World Thyroid Day

 Today is World Thyroid Day;  It took me three years of feeling like a drained, limp dishrag to get diagnosed. I had my daughter and never bounced back.  I went to the Dr, moved went to another Dr, finally one day. I went to a health food store, they had a free magazine. I loved the name of this shop Morning Glory. Inside was an article about how to help your thyroid gland and signs that it might not be right. I went to a new Dr and asked for a TSH panel. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a blood test, it  measures how you are doing on a scale of 0.50-5.0 the scale has been redone it is now 3.0.  I just found out recently I'm 0.15 (hyper) I feel like I have a fever, I'm starving all the time,  and I'm in hyper drive.  When you go over 3.0 you are in a hypo state, slow, brain fog, depression, weight issues, blah.   The thyroid gland is the master gland of the body, it controls mood, heart rate, your metabolic rate, your body temperature, blood pressure, etc.  I remember how miserable I was after I had my daughter.  I was exhausted, cold, drained, and irritable that no one could help me; I suffered for 3 yrs. This is why I'm posting this. There are millions of people who are undiagnosed.. Your quality of life isn't the same and you feel like you are living in a fog with no energy. I think sometimes, people are put on antidepressants, when they really needed a blood test and thyroid meds. Women are effected more than men, due to hormonally changes, puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Then there is the autoimmune type(like mine).

You can go to this site to take a test and look at the symptoms. You may know someone who has it. It never hurts to be aware. Yes there is a genetic link to this disease, but it is also suspect that one's diet might be a link.  I just don't want anyone to suffer like I did; it is so unnecessary~

Comments

Annmaree (Emu) said…
Oh gosh I'm so sorry for your troubles, its an issue that happens all too often!

My own Mother had the same thing for years kept having many symptoms and no doctor could figure it out, sighting many useless causes with no treatment options, until we found one that clicked onto checking the Thyroid and we found she had an overactive one, she ended up having to have radiation therapy to kill the thyroid cos hers was going so crazy!

Now its something I have to keep check of myself, every few months, as I am on medications that can cause it, so I'm more susceptible with my mother having had it too.

I wish you all the best with it, glad you were able to get it sorted, eventually. Just a shame it took so long!

Definitely something that needs to be taken more seriously, and be at the forefront of blood tests when patients are feeling these symptoms!
Hilary said…
Hi Ella .. good to know about .. and obviously we can all help ourselves - even if it's finding out about our own health. I do hope you're usually better now and can control it more easily .. look after yourself .. and thanks for the shout out for World Thyroid Day ..

Cheers - Hilary
Vicki said…
Great post! I'm hypo and feeling great after low dose meds for a year now. Got my mojo back and no longer wearing "dirty goggles." That is how I felt all the time. Things weren't clear. I was fuzzy and tired. Unable to focus, working out and eating right yet scale not moving, no energy, no focus, moody, hair falling out, cold, dry skin...you are not getting older people! Do not accept this as the norm. Your thyroid gland needs to rev up! Get checked. Thanks, Ella xoxo
Shelly said…
I have Hasaimotos version(mine goes up and down), autoimmune-type, where your own body attacks the thyroid. Great blog!
Ella said…
Shelly-This is what I have; It is yin and yang. Some days are great, some not so much~ YOU aren't alone! Thank you for sharing! I hope you are feeling well; it is a battle~xXx

Vicki-I'm normally hypo; this is unusually for me to be hyper. "Dirty goggles" is a great description. I always think of it, like a vehicle; we need meds for the gas to run right in the engine, without it, we are running on empty. Thanks Vicki for sharing! You are right, so many suffer and it isn't necessary and it affects one's heart and brain. If left untreated, it causes cholesterol to rise, just because the thyroid gland isn't working properly.
I wish young woman would be checked sooner. After pregnancy is when my happened. when I finally felt well again, I went and had my blood drawn, so I would know want worked for me. Now, I have a guideline, a range of when I am at my best~ I also tell the Dr this. It has helped me~xXx

Hilary-Thank you for being supportive. I am mixed right now, I have symptoms of both. I am getting better; Thank you! It is such an easy disease to diagnose, but so many symptoms over lap over illnesses. It is hard sometimes, to get a DR to see the whole picture. When in doubt, get it checked! Hope you are doing well~xXx

Annmaree-I am sorry to hear your Mom suffered so. Hyper is so dangerous;I hope she is doing well, now~ I hope you don't get it. I tend to have symptoms that over lap, both types. When I was first diagnosed I was Hypo, but I had more symptoms for Hyper. It amazes me in this day and age, that it still happens. Take Care of you! I agree, it should be part of the routine blood work~xXx Thanks for sharing!
Cherie Reich said…
Great information. Now I think I need to get mine checked, though. I took that quiz and got 59%. It could be higher because some of the questions, I didn't really know the answer (for example, I haven't had my cholesterol checked in ages). My chiropractor once told me she thought I had problems with my thyroid. I went to the doctor a few years back, but they didn't see anything wrong. Maybe it's time to check again and perhaps get the special test (they had to do that with my aunt to detect hers...yeah, it runs in the family too).

Thank you, though, for the information. Take care!
Ella said…
Cherie-You can print off the symptom list and check off the ones that apply. Take it with you; some people are on the higher end of the scale and feel fine, other feel miserable. Good Luck; I hope you are okay...let me know~ Some doctors will check by watching you drink water, but the blood test is most accurate. xXx
Bossy Betty said…
Thank you so much for talking about this! It's fascinating and well worth looking into. I have friends whose lives have been changed by this diagnosis.
Jen said…
I thought I had thyroid issues but the doctor said I was fine. Instead, I think that I have candadia or whatever it is called...basically a lot of yeast locked in my body.
Gwen Gardner said…
Who knew there was a World Thyroid Day? I, too, have hypothyroidism, which was discovered by accident. I had a series of tests after fainting (low potassium) and they found it - it's very slight. I had gained a little weight, and I've always sort of been tired, LOL. Who knows how long I would have gone on that way! I think it's a pretty standard test these days, though. Glad they finally diagnosed yours!
Jules said…
And you know I had my scare with it. Wonderful, informative job Ella. :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Wanda said…
Thanks for sharing information about this disorder.
LTM said…
what a great situation to make people aware of, E! My aunt had this problem, and finding out made all the difference in the world for her. Good work here~ :o) <3
Thank you for sharing this info. It's good to hear that you were able to find out and get some answers resolved.

Blessings & Aloha!
...work has been long and getting late from work this week...don't think I am even able to get my one post a week up, this week!...but wanted to get to all the others on Kathie's fun Blog Tour!
Thyroid problems run very heavily among the women in my family. So far I've been under the radar, and I really hope I can avoid it.
Ella said…
Lisa-I hope you stay under the radar; it is a battle! Take Care and stay away from soy...this is how I ended up with thyroid disease. It is on both sides of the family tree and I started eating those protein bars, after I had my daughter. This is when the thyroid is going back to normal...threw me into thyroid hell. Take Care~
Ella said…
Maria-Thank you for stopping by; I know I still have a few on the tour to visit. You aren't alone~
Blessings and Aloha to you; I use to live in Hawaii...so beautiful!

Leigh-It really does; after my last child I didn't bounce back to me. I knew something was wrong, but until my thyroid went on or off the charts. I guess there wasn't anything they could do. I am glad she is doing well~ Thanks for your kind words! 555 <3 xXx

Wanda-Thank you; I hope you are doing well! I have missed you and will stop by~

Jules-I remember you telling me a bit about it!
I also remember you grocery list; you were trying to find stuff without soy in it! Difficult...we need to eat like cave women, then life is good! Pass the fennel root, and T-rex jerky...

Lady Gwen-It still isn't done enough; I think young women should have it before pregnancy to know what they normal is. It doesn't help that a lot of our processed foods have soy in them. I am glad you are doing well and caught it soon. I had the passing out thang, when first diagnosed. It is scary; glad you are doing well, now!!! Thanks for sharing...

Jennee-I am glad you are okay; though it might be a test to have once in a year or two to make sure you are okay. :D Take Care and thanks for sharing~

Bossy Betty-Thank you for saving it like it is; it is life changing. It is like a lighthouse view in the fog and then seeing the sun on a bright blue day. Glad your friends were helped~
Pixie said…
Thanks for this post! At 68, my mom was finally diagnosed after years of problems and even being told by some doctors that it was all in her head and she just needed to take a multivit. You'd think it would be more recognized as it seems fairly common.
Ella said…
Hi Pixie-I have autoimmune type; the thyroid does age like the rest of our bodies. You would think doctors would be more in step with this. They will be in the future. All the soy in our diets will cause a lot more problems before we are done. It is infast food, in our salad dressing, cookies, crackers, chips, bread, chocolate, etc. I also found it in my tuna, peanut butter and Crystal light. (not all flavors, you have to read) Soy cause the thyroid meds to not work as well...less absorption. Crazy world we live in... I am sorry to hear she suffered so! I hate the dismissal voice. I had one Dr tell me I wanted more meds so I could eat more. augh...
No, I want to feel like me, again and not live in a fog bank. I hope you have yours checked on occasion. Thanks for sharing! I think women should have it checked when teens-when they have their first Pap smear. This would give them an idea before pregnancy. I know 5 women that have autoimmune(happened after pregnancy). I went to the Dr when I felt good, to know what my # level was. It is an odd disease as far as being discovered and treated correctly. Thanks for sharing~
septembermom said…
Thank you so much for sharing all this information and link. I agree that it's important for everyone to be aware of this thyroid condition. I've been wondering if I should get tested.
Kathy said…
Hi Ella,
Thanks for popping over to my blog, I am so glad to visit you. I have been on Synthroid, (oh lets counts backwards) - 10 - 20 -30 Yep, 30 years. 90% of my Throid was removed. I am tested annually and it can be very servious if you don't take your meds right. For those of us ladies that take Vit. D we must remember it can't be taken at the same time as synthroid.
When in doubt get tested! If you ask 3 doctors about Throid disease you will get 3 different answers. We must all be aware of our bodies and when they send those darn signals, trust in yourself and get checked out.
Kathy
Ella said…
Septembermom-If you have been wondering; I think you should! I hope you are okay; keep me posted~xXx

Kathy-Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have seen improvements in the treatment of this disease. Some how I think probably not. I was just put on vit D.
I so agree with you; I have been trying to gather info for years. It is such a misunderstood disease.
Thank you for sharing; I hope you feel good! It is something we need to stay on top of~ I'm allergic to soy and finding it difficult(it is in so much of our food supply). It causes our medicine not to be absorbed...scary! xXx
Ivory said…
I have been on desiccated porcine thyroid for a month now. I was taking two different natural thyroid pills a day and now this is all I take and feel great. I am so glad I tried it unlike synthetics that make me sick.
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