Saturday, December 31, 2016

New Years Eve Thoughts



This is just probably a woman rambling.  Unless I read this before pressing "publish" & decide it's just too much ;)

I have learned a few things this past year.  I hope someone can relate maybe or learn from it?  Who knows really?

At age 48 I am still learning so stinkin' much.

I am learning that my kids are quite resilient.  They have gone through some serious crap (each in his or her own situation) & they bounce back.  Eventually.  Not right away maybe.  They are also learning in all this.  I have learned that Mom the Protector doesn't necessarily need to show her face every time something happens.  Some times I just need to sit back & watch (pray, pray, pray) and be there if they need to chat or ask questions.  This makes them stronger for sure.

I have learned that I don't need a whole GAGGLE of friends.  Just one or two that WANT to hang out with me.  That totally GET me & will listen & love & just be there when/if I need them.  Those that when I share a prayer request through email or text I am not afraid of them gossiping or anything about the situation I'm going through.  They are legit.  They are the ones I can hang out with & say nothing at all & we are comfortable.  I truly love those friends.  They know who they are because I make sure to tell them how much they are loved.

I have learned there are those that vow to do something & they just don't see it through.  They take a precious situation & no sooner do the words leave their mouths but they are renigging on their promises.  This one is hard especially when it happens to someone I love.

I am learning how to be more empathetic toward people (women mostly just because - well - I am a woman!) with issues at this age.  There are those that make fun of women nearing or going through menopause.   It is certainly a subject that has many, many aspects others make fun of.   Seriously, oh the poor husbands, etc.  Really?  How about loving on the woman going through all these changes?  How about putting yourself in her place instead of just shaking your head at her when the emotions are on the edge . So many other things but really - we can embrace this time of our life & hope that our loved ones will get on board with us.  I, personally, am looking forward to the other side of this.  This is the next phase of my life that God has given me.  I look forward to what it holds.  Now if everyone can just love me through the tough times, that would be great!  I promise to do the same for you!

Woman with thyroid issues?  OH my.  I have learned there are SO many out there!!  This is a serious medical situation.  Turns out it gets worse & needs to be managed again when menopause hits.  We are talking immune system stuff here.  It will throw a body completely out of whack.  When you think you have your eating & fitness down to a science & it's working for you BAM thyroid acts up & couples up with menopause & you need to switch things up again.  It's like going back to the beginning to see what will work for you.  This may lead to adrenal issues if you aren't careful.  Adrenal fatigue is rough.  You REALLY, REALLY need to take care of your body.  REST is SOOO important.    I am still working on this part.

So I have learned a lot.  I look at my kids & am so proud of the grownups they are becoming.  I still can't believe I am old enough to have a 21 year old but hey, I am & these years are just as precious as those first few.

I have been able to learn how to enjoy the moments I have with my family so much better now.  I don't watch it from behind my phone taking pictures or video anymore.  I enjoy the moments as they are.

I hope this reaches someone.  I am appreciative if you made it through my whole rant here.  If you leave me a comment & just say 'HI" that would be great too ;)  I see people are seeing my posts but don't know who you are.

Be Blessed & Happy New YEAR!

Pamela

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Hello?

It's been almost a year since my last post here.  Not sure why I stopped.  I have found myself with so much to say for a while now & realized I need to come back here & share.

If you have been following me you know this isn't just about fitness & health related things.

Today is though :)

Over 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.   I found out during a check up when I mentioned I wanted to try to get pregnant again & could they just run blood work, etc to make sure all things were fine.

When the labs came back I was in TOTAL denial!  I had them run it again because I just thought there is just NO way.  Haha.  Silly me.  They gave me meds (Synthroid) and I cursed that little pill EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING.

Life went on.  I hated taking that pill but I did it.   Eventually we got pregnant again and had our final child - our daughter.  Then I heard about some other "natural" med I could be taking for my thyroid & spoke to the N.P (Nurse Practitioner) about it.  She had said she would monitor my blood work & do the ultrasounds but if something changed I had to go back to a specialist ( I had stopped because I just plain old didn't like the guy I was seeing).  So she switched me to a compound and things stayed normal for a while.

Then I started declining.  The fatigue has been almost debilitating.  Everyone just thinks it's laziness.  I have been sure of that (in my head - no one actually came out & said it to me).  I had my adrenals checked & I was borderline with that too.  Double whammy.

My NP kept checking my bloodwork & adjusting my compound as needed but nothing helped.  Then we did my yearly ultrasound & realized the nodules had been growing.  She switched me to Amour (still never got a set answer WHY she changed it - just saying it's the same as the compound).  Because the nodules showed growth she told me I had to go back to a specialist.

Ugh.  I found one that she suggested (after nixing the 2 I didn't care for) and started "googling" this doctor.  Many patients opinions were "He has a god complex".   I realized I needed to see SOMEONE.  My symptoms weren't getting any better.

Since the appt I made was still 3 months out as he couldn't get me in any sooner, I started reading more about the thyroid.  I had since been diagnosed as "Hashimotos".   Confusion set in.  What the heck??

I began reading "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis" by Izabella Wentz AND  "The Hormone Cure" by Sara Gottfried, MD.  The latter because I am also in peri-menopause.

Who knew?  Thyroid issues are growing it seems & people just don't know what to do about it! h & those starting menopause seem to be having thyroid problems!!

If you have the time & energy (ha!) you can seemingly reverse the disease & have a healthy thyroid.  Not the case I am learning if you have already started taking meds. :(

So here I am.  A new doctor & he is telling me I need to go back on different meds as the "natural" ones weren't working for me.  Also said with the size of the nodules I needed to have them biopsied.

I came home very upset.  I hated those meds.  I didn't want to be on them.  Nothing I can do now about that.  No more denial.  I have a thyroid issue & it's wreaking havoc on my life.  I started taking Selenium & some Adrenal Fatigue supplements and making sure I took the new meds every morning & not eating for about an hour afterward.  I was going to be a good girl & follow the instructions.

I have noticed only that my hair isn't falling out in crazy amounts after being on the meds for about 2 months.  When I went in for the biopsy they did another ultrasound & the doc came in to inform me that the nodule was no longer big enough to biopsy (can you say HAPPY DANCE???).

So, that's what I have so far.  I am taking this all day by day.  I am thankful for the doctor I have & the meds I can take to HOPEFULLY help me to start feeling better.  I go again for more bloodwork soon & I look forward to seeing what that shows.

The doc said I am the "nightmare" patient with both Hypothyroid AND starting menopause.  Turns out the symptoms can overlap.

So that's my story so far.  It's not over.  I still continue to choose health over anything else.   I, once again, need to get the sugar intake under control as I did let that go a little nuts.  My workouts have changed slightly.  I can't overdo anymore.  It's too taxing on my body right now.  My adrenals will come around & I can start picking things up a bit again.   Right now I am doing the workout "21 Day Fix" and making sure I do the 1/2 hour & then stretch & be done for the day.  I'm finishing up a round (3 weeks) of it & will take a week of just Piyo (Pilates & Yoga) then start another round of 21DF.  I LOVE fitness & movement but need to make sure I listen to my body.

I would LOVE to hear from you if you find yourself struggling with the same or similar things.  We need to lean on each other!

Be Blessed,
Pamela