A few weeks ago I had a routine physical, my last one was 3 years ago so I figured it was time. My PA requested some blood work to get a baseline for my cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. seeing as apparently I don’t have any record of this for many many years. (I don’t like going to the doctor). She decided to test my thyroid as well as apparently when you hit your mid to late 30’s, that’s when things start to go crazy with it.
To be honest, I haven’t felt the best for the past year probably. Nothing major but I don’t sleep well, before my period starts I turn into Satan and I don’t sleep pretty much at all the night or two before it starts, I have felt somewhat depressed, brain fog, I am tired a lot, my feet hurt when I wake up in the morning and walk, my skin is super dry, maybe this is TMI but I don’t really care, my sex drive is pretty low and if you know me at all, this is not normal for me, I have no energy and have gained probably a good 10 pounds and it isn’t going away. I didn’t really tell my PA all this because I guess I didn’t put it all together right away and it has happened so gradually that I thought maybe I was just in a funk. When your husband tells you that you aren’t yourself, it’s probably time to examine your overall health and how you feel.
After looking at all these things and also seeing my blood work results, Houston we have a problem. Nothing major yet but my thryoid was elevated along with my cholesterol. My grandfather had a thyroid issue so the one down side is family genetics but the one good thing is my blood sugar was fine, thank goodness! Having a family history of diabetes, including my dad and brother and also failing those dumb glucose tests when you’re pregnant, I am always nervous about that one!
After a little back and forth email, my PA determined that they do not want me on thyroid medicine because it was elevated but not enough and so we will retest in 6 months. I am relieved for now as I HATE taking medicine. I don’t even take tylenol or allergy meds.
So I have gathered information, talked to friends who have thyroid diseases and am going to see if I can get this under control myself with exercise and diet so I don’t need medication down the road.
I’m going to try gluten-free for the next few months as I have read a lot about gluten sensitivity and the thyroid, many people with thyroid issues also have celiacs disease. I also seem to have many of the symptoms of gluten sensitivity, including migraines which suck. Obviously avoiding as much sugar as possible is on my list, as well as adding in magnesium, vitamin B and to make sure I take my probiotic because I was doing well on it and then summer arrived and then everything goes out the window with summer here.
When we first moved here I did really well using My Fitness Pal, running and doing Jillian Michaels, it was great I was feeling good, looking good, had to buy smaller clothes, I loved it! Then a fateful trip to Pizza Ranch and it all went down the toilet after that. Darn you Pizza Ranch with your never ending pizza and chicken, my willpower was gone and I never regained it again. I am hoping that getting back to some exercise will help me feel better and look better too. I’m signing up for a local athletic club in town that offers tons of options, swimming, classes, weights, tennis and a track for running/walking. If I use it enough I think eventually the whole family will get a membership So if you live near me and belong to this club, let’s get together and work out!
If you’ve read all this, congratulations! It’s long and kind of boring but a way for me to put on words where I am at so hopefully I can look back in 6 months and say, yes, I definitely feel better! It’s hard when it’s a slow fade from your healthy living. There is so much going on with me mentally and physically now that wasn’t when I think about life maybe two years ago, it’s crazy.
I would love to hear from you if you’ve been diagnosed with hypothryoidism or have a gluten free diet!
Leave a Reply