changes in thyroid levels. Sure enough, I went from a hyper state -- to a near-normal thyroid level – then to now, with a severe HYPO thyroid state.
My main thyroid medicine was cut in half five days ago. During my workout today, I could tell things are improving physically. But after reading some of my recent postings here, it is obvious to me that I am still feeling unreasonably cranky and contentious.
My sincere apologies. I regret dragging that attitude in here. One of the bright spots during this time has been the Forum and its members.
I will not cancel plans to return to SJPdP in September just because my body has been failing me. My doctors have been informed of my plans and are supportive. It feels like a race to get things as stable as is possible before my departure, but I am thankful that my providers are helping with that goal and are working with me and not throwing up more roadblocks.
Last August and September the inguinal hernia required the interruption of my pilgrimage at Burgos to fly home for surgery. It took a while, but recovery went well, and I was able to drag myself back into shape.
In December, Restless Body Syndrome became seriously disruptive of sleep, which began to affect daily life from the sleep deficit.
In January, bounding heart palpitations and mild heart arrythmias began occurring during times of rest and at bed time, further compounding sleep difficulties. After testing failed to identify a specific cause, and I was assured that it was a condition which was not life threatening. Two days later, my blood pressure started severely spiking far higher than my normal BP. Blood pressure medication was started.
In late February all symptoms did a sort of “perfect storm” convergence. The crisis point was reached. My mental resilience was so compromised that I broke down in my primary provider’s office begging her to come up with an answer. She started me on an additional BP medication and a beta blocker with hopes that the symptoms of high BP and Restless Body would start to subside. Additionally, she ordered a new comprehensive blood panel, and a multi week portable heart monitor device to collect a multi-week reading of all heart responses during my daily activities.
At the end of the visit, I had my blood drawn for the lab work and went home. I had been instructed that cardiology would contact me for the appointment to set up the monitor.
That evening after dinner, my provider called. She was audibly excited. “I know what’s causing your symptoms, Dave”.
“Seriously, Carol?”
“Your thyroid is in a severe hyperactive state. Your thyroid levels are so high that I was able to get you an appointment with an endocrinologist for tomorrow.”
“That quick?”
“That’s right, and you d---- well better be at that appointment.”
The endocrinologist was fantastic with me. Medications were started, thorough instructions given, and over the next 8 weeks, things really improved both physically and mentally.
Until they didn’t.
Two weeks ago, I crumped. First, I could barely sustain a normal workout. Then, my peak heart rate would not go above 121 bpm when it normally would go to around 161 -- even when I pushed myself far above my typical workout limits. Next, my BP started crashing and my resting heart rate started plummeting till it ended up around 51 beats per minute from a normal of 66 bpm. Lethargy, mild depression, irritability . . .; I was -- and still am -- recovering from being a real mess. Add in the losing proposition of trying to make my body work like normal, and frustration lies like a fog around me.
My endocrinologist had me take a new round of labs (the last was about weeks prior) to look for changes in thyroid levels. Sure enough, I went from a hyper state -- to a near-normal thyroid level – then to now, with a severe HYPO thyroid state.
My main thyroid medicine was cut in half five days ago. During my workout today, I could tell things are improving physically. But after reading some of my recent postings here, it is obvious to me that I am still feeling unreasonably cranky and contentious.
My sincere apologies. I regret dragging that attitude in here. One of the bright spots during this time has been the Forum and its members.
I will not cancel plans to return to SJPdP in September just because my body has been failing me. My doctors have been informed of my plans and are supportive. It feels like a race to get things as stable as is possible before my departure, but I am thankful that my providers are helping with that goal and are working with me and not throwing up more roadblocks.
. . . . . . . . .
135 is great! You will not likely need to exert yourself so as to raise your heart to that level on most, if any, of the Camino?
Self included. But it beats the heck out of sitting on the couch! 
. I’m doing my first Camino and starting from SJPDP on 9 Sep 2018. Hope to meet you and give you a hug.
