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

THYROID DISEASE DIAGNOSIS - MORE THAN 10 YEARS LATER

I must admit, I have come a long way from being clueless and confused to cognizant and competent, since my autoimmune-thyroid-disease diagnosis more than ten years ago. My approach to taking on this disease has evolved over the years.

Through my thyroid autoimmune disease struggle, here are four things I have learned:

1.      It is MY body and I have to live in it –Finally, I realized no more putting up with doctors who are excessively conventional and lackadaisical in their approach of helping me with my healthcare. I also came to the realization that I should not have to apologize to anyone for not feeling well enough to do the things I could do previously...I cannot help you move, probably won’t be able to babysit your three toddlers all day, Hubby and son, you have to fend for yourself for dinner, Umm…I’m gonna say “no” to the all night kegger.

 

2.      Living a healthier lifestyle– A mal-functioning, diseased body needs extra care.  This only makes sense, but I have to tell you, I went along with this truth kicking and screaming. Don’t get me wrong, I did not completely make poor health choices, before diagnosis. I exercised regularly, but I never paid attention to how much gut health plays a MASSIVE role in healing and regulating the body. Some of my favorite foods (yet not fit for human consumption) processed meats, Gummy bears, funnel cakes, most of the items at McDonalds…had to bid them a not so fond farewell. And now I feel great!...(OK, I still eat gummy bears from time to time)

 

3.      Kept educating myself– So little is known about autoimmune diseases, and so few seem to know about the thyroid as well. It dawned on me one day…Hey, I need to figure a lot of this out myself, by listening to my body, instead of putting all my stock into a medical professional who may not grasp the full understanding of autoimmune thyroid healing. I was asking them questions they couldn’t answer. It took me awhile to realize the “answers” I was getting were actually “non-answers” (I think they thought I wouldn’t notice).

 

And, finally, one thing that’s remained the same over the last ten years is my ability to Go Crazy!

Conserve

Restore

Adding

Zest

In

You

Go crazy my thyroid family

JUDY KIRBY - CONVICTED OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER - DEFENSE SAID BECAUSE OF A MISMANAGED THYROID



Judy Kirby pictured here, at her arrest. She ultimately received a 215 year prison sentence.

This may not seem thyroid related, but it is…If you have read my first book, you know that I briefly mentioned the story of Judy Kirby. To my knowledge she is the first person ever charged and convicted of 1^st degree intentional murder with the defense of a mismanaged thyroid disorder.

Her story is very important to me, because I hear of so many people taking their thyroid care lightly. Some stop taking their medication, some frustratingly leave doctors and won’t find new ones; others say they take it “when they remember.” It hurts my heart to hear these things because I know the intricacies of Judy Kirby’s story so well, as I have spent the last three years talking to her just about every week, sometimes multiple times a week. The consequences of not taking care of your thyroid disease can be detrimental.   She is fine now because she is forced to get adequate treatment from her prison doctor (there are consequences if a prisoner will not take their medications or takes them improperly).

As I began to delve into this project, I realized that continued efforts into writing this book is going to take funds. Funds for… interviews, (police officers, lawyers, jurors) court documents, police documents, travel, etc…I won’t give up! This story is too compelling, with many elements not reported in the media.

So, to make a long story short, I believe I may have found a way to raise money so that I can get her important story out. I have a children’s book that I had written a long time ago, but never did anything with it, it stayed on my shelf getting dusty. I figured this would be an easier way to raise money AND self-publish a book that has always been near and dear to my heart.

Please donate and share if you can. If my goal is not reached, the money that you’ve donated will go directly back to you. Kickstarter does not get the money. They receive a small percentage, only if I reach my goal.

Thanks so much in advance.

Carol

P.S. Judy's book will be called Sentenced for Sickness, 215 years, The Judy Kirby Story.

Here is the link, to donate money to Why Did God Give, children's book.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1989757961/why-did-god-give

Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy - TV Inteview

 

If you haven't seen it yet, here is last year's interview of me talking about my thyroid book. The host butchered the title in my introduction, which messed me up in the beginning. LOL 

 

 

VENTING IS GOOD, LET IT OUT

Venting vs. Complaining

Venting is releasing bottled up frustrations

Complaining is releasing repeatedly, over and over again. A complainer’s issue is not bottled, it’s not sealed…it is not even loosely fastened. Complainers will unload 24/7. This is fine…if you have someone who will listen and be OK with the endless complaining. If so, you are lucky (I guess)

However, some are genuinely bottling up their emotional or physical problems stemming from their thyroid related illness. They have no one to turn to, no one who truly understands. Because, the thyroid affects so much, coupled with the fact that many health care professionals don’t even know how or where to begin to deal with us… this is frustrating to say the least.

I just had a random person email me this week, because a friend of a friend told her to contact me on Facebook. This person is having severe emotional problems because of her thyroid disease and has trouble expressing herself.

Last year, I talked to a woman on a plane who had a thyroid disorder. She had Radioactive Iodine Ablation or RAI, so I asked her, why did her doctor prescribe RAI, what was her diagnosis? She said her doctor did not make her diagnosis clear or give her a reason why…He just told her she needed RAI. She went on to say, she has had nothing but trouble ever since and didn’t know what to do…this sickened me. Needless to say, we talked the entire flight (my poor husband).

My point is, I know there are people who want to get their concerns off their chest and sometimes releasing what has been bottled up for so long, especially to someone who completely understands, can be very therapeutic. Releasing any type of stress, albeit big or small is always a step in the right direction in the healing process.

So, drop me a line, my email address is crazythyroidlady@gmail.com, vent away, release, let it go…It may seem like you are all alone, but you are not.

Love

CTL

 

 

 

 

THYROETRY - VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL

This poem is dedicated to my hubby, love you honey!

Roses are red.

My thyroid is pink.

But it is not working.

That sure does stink.

Sending a shout out to my special Valentine.

Please understand I must be in bed by nine.

No wine, no chocolate…too many calories.

The weight will stay on for several centuries.

I love you my hubby, thanks for putting up with me.

Yours truly, The Crazy Thyroid Lady.

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

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.