IT IS WORLD THYROID DAY!

Today is World Thyroid Day, what does that mean?

To me, it means none of us are alone in our struggle with this disease. It means there are people not just in your neighborhood, your community, your city/state or country who must deal with the difficult changes to their body that accompanies thyroid disease, rather it is a worldwide epidemic.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of the neck.  It weighs only one ounce, but controls just about every cell in the body. After being diagnosed with thyroid disease, I look at butterflies differently now. Butterflies start out as ugly, slimy little creepy crawlies that in my opinion, aren’t great to look at, but they have their purpose in nature.  Then, after the caterpillar’s cosmic contribution, they change into one of the most beautiful living things on the planet.  No more crawling around for these creatures as they begin to fly and some species even travel around the world, as far as 3,000 miles. The same butterfly I had the privilege of admiring in all of its beauty, can also be admired by someone thousands of miles away.

On World Thyroid Day, I reflect upon my own butterfly and even though it is not completely functional anymore, my butterfly is symbolic in that it has put me through a lot of changes and each transition that I’ve gone through, during this disease has a universal purpose…The Butterfly Effect.  Some of the changes are ugly, but don’t think that what you are going through is meaningless, there is a reason, don’t think things won’t get better, don’t think that your butterfly will never take off and show its beauty to the world, because it will, if you choose it. Reach out to one of the over 300 million worldwide who may be having a very difficult time with their disease and help them transition into a beautiful butterfly with a purpose.

Crazy Thyroid Lady

Don't forget to get your copy TODAY of my thyroid book Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy

YOUR THERMOSTAT IS BROKEN

Have you ever had a room temperature control tug-of-war with someone?  I’ve had some very heated ones throughout my lifetime.

In the 80’s I had a window war with a co-worker. She would constantly open the window in our office; it didn’t matter if the temp was 10 or 100 degrees outside. Drove me crazy, she would open, I would close, she would open, and I would close…Oh how I welcomed her days off.

In the 90’s I had a temperature tiff with the company’s maintenance man, who kept our office thermostat at “frozen tundra.”  It’s hard to be productive with mittens and a ski mask.  When he wasn’t around, I would use my lock picking tools (bobby pin in my hair) adjusting the temp to normal human-like conditions.

In the 2000’s I battled with my Ford Focus, nearly tearing it apart trying to figure out how to add Freon, so that I could arrive at my destinations not looking and smelling like a zoo animal. When your TSH levels are on the hyper side, the heat you can experience is like no other.

Today My husband and I are in the middle of a ceiling fan fracas, which is just like the window war, but the “on and off” interchange is sometimes done unconsciously. Even when I’m asleep, my body is fighting to feel comfortable.

 

Throughout my life, I think those body temperature issues and the tenacity to feel comfy, was an indication of the thyroid disease which was unknown to me at the time. I had no idea until I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease that the thyroid plays such an important role in body temperature.

Others don’t understand what it is like to have your internal thermostat broken. Under extreme conditions, climate control is of the essence, it is hard to concentrate on anything else at that point.  Right now, in most parts of the world you are heading into seasonal weather change, I hope my fellow battle-tested thyroidians win the fight for comfort.

 Crazy Thyroid Lady

Don't forget to get your copy TODAY of my thyroid book Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy

THYROID MAMA CALLS A FAMILY MEETING

**Where’s my?

**Why didn’t you remind me?

**How come you are just now telling me?

**Did you forget to?

Thyroid suffering mothers, do these statements sound familiar?

There are two males in our household (my husband and teenage son) and before thyroid disease, I kept things in order, kept my boys in line - managed things well. You could even say that mama ran a tight ship. But now, that ship has sailed...annnndddd I’m totally OK with that.

But, I’ll have to admit, that immediately after my diagnosis, I wasn’t OK with the domiciliary disarray that ensued. At present, I’ve come to terms and realized that I can’t and shouldn’t be omnipotent-like to my brood. I am not the same as before, I’m not the same as before, I’m not the same as before... Ahhhh so liberating to say... acceptance is key.

It took me awhile to embrace this concept. Remember my other blog post about going crazy http://crazythyroidlady.blogspot.com/2012/09/go-crazy.html .  To remain sane, I had to go crazy Conserve, Restore Adding Zest to You.

After years of hearing those above phrases from my guys over and over again for many years, I felt it was time to call a family meeting:

"I used to juggle my life and yours with ease, but men, we’ve embarked on a new era. An era that focuses on the realization that undue stress is not ideal for yours truly. At one time I reveled in the all consuming management of this household, even though it may not have been healthy, I had it mastered. But now remembering just my stuff is almost a full-time job. I am asking you to take on more responsibilities around the house.

OK, so...I don’t know where it is, I’m not going to know where it is, I forgot to tell you...let’s get over it, I could try to remind you, but is this a risk you are willing to take? 

Well, now that we got this out of the way, you guys can make dinner while mama takes a nap. Love ya!"

In reality, this is probably how it should have been all along, after all, experts say giving your kids more responsibilities will build confidence and increase self-esteem. And it will help hubby feel like da man! I like to find as many positive as I can post-disease.

Crazy Thyroid Lady

Don't forget to get your copy of my thyroid book Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy