DR. JECKYLL AND MR. THY…PERSONALITY CHANGES WITH THYROID DISEASE

Last week a co-worker emailed to me a link with one of those personality tests. This particular test is called “How Emotionally Intelligent Are You”.  She must have read my mind, somehow knowing I needed a little workday intermission. From time to time, any distraction is welcomed, especially during those times when you are heading into a comatose-can’t-concentrate-anymore moment. Getting up to sign for a FedEx package or doing the vending machine stare down (even though you aren’t going to purchase anything)…these are office respite techniques, helpful for resting the eyes and hopefully getting back into focus.

Although I have done a ton of personality tests – in high school, college, for jobs, and for fun it dawned on me, after receiving her email, that I had never done one post thyroid disease.

Some experts say that our personalities do not change significantly throughout our lives. My guess is that these so-called experts have never tracked subjects pre, mid and post thyroid dysfunction. I do not know what the scientific definition of personality is. To me, with CTL simplicity,  it means how we behave ourselves. The years while at the peak of my thyroid dysfunction, my behaviors changed dramatically.

I became extremely insecure, confused, argumentative, irritable, intolerant, fearful, pessimistic and on my really really bad days – apathetic. On those bad days, I wanted nothing to do with the human race. Interaction was kept to a minimum; I hid from the FedEx man.

The mental and physical changes occurring in people with thyroid disease are sometimes hard to fathom, even doctors don’t truly understand what all is going on in our body.

I wrote a little bit about my ten year saga in the previous blog post; looking back, though, I wish I would have taken several personality tests, doing my own informal study – perhaps, doing one each year, keeping a diary of any drastic changes as I battled to achieve optimal to remission.

I’m not sure, where you are with your healing journey, below is the link to the personality test, make sure you read the entire bottom portion after getting to your results. This could be an eye opening experience to those who haven’t made the thyroid/personality connection.

Tell me what you think. Do you think your personality has changed, due in part to thyroid disease?

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You

CTL

VACATION TIPS FOR THE THYROID SUFFERER

 

My husband came home the other day with a lovely surprise.  “Honey, we are going to Mexico for our 20^th wedding anniversary,” he said.  I was so excited.  Yea! I’ve never been to Mexico…Oh wait a minute…have I?

Isn’t it a shame, that I must think really hard about something like that? 

But with thyroid disease, comes a chalk full of symptoms, affecting various areas of the body, READ fellow thyroid activist, Hypothyroid MOM’s blog post and symptom list.  Symptoms can be far worse for some and not that bad for others…For example, for some, the fatigue is almost unbearable; for others, it is the joint pain.

As for me, without a doubt, hands down…it is my memory and brain fog.  Alright, so let me see…Hmmm, OK…I used to work for an airline… and I was able to fly for free…have I been to...?? Ummmm nope, I’m pretty sure I’ve never been to Mexico. Yippee!  We are going to have fun!

Since my brain cells have decided to take their own permanent vacation, I have had to come up with five tips to help make all my excursions more memorable:

 

1.  Say CHEESE! Of course this is the obvious – take many pictures and shoot video footage, if you can. Don’t be too annoying that you make this a stressful event for everyone involved.

2. Play games! A great way to spend some quality fun time. Laughter can stimulate parts of the brain promoting a better memory. 

3. Scrap it! Collect/save brochures, ticket stubs, maps etc… then make a scrap book when you return.  It makes for a nice keepsake and it will help you recall certain adventures of your trip.

4. Find a happy medium! Don’t schedule too many guided tours, however you want to do a little planning.  If you rely on spontaneity throughout your entire trip, you may not do anything and conversely, If the vacation is too action packed, it becomes one big blur.  Those are the types of vacations where you need a vacation, after the vacation.

5. Save the best for last! A sunlit walk on the beach, dine at your favorite bistro or visit the attraction you’ve always wanted to see.  Psychologists say we are more likely to remember events which occur at the end of something. Ahhh, that moist, delicious icing on the cake!

If I don’t do some or all of these tips, my time away becomes, well…just a time away.  It was great at the moment, but many many years from now I could be saying…Hmmm let me see, have I ever been to Mexico?

Crazy Thyroid Lady

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

THYROID SURVEY RESULTS

Thanks to all who filled out my survey a year ago. I had promised to include these survey stats in my book, but my editor advised against it…said it did not fit in the book. So, I am posting on my blog, for thyroid awareness month. HERE ARE THE RESULTS!

1. I am extremely frustrated because I believe I have a thyroid disorder, but the tests do not confirm this.

Yes - 16%
No – 84 %

2. Have you ever been diagnosed with a thyroid disease or disorder?

Yes-96%
No-4%

3. If Yes, when was your diagnosis

a. 0-5 years ago- 54%
b. 6-10 years ago- 20%
c. 10-15 years ago- 10%
d. More than 15 years-16%

4. How old are you?

a. 0-18-4%
b. 19-40-33%
c. Over 40-63%

5. Were you diagnosed with have Hashi’s, Graves’ or Cancer?

a. Looks like the majority said Hashi’s

6. Were you diagnosed with another thyroid disease than the three mentioned above?

Yes-14%
No-86%

7. I have/had a goiter.

Yes-50%
No-50%

8. I live…

a. East of the Mississippi
53%
b. West of the Mississippi
47%
c. One person said they literally live on the Mississippi.Cool!

9. I have suicidal thoughts and firmly believe this is due to my thyroid disorder.

Yes-37%
No-63%

10. I have had RAI. (Radioactive Iodine)

Yes-29%
No-71%

11. I have had a thyroidectomy.

Yes-17%
No-83%

12. I am frustrated with my doctor with regard to my thyroid care or lack thereof.

Yes-67%
No-27%
N/A-6%

13. Please tell me your worst thyroid disease symptom.

The number one answer….DRUM ROLL PLEASE…

FATIGUE!

DISEASES OFFER A SPEC-TACULAR VIEW

This is a Blog Repeat or Blepeat

This week’s blog is dedicated to my Father who passed away in June of 2011 of cancer. I love and miss you daddy!

My father, a former military man, had a wife and two daughters. He did not want any of his girls to be sick, hurt or in pain-EVER! Scrapped knees, infections and menstrual maladies all had to be suffered in silence. Not because dad was merciless, he believed that talking about your illnesses was a sign of weakness.

In my late thirties, when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid disease, my father would scoff at me for lamenting about things like fatigue, or joint pain. This was after he would call me to ask, “Hey, how are you doing?”…but then not wanting to hear (or deal with) the truth, he would say, “You feel GREAT, stop saying you are tired.”

It wasn’t like I was a complainer; he just NEVER wanted to hear me say I was anything other than fantastic.

On Christmas in 2010, the chemotherapy treatments had taken a toll on my father. He said to me, “I realize now what it means to have a chronic illness, baby girl, and I apologize for ever down-playing what you had been going through."

This meant the world to me because I wasn't seeking attention, I wanted understanding.

He went onto say, “But you know, we are blessed to have the opportunity to view the world with a different set of glasses than the pair we had on before.”

Some would say, “blessed” doesn’t seem like the word most fitting, but oh… I knew exactly what he meant.

The best way I can describe it…it is like being fitted with a special pair of glasses, not the 3-D variety, where everything is distorted, not bifocals where everything is magnified, not UV where things are blocked out, and definitely not rose-colored. They are just real, authentic glasses. Glasses that help you see what is important.

With these new pair, it is easy for me to identify with the cliche “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff". I feel this mantra deeply within my soul, because, truth is, I can’t sweat it. I can't afford to spend the strength or energy on the trivial.

This truly is a blessing!

My dad’s new pair of glasses meant he could accept both of our diseases because it was reality…Good, bad or ugly.... It is life. Acceptance, understanding, and loving what life has to offer is much easier than distorting, blocking and making things bigger than what they are.

Battling an illness is not easy, however experiencing life with real glasses is. Eyeglasses that help us see what’s most important, during this holiday season and throughout the year, which is-Faith, Family and Friends…the rest is...well, small stuff.

Oh...and the great news is..as for the big stuff...the major stuff in life. I don't need glasses, God is carrying me through those times. I have blind faith that everything will work out for the good.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

From The Crazy Thyroid Lady!

It is not too late!! Get your copy of Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy before Christmas. I have gotten a lot of feedback, that this book is an excellent quick read for your friends and family to help them better understand what you are going through with your thyroid disease. This book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and iBooks.

AUTOIMMUNE OLYMPIADS

Well, the Olympics are over. Thank God! Now I can get some sleep. I was so sleep deprived. I could have won a gold medal in crankiness.

I am in awe when I see the super-human type feats executed by these athletes. And then, when I hear that some of these competitors have autoimmune diseases like me, it is astounding.

Diseased Olympiads…what an oxymoron.

But it just goes to show you, no one is immune to the auto-immune atrocities.

These athletes endure their body fighting itself, yet they practice multiple hours in a day. When I am on my third or fourth dream all snuggly in my bed, they are waking up before the sun comes up to begin their training. Just can’t wrap my mind around that…

Here are a few of those ailing athletes who competed at this year’s 2012 Olympics in London:

Tennis -Venus Williams–Sjogren’s syndrome (The body attacks moisture producing glands) Advanced to the third round of the London Olympics.

Kayaking –Carrie Johnson-Crohn’s disease (Inflammation of the digestive tract) Advanced to the semifinals.

Soccer (or women’s football)-Shannon Box-Lupus (The body attacks healthy tissues) Won Gold medal.

Track and Field-Sanya Richards-Ross-Behcet’s Syndrome (Vasculitis leading to ulcers particularly around the mouth, genitals and pupils) Two-time gold medal winner in London.

Track and Field, pole vaulting-Jenn Suhr-Celiac’s disease (hypersensitivity to gluten) Won gold medal.

All of them deserve the gold medal as far as I am concerned.

Crazy Thyroid Lady

CLEANING HOUSE

Since I’ve written a blog post about poop, I feel as though I can talk to you guys about anything. We are all family, right?

OK, so, I want to discuss with y’all a word that is even more vile and disgusting than poop. I cringe when I hear this word…the word is clean….AHHHHHHHH…UGGGHHHH!

This word and everything about it, has always been my arch nemesis… the albatross around my neck. The Great White Whale who has chomped off parts of my soul and taken it to depths so low that I am unsure it could ever be recovered?

I hated cleaning my house EVEN before my thyroid autoimmune disease; can you imagine how I feel about it now?

I have tried everything to make the process easier for me:

I’ve tried to mimic Luke Skywalker, by using “the force” to help clean my house…this method works to some extinct. My house is a sparkling show home, although, only in my imagination.

I’ve tried pretending there are little miniature parents on my shoulders yelling at me to clean. But then, I would yell back, get all stressed out and would end up running into my room crying.

I’ve tried twitching my nose like that blond chick on that 60’s and 70’s television show, but this caused me to go into a sneezing fit and then I would have to lie down.

I’ve tried to get my husband and son to do all the housework, by using hints, threats, whining, ultimatums, bribery, blackmail, coercion, flattery…oh and I did just come right out and ask once…but they see nothing wrong with our humble abode. They are perfectly OK with wallowing around in the pig sty. This does not make mamma happy and ordinarily they will try to do whatever it takes to keep mamma happy…except cleaning….well, this is where they draw the line.

Please HELP the Crazy Thyroid Lady!

Anyone have any helpful cleaning tips for this thyroid autoimmunee?

And don’t say “hire a maid” unless you are willing to donate to the Crazy Thyroid Lady cleaning fund...Tee hee

BOOST YOUR IMMUNE

This week’s blog is dedicated to those who suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases. I take my hat off to you! Having to endure the daily struggles of your respective invisible illness is truly a heroic feat, and in my opinion, there should be a national holiday dedicated to you.

Some well-known AD’s are:

•Crohn’s disease
•Celiac disease
•Endometriosis
•Fibromyalgia
•Graves’ Disease
•Hashimoto’s
•Lupus
•Multiple Sclerosis
•Myasthenia Gravis
•Myositis
•Polymyositis
•Psoriasis
•Rheumatoid Arthritis
•Scleroderma
•Sjogren’s Syndrome
•Type 1 Diabetes
•Vitiligo

Not only are you a hero, but you are also the foremost leading expert of autoimmune disease because you are living it! Seriously, YOU are the leading expert! Because the other “experts” don’t know how it is acquired, how to cure it, how to control it, or in some cases, how to treat them.

In the meantime, until the scientific and medical community finally catches up to our expertise, it may be a good idea to stay away from foods that lower our immune system, so that we can stay on top of our game.

SOME FOODS THAT LOWER IMMUNITY

1.SODAS
2.SUGAR
3.DEEP FRIED FOODS
4.PROCESSED FOODS
5.CAFFEINE (LOOKS AROUND…WHO SAID THAT?)

SOME FOODS THAT BOOST IMMUNITY

1. YOGURT
2. GARLIC
3. TEA –GREEN OR BLACK-NO CAFFEINE
4. FISH
5. SWEET POTATOES

SOME VITAMINS AND MINERALS THAT BOOST IMMUNITY

1. VITAMIN C
2. VITAMIN D
3. ZINC
4. IRON
5. COPPER

***Please note: check with your MD before taking any vitamins or minerals as they can interfere with other medications.

I am a klutz! I run into anything on a regular…chairs, tables, walls, people…I don’t really have a preference as to who or what I bump into. I have bruises on my arms and legs quite often. Before I started eating healthier and increasing my vitamin and mineral intake, I used to carry bruises on my body for six months or longer! Now they are gone in about a week. My body is doing what it is supposed to do. Finally…it is about time!

The Crazy Thyroid Lady

THYROID ARMY

Those of you who know me, know I have a vivid imagination, reminiscent of a five-year old… Those little kiddos with their hazy looks, staring off into space are undoubtedly sailing around the world on a pirate ship, or swinging from tree to tree in the jungle like Tarzan.

Hmmmm, I guess the part of the brain that suppresses childlike-imagination when one gets older, never happened to me. As an adult, it is nothing for me to travel off into outer space, battling space alien zombies while sitting at an important board meeting with my grown-up colleagues. Anything can trigger it…then I’m gone...

On this particular occasion, my daydream episode started with a request I received on my facebook page (Thyroid News-Updates from the Crazy Thyroid Lady). The request was to post a link to a website with information about a petition for us thyroidians to electronically sign for better thyroid treatment, and the petition will be sent to the following groups:

International Society of Endocrinology
Society for Endocrinology
American Thyroid Association
American Board of Internal Medicine

While reading the message about the petition during a meeting at work, I had to contain my enthusiasm by pretending I received an important “work related" text message. (You know you read twitter and facebook messages or play games during meetings too, stop judging)

I got all pumped up and promptly told my facebook friend, I would post it on my facebook page, twitter, and blog.

I thought...It is quite sad we must do these types of things to fight to feel better!

Uh oh, the word “FIGHT” was the trigger this time...

I began to imagine me fighting with others in a thyroid army.

An army of us thyroid sufferers were sleeping in our barracks when the sergeant came in for the 5:00 am reveille. The bugling ended abruptly, however, when one of my fellow thyroid soldiers threatened to shove the bugle down the sergeant’s throat if he did not come back at noon. After waking up at the crack of noon, we solders got ready for weapon’s training…only…um we weren’t allowed any real weapons (If you have thyroid disease, you pretty much know why). Instead we were trained on how to use our beady-eyed intimidating stares as weapons.

In the thyroid army, in lieu of tight fitting fatigues, we wear camouflaged moo moos and comfortable slippers. We aren’t required to know Morse code, because thyroid sufferers could possibly forget how to communicate in this way. Lord only knows how those messages would turn out. Oh and booby traps or enemy mines are out of the question, as we would ultimately forget where they were and…well…

Eeeek, this daydream is becoming too scary! So glad we don’t have to fight in an actual war, even though I am sure some of your doctor’s appointments have felt like major combat.

Alternatively, there are other ways to fight for better thyroid care. For more information about the petition.
Please go to:

https://www.change.org/petitions/board-certified-endocrinologists-should-be-proficient-in-and-mandated-to-be-current-on-thyroid-disorders-treatment

Crazy Thyroid Lady

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

CHANGING SEASONS

Right now, as I am sitting here typing this blog, I am sick with a cold. I type, wipe my nose…type, wipe my nose. This synchronistic event is quite annoying.

Being sick is annoying. Grrr…I am really annoyed right now. I am annoyed because this particular malady I brought on myself.

I have an autoimmune disease, therefore, I MUST remember to take many things into consideration and make preparations to avoid infections. Especially during the changing of seasons which is when I am most vulnerable.

I don’t know about you, but the seasonal changes are very hard on this autoimmunee. Which is why I try to work extra hard to prepare, but occasionally I forget my affliction and do something stupid like Spring cleaning with harmful chemicals without wearing a mask. (type…wipe my nose)

I live in the Midwest. We have four seasons. I know this, so why do I act like it comes as a complete shock sometimes? I mean…I am a living creature…right? Shouldn’t I instinctively be prepared? Birds and Blue hairs go to great lengths (pun intended) to get ready for the cold months. Amphibians leave their winter homes where they migrate in pools for mating in the Spring. Leaves change their colors in the Fall...

Anyway, so there are the things I need to consider prior to the changes of each season and I sharing them with you:

WINTER – Stay in shape. I try to do more exercises that promote flexibility and movement. Wintertime is when I used to have severe aches and pains. When I incorporated yoga, more weight training and stretching during the winter the pain subsided. Hot baths are also good for the body during this time of year.

SPRING – Spring cleaning. I love Spring, and get anxious to open up the house and get things clean. The problem is, I have seasonal outdoor allergies, and I am highly sensitive to chemicals. Cleaning with chemicals, coupled with the fact that just about all the lawns outside in my neighborhood are treated with chemicals, is a recipe for an infection. I have to remember to purchase a heavy duty painter’s mask and use safe cleaning solutions during my cleaning craze. (OK, so maybe it is not an animal’s natural instinct to avoid harmful man-made chemicals…I don’t think God intended us to go around wearing masks…but sigh, this is the world we live in today). I don't care if they make me look like a crazed lunatic...

SUMMER – Get some vitamin D. This is our opportunity to “naturally” get something that most autoimmunees are deficient in. However, don’t overdo it, I know for me, I can get extremely ill if I am exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time.

FALL–Fall is so pretty. I love the outdoors during this time, but I must realize the prevalent mold spores are my “kryptonite.” This is when I need to break out the heavy artillery! Fruits and Veggies. I must admit, sometimes I get too busy to prepare healthy fruits and veggies, but during the fall, I make it a point to consume more green!

Scientific studies have shown that seasonal changes can definitely shock and tax the immune system. Reading all of that scientific mumbo jumbo would certainly fall on deaf ears, because I listen to what my body says, and it tells me to eat healthy, avoid chemicals, take vitamins and stay in shape. All this will no doubt put a spring in my step.

Crazy Thyroid Lady

Blood Work - Mission Impossible

Have you ever noticed when getting blood drawn at a lab or a doctor’s office, the entire process is like a Tom Cruise/Mission Impossible-type event? What is the reason for the serious stealth?

Here is how it goes…

Already knowing what lies ahead, timidly you arrive. They usher you into a room, where you must rest into a deceitful seat reminiscent of an amusement park ride. Next, the bloodletting bandit, with an interrogative tone, confirms your date of birth and name, which you must spell out for them.

Then, they are all like, “Put your eyes in this retinal scanner”… Just kidding--I always wanted to use a retinal scanner; they really should use a retinal scanner…WHY AREN’T THEY USING RETINAL SCANNERS!!

Anyway, the “technician” sticks the long, sharp blade in your arm expelling those pumping platelets keeping you alive.

Afterwards, they place your precious life force in those cheap fifty cent vials. The number of vials needed depends on the amount of codes marked by the doctor on that top secret, cryptic, lab request form.

Meanwhile, CIA operatives in Langley, Virginia are the recipients of your blood and the clandestine lab order with those codes. These codes can only be deciphered after many years of operative training. They must know ICD-9 codes, diagnosis codes, CPT codes, Morse code and all the Xbox 360 cheat codes. At least this is what I believe, because when I view my own lab order, I haven’t a clue-- am I being tested for my thyroid disorder or to somehow help me with Call of Duty?

The key part of this whole covert operation is when it’s over; you are then given a band-aid, which contains a fluid that seeps subcutaneously causing the reluctant donor to become passive. This passive state is needed for a very important purpose. Why? Because the reason you went to get blood drawn in the first place was because, you were experiencing the following:

Chronic fatigue, migraines, moodiness, anxiety, depression, excessive weight gain, hair loss, blurred vision, joint pain and brain fog…UGH!! This is no way to live!

But, when you call for your results a nurse comes on and says, “Oh yes, let me get your chart,” she comes back on the phone and states quickly, without hesitation …”Everything is normal.” At that moment the passive poison kicks in and you say simply, “OK”…Click, you both hang up.

It is your chronic suffering that brought you to the doctor in the first place. They take your blood, from your arm, it is your results, so for the life of me, I can’t understand the secrecy. Unknown answers filed away in your elusive “chart.” And what about that nurse who gave you your normal blood results, then dismisses you like an insubordinate employee. “Ummm, what about my current symptoms, did you think I was making it up.” It does not seem to matter to them though…as long as “Mission Is Accomplished!”

Crazy Thyroid Lady

My first post as the Crazy Thyroid Lady. Boy have I come a long way since then. I don't have the same fluctuations as I did before. Changed doc, diet and disposition. Came to the understanding that I had to take more control of my health. And of course, I still strive for CRAZY Conserving Restoring Adding Zest IN You Keep going CRAZY, my thyroid family.






Why do Md's ignore a thyroid disease sufferer’s body fluctuations? We can travel from hypo to hyper with regularity, on or off medications. These swings cannot be good for us both mentally and physically. It is very rare that I am in the "normal" range. I am talking MY normal, not the normal someone made up, which is supposed to encompass all of mankind on the planet.

I think, blood work should occur as often as a diabetic patient. If we are feeling bad…prick us? Seriously…if we did this, I believe we would live in a kinder, gentler nation.

I have been struggling with thyroid problems for more than 10 years. I have my body fluctuations down to a science, for example, see below:

The following scenario illustrates me checking out at the grocery store and the store clerk asks me an innocent question – “Do you want your receipt with you or in the bag.” These are my thoughts depending on my thyroid levels.

Me – Hypothyroid - “You can put it in the bag.” ….Sigh...Whatever, I don’t care, I shouldn't’t even be in here spending this money. I am one paycheck away from sleeping in gutters with the rest of the homeless people. Maybe you should give the receipt to me; I may have to use it as toilet paper when I am a hobo living on the streets.


Me- Normal thyroid levels – “You can put it in the bag.”…Awww look at her pretty smile, I bet she brightens a lot of customer’s days when they come in here.


Me- Hyperthyroid – “You can put it in the bag.”…Take this receipt and shove it up your ass, what kind of stupid question is that?


If these are my thoughts, can you imagine what my attitude must be like during these thyroid swings?

COME ON THYROID SUFFERERS WE MUST GET THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO TRY TO KEEP US NORMAL!!!!

Don't forget to get your copy of my thyroid book, Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy. Buy it on Amazon today.