(Our visit to the motherland, right before our first fabric line was released, right around the time I got diagnosed.)
This is a post I have considered writing for a long time. But never quite got around to it, and wasn't sure if I should share. But I read Mauby's post today, and realized I wanted to. So hey, here goes.
About 4 years ago, I had had it. I was exhausted. I felt awful. I am 5'9" tall and was a whopping 106 pounds, and felt completely miserable. I had been feeling this way for about 3 years, since boy 2 was born. In fact, after he was born I went in to my OB and told the nurse practitioner (who I'm sure is usually lovely and was just really busy that day) how tired I was. I remember she didn't even look up from her pad and said "Well, you just had a baby, probably post-partum depression." She scribbled a prescription and walked out. I took the prescription for 6 months, didn't feel any different, got more and more tired, felt awful and lost more weight.
This continued for 3 years, and we moved away. I started my business, took care of my two boys, stayed up way too late, and got even more hooked on the Dr. Pepper (my favorite doctor). I went to a new OB (love my OB!), and he checked my thyroid. When the results came back, he sent me straight to an Endocrinologist (love my endo!). Sure enough, rotten thyroid, all nice and hypothyroidy. (Yes, hypo.) Well, technically I have Hashimoto's Disease, which is an autoimmue disease where my body is always attacking my thyroid. Some days more than others. It fluctuates a lot. It is all super fun.
It took about a year to get things under control, and I started to feel like myself again. When I was pregnant it took another nose dive, and after Nic was born, I spent a whole year changing doses and having blood draws/endo visits every 6 weeks or so. (I do not love my phlebotomist. On principle really). But a few weeks ago when I went to the doctor, things were finally stabalized.
Hallelujah!!
If you know me in real life, whether you are a friend or are family, I have probably at one time or another (or you know, 20 times or another) suggested you get your thyroid checked. Several of my friends/family members have gone in to have their thyroids checked and have had problems similar to mine. I also have a few friends who have had their thyroids removed, poor things. I'm crossing my fingers it doesn't come to that with mine.
The point of me telling you all this? Well, mostly I just wish I had known. I wish someone would have told me, that that first nurse practitioner would have taken the time to listen to me, and I wouldn't have just survived those three years. It doesn't matter how old you are, get it checked, watch for the symptoms, and take care of it. The end.
Now I better get back to my favorite doctor (yum) and writing a book manuscript (yuck, but yay!). I'm just so thankful that I now have the energy to do so. Thank you doctors.
