IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!
I went to the doctor about a week ago because my body was having some issues! Fatigue, muscle aches, abdominal pain, dizziness. I thought it could be diabetes, and went to go get checked.
Good news is, it's not diabetes.
Bad news is: It's Hypothyroidism
My thyroid is not producing enough horomones, and it's fucking up my body. This causes:
Increased sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Pale, dry skin
A puffy face
Hoarse voice
An elevated blood cholesterol level
Unexplained weight gain
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
Muscle weakness
Heavier than normal menstrual periods
Depression
When hypothyroidism isn't treated, signs and symptoms can gradually become more severe. Constant stimulation of your thyroid to release more hormones may lead to an enlarged thyroid (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow or you may feel depressed.
Advanced hypothyroidism, known as myxedema, is rare, but when it occurs it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms include low blood pressure, decreased breathing, decreased body temperature, unresponsiveness and even coma. In some cases, myxedema can be fatal.
Yep, that's fucking right. If this had gone unnoticed for years, I could have died. Do you have any idea what that feels like? Not the best feeling in the world. It also can cause infertility and decreased libido. Which has defintely been happening lately. I haven't been wanting sex like I usually do.
I'm actually kind of happy that I have this. It explains a lot! It explains why when I was 16 and 110 lbs that I gained like 30 lbs nearly overnight it seemed, for no apparent reason. It explains why a few years ago I freakin' forgot what toilet paper was, and have had to write down every little thing so I don't forget it! It explains a lot of my muscle aches, and pain in my back and neck (not all of it, because I have chronic shit going on there--I've seen x-rays, but some.)
I believe that If I'm doing the math correctly, when I started having these symptoms I was 16. So, I've had this for about 4 years now. I'm gonna have to talk to my doctor, but I think the thing that scares me the most is the infertility thing. I'm assuming that prolonged (longer than 4 years)exposure causes the severe infertility. But, I'm probably going to have trouble getting pregnant some day when the time comes, and that's a little scary.
The good news is that this is pretty much completely treatable. I have to take a medication called Synthroid every morning....for the rest of my life, mind you, but that's better than freakin' dying. Pretty much everything will reverse itself once the medication kicks in
Standard treatment for an underactive thyroid involves daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid). The oral medication restores adequate hormone levels, shifting your body back into normal gear.
Soon after starting treatment, you'll notice that you're feeling less fatigued. The medication also gradually lowers cholesterol levels elevated by the disease and may reverse any weight gain. Treatment with levothyroxine is usually lifelong, but because the dosage you need may change, your doctor is likely to check your TSH level every year or so
Do you know what I'm most excited about? YES! REVERSING THE WEIGHT GAIN!! I miss being skinny. I'd just like to get to a size fucking 7. I used to be 3, but I'll settle for 7, I'm not gonna push it. That would just make my life. I'm gonna be exercising, and losing cholesterol....them pounds are just gonna peel off like they used too. *dances the happiest jig of glee I've ever danced*
After 2 months of being on the medicine my doctor wants me to come back in and get checked out again to make sure everything is going along ok. So, I'll be completely ok.
So, that's the deal. Just wanted everyone to let everyone know!
Good news is, it's not diabetes.
Bad news is: It's Hypothyroidism
My thyroid is not producing enough horomones, and it's fucking up my body. This causes:
Increased sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Pale, dry skin
A puffy face
Hoarse voice
An elevated blood cholesterol level
Unexplained weight gain
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
Muscle weakness
Heavier than normal menstrual periods
Depression
When hypothyroidism isn't treated, signs and symptoms can gradually become more severe. Constant stimulation of your thyroid to release more hormones may lead to an enlarged thyroid (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow or you may feel depressed.
Advanced hypothyroidism, known as myxedema, is rare, but when it occurs it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms include low blood pressure, decreased breathing, decreased body temperature, unresponsiveness and even coma. In some cases, myxedema can be fatal.
Yep, that's fucking right. If this had gone unnoticed for years, I could have died. Do you have any idea what that feels like? Not the best feeling in the world. It also can cause infertility and decreased libido. Which has defintely been happening lately. I haven't been wanting sex like I usually do.
I'm actually kind of happy that I have this. It explains a lot! It explains why when I was 16 and 110 lbs that I gained like 30 lbs nearly overnight it seemed, for no apparent reason. It explains why a few years ago I freakin' forgot what toilet paper was, and have had to write down every little thing so I don't forget it! It explains a lot of my muscle aches, and pain in my back and neck (not all of it, because I have chronic shit going on there--I've seen x-rays, but some.)
I believe that If I'm doing the math correctly, when I started having these symptoms I was 16. So, I've had this for about 4 years now. I'm gonna have to talk to my doctor, but I think the thing that scares me the most is the infertility thing. I'm assuming that prolonged (longer than 4 years)exposure causes the severe infertility. But, I'm probably going to have trouble getting pregnant some day when the time comes, and that's a little scary.
The good news is that this is pretty much completely treatable. I have to take a medication called Synthroid every morning....for the rest of my life, mind you, but that's better than freakin' dying. Pretty much everything will reverse itself once the medication kicks in
Standard treatment for an underactive thyroid involves daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid). The oral medication restores adequate hormone levels, shifting your body back into normal gear.
Soon after starting treatment, you'll notice that you're feeling less fatigued. The medication also gradually lowers cholesterol levels elevated by the disease and may reverse any weight gain. Treatment with levothyroxine is usually lifelong, but because the dosage you need may change, your doctor is likely to check your TSH level every year or so
Do you know what I'm most excited about? YES! REVERSING THE WEIGHT GAIN!! I miss being skinny. I'd just like to get to a size fucking 7. I used to be 3, but I'll settle for 7, I'm not gonna push it. That would just make my life. I'm gonna be exercising, and losing cholesterol....them pounds are just gonna peel off like they used too. *dances the happiest jig of glee I've ever danced*
After 2 months of being on the medicine my doctor wants me to come back in and get checked out again to make sure everything is going along ok. So, I'll be completely ok.
So, that's the deal. Just wanted everyone to let everyone know!