It's been a long time since I posted....suddenly ocurred to me so here I am seeing who was around....and there you are. Glad things are still going well for you. Congrats on the weight loss. Not sure if you remember me..you were of incredible help and support to me about 2 years ago while my life went through the wringer....well wrinkles do eventually fall / iron out and I am testament to that. It is great to hear that your D is pretty much on top of her condition, and that you also and DH are doing well.
My life has changed dramatically over the last 18 months. In short, (I will endeavour to start my own new thread,) but thought you might be interested in knowing H and I are back together, and are doing very well, working each day to make a better life...and it is soooo much better. Better even than when we were together and thought nothing was wrong. Isn't it funny (in hindsight) how complacent we can be, yet with a bit of hard work / and brutal insight into our own lives how wonderful each day can turn out.
Not sure if we all (Northern and Southern Hemispheres)celebrate Mothers Day on the same date, but if so, wishing you a special one this coming Sunday. Look foward to reading more of your news and eventually sharing mine.
Wow, Jen - I'd wondered what happened to you. Post that new thread! Did OW have H's kid? Or did it turn out to be someone else's (or no one's at all - you wouldn't believe the number of OWs who claim to be pregnant when they aren't). We want an update!
Ellie, thanks for plugging away driving home thyroid issues. I had a yearly physical this week (bi or tri annual is more like it), and aside from being one of the most screwed up appointments I've had, I did insist on bloodwork for cholesterol and thyroid. This PA, which is new, checked back and said 'oh yes, your thyroid level was low last time we checked'. That was FOUR years ago, and no one ever told me!! So aside from all the wise advice and wisdom you share here on the board, I want to especially say thanks for the medical wisdom too!
Live your life while you are still living. Riding the trail less traveled.
Oh man, WCW, horror stories like this just make my blood boil!!!
Unfortunately, thyroid disease SEEMS decpetively easy to treat. You check one simple number, it is either in the normal range or not, if it's abnormal you write a prescription for Synthroid, as soon as you get the numbers in the right range, patient is "cured". And it is thought of as a simple disease, not life-threatening, so there is little urgency about it.
The reality is so much more complicated that that. Since your thyroid hormone basically controls your metabolism throughout your entire body, lack of it affects you in dozens of ways. Relying on the TSH test alone, while admittedly a cost-effective screening method, misses some cases - yet doctors have become so wedded to this test, that they don't think to test further even when patients have strong family histories or typical symptoms of hypothyroidism.
And there is even debate among the experts about how to interpret the tests. I bet your test results WERE considered normal 4 years ago - because the guidelines for what is considered the normal range has been changed since then.
Do make sure they check you for thyroid antibodies this time, and check a free T4 (and hopefully a free T3, although this is harder to get them to do) along with repeating your TSH.
I often wonder how many marriages fall apart because the LBS develops the subtle symptoms of untreated hypothyroidism, and the WAS becomes frustrated with their weight gain/ lack of libido/ fatigue/ depression/ signs of aging/ whatever.
I was sure boiling too at that appointment. The hospital is all brand new, and I think they're all pretty messed up yet, so screwed up to the point that I was told that if I get any kind of a bill from them to return it with a note/message that the PA said there would not be any charges to me.
When PA talked about thyroid, I hit every symptom proposed.... I am supposed to hear back from PA tomorrow or Monday about results, now I'll be able to talk like I know something! thank a bunch!
Live your life while you are still living. Riding the trail less traveled.
Quote: I often wonder how many marriages fall apart because the LBS develops the subtle symptoms of untreated hypothyroidism, and the WAS becomes frustrated with their weight gain/ lack of libido/ fatigue/ depression/ signs of aging/ whatever.
What are some other things that might go too often undetected in the current medical industry climate and cause similar kinds of problems?
BTW, the book (The Years of Rice and Salt) was sold out at Borders tonight. I'll get to it, though.
Thanks,
Joe
My sitch More importantly, Light A Million Candles
