My Story, Part Two
My required dose of Synthroid (my pill) fluctuated throughout the years, because my body wasn't fully developed yet. I can vividly remember two different time periods where I was severely hypothyroid on my pill. Even though I was a competitive athlete (training and competing almost daily) and restricted my diet, I could gain 10 pounds in a snap.
It was discouraging and frustrating and I remember all of those times. I remember the times when I realized I had gained weight; the times when I would be in a bad mood for no reason; the times when I didn't want to get out of bed because I never felt rested; the times when clumps of hair would fall out of my head; and, the times when stress easily consumed me, turning me into someone I didn't want to be.
Yes, all of the above can happen to everyone, but it shouldn't happen everyday. The combination of these will lead to depression, another brutal side effect of hypothyroidism.
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I believe like many others that a person should be able to control his or her body. Well, with hypothyroidism, your body can unexpectedly take control of you, so much to the point where you feel like you're fighting a losing battle.
Despite how depressing all of this sounds, it's important to remember the bad times, because that's when I learned how to be proactive. I've learned that you can be in control of your body, but you must be in tune with it. You can't go through the motions. If everything you read prior to this sounded hopeless, it's not, it can be, but it's not. I promise.
My condition is not a terminal disease. It took me awhile to realize this and to let it really sink in. At times of doubt, I remind myself this and it grounds me. You can live a healthy and happy life with a thyroid disorder-but the first step is to detect it.
I'm writing this little thyroid series in an effort to bring awareness to an underrated condition that thousands of people unknowingly live with everyday. It's important to know that thyroid disorders are hereditary, but you don't have to be born with one to have one-they can manifest over time. If anything above sounds dangerously familiar, perhaps all of the health ailments you might be blaming yourself for are not necessarily your fault.
Stay tuned for more information!
