It's a typical Sunday morning for me. After getting to sleep around 11 last night because a certain two year old wanted to talk (not real words, however, just a jabbering sort of thing. It's endearing, but can be annoying when one is trying to sleep.) I woke at 6:30 to my older son loudly proclaiming his wakefulness as he came across the house and turned on the dining room light.
On the list of typical things, I include my low to mid back pain that occurs almost every morning from the time I wake up to whenever I have been up for a while. Also the leg aches that make it sort of feel as though I attempted to walk several miles the day before, when that is very rarely the case.
I have brain fog, as well. It's not so much a complaint this time as it is just a fact of life. I keep a notebook that I check nearly every morning that is in my desk drawer to make sure I write down every reminder and remember things I may have forgotten. This is essential.
I get up to use the bathroom and immediately take my synthroid. I don't know if it is the best thyroid medication for me or not (at least not yet), but it's what I have now, and I cannot deny it has done me some good.
I also take whole food vitamins, as I am convinced they help me in a number of ways as well, but I have to be careful to take them at least for hours after my synthroid so they don't interfere with absorption. It's not hard, it's just a habit I had to develop.
Then there's the fatigue. I almost feel like I shouldn't mention this, because so many other people struggle with the same thing. And so many people are worse off. I do not want to come off as complaining, because I'm not. Once again, fatigue is a fact of life for me. There are lots of factors you can blame on this one. Having two energetic children, not getting enough sleep some nights, being overweight, and having a chronic disease are probably all factors. I have learned to get past it though, and do things I normally do. I have had to change my life in some ways, though. I have to be consciously careful to not overdo it. It was really hard for me at first, because I am stubborn! I was diagnosed with a disease, but I wanted to do everything like I used to, as much as I used to. But I really just can't anymore. If there are things I am going to want to do in the evening such as go to the grocery store or go out with friends, I need to pace myself in the morning. Or if I end up taking both boys out by myself in the morning, or something else of the same energy expending nature, I have to be okay with sitting or lying down for at least a few hours in the afternoon.
Simply put, Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease, where the body (antibodies... aptly named, if you ask me :P) attack my thyroid for no known reason. If you know anything about the thyroid, it's one of those glands that regulates hormones. When it is attacked, the hormones can sort of go crazy, causing all sorts of things. Emotions, sick feelings, etc. Hormones affect A LOT. Thankfully with proper hormone replacement therapy (in the form of a pill taken half an hour before breakfast with plenty of water) it CAN be regulated. Everyone with this disease is affected at least somewhat differently, thus different sorts of thyroid medications are more helpful to different people. So far I have only tried Synthroid and its generic form (which are dosed differently, and thus completely different meds). I will update if and when I get to try other forms such as T3 and T4 combo meds (synthroid is synthetic t4) or natural dessicated thyroid (which some swear by, others hate it, Like I said, different people need different sorts of meds to feel best).
Either way, I am generally motivated to get out of bed by determination to live love and love it. More on that in another post. There are so many people and things that motivate me to keep going!
Here's a little life update-
My 2 1/2 year old has all but been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (some of the doctors suspect autism, but they won't diagnose it as such because he is really to young to tell. I see none to very few signs of it in him, by the way.), so we are starting lots of therapy for him. He has 3 different therapies, and he will soon be going to one each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My older son has started preschool on these days, which he absolutely loves so far.
I have been working out at Planet Fitness (cardio, weights, and abs) at least twice a week (though I skipped several weeks around Christmas), and that has been helpful, as long as I don't overdo that. I have the ultimate goal of getting a whole lot more fit. I don't care how much I weigh anymore, as I am no longer insecure about my body. It has been a long journey there too, but more on that in another post.
