so this is new and i'm sure not terrifying

Friday, I went in for a perfectly normal check up to make sure I have not become a stimulant-crazed addict. Then there was a blood test, because I'd asked about Some Things That My Body Seems to be Doing Which Are You Know Odd.

So there is apparently something going on with my thyroid, which is--you know, unexpected. I am told by amireal (as you know, I needed someone to panic to and hey, there she was!) I will not die. I am not comforted by the fact, however, that my nurse already called in the prescription. Apparently, there is literature winging its way to my house as we speak.



Granted, I've been feeling off, but this is not new, since two bouts of pneumonia and one of bronchitis in eleven months totally changes otherwise normal people into hypochondriacs. I've cut out all my allergy meds and all diet sodas (that because they make me so sick) and then, oh, let's say about three weeks ago, I noticed my jean size had, well, increased. Like, two sizes. I went shopping back in April. This was December. And I did not embrace a new diet. I mentioned this to the doctor, adn we discussed higher vegetable portions and then there was a blood test and then the insanely cheering (and heavily Czech accented) voice of the nurse saying "Your blood tests are fine! Except for your thyroid!"

*sighs*

(Also, just to show this up right, my son is being referred to a pediatric psychologist, because of the possibility of ADHD. Completely independently, my niece's school sent a letter to my sister to have her evaluated with her doctor, since apparently, she's a totally charming kid with the attention span very much in the range of a fruit fly. I feel like this is some sort of pop trend that will later involve weird coincidences, such as, Niece is left handed, as is Child.

I have no intention of making any sort of sense until I can calmly evaluate how three years ago I was very healthy as of 11/2006, my body is slowly but surely going crazy.)

So. Feel free to tell me a.) not to panic and b.) I am not going to die However. I would like to say that the Is Your Thyroid Healthy Checklist website that I went to stare at in horror kind of looks familiar.



Alternately, Arthur Pendragon is always an acceptable comfort device.

Comments

[thisisbone.livejournal.com]

Don't panic! You're not going to die!

In fact, once your thyroid is regulated, you will probably feel a LOT better! Thyroid plays a hand in everything from skin to hair to eyesight to mood to weight to temperature control. A big load for a little, occasionally iffy gland!

I had half of mine removed in 1993; it took a few months to get the dosage right on the thyroid meds, but I've now been on the same dose for, like, 15 years, and it really did help me feel better.

Thyroid problems are relatively common and comparatively easily treated. Fear not!

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

*pets*

You are not going to die. My mother had thyroid troubles, and she is really feeling a lot better now that she is on the proper meds.

Arthur Pendragon is a lovely comfort device as well.

[aelora.livejournal.com]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 10 years ago. That was after realizing the majority of my symptoms matched a coworkers who had diabetes, and since there is a history of diabetes in my family, I had a minor freak out. I actually was relieved by hypothyroidism (though I would have preferred hyperthyroidism so I could have lost weight instead of gained).

Don't panic. You're not going to die. But if it's hypothyroidism that you have, say bye-bye to any ease of losing weight, especially in your belly. And your hair might thin a bit. And there is the annual blood test (though for me these last few months, I've had one because my thyroid is playing yo-yo and they have no idea what dose to put me at). I keep telling them to up it big time so I can be knocked into hyperthyroidism and lose the weight this stupid thing made me put on! Yes, I am not going to get over that any time soon.

It's really one of the better conditions to get if you have to get anything. It doesn't prevent you from doing anything, and the generic drugs are like $1.38/month.

Of course, I am still miffed at the whole belly fat thing...

[lost-erizo.livejournal.com]

Pardon my delurk to jump in here, but you seriously don't want to play with meds induced hyperthyroidism, Aelora. Weight loss may sound great, but in my experience it was completely offset by the three-month long continuous headache, total exhaustion, insomnia, inability to control my body temperature and severe swing into depression (seriously - this period was memorialized by one of the most embarrassing incidents in my life where I totally lost it and burst into tears for NO REASON AT ALL in front of my thesis adviser). And when I say offset, I mean I didn't actually lose any weight because it was a physical struggle to even get out of bed for about four months until we got my dose back on track and had treated all the side effects - I think I actually gained weight. ( I hear you though - I've been struggling with weight my entire life)

On the other hand (and this is directed back at Seperis) Aelora is totally correct - once you get your dose right you won't even think about it - the only pain in the rear is needing to get regular blood tests (like every six months to a year depending on how stable you are). Hypothyroidism is one of the most common and easily treatable metabolic disorders in women.

Good luck to you both...

[zillah975]

Don't panic! You are not going to die. One of my dearest friends ever has a thyroid condition, and the medication has helped tremendously. Apparently thyroid problems are pretty common in women. So, YAY! They know what's wrong and can treat it! :)


*hugs you bunches*

[wolfshark]

No dying allowed!

*hugs you*

[cat-77.livejournal.com]

It will be okay. Thyroid problems run on both sides of my family and everything has been regulated perfectly fine with drugs. Most take one pill a day, my mother takes two, that's it. The drugs they have are extremely effective and have been for a long time. Based on what I've seen in my family, you will more than likely feel a lot better once everything is sorted out, including little things you might not have noticed until they got better.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you have to deal with medical trauma. ::pets::

My understanding is that thyroid problems are very common and not at all likely to cause long-term illness or discomfort, once treated. Please not to be panicking!

[fanaddict.livejournal.com]

Ditto for the above - thyroid problems are apparently both somewhat common and very treatable with meds. It may take a while to get the proper dose, but once you do you'll likely feel a lot better.

As for the ADHD stuff... I think sometimes that's the new catch all. It certainly exists, but I also think it's over-diagnosed and definitely over-mediated (often diet changes have a huge impact). When I was in elementary school eons ago (early 80's) the teachers told my parents I had ADHA and should be medicated. The reality was I was bored stuff in school because I finished the work long before anyone else and had nothing to do. My parents realized this and suggested some things I could do to help me not be so bored and basically ignored the advice of the teachers to medicate me. I went on to be valedictorian of my high school, graduated from a very good college and got my PhD - and I'm very grateful my parents didn't simply accept the advice of the teachers but helped me analyze the situation so we could figure out what the problem really was. Which is not to say some kids don't need meds to help focus, just that there are alternatives to consider before the ritalin route.

[lurkerlynne.livejournal.com]

r.e. ADHD: Hear, hear. Kids are diagnosed when it's an outside influence (boredom, bad diet, acting out, other health problems, etc) that's the reason. Niece had a trauma as a toddler (taken by child services a.k.a total strangers who forgot to grab her lovey. The idiots.) and was eventually diagnosed ADHD. My parents figured out sugar makes her hyper (she's now diagnosed Syndrome X, a form of diabetes), changed her diet and set definite boundaries and the kid settled down.

Child seems quiet intelligent- maybe he's not being challenged enough in school.

[ithiliana.livejournal.com]

Leaping in to say my mother had thyroid problems ditto, and once she got onto the right meds, life was good (scary as hell before though, in terms of her energy level, and yes, weight, and on-going sicknesses).

I have to have regular checkups on thyroids because when I had tonsilectomy as a child, my adenoids grew back, and they decided to X-RAY them out of existence. Turns out years later, they found out radiation aimed at one's head and neck not a GOOD idea (but you know, the 50s and early 60s loved the radioactive stuff).

[lillian13.livejournal.com]

You will be fine! I have Consulted the Oracles and They All Say So.

Book recs to take your mind off of things: The Atrocity Archives (http://www.amazon.com/Atrocity-Archives-Charles-Stross/dp/0441016685/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231867862&sr=8-1) and The Jennifer Morgue (http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Morgue-Charles-Stross/dp/1841495700/ref=ed_oe_p) by Charles Stross.

[chopchica.livejournal.com]

I see everybody above has covered the thyroid things, so I will move on to the weighty matter of Google Talk. I am trying to use it but it is confusing! Help! Did I invite you? Am I even logged in (I'm using my nonchopchica email address)? Heeeeeeeelp!

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

You are not going to die, everything will ultimately work out okay, thyroid is easily figured out and fruit flies do SO MUCH BETTER with some med help and structure.

I am married to not so much a fruit fly but a Classic Absent Minded Professor x10. There are all sorts of gradations and types of Attention Deficit and so many new options from diet to mediction to small behavior mods.

I know exactly how you feel about the falling apart bit. 2006 is the last year I truly felt like my regular gorgeous self.

[ellixis.livejournal.com]

It'll be okay! Once they get it regulated, you'll probably feel much better.

[bethcarielle.livejournal.com]

Nope, not going to die. I was diagnosed hypothyroid six years ago. Once I was on meds I lost a bunch of weight and started my period again. The latter wasn't quite as exciting as the former.

So no dying. *hugs*

[reginagiraffe]

Well, of course you're going to die. But likely not soon and likely not from your thyroid issue.

Thyroid problems are very treatable. It might take a bit to get dosages at the right level, but then you should be fine.

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

You're totally not dying. *nod*

[winter-elf.livejournal.com]

I've had hypothyroidism for 10 years or so. Never had any trouble (besides having a hassle trying to lose weight). It runs in my family, so it's pretty expected I'd get this. It's easy to treat, the drug is the cheapest out there and it doesn't impact on lifestyle. Only thing, there's the natural or synthetic version of the drug, and you'll have to find out which works for you. Luckily I knew from family experience that the synthetic didn't work for us. You'll need a blood test every few months till they get the dossage right, then it'll be less frequent.

[drlense.livejournal.com]

Oh, my gosh- when I found out I had a thyroid problem I did jumping jacks of joy- because it meant that my lethargy and weight gain were fixable! It's a teeny tiny pill first thing in the morning and a blood test once a year. I don't think you could die from it if you WANTED to.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

*hugs to you*

Just popping in to echo the 'you will be fine' chorus. And to point out that you probably won't be fine in the event of zombie attacks or other catastrophic apocalypti--should you survive, you know, the initial wave of zombie attacks, you won't have your meds. *snicker*

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

*pats you*

*sends good thyroid vibes*

[ifeedformula.livejournal.com]

Don't panic!
My mother has been on thyroid medication since she was in high school and it hasn't killed her yet. She's never taken the best care of her body either, which should have, by default, killed her by now considering the things she has done. *headdesk*

[eledhwenlin]

You're not going to die. ;) Thyroid problems are common and the medication for it helps really a lot once you're adjusted (just like with all meds, you need to find the right dosage). But it'll help with any weight issues, tiredness and general well-being.

[tacittype.livejournal.com]

I don't know a thing about hypothyroidism... but from everything you've said about your son, he just sounds freakishly smart. And, I think a lot of fandom is populated with former freaky!smart kids. And I think a lot of us were bored enough at school to make our own fun. I used to foist the answers off on other kids so that they'd be finished and I'd have someone to mess around with. Which my teachers just loved, as you can imagine.

I don't want to overstep the line as a mostly-lurker here, but... does he have concentration problems at home, or when he's reading a good book? If not, then make sure you absolutely agree with any diagnoses before letting them pigeon-hole him. You do know best!

[leupagus.livejournal.com]

Do not panic, you will not die. I mean, eventually yes, you will. But not, like, presently.

Oh, god - thyroid problems. One of my friends had this, and she did not like it One Bit. But good news, she did get it under control. So, yay?

[deadlychameleon.livejournal.com]

Thyroid problems are totally common. Like, you don't even get to feel like a special snowflake. If it's hypothyroid, it's just a pill you take every day. Probably why they immediately called it in. It's not an emergency! It's just that boring and common!