NEW DIAGNOSIS - WHAT YOU MAY HEAR REPEATEDLY

It’s a New Year, so typically it’s customary for the resolutioners to start this and quit that.

But, for those of us who are seasoned autoimmunees and thyroid sufferers, our resolution…err um…perhaps… focus…is a better word, centers around our health.

With my health in the forefront of my mind every year, I have made huge strides in getting back to normalcy and in some cases exceeding my expectations…However, I do still have problem areas that I continue to work on with much effort (my eyes, skin and weight) Ah yes, the thyroid affects so much!

But enough about me, since this is a New Year, I want this blog post to center around those who just received a new diagnosis and who is beginning their journey of wellness in 2014.

To help you on your journey as a newbie, I want to highlight things that you will repeatedly hear from others:

1. “But you don’t look sick” Or “You look fine to me” OR “Are you sure you don’t feel like doing anything?” - Hearing this, can be frustrating at times, but try not to let it bother you…even though, you want to shout out to the world “YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!” Undue stress, is the absolute one thing you don’t need in your life right now. Stress will slow down your healing process for sure. Plus, it’s not their fault, they don’t have your affliction and don’t know what you are enduring…AND since you wouldn’t wish this on your worst enemy, I’m sure you wouldn’t want them to know what your illness actually feels like…right?...right? Hmmm, I can’t really hear you…

2. “It’s not thyroid related, that’s what happens when you get older” – How do you combat this? Well, unless you are Benjamin Button, you are, in fact, always getting older. Sigh…So, just know this is the stock answer you will receive from many healthcare providers who have no idea and are without any solutions to your symptoms. If you get this answer, quickly MOVE ON, to another provider, don’t waste your time. You aren’t supposed to completely fall apart during the aging process, I was given this silly answer by a doctor in my thirties.


3. “Do your own research”– You will hear this advice from others who have the disease. Most MD’s aren’t too keen on you doing research as they want you only to listen to THEIR suggestions about YOUR body. If you have an unyielding doctor who refuses to work collaboratively regarding your health…again, move on. I can’t stress this enough. When I first heard someone say that their healing began when they started doing their own research, they didn’t necessarily get hung up on their disease, but concentrated more so on what the thyroid controls. This is excellent advice because it causes one to focus on wellness instead of the sickness. Our disease is primarily what traditional doctors focus on. I wanted to focus on what a well thyroid does and work towards this functionality with fixing depletions, through diet and balancing hormone levels. THIS IS A LOT OF WORK, but worth it.

I raise my glass of healthy H20 and propose a toast, to my thyroid family new and old, may 2014 bring you much health, healing and happiness.

CTL

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

IT'S HERE

WOW YOUR MOM REALLY IS CRAZY is now available.

It has always been my dream to write a book, but lack of confidence held me back. I am a testament to the saying “adversity brings out the best in people” because after my father’s death last year-something within me said…”I have to do this.” He has been my guardian angel, my muse and my strength. I could not have finished this book without both my father’s in heaven (little f and big F)

What to expect from Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy?



I am not a doctor nor do I have any sort clinical credentials after my name. But I am an expert thyroid sufferer. That’s right! I can suffer like no body’s business. So much so that I totally forgot what it was like to be a well person. This angered me. I was too young to feel as sick as I did. So I fought to feel better and in my book, I will reveal what I have placed in my thyroid illness assassin’s arsenal.

The thyroid controls just about every cell in the body. Let me say this again…the thyroid controls just about every cell in the body…EVERY CELL! When this realization finally hit me, I thought to myself “Why in the HECK did I think one or two little prescription pills would do the job in replacing that powerful endocrine gland God gave me. It is going to take EXTRA work to feel better. Even though I was lead to believe by my Endo that the script would do the trick…I should’ve known. If it is too good to be true, it usually is…

Now don’t get me wrong there are a few who are the exceptions to the rule, they may be doing outstanding with just their thyroid medication-Poof! They went back to normal, after their thyroid bumpy medical adventure. I didn’t…and perhaps it could be because my thyroid condition was accompanied with an autoimmune disease.

Anyway, I am OK with the long road to feeling much, much better because it led me to meet all of you. And I want to get to know more of you…In my book, I have included an email address, to contact me if you have questions, comments or just want to vent about being a fellow thyroidan.

In addition to my contact info, the book also provides:

**Stress coping tips.
**How to deal with friends and family who don’t understand our plight.
**How to find easy, creative and cost effective ways to eat nutritionally.
**I serendipitously discovered what can happen to an unhealthy, diseased body– this find has completely changed the way I feel. I feel so much better and I share this infomation in my book.
**Humor.
**A sneak peek into a fellow thyroid sufferer- the infamous Judy Kirby’s story.
**Oh and how to really GO CRAZY.

Click on the links below to get YOUR copy

- Ebook


- Paper Back or Hard Cover


Crazy Thyroid Lady

TO GLUTEN OR NOT TO GLUTEN?

TO GLUTEN OR NOT TO GLUTEN?

This is the food-related question of the decade it seems…

A better question might be; just why have we been asking that question over the past several years? Why is it such an issue now? Cuz, I’m pretty sure my parents and their parents didn’t chew over that six-letter word back in the day.

Ahhhh…What it must have been like to enjoy food without thinking about what you were eating…I bet those were the good ol’days.

OK, since we are asking questions...What is gluten?

Gluten is a simple protein found in wheat, barley and rye, for example pasta, bread, pizza, cookies, cakes, etc. (Please note, the foods mentioned above are now made available in many gluten free varieties).

The various conditions/diseases associated with gluten are:

Celiac or Coeliac’s (Sprue) disease
Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten Intolerance


I was tested for Celiac’s, but the test came back negative, although my doctor said I might be gluten sensitive or intolerant…so I gave up the stuff…well not completely, I would estimate my diet is 80-90 percent gluten-free. And boy could I tell a big difference after changing my diet! If what my body was experiencing while eating gluten was just “intolerance”, God help those poor souls who actually have the disease.

But I get sidetracked…where was I…oh yes…Why does it seem more people are experiencing this aversion to gluten? Many say it is because our current food source containing wheat, barley and rye has been genetically modified with an exorbitant amount of gluten. The food of today seems to be tainted with more gluten than what our bodies can handle...therefore, growing up, our parents lived in an era where they did not have to worry about any possible poisonous proteins. I am not sure if the over glutenous wheat theory is accurate. I am sure however, genetically modified or not, cutting back on my intake of gluten has made a huge improvement in my overall health.

Including the varieties I've already mentioned, FOOD is a pretty big deal to most of us, so, my dear thyroidians the difficult question still remains – To gluten or not to gluten? Good luck on your decision.

Love

The Crazy Thyroid Lady

GO CRAZY!

I call myself the

Crazy Thyroid Lady

because my mother instilled in me the ability to turn the tables on those who bully me. “Don’t let them see they are getting to you”, she would say.

As my disease evolved, I will admit, I wasn’t myself…and thats when the “adult” bullying began.

My family called me crazy, friends looked at me like I was bonkers, co-workers treated me like I was nuts, and doctors…well…doctors did all the above. Except doctors don’t come right out and use the word “crazy”. They say words like “stressed” or “aging”.

For example:

Doctor 1- “This is the fifth time, you’ve been in my office complaining of brain fog, headaches, joint pain and muscle weakness…are you sure you aren’t “stressed?”

Doctor 2- “You are telling me you’ve gained 30 pounds in two months? Hmmmm…Well, that’s what happens when you get older.”

GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRR

My thyroid already does a great job of trying to drive me crazy, I don’t need help from my outside circle of cohorts.

So, I fought back! How? Well...by…going CRAZY! That’s right. In order for me to deal with those around me, who do not in any way, understand invisible illnesses, I’ve had to turn into the crazy thyroid lady. Now,at every opportunity, I must:

Conserve – My energy

Relax and Restore- Try not to blow a gasket or overreact (take deep breathes)

Adding

Zest

In

You (myself)

(I talk more about this concept in my upcoming book Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy)

Labor Day is approaching, so what a great opportunity to remind my sweet thyroidians who try to continue to labor as much, (perhaps more than you did before your illness)…slow down my friends! End those days of being that perpetual multi-tasker, the modern superman, everything to everyone. STOP! Conserve, Relax, Restore, single task, take breaks, breath, laugh – Go Crazy!!!

Crazy Thyroid Lady.

ANY INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED

What’s up thyroid fam? I am biting my nails as my new book ("Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy") is under editorial review with my publisher. To keep my sanity (what’s left of it) as this proccess plays out, I’ve started on my second book "Sentenced for Sickness, 215 Years, the Judy Kirby Story". If you are not familiar with Judy Kirby's story, please see these articles:


INDY STAR ARTICLE -http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/accidents/2000/Ind67/wrongway.html

MARY SHOMAN'S ARTICLE - http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa042401a.htm


I am asking for help. If any of my blog readers know anything about this case, please email me at judykirbyinfo@gmail.com or write to me at P.O. Box 703 Fishers, IN 46038.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Crazy Thyroid Lady.

MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL EDITION

Happy Mother’s day! My hats off to any mom who suffers from a thyroid condition or any chronic illness.

In honor of you, I dedicate this blog. However, it's technically not just for the mommies with illnesses…No, this blog is also for those who have the awesome responsibility to make this a special day for you….Therefore, if you happen to print this blog off and strategically place it where it could be found…say…like… taped to one of the television remote controls…it might definitely be a win, win for everyone.

Top five things a mom with a chronic disease would want for Mother’s day –

5. Spa day/Massage-Chronic disease sufferers can have joint pain from head to toe, so this gift would be wonderful as well as therapeutic. Ahhhhh…Oh OK, where was I…

4. Leave mom alone for the day-Give her one day to herself. Let her have the house! If that's not possible, at least give her a room-to read, watch TV, stare at the wall…whatever.

3. Cook her favorite meal and deliver it to her in bed-Allow mom to rest her sore, tired feet. If she doesn’t trust you in her kitchen, then grab an awesome meal to go, from her favorite restaurant and bring it to her. Whichever idea you chose, don’t forget to clean up the mess!

2. Comfort, comfort, comfort-If you have a wife/mother who would rather “open” something when receiving a gift, then for her, I would go comfortable, like soft jammies or slippers. The more comfy the better.

1. Clean something you know she hates to do-Or something that may be difficult on her body, like scrubbing toilets, bathtubs, windows, mopping floors…,etc…

Having a chronic illness and being mom at the same time is very difficult. You are my hero and you deserve all five of those aforementioned gifts, plus much more. But, as a mom, I am sure you would agree that your baby (s) big or small, is truly the best and most rewarding gift of all.

The Crazy Thyroid Lady

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

MORE THYROETRY- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It is almost the New Year

Thanks so much for having me here

On your computer each week with my blog

About the thyroid…a snippet, a prologue

To the book I am writing for 2012

Coming soon to your E-book shelf

I hope you will like what you read

From the Wild and Crazy Thyroid Lady

Here is a sneak peek at my book intro - Part 1...Look for Part 2 next week

Intro

It is estimated that 50 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s, lupus, etc., (aarda.org, 2011). Fifty million is roughly equivalent to the combined populations of California and Texas! Nearly 12 million Americans have a thyroid disease, Hashimoto, Graves, hypercalcemia, cancer, etc., (Harvard, 2011). I have both a thyroid and autoimmune disease. This is my journey from sanity to psychosis and now at comfortably crazy.

We moved into an upper-middle class neighborhood, filled with stay-at-home moms, green lawns, mischievous children and white-collar dads in their loosened ties. I was never really the kind of person to put on airs, but in this neighborhood, I tried to be a little more reserved. Upgrading from an apartment, to a tiny starter home, to our new place became essential. We had to keep moving into bigger dwellings because my son’s toys were taking over, his stuffed animals alone could populate the jungles of Africa. As we continued to expand, our living space wasn’t the only thing getting bigger: my physical and mental problems were as well.

As with most who suffer from thyroid autoimmune diseases, it can take an average of ten years with various ailments before finally achieving the correct diagnosis. This is because these kinds of diseases bring about many mental and physical conditions, finding it difficult to diagnose. It was during this time of figuring out what was wrong with me that I evolved into a Looney Tunes character, but kept everything behind closed doors of course. My neighbors had no idea. It was like “sucking in my gut” so to speak to the outside world, then letting it all hang out to my husband and son, Lucky them!

So there I was in my big-girl house with my big-girl mortgage trying to appear like I just another suburbanite. I spent time flowering, manicuring, hedging, trimming and watering; yard work is truly a full-time job, especially if perfection is the goal. Other pretentious residential activities included, tossing the ball with the neighborhood kiddos (including the brats) at the appropriate time of day: one half-hour before dinner or an hour after dinner. Waving, smiling those pearly whites to folks I most certainly could not pick out of a criminal line-up if my life depended on it.

“Oh, that’s one of my neighbors…really, are you sure officer?”


***

It was a gorgeous day in the neighborhood, opulent sunshine with the perfect amount of wind. I had all the windows open so I could feel the warm breeze coming into my house, an absolute idyllic Spring Cleaning day. I had achieved perfection on the outside of my home, it was time to clean the inside. The front door lay open to let the warm rays in, though the screen door remained closed to keep the bugs out. While diligently dusting the furniture, I heard his little voice say:


....TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

DON'T FORGET JANUARY IS THYROID DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH, PLEASE FILL OUT THE SURVEY, CLICK ON ONE OF THE THE LINKS IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THIS PAGE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVE YA

FROM THE CRAZY THYROID LADY!

Clothing Line For the Chronically Ill...How 'Bout It?

Quite frankly, on occasion, the thyroid sufferer feels like they’ve been hit by a Mack Truck!

For me, when I am feeling like “road kill” being a fashionista is the last thing on my mind. Getting dressed for work in the morning, I am thinking comfort…and in the fashion world…comfy clothing usually means ugly.

A thyroid disease is an invisible illness that few people know how fatigued you are, or how bad your joints ache. They only see you are dressed like a hot mess (don’t want to generalize, this is my situation…If you feel like crap but are in vogue…go ahead with your bad self, and tell me your secret.)

I would love to look HOT and stylish, BUT, more importantly, I want comfort! Therefore, I am reaching out (pleading) to Calvin, Prada, Chanel, Yves or Tommy… Please give us something comfortable that looks good!

This is what I want:

Clothes

New York’s fashion week occurred several weeks ago, I did not see any outfits for the chronically sick. Ummm…Hello…there are only a gazillion of us in the world! I saw tight-tailored outfits …no loose fitting stuff. I need loose fitting to cater to my crazy weight fluctuations. I need clothing that breathes no spandex please. Hmmm…let me think of an example… You know the outfit you receive when you go to the hospital, like say …before surgery?? What’s it called…oh yeah, a surgical gown. That’s what I want! I want this new clothing line to be called Pre-Op or Post-Op - I’m not picky, whatever rolls off society’s tongue. Would love to see different sizes, shapes, colors, and fabrics...except for maybe burlap, looking like a serf from the dark ages would not be attractive. Oh and don’t worry about not wanting anyone to see your hiney…the Pre-Op “everyday clothing line” will have you covered!








Shoes

My television addiction is The Real Housewives reality shows. Beverly Hills, OC, New Jersey, etc., and I see these women (especially the California gals) walking in Jimmy Choo or Gucci stiletto’s. I give these ladies the same bug-eyed glare and amazement; I would give to circus clowns. I mean stilts are stilts right?? They equally get my admiration! Thyroid gals or guys…I am not discriminating or judging - typically cannot wear this piece of equipment. However, if you are, again, let me know how you are pulling it off. Cuz if I placed those suckers on my feet, I would be in the ER within minutes having them surgically removed. Too much or too little thyroid hormone for me equates to my feet looking like Fred Flintstone by the end of a work day. This thyroid suffering gal‘s choice of footwear must make me feel like I am walking on clouds…not 20 inches above them. Again, it’s all about comfort, which is why you will usually catch me in my slippers. That’s right, when my feet have become Flintstoned; I can be seen wearing slippers at the grocery store, work, heck… anywhere!








Ahhhh…just imagine a clothing line called “Pre-Op”…Here is the commercial tagline:

Long hard day at the office? Just want to go home and relax or go to bed, but you are too tired to get undressed? Now, with the new Pre-Op line, you don’t have to…just climb into bed with whatever you were wearing that day!


Next week’s blog – Corporate BUZZ words – I am convinced they are used to torture thyroid sufferers!

...MAYBE YOU'RE A HYPOCHONDRIAC?

I have been called a hypochondriac by acquaintances, family members, co-workers and friends…like…OMG abazillion times!!! I’ve also heard “Are you sure it is not all in your head, or could it be psychosomatic??

Often times, these are people who barely know me or family members with whom I am not very close. But those who are very close to me and have said this…it really hurts.


After ten years of hearing these folks “ diagnose” me, I FINALLY received a clinical one –An autoimmune disease affecting my thyroid, I wanted to go back to all those people and say SEE…HAHAHA…I TOLD YOU SO!!...YEA!!...oh…umm…wait a minute!?


Anyway, I am not sure why folks are so quick to call a person a freaking Looney Tunes instead of believing there is really something physically wrong with them.

Society loves to SMACK extreme labels on people and it is usually a severe mental health disorder…have you noticed this?? For example:


Someone who:

…Is moody has Dissociated Identity Disorder
…Is the life of the party… is an Alcoholic
…Falls asleep while watching TV is a Narcoleptic
…Is skinny has Anorexia Nervosa
…Frowns has clinical depression
…Frowns on a cloudy day has Seasonal Affective Disorder
…Has a chronic illnesses (diagnosed or undiagnosed) is a Hypochondriac.

Soooooo ridiculous!!!

Do we throw these “buzz” medical terms around just because we can? Just because we’ve heard of them? This reminds me of a small child blurting out an offensive four-lettered word for the first time. The little tot (hopefully) has no idea what they are saying or the meaning behind the word. They just repeat what they’ve heard.

If you look up these terms hypochondriac, dissociated identity disorder, anorexia, etc., they are REAL disorders, but because of their severity, I am pretty sure quick glances and conversations should not bring about a clinical determination. I wouldn’t even want an MD to do this!

If I’ve really got something…test me, poke, me, prod me (the doctor)...not my acquaintances, family members, co-workers, etc.

Also, if a person wants to give THEMSELVES an extreme diagnosis label…that is OK they have the right. If I want to call myself fat, I can. No one else should! (Hubby are you reading this??…You cannot call me FAT!)

Be sensitive to others…think before you give someone your “medical” opinion.

Crazy Thyroid Lady

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

Dawn of a Different Dead





Resident Evil, 28 Days later, The Crazies…these were considered “fiction” movies. But, I know the real story. You see, my friends… zombies are real and they are all around us. They drive, shop, work and operate heavy machinery. They are your everyday average thyroid sufferers.


Real- life zombies 101 – Unlike most zombie movies there are two different types of these horrific creatures – Treated and Untreated.


Medically Treated – These zombies appear when they forget to take their medicine, have extremely high stress levels or heck… with thyroid disease you seriously don’t know when this creature will emerge. Doctors don’t know either. For me, I have honed in on my inner zombie, I call her Zenith and she comes out when it is that time of the month, the aftermath of stress, a drastic diet change or an infection. You can talk to Zenith but she may travel far off into some other time zone, without even moving a muscle. Zenith drives to work but she can’t remember how she got there. Zenith is thinking, “Good morning,” but she may not verbalize it, she may grunt at you instead. Coffee, Red Bull or 5-Hour Energy do not work for Zenith. Zenith just wants to eat flesh (dinner) and go to bed.


Medically Un-treated (Doctors can’t figure out what the heck is wrong with you, despite your pleas for help) – These zombies are scary and resemble what is depicted in the movies. I would stay away from these zombies -between MD’s telling them they are crazy and the daily horrors of thyroid disease they are liable to bite your head off. When I went approximately ten years untreated my inner zombie was the nastiest creature east of the Mississippi. She would snarl, bark and bite. She had bruises all over her body because she ran into walls a lot from clumsiness and poor eyesight. You could find her wandering around in the Wal-Mart parking lot for long periods of time trying to figure out what kind of car she drove there.

Unfortunately, both types walk among us. Zombies are..er...um people too, so give them love and don’t take it personally when they may look through you instead of at you.

ZENITH’S TOP 5 ZOMBIE –LIKE MOMENTS (Treated or untreated)

5. Walking around the grocery store for about an hour not realizing why I came there in the first place.

4. Going with my husband (of nearly 20 years) to a family get together and not remembering half of the names of the people there. I was in my 30’s at the time. (My MD thought it was a good idea to take me off my thyroid medication for six weeks.)

3. Going through an entire week and not being able to recollect what I did during the week. Where I drove, who I talked to, what I did at work, what I cooked for dinner, conversations…etc., This is a serious situation and was pre-diagnosis (THANK GOD!)

2. Sitting at my desk at work for 8 hours…yes that’s right 8 hours doing pretty much nothing but stare at the cubicle, then the computer, then back to the cubicle.


AND THE NUMBER ONE ZOMBIE LIKE MOMENT…DRUM ROLL PLEASE…

1. I signed my son’s permission slip that it was OK for him to keep the classroom “pet rat” after his class was done with their little experiment. So yes, he brought a RAT home because his mommy said it was OK.




What eludes me is how so many MD’s do not understand how a thyroid disorder can wreak this much havoc. The thyroid is bosom buddies with the pituitary gland (in the brain). They are close co-workers. Sooooo doesn’t it make sense one would have mental issues associated with thyroid disease???


Please leave a comment and tell me your number ONE zombie moment…hopefully docs will read this!


Next week’s blog – Hypochondria….hahahahaha, if you are a thyroid disease sufferer, reading that word just ticked you off…hahahahaha…calm down