CHECK IT OUT

Hello fellow Thyroidians!

My lifelong dream was to write a book, and now, after a year working on a topic so close to me (and you) it is now a reality!

My book Wow your Mom Really is Crazy was released on October 17th, and is now available in hardback, paperback, and Kindle at this link: Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy


I really want to thank all of you who have purchased the book, and recommended it to others. I can't begin to tell you how thrilled (and humbled) I am by the response I have received thus far.

My goal in writing the book has always been to help others struggling with any autoimmune disease, and I encourage all the feedback you can give me.

Here are some of the comments I have received to date:

Maria said: Reading your book! Make me laugh and cry. You have totally described my experience with Graves. Thank you!

Aly said: I bought the Kindle version and started reading it... loved it so much after just a few chapters I went to Amazon and bought the paperback for my family! It's so difficult to educate ourselves and our family when most books about this disease are boring and dry. Thank you so much for writing a book people will actually enjoy reading about a subject that isn't so fun!

Michelle said: I LOVE your four Ps.

Helena said: I have to add, I finished the book last night! And yes, despite my lack of concentration I enjoyed it so much I stuck with it and the next thing I'd finished - so it must be good! I particularly related to the alcohol bit, which I've realised I have been doing more and more so it was amazing to get an answer to that as I realised that was exactly what I was doing. There were so many bits I was like, ooooh yes, that’s me too. I thought I was going crazy but after reading this feel like a new person and am much more relaxed about things! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Keep up the good work! :-)

Amy said: Started reading your book! Found myself laughing out loud because I can relate to many of your experiences. I can laugh now because now I know I am not going insane! A few years ago I was not so sure! Thanks for sharing your story!
Anonymous (from the UK) said: This IS the book for anyone suffering from autoimmune disorders. I laughed, cried, and really found myself connecting with the author... She does a great job of using blending humor with real life situations, and has plenty of what I found to be very useful tips. This is NOT a book just filled with data and boring medical jargon about thyroid and autoimmune information. This is a self- help book that journals the authors plight into a 10 year search for answers. The information is well documented, but it was the humor and personal touch I enjoyed most. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has, or knows someone suffering from these types of illnesses. I was informed, motivated, inspired, and totally ENTERTAINED while reading this quickly paced book!

Gina said: Just got your book on my Kindle, literally 3 mins ago. So far, great job!!!!! I'm laughing and sympathizing with everything, I haven't laughed so hard in awhile GREAT WORK

New York Times said: Imaginative, Captivating, Brilliant…, tee hee Just Kidding (a girl can dream)

PS: I have my first interview with a local newspaper on Monday. Doing my best to spread thyroid disease awareness as best I can. Love you!

Crazy Thyroid Lady

Oh and PPS if you’ve read and liked the book please do me a fav and leave a review on Amazon. Reviews on Amazon are really really important. Thanks

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

THE EYES HAVE IT

William Shakespeare said, “The eyes are the window to the soul”…

If someone were to peak into my eyes, they would see a soul wearing boxing gloves punching the heck out of my thyroid disease.

I have spent many years trying to figure out this cryptic disease and its' devastating affects on so many body parts.

Remembering back to when I was first diagnosed, my doctor described the symptoms I could experience. Talking in her usual Speedy Gonzalez manner, her prognosis was difficult to follow, until she got to the part about my eyes…MY EYES???...did you say my eyes?

That was scary!

It's difficult to remain calm when there is a possibility of any eye deterioration, but we must do so because undue stress has no place in an autoimmunees life. Staying hyper vigilant (sans paranoia) is the best thing for us, when it comes to our bodies.

Eye problems can be common for those suffering from thyroid disease, other endocrine disorders or autoimmune diseases-such as Addison’s, Graves’, Sjogren’s syndrome and Diabetes…just to name a few.

Some common eye problems associated with the aforementioned afflictions are:

Dry Eyes–A decrease in tear production.

Eye Twitching–Twitching or spasms around the eyes.

Floaters–Small moving spots that appear in your field of vision.

Continuous eye watering–Primarily a symptom of hyperthyroidism.

Snow Vision–People see snow or television like static in parts or in their entire field of vision.

Blurry Vision–Lack of sharpness, inability to see fine detail.

Double Vision–Seeing two of everything.
Double Vision–Seeing two of everything.

(hahhahahaha, I couldn't resist)

Puffy eyes-Usually associated with hypothyroidism.

I know it can be a hassle, if you are like me thinking…”Ugh, I don’t feel like going to another doctor for incessant check-ups, but we have to keep kicking our illness' butt!

Now go my fellow thyroidians…put YOUR boxing gloves on and keep fighting!

The Crazy Thyroid Lady

INSOMNIA…NOOOOOOO – SLEEP-YEEESSSSSSS

How much sleep do you get?

Not getting enough sleep isn’t good.Requiring too much sleep can be just as bad…either way something could be wrong with your health.

Sleep has ALWAYS been one of my favorite pastimes,as a teen, I had turned snoozing into a hobby until my parents intervened. Tracing back to the origin of my illness, I probably had intermittent bouts of thyroid issues in my teens, twenties and early thirties. I would get so abnormally tired, that surely the sandman had used an anesthetic on me, instead of the harmless pixy dust he used on other folks to aid with their slumber.

But…I was Okay with this…

When that sleepy feeling came over me, I HAD to take a nap…there was no other alternative… I could be at work, school, doctor’s office waiting rooms- and a few times... in a parking garage (not safe, I know). Even after these power naps, I would still have no problem going to sleep at bedtime. Looking back, I am not sure why I accepted this condition, but I just LOVED sleep so much…I wasn’t about to take my concerns to an MD and have them ruin it! I would even have accomplices working for me, for example, I would enlist “lookouts” on my job to tell me if management was coming. They would yell out Hootie Hoo…or something like that…giving me the “heads up” to…well…get my head up.

AND THEN in my late 30’s and into my 40’s I became hyperthyroid…Ughhhhh. For the first time I was introduced to the evil diabolic villain - INSOMNIA.

Now, it’s time to go to the doctor!

After treatment for the hyperthyroid, my bouts of insomnia tapered off, but my anti-hero still came around during “that time of the month" and y’all this was one time too many as far as I was concerned.

So, here are the top 5 things I have done to conquer the evil “I” word:


1. Talked to my gynecologist-My doctor tested my hormones because my insomnia seemed to be associated with my menstrual cycle. Turns out, my hormone levels were way off. We got me back in balance with a bio identical hormone med. I did not want to take prescription sleep aids.

2. Exercise – Working out on a regular basis allows me to sleep longer and deeper. I notice a considerable, "restless" difference with my sleeping patterns when I don’t exercise.

3. Eat a healthy balanced diet and don’t eat right before going to bed-As I get older, munching on hot wings or salty chips as a midnight snack is no longer an option if I want affective sleep and/or have a cheerful disposition the next day.

4. De-stress before bed time-Erase from your thoughts work issues or anything else that will keep your mind racing. Play a game, watch an entertaining television show or read a book. (Keep your mind occupied with something mundane)

5. Hot bath or shower before bed-This makes me sleepy just thinking about it.

Nighty Night my fellow thyroidians, and have pleasant dreams

Crazy Thyroid Lady

RANDOM RAMBLINGS

Hey thyroid family, this week’s blog post has nothing to do with the thyroid, rather, its about the random thoughts meandering in my head, pretty much on a full time basis...

Hmmmm…the more I think about this…perhaps this is a thyroid-related blog post, because never before have I had so many ramblings swirling around than after thyroid disease. It must be be a symptom, like serious attention deficit to the umpteenth degree.

I mean like for real… it’s so annoying…ewwww, what is that?.....What is on my keyboard? Are those crumbs? Who has been typing on my laptop…Tyyyllllerrrr!!! Come here! Have you been on my laptop? (Before he could answer)You, look handsome… How was school today? (Before he could answer again) Did you clean your room?....What should we have for dinner tonight???...Just go clean your room and stop bothering me, I have to write this blog…Sigh, where was I…My joint’s feel a little achy today, I wonder if it will rain…What’s on TV…There’s never anything good on TV…I’m tired, I need a nap….Zzzzzzz

HA! You don't even want to know what I am like at work…

Anyway…where was I…Oh yes, I wanted to talk about my new love: electronic readers. I downloaded a book called The War That Came Home (Yes I am shamelessly plugging my friend’s book, a true story about a wife who had to endure her husband’s post traumatic stress disorder, returning home from two tours overseas in the military). This was my first experience reading an e-book and I love, love, love it!

Thinking about my newfound love, I was driving home from work, trying to figure out why I fancy it so much. I’ve never been much of a reader, but now I want to read everything! My random thoughts began to rationalize this new addiction-I used to hate traditional books because holding them was very difficult. I have freakishly large hands, yet they are delicate and fragile. Therefore holding a paperback for me is similar to Shaquille O’Neal holding an ant and conversely, holding a big hardback book is like lugging around a cylinder block. But, holding my e-book reader is jusssstttttt right!

Then my mind took me to a place of anger, thinking about how my former classmates used to call me E.T. because my fingers were so long. They would tell me to “Go phone home, Carol.” Ugh, sometimes I wish I was able to completely switch off the randomness...

I come close to turning it off when I read…. So, what are you guys reading? Send me a message…I am now looking for some good books.

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.