It All Started Almost 3 Years Ago... Part 2

So after several more months of worsening fatigue, weight gain, and depression, I finally had researched enough to know there was something more than regular standard hypothyroidism going on.  I found a WONDERFUL Nurse Practitioner about 100 miles from home that specialized in women's health and endocrine disorders.  In March 2009 I had my initial appointment with her.  She did TONS of testing and suggested several changes to my diet, prescribed Armour Thyroid (T3 & T4 replacement & totally old school, so not a big profit maker for the drug companies), and just gave me words of encouragement.  I started implementing the changes she suggested, and although the changes didn't happen overnight, I started to feel better.  I had a thyroid ultrasound that showed multiple nodules on my thyroid as well as received all of the results from the many tests my NP ran.  All of those results coupled with my symptoms confirmed my suspicions that I suffer from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (or Disease), an autoimmune disease that causes my body to recognize my thyroid gland as foreign and sends antibodies to destroy my thyroid.  I also don't convert T4 to T3 in my body, the reason the levothyroxine (T4 only hormone) didn't do diddly for my symptoms.  I also have low vitamin D & Vitamin B12. 
I cut gluten from my diet (there is a strong correlation between Hashi's and gluten).  I tried to eat as much organic produce as I could find and afford. 
I saw a surgeon for the nodules on my thyroid.  After watching the nodules via ultrasound for six months, I had a fine needle biopsy of my thyroid, which was inconclusive, suggestive of papillary thyroid cancer.  The surgeon suggested surgery & I agreed, because this surgeon was convinced it was just Hashimoto's, and just needed watching.  I had my left thyroid lobe taken out and have felt soooo much better ever since!  It was as if my thyroid was so poisoned that it was effecting my whole being.  (I must say there are many people that have not had as much success as I have after a thyroidectomy... I feel for those people, because I DO know that helpless feeling)
Since my thyroidectomy, I've slowly lost 30 pounds.  I have recently started Weight Watchers, and have lost 5 pounds so far.  I know I will lose slowly, as I have no thyroid, so my metabolism is naturally slow.  I will win this fight. 

It all started almost 3 years ago... Part One

I was married in late spring 2008.  I was soooo happy to have found my prince at 32 years old and to have a fairy tale wedding.  About 2 weeks after we got back from our honeymoon, I began having weird pain in my right upper abdomen, feeling exhausted all the time, wild mood swings from happy, to angry, to suicidal depression, and weight gain.  The symptoms persisted for the rest of the summer and come fall, I knew I was physically sick.  I asked my GYN to run some thyroid testing during my annual exam.  She did and my TSH (the only test she ran) was 13.1 (normal is 0.35-5.5, although many don't feel optimal when it's above 3.5).  She gave me the standard levothyroxine (T4 only replacement) and sent me on my merry way.  Six weeks later, I felt worse and my TSH had climbed to 13.5.  My GYN accused me of not taking my medicine, but upped the dose of levothyroxine and I continued taking it with no results.  In November 2008, my TSH was still greater than 10, and I was to the point where the only reason I was getting out of bed was to work.  Scary stuff for a newlywed!!!

DH & I on our honeymoon in Dominica