Towards the end of my thyroid hell, when Doctors were still attempting to figure out what was wrong with me, I dated this guy, Bill who was sure my illness was all in my head. I dropped him like a burning frying pan handle to the floor. I knew it wasn't in my head.
Mary Shoman, a crusader for people suffering from Thyroid disease manages a web site to raise awareness about this particular type of auto-immune disease. I often go out to her web site for support, understanding and the knowledge that there are others out there who suffer just as I have. It is wonderful to know one is not alone in this disease.
In Mary's push to get Oprah to pay attention to this disease (still unsuccessfully), she posted stories from women who suffer from this disease. I found a partner in symptoms from this article posted at:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/publicawareness/l/bloprahletters.htm: (<<--click here)
"I am a highly intelligent woman who spent my youth coasting through school, taking all the top honors classes but never having to study to make my straight A+ grades. I graduated at the top of my class with twice as many honors credits as any of my peers. I had participated in so many extracurricular activities that I earned four separate letter jackets! My bedroom was filled with my trophies and awards.
On a full academic scholarship, I headed off to college where I majored in math. It was just as easy as high school; I rarely had to study to earn top grades even though I also worked part time. I graduated Magna Cum Laude and was active in numerous clubs and social service groups throughout my college years. I married an Air Force officer and happily moved across the country with him.I worked part time and served on the board of our Officers' Wives Club; as a matter of fact, I held THREE board positions and wrote 2 different articles (on 2 different topics) for our monthly magazine (as well as being the asst editor). My life was rich and full and I never felt too busy or overwhelmed. It was easy..."
Please click on the link and read her full story. It frightens me how much our stories are alike. My closest friends will recognize me there. The years of suffering, thinking I was going mad. I think the problem was there for years, as working out made me tired and I worked out every day. I chose night work outs because the exertion would exhaust me and help me to sleep. Patrick thought I was crazy, able to work out an hour and a half every night before bed. We should have guessed my metabolism was nuts. I should have weighed 100 pounds.
Please learn about Hashimotos and thyroid disease. You may be able to help a woman you love, be it your wife, mother, daughter, sister, girlfriend... who is suffering needlessly not understanding what is happening to them. My dearest friends know how I fought with the doctors to find out what was wrong and make it right. Disease to me means that our bodies are out of sorts and without the knowledge of what is wrong we cannot support our bodies in a way that promotes healing.
I take liquid high dose vitamins everyday and make sure I rest. I take my thyroid meds at the same time every morning and I track what is happening with my body and then give my notes to my doctors. They either think I am the best or worst patient they have ever had.
So I am on a mission to let people see how a single mother deals with life while fighting a disease, raising a boy and living life through this blog. I never want anyone to go through what I have gone through - ever. Maybe my blog will help just one person out there...
C
