Saturday, February 6, 2010

Druggie!

So it turns out my hair loss wasn't just post-partum. My blood tests came back to reveal that my thyroid has basically shut down, and is not producing the hormones it should. Which explains the hair loss, weight gain, extreme fatigue, depression, muscle aches, joint pains, brittle finger nails, and always feeling cold. Who knew those were all related?

So here I am, gearing up to watch my diet and take hormone replacement pills for the rest of my life. It may not seem life much to the outsider, but to me, it's very different. I always saw myself as a very healthy person whose only malady was imperfect eyesight. And I always saw the necessity of taking pills everyday a sign of old age! Well, not like elderly old age, just grown up old age, I guess. And now that I've joined their ranks, I guess I'm really an adult.

So I'm off to take my synthroid and avoid foods that interfere with the absorption of iodine. Yay for being a grown up.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Boo. Sorry to hear it. At least you've identified the problem and now you're able to do something about it, right?

Natalie said...

Aw man, I hear ya! What you've described reminds me of what Mom's gone through. She's probably got tons of good advice if you want it. At least you should start feeling better now, right?

Bethany said...

Yup, it is what mom has. She's the one who directed me to go get a blood test and she's the one who told me what my numbers mean. It's nice to have someone so knowledgeable to help me out!

Hilary said...

I'm glad you figured it out! Hopefully those meds will work and stop your hair loss!

Anonymous said...

Hey Bethany sorry to hear about your thyroid. I feel like a terrible mom not asking how you were doing when I called. Hope the meds help make you feel better. I felt old when I had to take blood pressure meds. Wait I am old.
My gramma had a thyroid problems too but she managed it well and lived actively until 87 and that was before they had all the great meds and stuff.
Well hope you feel better and if you didn't get the message Jeff's phone is at Michael's crafts Love MOM

Kimi Price said...

Now I'm scared that it's going to happen to me. Maybe I'll go get tested just for fun.

Tina Crowther said...

Don't worry about it too much. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid when I was 11. I've been taking pills ever since, and it's not so bad. The levels shift and change a lot during and after pregnancy, so that's probably how you started to recognize it. It runs in my family too. Not such a bad thing to have, considering what is out there. by the way, I'm glad your baby is ok!