Over the past 2yrs I have noticed serious
physical changes in myself with the only lifestyle change being my employment.
I attributed that these issues to the high stress job that was literally
affecting my health and wellbeing. Stress is a pretty big factor in physical changes
and issues, but I changed significantly in just a span of 2yrs. More than what
stress could’ve necessarily caused. During this time, I determined to combat these
sudden issues and worked hard to improve, but with no results comes
discouragement and motivation crash which then brought on more issues involving
emotional struggles and a negative mental outlook on life and how I viewed
myself.
Jump forward to January 1, 2020.
This is my year! This is when I make my comeback! That
high stress job is gone forever. For the first time in a long time, life is
actually pretty great and I am happy. This is it! Let’s go! So I began to take
drastic steps once again.
1) I ditched coffee and have been water only
2) I cook ALL my meals (each being UNDER 500 calories)
and don’t eat anything processed or pre-made 3) I exercise much more with Barre
workouts and utilize the rowing machine and equipment I own every morning
before work
4) I did a colon cleanse and
5) I completed a 7day Cabbage Soup diet (basically a
starvation diet that is supposed to get fast results and kick start your
metabolism)
NOTHING WORKED.
Absolutely ZERO results from ALL of that effort and work.
The number on that blasted scale never changed. The size
of my clothes never changed. No increased energy. No improved restful nights
where I wake up refreshed. No changes to feeling tired on a constant basis. It
was as if I hadn’t done a single thing different.
To say I was discouraged and frustrated would be a gross
understatement. I was beyond upset and couldn’t understand why I didn’t get
even the slightest hint of change in 2 months. Any normal human no matter their
weight and size would’ve seen SOMETHING after all of that! So, I decided it was
time to look a little deeper into the medical side of things because clearly
something is wrong.
The visit to my doctor was almost unbelievable had I not
physically experienced it myself. The moment I told her I was concerned with
the fact that I can’t seem to get any results with my weight loss journey and
simply feeling healthier in all aspects of my life, as well as explaining in
detail everything I've done so far, she *no joke* checked out. If "rolling
your eyes" was a facial expression without the actual act, she nailed it! The
words “you’re obviously not doing enough cardio”, “you probably need to eat more”,
and (my favorite) “that’s probably just how you’re built and you’re just going
to have to accept that this is who you are” was literally spoken in the 10min I
sat there. In fact, she talked more about herself (her size 0, stiletto
wearing, self) than giving any attention to the very reason I was even there. I
had to basically force her to prescribe me a blood panel as I wasn’t leaving
without one and she made sure to brush it off with a “it probably won’t do
anything. You just need more cardio” before leaving the room.
The next morning, after fasting for 12hours in
preparation, I went for blood work. I was told it would be 72hrs before
results. No big deal. At this point I was becoming increasingly more stressed
and worried about what they might find. Could it be serious? A tumor? Would it
be fixable? Life altering? Our minds always go nuts with worst case scenarios in
situations like this.
Jump to yesterday, Feb. 20, 2020.
Just over 24hrs later, I receive a call. Now, as if the
actually appointment itself wasn’t bad enough, this call was the cherry on top.
It went like this, “so your levels are high. It’s pretty bad. You need to get
on this medication immediately and come back in 6 weeks for more blood work.
It’s ready at your pharmacy so start taking it in the morning. Have a good
day.”
Hold up!! What now?!
I manage to catch her before she hangs up and ask “um
excuse me…what is wrong with me?” Her response, “your thyroid. It’s pretty bad.
Start the medication tomorrow morning.”
That was it. Clearly I wasn't getting any more
information on the subject. I hung up stunned. There I was, sitting in the Target
parking lot, not exactly sure what just happened or what this means for me long
term.
I’m 32yrs old. What do you mean my thyroid is bad? What does
that even mean? Is this serious? How bad is "pretty bad"? Will it get
better? How does this affect my life?
I drive to the pharmacy and get there just as it was
closing. They let me in and locked the door behind me. As I stood there with
tears in my eyes and still in shock and confusion, I look at her as she hands
me the bag and quietly say “can I ask you a question?” God planned for that
caring lady to be my pharmacist at that moment. She stopped everything and gave
me her full attention with the most kind eyes. I asked “what is this and what
does this mean for me? I don’t even know what’s wrong with me.” Her eyes went
sad and she reached out to me and calmly explained, so I could understand, that
my thyroid is no longer working and what this medication is meant to do. She
explained hypothyroidism and how that will affect me. I needed her kindness.
Where she could’ve very easily brushed me off and told me to go talk to my
doctor, she took the time to help me understand.
So there it is. My week in a nutshell. And it’s not even
over yet. *yikes*
There really isn’t a “moral” to this story beside the cliché warning
to get checked if things aren’t “adding up”. Even if your doctor doesn't think
so - get checked anyway. I have talked to this doctor over the past several
years and mentioned the changes I was experiencing and not once did she suggest
I get checked or try to "rule things out".
I’m now researching hypothyroidism and what I can do
about it, as I certainly don’t want to be on a pill for the rest of my life
just to function like a normal human if I can help it, altho with my current
levels and the fact that it's gone untreated, I may not have much choice. I am, also, def looking for a new doctor. One that actually
gives a crap about my health and genuinely cares when giving life changing news
like “oh by the way your thyroid crashed”.
Upon further research, I have discovered that I lined up
with every symptom for this condition over the last two years that I blamed on
the significant increase of stress in both the working world and in my personal
life. While those had a big factor in this, I was unknowingly going untreated
for an actual condition to where my levels are now quite high and could cause
other issues. So many physical changes and symptoms I have been living with
over the past couple years now makes so much sense and could have been
controlled had I known.
This will be something I will have to deal with for the
rest of my life, but it is treatable and for that I am thankful. I am also
thankful it isn't as life altering as it could have been. I am not limited in
what my capabilities are in any aspect. This is simply a glitch in my otherwise
healthy system and I am looking forward to finally feeling and functioning
normally again with the help and aid of this medication and hopefully some
natural aid in the near future.
There has been some good that’s come out of my weight
loss/healthy living effort in 2020. I discovered a love for cooking that I
never knew I had. I cook every day and I’m actually pretty freakin amazing at
it! Who knew, right? So, if nothing else, I’ve found something I genuinely enjoy
doing and am good at that is healthy and has saved money! *bonus*
Always find the positive in every situation! It helps <3
