When asked, “Hey Crazy Thyroid Lady, what does it feel like to have a thyroid disease?” I usually just give a short answer, ya know, a taste of what it’s like, without going into too much detail…
I am appreciative when they ask, although it annoys me when they respond with: “Oh, I do that too” OR “That sounds like me!”
I know, I know it takes everything within your power not to slap the crap out of these folks. However, DON’T DO IT!! It seems like they are belittling your pain, but just blow them off! It is their feeble attempt to show compassion by making light of the situation…besides, it would be awkward if they were to say the alternative: “God that’s awful, your life pretty much sucks!”
Now, if they REALLY do think they “feel your pain” Tell them this -
Thyroid disease feels like…After you get up, take a shower, get dressed, do your hair, fix breakfast…you would then give all the money you have in the world for the chance to go back to bed, because those five tasks took every bit of energy you had.
Others will say – That’s how I feel too…the difference is, we feel this way most, if not all of the time AND chances are, if we did go back to bed we would be back to sleep in a matter of minutes.
Thyroid disease feels like … You walk into the grocery store and can’t remember why you came.
Others will say – That is how I feel too…the difference is, we may not remember the events leading up to how we even made it to the grocery store.
Thyroid disease feels like …You can sit through a company meeting and not comprehend one thing that is going on.
Others will say – That’s how I feel too…the difference is…We tried to pay attention.
Thyroid disease feels like …You drop something on the ground in public and would rather leave it because your body has been aching all day and you REALLY don’t want to bend down and pick it up.
Others will say – That’s how I feel too…the difference is…You are moving too slow to get down and pick up the item off the floor so an 80-year-lady runs over to get it for you instead.
Crazy Thyroid Lady
Don't forget to get your copy of my thyroid book Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy
thanks for the blog. love the illustrations
ReplyDeletethanks
DeleteBoy did you describe me! Yet my doctor says mine is due to low estrogen! I've asked for a thyroid test because he mentioned my numbers in April of this year were 8.5? I said that definitely doesn't sound right to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blog I appreciate it.
No that does not sound correct at all. You def sound hypo
Deleteof course an even worse statement from a doctor after u say all this is, but you've been treated! grrrrr.....good descirptions by the way...
ReplyDeleteGreat post, made me laugh a bit at the truth of some of these statements!
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that when people say to me that this all sounds like them I'm actually like 'well don't worry because you probably don't, but you MIGHT...it's worth keeping an eye on it/it's worth getting it checked out.' Thyroid disease progresses so slowly that it's extremely difficult to be aware of it, and you have to be able to compare yourself to other people all the time in order to do so. Plus, when my meds need upping and I haven't noticed yet I'll start off by attaching the memory issues to stress or missing a vitamin or nutrient, the aches and general sluggishness to not knowing where my limits are but trying to do too much, and everything else to it being an off-day...or an off-week...it may or may not be - it could be my thyroid/meds, or it could be something else, but my point is that we may sometimes say 'I'm like that sometimes' but not actually realise that it is ALL the time because we've not associated those symptoms with our thyroid.
Meh, I don't know...maybe that's not true..
No, that makes some sense. I understand what you are saying ( :
Deleteso true...i find that the d3 my doc put me on has helped with all the symptoms...although i'm still suffering the crazy thyroid some, too.
ReplyDeleteI take thyroid meds and if I forget them too many days in a row, I go back to being a slug. I know what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteHI Sandy, thanks for commenting on my blog. I love hearing from others
DeleteI wish I could do those 5 things in the mornings...have to build up to doing 1, then rest in between to do the next etc
ReplyDeleteas for going out to the grocery store - all I can say is - Thank God for online grocery shopping!
but the above made me smile and captures the spirit of how we feel.
Thanks.
I really wish the 'normal' people could live one day in the shoes of a thyroid patient. I'm always using the phrase 'dude, where's my car?' I try my best to stay awake at work. I was working 12/6 days a week until I thought I was going to die. I've cut back to 8/6 and doing better. I live in a fog most of the day and just want to sleep even thought it's 7 p.m. People who haven't seen me in a while are like 'oh, um, you gained weight' thanks a lot. I was doing good until I my last 2 babies now I can't get any weight off. Tummy tuck/full body makeover? Hmmmm....
ReplyDeleteHow are you feeling? I think about you sometimes.
DeleteHi! I am SOOOO glad I found your blog today! There are not many blogs that address thyroid issues. So, thank you! I am hypothermia, after having my thyroid removed due to Graves Disease. This post is so right on target. When I initially developed Graves was upon my return from a deployment (which I'm convinced the environmental stress triggered it) and I was all over the place! I really thought I was going crazy! Now as hypothyroid I have some issues but I feel a bit better than when I had Graves. And I HATE when people say "oh, I feel like that too"... Ummmm... No you don't!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the auto correct. I meant hypothyroid instead of hypothermia.
ReplyDeleteMaria
thank you so much. i had to have my thyroid removed due to a goiter (is that how it's spelled). I am now on synthroid. im glad to have found your blog.
ReplyDeleteI had a goiter too. I am glad you found it too! I hope all is well!
DeleteI feel like that sometimes, I guess the thing with thyroid disease is it's movie same for everyone, also there may be lots of people out there with a degree of thyroid function that just hasn't been diagnosed yet. Who are we to judge what's normal. Thanks for sharing though, I can relate alright!
ReplyDeleteI found myself [in tears of laughter} at parts of the 'Oh! I feel that way too.' Great Blogs. ! Was just thinking Maybe I had a temporary wave of Hyper during my Hypo. I'm not surprised, the amount of people that get diagnosed wrongly with Bi-polar.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds crazy but it is true. Someone saying they can exactly feel what we have suffering from just boils my blood. Unless you are one of thyroid sufferer, there is no way on earth you could feel the pain we go through.
ReplyDeleteWondering if anyone had been tested for Celiac Disease? The Journal of Gastroenterology (2007) found a strong link between thyroid disease and celiac disease, they both have very similar symptoms, brain fog, exhaustion, digestive problems. They recommend that anyone with Thyroid Disease be tested, I did and now I feel 100 times better since giving up gluten.
ReplyDeleteI've been tested but results came back negative. The dietician in my MD's office said...the results may not mean anything as I still could be "sensitive" to gluten. I went off Gluten for 2-weeks and felt GREAT! So, since I am not completely allergic, I only eat gluten sporadically. Not eating gluten definately makes a difference.
DeleteI am new to your blog and can soooooo relate to each and every one of your points of what if feels like to have thyroid disease. As a doctor AND patient, let me tell you I have learned SO much more about thyroid disease than med' school ever taught me. Medical schools produce too many doctors who have tunnel vision when it comes to thyroid disease. I am in the UK and have to be treated by an endo' in Germany because here combination porcine meds are unlicensed. Only Levothyroxine is available and it does NOTHING for my Hashimoto's other than make me feel worse x10. How crazy is it when a patient can get heroin in the form of methadone to help wean them off a class A illegal drug yet a patient cannot be prescribed any form of thyroid medication for hypothyroidism or Hashi's which is ESSENTIAL to their well being?
ReplyDeleteHey there. I just found your blog and I can relate to many of your posts. This article however is true and these are only a couple out of the many I experience daily. Then I am asked how or why I "over exaggerate" or they say "mind over matter". They have no idea how hard it is to get thru one day. I'm ranting now. But thank you for this blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Samantha
Deletethank you, i hate when people down talk my symptoms or try to make it sound like its all in my head. it becomes so frustrating that i just hold it all inside. people can be so insensitive because they just see the disease as an excuse to be lazy when they don't know how hard i try everyday to just be 50% "normal"
ReplyDeleteFinally got the DR to run other thyroid tests. THS is at 8. Testing T3 & T4 now. Tired of the pills. Uncontrolled blood pressure for 10 years now that has no explanation, not to mention metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, plus many more and can't lose weight no matter how hard I try. I want my life back! They think 8 is ok for the THS! Thank you for having a place where we can learn and challenge DR's to treat us, not just with another medication that does nothing.
ReplyDeleteThats how i feel t-... lol jk. Me and my thyroids loves you and your paperbag!
ReplyDeleteI simply admire you and oh, drawings cracks me up. Especially the first one wich looks like just-licked-a-lemon expression x)
Rock on girl!
Just been reading your blog yea i can relate to this , I started out as Hyper then had RAI treatment and then wham 5mths down the track i was Hypo but still get the sweats but also feel the cold and on thyroxine now .I call it my Bastard disease because it is( sorry for the swearing) but still able to live a near normal life for me anyway, lucky l have a very understanding husband makes life very interesting for him LOL .
ReplyDeletethank you crazy thyroid lady.
Just read your blog....I LOVE IT! Everything you said was so true. I cannot make my husband understand what it feels like. So hard to make people get it! THANK U SO MUCH
ReplyDeleteHello, id like to ask a few questions. I'm 27, is that too young for thyroid problems? My mother has thyroid. For the past 4 months I have been having horrile headaches and nausiousness everyday , all day. I stay dizzy feeling, and even get car sick,I stay without energy, and can never get enough sleep. I've been extreamly nervous, having anxiety and panic attacks , also depression. I checked my vitals 2 days ago for the first time since I started feelin like this, they have always been normal, no lows or highs. But my blood pressure was 99/54 and my pluse reat was 75 after a long walk into the store. I never had any of this happen to me till 4 months ago, any thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy 27 is def not too young for a thyroid disorder.
ReplyDeleteI was first diagnosed as hypothyroid at the age of about 15. I am now 26 and still struggle hugely, my levels are constantly going up and down with at least 5 times a year my levels soaring over 100. The bad memory doesnt help with the pill taking and I have 3 young children so sleep is pretty rare also. I know no one who is hypothyroid so to read this post it was nice to know im not on my own!!! I will definately be following you and very interested to get your book too!!! thank you for this!!!
ReplyDelete