SICK DURING A CHRONIC ILLNESS

My immune system and I were once close allies…Then all hell broke loose. It forged a large-scale attack on my thyroid.  I couldn’t figure out why my body betrayed me until extensive research of my new foe took me to its primary location-in the digestive tract.  I had been feeding it garbage, explaining the tyranny.

Thirty years of consuming junk tarnished our relationship, resulting in numerous viral and bacterial infections.

Some medical professionals don’t believe that having an autoimmune disease can cause a poorly functioning immune system.  I don’t agree with this, they should see my pharmacy bills post this autoimmune anarchy.

In spite of my reconciliation efforts my IS still a little miffed at me, I tend to catch more bugs than the average person but this has lessened immeasurably. At the time of this writing I have a little cold which inspired me to offer sickness tips for those with chronic disease:

What do doctors advise us to do when this happens? Here are the basics:

1.       Get a lot of rest

2.       Drink plenty of fluids

3.       Eat a healthy diet

While these are all excellent recommendations to follow, I believe we need a little more to help us get well.

1.       Don’t get paranoid – Since we’ve experienced a grim diagnosis before, (“You have an incurable autoimmune disease.”) we’ve probably lost our “illness innocence”. As a thyroidian, I am very paranoid and firmly believe this is a symptom of thyroid disease. I have been guilty on more than one occasion, of believing that a simple sinus infection has turned into my last moments on earth.  This is stress we don’t need during our convalescence.  

2.       Don’t get frustrated with the length of time it takes you to heal - An illness can run through our household, my hubby and son can be sick for a few days; meanwhile, I am down for a week or more. Having to spend more time and work much harder to be well used to cause me so much frustration.  Frustration can lead to stress and this can lead to depression and anxiety all these things exacerbate an illness. I’ve had to remember I have a body with a chronic illness and in healing mode.  I must be a patient, patient. If it takes a week to get better than I will continue to rest a week.  Your timetable of healing may not be the same as someone else’s’ so  keep that in mind

3.       “Eat a healthy diet” – Is a very vague statement. It’s best to consume only organic foods, not processed foods stay away from sugar, alcohol. DO NOT OVER EAT or eat a big meal before bed.  Don’t do anything that will tax where the majority of your immune system is housed. Autoimmunees, don’t make your immune system madder than it already is.

  

After several years of peace talks (eating healthier, taking supplements), I think my tract is heading down the right track. I’m not 100% and don’t know if I will ever get there, the damage may be irreparable… but each day I feel myself getting better, stronger.  My IS and I are now on good speaking terms.

Crazy Thyroid Lady

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

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