April 6, 2011
Trust Your Instincts
Recently I have felt anything but focused. In fact, I have been sleeping most of my non-working hours and weekends away. Yet I still have not felt refreshed or energized! I’ve been lethargic, pale, and just plain dull! It has seeped into my blogging and my business. Something told me that a trip to the doctor was in order.
I don’t think that I have ever shared this on the blog before, but about 5 months after Violet was born I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (meaning my thyroid is way slow). Like most moms of newborns, I was tired ALL of the time. I just couldn’t keep it together, and I wasn’t loosing any pregnancy weight (which was totally discouraging). I finally went to the doctor where they did some blood work and lo and behold, my thyroid was slow! A simple daily dose of synthroid (literally a synthetic thyroid booster) has has made all of the difference.
Hypothyroidism can vary in levels of severity (fortunately mine has never been too extreme). But I have been suffering from the following symptoms for at least the past 2 months:
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
- Coarse, dry hair
- Dry, rough pale skin
- Cold intolerance (you can’t tolerate cold temperatures like those around you)
- Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
- Depression
- Irritability
- Memory loss
I don’t know why I didn’t put 2 and 2 together, but of course my sleepy unfocused self was a result of my hypothyroidism being out of whack again. I will be starting a new higher dose of medicine this week, and honestly I am really excited to see if it helps! I am ready to be back in the game, focused, and recharged!
Do any of you suffer from a thyroid disorder? Or know someone who does? How do they handle it?
Hope you don’t mind my non-artsy, non-creative blog posts, but I like sharing about my life on my blog!
Thanks for reading, friends,
Stacie
SO there with you. About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Graves Disease which is an autoimmune thyroid disorder. My thyroid was producing too much hormone so I was on PTU for one year, and then I was off of it for about four years. Six months after my second child was born I developed a form of postpartum thyroiditis. My thyroid was hardly functioning AT ALL. That was over three years ago. Since then my levels of Synthroid have been changed every couple of months, and at this point my levels have not been stable since last Summer. Very frustrating, but I’m thankful it’s not something worse. This year I also underwent my first biopsy aspiration- not terrible, but definitely not fun.
Anyway (wow, that was loooong), I certainly hope your new dose helps you to feel more like yourself! Hang in there!
I actually know several people. My dad had hyperthyroid, and the dr.’s killed his thyroid, which means he now has hypothyroid and takes synthroid. I remember when he was diagnosed, and all of these things started to fall into place.
He just thought he was getting old, he was 35. It makes me sad to think back on that (I was a kid) and how I thought, “well, he is old.”
I just turned 33. Hardly old.
Hope you get regulated.
BTW received my Quilted Fox print for my birthday Sunday. LOVE IT! Can’t wait to frame it and hang it! And as soon as the F is for Fox print is for sale, I’m buying it! I have a special place in my heart for foxes, my son’s name is Topper Fox.
Hi, Stacie! I don’t think I’ve ever commented before, but I’ve been a reader for awhile now.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 14. I’m 25 now and it’s fluctuated throughout the entire time I’ve had it. I have a groiter (meaning my thyroid is enlarged) and a type of thyroiditis called Hashimoto’s. It’s hard to keep my levels stable and because of it, I often feel many of the symptoms of thyroid disease – mostly fatigue, weight problems, and irritability. It’s tough to deal with and I’m glad you’re feeling better! You should visit your endocrinologist regularly to help keep everything as normal as possible. 🙂
I, like Ashley, have Hashimoto’s disease. I’ve had it since I was 12, for 14 years now. I feel terrible pretty much all of the time. My TSH is never right. I’m on a new medicine now (Armour thyroid, it’s natural thyroid hormone unlike Synthroid which is synthetic). Something to consider — have your vitamin D level checked. I just found out about this. A lot of people who have hypothyroid problems don’t absorb vitamin D as well and when you’re deficient in vitamin D it can make you feel terrible!!! You should bring it up to your doctor. In addition to my thyroid medicine, one 5000 IU of vitamin D a day makes me feel a little better.
So crazy to know that other people have this problem too. Sometimes it’s hard to explain to people why I feel “sick” all the time. They just don’t get it. It’s hard to feel so tired with a 16 month old. I hope you feel better soon! <3