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

THYROID TeeTeeR ToTTer

I’ve swayed back and forth on the thyroid see-saw, for many many years now. Hyper/Hypo/Hyper/Hypo…Shooo, I’m dizzy! But, one good thing has come out of this recreation; I am sooo in tune with my body.

For example:

FOOD

Hypo-Don’t have much of an appetite, during this time. Digesting food is a sloowwww process! I believe Thanksgiving’s turkey dinner is still in there (sorry, that was gross). This is what’s frustrating about hypo, you are eating the least amount of food in a group setting, yet may be the only one who will visibly wear those calories in a day or two.

Hyper-Can’t seem to get enough to eat. I try to stay away from the grocery stores during this time. I want sugar, sugar and more sugar. I supremely crave a Dairy Queen Waffle bowl, (dipped in chocolate) ice cream sundae. What is crazy is that ordinarily, I don’t care for ice cream much. I seriously can’t have sugar near me, or else it is just not a fair fight.

SKIN

Hyper-My nails begin growing out of control. This is usually the first thing I notice when I am getting to much thyroid medication because I type on a keyboard for a living. Clickety-clacking nails on a keyboard are worse than nails on a chalkboard in my opinion. My skin is as smooth as a baby, this is one big plus for hyper.

Hypo-Skin becomes sandpaper-like. I can douse my skin in baby oil, yet, still take off a layer of paint with my forearm.

EYES

Hyper-Watery eyes and snow vision (snow vision is - visual symptom where people see snow or television-like static in parts or the whole of their visual fields, especially against dark backgrounds. It is much like camera noise in low light conditions). My eyes also look like I am on crack-cocaine-very wide eyed.

Hypo–Eyes are fine, but just a little dry.

NEURO

Hyper–Bad mood, irritable, jump sky high in the air if someone comes up behind me. My nerves are shot. No patience. Caustic tongue.

Hypo-Much more pleasant to be around. Don’t have the caustic speech because my brain cannot think fast enough to keep up with most conversations.

**Too Hyper–Weepy, hateful and just a monster that the Boogey man would be afraid to pal around with.

**Too Hypo–Apathy. Don’t care much for anything really. Beyond depression. The actual Boogey man could jump out from my closet with a hatchet and I probably would not blink.

OTHER

Hyper-Constant foot tapping, Fatigue, joint pain, muscle weakness.
Hypo-Fatigue, forgetfulness

Consequently, the next time I visit my Endo, GP, Gyno, Cardio, Chiro, Ortho, ENT and Ophthalmologist with any new concerns. I will tell them to please understand something, don’t dismiss me because...

I KNOW MY BODY!

I want to hear from you! What have you noticed when you seem to be getting too much or not enough thyroid hormone?

Crazy Thyroid Lady

MODERN MEDICINE

We can’t deny modern medicine has come a long way. However, many of us thyroid sufferers would say, “Not far enough!”

With that in mind, I’ve compiled some wacky treatments given to ailing patients by medical “professionals” throughout history, proving to you that there is light at the end of our struggle.

Common Cold

**In the early modern period cold sufferers were told not to bathe as it was believed that getting wet would worsen cold symptoms. (Ever heard of staying out of the rain if you have a cold) Also, in some European countries during this time, they believed forcing a cold sufferer to vomit was a good remedy to rid the body of the excess phlegm.

Wounds/Infected Areas

**The practice of leeching goes back to more than 2000 years ago and was used for the purpose of bloodletting. It was believed these parasitical worms could drink excess or “bad blood” in order to put the body back into balance, making the patient well again.
Leeching has made a comeback! MD’s are using them during certain surgical procedures, and not just any ol’ leech will do…nowadays, these medicinal bloodsuckers are bred specifically for therapeutic use. EEEEWWW to creepy crawlies!

Cataracts

**A technique called couching was used on cataract patients, a process whereby a curved needle is used to force the phlegm covering the eye through the nasal passages, so the patient could blow it out. The eye or eyes would then be covered with butter and bandaged. It is said that this practice is still going on in some parts of Africa; it is not a recommended treatment however, as it can cause blindness, and in some cases vision is only partially restored.

Headache

**Sixth century medieval Persian MD’s would shave the heads of their patients and then place a certain plant and vinegar mixture on their heads. Can you imagine how many shaved heads we would see walking around if this were the headache cure today?

Psychological Disorders

**In the late 19th century to early 20th century, lobotomies were performed to treat severe psychological disorders. A lobotomy is a surgical procedure where an incision is made in the brain to sever certain nerve tracts in the prefrontal cortex. Some who had undergone this procedure were left permanently impaired thus it gained a lot of controversy.

Female Abnormalities

**During a recent exam, my new gynecologist, who is about 100 years old (I think), explained to me that I have a retroverted uterus. He said in medical school he was taught that women who had this condition would never be able to have children. I aslo remember being told this many many years ago by another Gyno when I was a teenager. Luckily, I was one of those rebellious teens and did not believe it! My husband and I had a wonderfully healthy baby boy and conceived him on our very first try fourteen years ago.

Thyroid Disorders

**I may be making a strong statement here, but I believe the current standard treatments for thyroid patients aren’t too far off from those aforementioned wacky medical treatments... in particular, Radioactive Iodine treatment. This God-given gland is much too important to be destroyed. Finding ways to heal the thyroid without removing or damaging it, is what I hope and pray will happen in the future. Oh, how I can’t wait for the day to be able to write that blog post!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

CRAZY THYROID LADY

FIVE WAYS TO AVOID THE WORK WeaK

I work outside of the home five days a week. If you include my commute, I could easily be in “work mode” more than ten hours each day. If I don’t use those ten hours wisely, then by Friday-after work, I’m in bed faster than you can say “It’s the weekend!”

Seriously, I am just one big blur from my office door to my mattress at home. Some people spend Friday evening rockin’ to music during happy hour at their local pub, for me, if it has been a stressful, crazy week it’s rockabye baby!

I don’t want it to be like this! The weekends are supposed to be reserved for family, friends, fun and frolic.

To avoid coming down with my case of the “Fridays” I’ve come up with some ways to avoid this, and decided to pass it along to my thyroid family.

1. GO TO BED AT A DECENT TIME EACH NIGHT-I have found after contracting a thyroid disorder, I require more sleep. Therefore, I make sure I catch the right amount of zzzzz’s each night. To ensure a quality night’s sleep it is important to get exercise, eat a proper diet (not eating close to bedtime) and try to go to bed around the same time each night.

2. TIME MANAGEMENT-Create a daily “to do” list. This is a must for me, can’t rely on my memory anymore to get things done, sadly…those days are over. Plus, forgetting some important daily chores can cause unnecessary stress and stress can prevent a good night’s sleep.

3. WHY SO SERIOUS? – Chill out! You don’t have to be the office buffoon by putting fish in the water cooler or super gluing everything to the boss’s desk (this is not an admission of guilt in anyway) however, being way too serious all the time can cause an excess of worry, anxiety and depression. Those three things can lead to poor decision making.

4. TAKE A FEW MINI BREAKS-My workload is so large that taking too many breaks throughout the day would cause me an insurmountable amount of stress. I have to be careful not step away too many times, but at the same time, it is important to take a breather every once in a while.

5. AVOID THE COMPANY EMOTIONAL VAMPIRE-I know you have one! They lurk in every office. It gives these people great pleasure to see you in distress and they make it their mission to try to find ways to suck more of the life out of you. The best way to slay this person is to NOT let them get to you. Easier said than done, I know (especially if this is management) but the sooner you show this person that your “blood” is not available, they will seek out another victim.

There you have it!! It’s only five days but it can seem like a month if those days are filled with stress and monotony.

Make the most out of the week and create a STRONG Friday finish!

Love ya

Crazy Thyroid Lady!

BUT, I HAVE A DOCTOR'S NOTE...

Hey my thyroid brothers and sisters, I hope you had an awesome week. The mental exercising I did last week allowed me to come up with the most brilliant idea! I am going to give my Endo, pre-filled doctor’s notes for her to sign. These notes will be used at my discretion should I feel the need to be excused from work-related events that may be too taxing, frustrating or…stuff, I pretty much don’t want to do. Using my wonky thyroid as an excuse of course.

So here they are:

Note # 1
Please excuse Carol from the company picnic. With her low TSH in conjunction with her PMSing, she cannot stand the sight of every living creature (big or small) on the planet and would probably ruin the entire employee-bonding event.

Note # 2
Please excuse Carol from the “mandatory” all-day board meeting. With her high TSH, she won’t be able to comprehend anything anyway. But, do allow her come in for the complimentary lunch that’s being served. Permit her to obtain her portion, then excuse her from the meeting. The free food and not having to hear the monotone ramblings will help keep her stress level down.

Note # 3
Carol is exempt from having to remember, change/update any secure passwords.

Note # 4
Please excuse Carol from signing up to bring or cook anything for the company pitch-in. She will expend energy that she does not have making the dish, and will accidentally leave it sitting on the kitchen counter. This will cause her unnecessary stress, thus triggering an unproductive work day.

Note # 5
To all Managers, Department Heads and Executives – IMPORTANT Unfortunately, today (insert date here) you are dealing with a “valued” employee whose TSH level is a bit off. She also has a sinus infection causing her to have a poor night’s sleep. Since Carol is saving her vacation days for an upcoming (much needed) vacation, she is being the dutiful team-member that she is and reporting to work anyway. However, I must caution you…she can’t function! Please prop her up in a chair somewhere for the next 8 hours, wherever appropriate. Thank You.

Signed_________________________________________

I am so excited about these notes. I am going to take them to my Endo for her John Hancock on Monday. I just know it will work! I‘m pretty much a genius!


By the way, how did you do on the 10 servings of fruits and veggies last week? I know me too…It’s hard isn’t it? Follow me on Twitter or Facebook and I will try to remember to post a fruit or veggie recipe once a week. Maybe that will help give you ideas, or at least as a reminder for us to eat more good stuff.




Have a great week

Crazy Thyroid Lady

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

EXERCISE!

EXERCISE! This word is not foreign to the thyroid sufferer I’m sure, especially for those on the Hypo-side.

“Just exercise” That’s¬all we need to do right? Well, the Crazy Thyroid Lady says that is what you need to do-Exercise!

Exercise your brain that is…cognitive calisthenics is what us thyroidians need because our brains can be affected by thyroid disorders…Why? I have absolutely no idea…and I am convinced my Endo doesn’t know either because when I ask her, “Why my cognitive abilities have diminished since obtaining a thyroid disease?” She does some tricky word-wrangling to make me forget what I was even asking her about. Similar to when my son, at eight-years old asked me what erectile dysfunction meant…darn television commercials.

I am really no match for my Endo and she knows it. It’s just not a fair fight, I am tired of her kicking sand in my face! And so, since I can’t get a clear explanation from my Endo, I’ve decided to do my own research. Then, maybe, if I can get my brain working right again, I can show my Endo a thing or two.

After researching, here’s what I came up with–Why the brain goes wonky, in the only way the Crazy Thyroid Lady can explain.

The thyroid has many jobs, but the main ones are WIFE and MOTHER

WIFE –The wife (the thyroid) is to send the right messages to the husband (who is the brain…ugh it is so difficult for me to say that, but this is for illustration purposes only). If the husband and wife are NOT communicating back and forth properly, there will be a breakdown in the relationship. – The thyroid and brain communicate with one another.

MOTHER-It is a mother’s (thyroid) job to teach and to pass on to the child (who is the brain in this example, and let me tell you my little man is definitely the brains in our household) good manners, discipline, morals, values and love. If your child doesn’t receive a good upbringing they will have trouble functioning. – The thyroid’s job is to send nutrients to the brain.

So there you have it…Now…ALL RIGHT YOU MAGGOTS!! DROP AND GIVE ME 10
This is your challenge for the week, try to do ten mental muscle repetitions for example, 10 crosswords, Sudoku, brain teasers or try to read something complicated, something out of your comfort zone.

PLUS – Try to incorporate 10 servings or more of fruits and veggies a day

Do I do any of this?...NO, but I’m gonna start. I have to face my nemesis three months from now (my next Endo’s appt) better equipped to go the distance with her…da da dum, da da dum d’da d’da da da da dum da dum (Rocky music)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I want to say a super gigantic thank you to all those who left comments on this website as well as facebook. I firmly believe there is great power in sharing your experiences with others. I received many private messages from folks telling me they were thankful for these stories because it helped them to realize they weren't alone in their struggles.

It wasn’t until I read someone else’s story several years ago on the internet, did I realize I wasn’t imagining what was happening to me. A person can only get a certain amount of strange looks from doctors...then you begin to wonder about yourself.

My thyroid brothers and sisters keep speaking out, demanding results, creating awareness and if you need a shoulder, the Crazy Thyroid Lady is always here for you. Twitter me, facebook me, email me…just don’t come over my house, though because it is usually a mess.

What? I’m too tired to clean it!