Among my many medical conditions, I have this awesome one called Graves Disease. Apparently, my doctor felt it necessary to inform me the George and Barbara Bush also have Graves Disease. How cool does that make me?! On a scale on 1-10, I believe that's a 10. I mean, take a look at these rediculusly awesome people:
{{Except I don't necessarily like either of them}}
Anyhoo, I have this disease, and it makes my thyroid work overtime. In comparison, my body is 'working' ten times faster than a normal person. So as I sit on my couch eating potato chips, it's really like I'm running 15 miles. Up a mountain. In 10 degree weather. Not really. But in all seriousness, my body does work ten times faster than most peoples, and it's caused me to be extremely tired, but at the same time my body always feels so antsy so I can rarely get to sleep quickly at night. Fortunately, though, I don't have eyeballs that stick out like some people get!
Luckily, there is a 'cure'. For now, I am on a medication called methimizole.
I first started taking it about a year ago. I successfully took it for about 4 months and then I got some more blood work done and my numbers were back to normal! I confessed to my doctor that I only took the pill once every two days instead of three times a day. So I was taking it A LOT less than I was supposed to. After I got the good results back, I freaked out because the medicine worked so well, even at such a small dose. I don't like the idea of taking a pill that is that effective at killing off my thyroid even when taking a sixth of the prescribed amount. Know what I mean? So I just stopped taking it.
Then when I got more blood work done a couple months ago, my thyroid was working in overdrive again, so back on the medicine I went. I still only take one pill a day, but I've noticed a huge difference. It's easier for me to get to sleep at night, when I wake up, I'm awake, and I have energy to keep going throughout my day.
While I still HATE the idea of having to take medicine, I do like being able to function somewhat normally! I've talked to a naturopath and unfortunately I can't do anything to help my thyroid naturally. The naturopath said it would take years (like a decade) to get it under any kind of control...and that's totally not worth it to me. So until then, bring on the medicine!
P.S. I love this man.
And this little man.
[[My 'baby' brother William]]
I've never heard of Graves Disease. When did you find out about this?
ReplyDeleteWell I found out that I had a hyperthyroid almost 3 years ago, but I didn't find out about Graves Disease until January of this year. I'm glad I found out!
ReplyDeleteWell I found out that I had a hyperthyroid almost 3 years ago, but I didn't find out about Graves Disease until January of this year. I'm glad I found out!
ReplyDeleteGosh, after reading this, I don't know which is worse, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. I'm the opposite of you; I can run for ten minutes on a treadmill and my heart/blood pressure/everything else essentially shuts down and says "NO MORE PLEASE GOD NO MORE I'M GOING TO DIE." So I have the stamina of a 100 year old grandma. Which is why low-impact exercise like yoga has really had an effect on me.
ReplyDeleteApparently there's no cure for hypothyroidism either, but people have successfully used coconut oil to help the thyroid function. Not sure how that would work for you, because it stimulates thyroid activity (from what little I've read) but I haven't tried it yet, because I'm satisfied with how the medicine works, so far anyway.
Here's to Barbara Bush!! LOL
They are both so similar, except hyper usually means super skinny! They both cause you to be extremely tired, so like you I couldn't run 10 minutes on a treadmill! Even 5 for that matter haha Since my body was working so hard, it would get tired way fast.
DeleteI've talked to my naturopath about something natural for hyperthyroid, and she said that there nothing that will work fast enough for that or hypothyroid! She said that there are some things that help over time (like years and years) but it's bad to do that because in the meantime, your body is all messed up.
Like you, I'm happy with my medicine!