Thyrant....YES!

Hell in a Pair of Ballet Flats...

Last week was crappy. It was a horrible thyroid health week for me. I'm feeling lean, thanks to fruits and veggies...but utterly disgusted with myself and my memory. I thought this week would be better, but there's this issue with my memory...I've lost it, and it has cost me 200$ in fines from Illinois tolls and two weddings on Saturday. I remember when notes as reminders worked well for me, but if you aren't a permanent fixture in my life, or a note on a bathroom mirror of my home, I will forget you too.

I can't align my thyroid stars to save my life. Last week, I seriously had one emotional outburst, anxiety attack, and short-tempered flair up after another. It was like the smallest things kept compiling, on top of me trying to smile thru it all, attend each shower, party, and meeting on my calendar. I was fatigued, I had an accident with a razor, and that's when I had to get a grip and a bandage, which unfortunately I had an allergic reaction to and now my ankle is calming down and the welts have disappeared.

I took a nap. I rested, and I thought about my hypothyroidism. I really try so hard to forget about it at times, but I can't, for obvious reasons. But, I do bear in mind that I have to sometime make those folks in my life aware of it. I may look like a million bucks some days, at the party or in the office, but when I speak, and my words are jumbled, or when I have forgotten your names, or if I'm all dolled up and in bed - I've not skipped your party, I still care, I'm just spent, and sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have fatigue and need a time out. My thyroid love get it, they get me. Thank you. Now where did I park my car...

Cruisin'

TGIF, I can't wait for Monday! Hahaha. Has anyone ever said that to you? If not, consider this a first. Be safe this weekend, have fun, and for my friends in the Quad-Cities - Bix it up! Stay informed, follow @qctimes on Twitter.

What Does Thyroid Change Mean to YOU?

ThyroidChange, The United Voice of Thyroid Patients Worldwide, wants to hear your voices. What does that mean exactly? This initiative wants to hear your voice, in your words, what thyroid changes means to you.  Voices of ThyroidChange would love your submissions (200 words or less) about your vision of the future for thyroid diagnoses, treatment, and management.  What does “ThyroidChange” mean to you? Email thyroidchange@gmail.com with the subject line: “VOICES.” Let your voices be heard! ThyroidChange is a web-based initiative, unifies the voice of the thyroid community (patients, organizations, groups, blogs, websites and physicians) to promote change and further research in the diagnoses and care of thyroid disease.

ThyroidChange

ThyroidChange has launched a new web-intuitive site. It was created by and is maintained by thyroid patients advocating for better treatment. I am encouraging YOU to become a self-advocate while uniting and supporting other thyroid patients in your thyroid health journey. Check it out at www.thyroidchange.org. Thank you Michelle and thank you to everyone involved in creating a place for thyroid patients to inspire change. Hope this finds you feeling and living well! Follow me to ThyroidChange.

Love Thy Thyroid, Read The Petition & Sign It

I have hypothyroidism, and in a nutshell, I went to the doctor for panic attacks and anxiety. I was choking on my food, suffering from insomnia, and packing on some pounds. I was diagnosed with non-toxic multi-nodular goiter. I think that's the full diagnosis.  Fast forward...I had surgery to have my gland removed, sub-total thyroidectomy. And I have been reading books, blogs, visiting with those I can relate to and wondering in the back of my mind if I can publish the book I am working on as a resource guide for others, purely from my perspective and experiences, and how many people are really out there that truly relate to me, and wonder if they are getting the treatment they need.  I am not alone and neither are you! The Thyroid Petition, written by Michelle Teresa Bickford, and edited by Denise Rodriguez, acknowledges that "Thyroid patients are increasingly aware that there is a deficiency in thyroid knowledge among endocrinologists. As specialists of the endocrine system, the title, endocrinologist, expresses expertise and richness in experience." However, we don't always receive or easily find endocrinologists that exhibit that expertise or offer various treatment options. It is beyond frustrating, people! I was prescribed antidepressants prior to my diagnosis. It took a while for me to get my diagnosis - hypothyroidism. I am just saying...it was a road I would rather you not have to travel if you can get the right diagnosis to start with in your healthcare journey. I encourage you to read the petition, share it with your friends and help increase awareness and incite change. Share dialogue with others via e-mail, Twitter, and post this petition to your support groups and Facebook profile. "Like" the page at  https://www.facebook.com/thyroidpetition.  The petition calls for major actions. Read them!

Let's Share Dialogue: Insomnia no more!

Let's Share Dialogue: Insomnia no more!: Hello friends! I apologize for my hiatus, times have been busy, insightful, sad yet robust. I have been battling a ridiculously high TSH lev...

Insomnia no more!

Hello friends! I apologize for my hiatus, times have been busy, insightful, sad yet robust. I have been battling a ridiculously high TSH level, in addition to sinus and allergy madness. I am surviving, feeling better, and ready to touch base on reality with all of you. I go through periods of time like this where I "disappear" so to speak. I am ready to show my face again!  AdrenaMed, 5-HTP and daily doses of sunlight over the period of what I remember to begin with of two weeks, got me to feeling better;  I continued onward for a month. I also committed myself to doing yoga twice a week in addition to coming home and allowing myself to wind down after work everyday. It was a huge reality check for me. These steps under the supervision of my chiropractor got this girl rested again.  Sweet dreams. Night night!

Adrenal Fatigue

I had a bout with adrenal fatigue last summer. It lasted several weeks. I didn't know it was adrenal fatigue until I was diagnosed. What I did know was that I was tired, because I had insomnia like never before, I was waking up between 1AM and 2AM daily, ready to start my day, and I experienced heart palpitations that were scary. I even fainted one afternoon due to low blood sugar levels. I simply wasn't myself and I was living life in a haze. The brain fog was horrific!

Adrenal fatigue, as I describe it, is a purse full of symptoms, similar to those I described above, in addition to tired and stressed adrenal glands, and whack blood sugar levels.

The adrenals sit over the kidneys and  produce hormones, are responsible for several bodily functions, and help balance your blood sugar, so that you can get through the day with decent energy levels. When your blood sugar drops, the adrenals release hormones that cause your blood sugar to rise and increase your energy. When functioning properly, they keep you going, and support you and your crazy, busy lifestyle.  Fight or flight response often comes into play when discussing the adrenal glands. When you are stressed or in a situation which calls for you to move at full speed ahead or think fast, that fight or flight energy kicks in. Our adrenals are responsible for this. But, if your adrenals aren't functioning properly, you can end up in a hot mess!

My chiropractor, who is also a doctor of naturopathy, treated me successfully for my adrenal fatigue, and educate me on the condition, in addition to estrogen dominance. Stay tuned for my treatment information and additional notes regarding adrenal fatigue.

Greatest Love of All

Whitney Houston, a legend, a gem, will forever be remembered as a phenomenal woman by me, and by countless others. Last night I went out with a group of my girlfriends and we danced the night away. Last night was different, because in memorial of Whitney Houston, we belted out the lyrics to "I wanna Dance With Somebody" as we hopped about singing to one another and strangers. Whitney Houston is a part of our culture, our childhood. Sending my deepest sympathies to Whitney Houston's family, friends and fans...

Friends

I love my friends! Do you love yours? Friendship is serious business. It’s about commitment, bonds, love, humor, shared dialogue…it’s what YOU make it. Sometimes strife, jealousy, anger and rage enter into a friendship. We’re all imperfect. But when you realize that things of this nature are creeping in on your friendship, wake up and snap out of it, because for many, friends are family. For many, we have friends for different needs, or friends who are stars. I love all of my friends, but I’ve a few stars who just stand out among the rest. I’m keepin’ it real.

Think about a friend or two of yours that you have. Think about that friend, is it a friend that that you rarely see or talk to, but when you sync up, you haven’t skipped a beat, nothing’s changed, you’re still bonded and forever connected? It’s those special friends that you form relationships with in life that provide support, sound advice, are lovingly objective and simply stated – keep things real. Love those friends, cherish them, just like the others. But let them know who they are to you and what they mean to you, because they deserve to know it.

Weekend Remix

I love my weekends, but don't you? I look forward to shopping with and being styled by my sister Whitney, brunch with my extended family, brewery tours with buddies, and my Saturday morning wakeup call from Marissa and Whitney. My sisters always are the first to hit me up on a Saturday morning. We also workout together, have java with the Ps and count our blessings because we are truly thankful for one another and the lives we have been blessed with. My family is amazing.

It's time I fluffed my pillows, throw my hair up and grab a tote so I can make some daytime moves. Thank you for the java break, have an enlightening weekend and enjoy your family, your friends. 

Goitrogens

Merriam-Webster’s definition of goitrogen is, a substance that induces a goiter. A goiter is the enlargement of the thyroid gland, visible as a swelling of the front of the neck. Goitrogens are substances that suppress the function of the thyroid gland by interfering with iodine uptake. There are several vegetables and raw foods that are on the list of goitrogenic foods. I encourage you to do some research to find out what these are in their entirety, because the debate is still out on whether or not an excess of such substances can contribute to a complete attach on the thyroid gland. Some of the foods that may appear in your reading and research include soybeans, broccoli, spinach and cabbage, to name a few.

For me personally, I spent several years as a vegetarian, and I wonder if I didn’t indirectly contribute to this hypothyroid condition that I now have due to the diet I lived by. I’ll speak more to that in my book. And note, there is life after the death of a thyroid. And I still eat soy based foods on the regular.

Prior to being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I was diagnosed as having a non-toxic multi-nodular goiter. That’s a mouthful…literally a throat full, to be precise. What this means, is, that I had multiple growths (nodules) that had caused my thyroid to become enlarged. These nodules were not throwing my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level off, so they were nontoxic. However, they were still casing problems for me, such as anxiety and I was constantly choking on my food, and had grown accustomed to carrying bottled water everywhere I went for fear of choking to death. I was a nervous wreck. So, in essence my TSH had been disturbed, but not to the level at which a toxic definition was given to my diagnosis.

This diagnosis led to the removal of my thyroid gland. Which in turn led to the diagnosis of hypothyroidism for me. Which has led me to this point – education. You have to educate yourselves on thyroid conditions, and others at that, especially when they are regarding your health and the health of those you love. You don’t know what you don’t know. I hope you learned something new today about goitrogens.

TGIF,

S;)

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Thyroid Awareness Month - Let's Discuss Constipation

Happy Thyroid Awareness Month! This year I want to discuss symptoms and how they relate to me. I encourage you to join a on the conversation and share dialogue with me. I'm going to throw the first symptom out there right now. 

Constipation. I said it. Things slowed considerably down for me when I began my struggles with hypothyroidism, and they never really picked back up. I'm lactose intollerant, so from time to time, I'd have a scoop of ice cream or yogurt and that would send me to the bathroom in a matter of seconds. That is no longer the case. That creamy goodness is horrible and wouldn't move for me even if I prayed, without a little stimulant boost.

When you have hypothyroidism, several of your body's functions slow down. I have days when I feel like I'm moving in slow motion. My mind even slows down. Constipation is one of those symptoms that has been long standing for me, I've come to terms with having it as a lasting symptom, but I try to fight it. Sometimes, it beats me. However, on the regular, no pun intended. Trust me, my regular is another woman's insanely irregular.

I try these things to get things moving:

Water - A lot, daily.

Exercise - Think about walking. If you walk for about 20 minutes, you can get things moving. Be regular in walking, or moving around, and that can spark something for you, something inside you!

Veggies & Berries - I love all vegetable. I am selective when it comes to fruits. Raspberries and blueberries are delicious and fiberlicious! Your colon will love you.

Spinach - I love spinach, whether it's served hot or cold. I usually eat it with salmon a few times a week, paired with a brisk walk and at least 72 ounces of water on those salmon and spinach days, and I get things moving, pun most definitely intended!

Fiber supplements or stimulant and herbal laxatives: Depending on what type of despair I am in, these are my alternative options. If I am feeling sick, bloated, and begin experiencing headaches and start having nightmares about toxic overload, then I reach for something in this selection. Don't overuse or abuse. Seek relief, and do so with discretion. Love yourself first and when you do, you will see that your body will love you in return, even on those days that it's a definite struggle.

Do what works for you. Tell me what you have noticed in your thyroid health in the area of constipation. I've read that people aren't talking about it. Let's make it a symptom that people start talking about. Excuse me, I need to run to the ladies room.

Good day!

What's in my bag?

Hey friends hey!! TGIF!

Hello Kitty Water Bottle

I made a quick appearance at the gym today. I did a 30 minute circuit blast (I only tripped once while stepping in between machines today), and that’s all I had for. If you can work out for at least 30 minutes a day, a few times a week, you have it going on. And, 20 minutes is better than no minutes. Sometimes we get it in our minds that we have to work-out for hours on in to have a good workout, but that’s not the truth. Depending upon what you are doing, trying to achieve and what your fitness and health goals are, you can mix things up. Do what works for you.

philosophy Goodie Bag

This morning at work I was gifted by a dear friend. My gifts include tinsel town lip gloss by philosophy, a fabulous lip balm by MAC and gluten free lip balm by HURRAW. Oprah introduced her to this balm. I love trying new products. I’m currently trying out the grapefruit lip balm, and loving the fact that it’s gluten free. MAC is one of my all-time favorites. Thanks, Ms. Pati!

iPad & iPhone

I never leave home without them. I carry my iPad in this cool kate spade case called the Journal. It’s like having want ads in a newspaper protecting my iPad. It’s inspirational and great. Apple, that’s where it’s at!

Orange kate spade Wallet & Organizer

The color orange has made its way to my favorite shade list. Over the summer my mom and I went shopping, and she picked out a few things for me, and said I needed to brighten my wardrobe. And so I did. Six months later, orange is a color I cannot live without. My new post-it notes are really cute, floral in shape with stars for designs, they are orange. I love this color.

I decided this past fall that while I do use my calendar on my iPhone since it syncs up nicely into my world, I still wanted to have an organizer to throw my bills, notes and ideas into. That’s when I saw and fell in love with my kate spade planner. It’s truly marvelous. The sayings, pictures, designs and colors (black with a green closure), are lively and inviting. I picked up a calendar for my workspace that matches this collection while shopping in Chicago last week. To get the collection, just look for the Ace of Spades…this calendar is vibrant and full of colors.

Self

The magazine. I’m still trying to finish reading the September 2011 issue with Jennifer Hudson on the cover. I don’t ever dare toss a magazine without reading it. Even when I’m finished with it, I pass it on to share or I recycle. I’m enjoying this issue.

Key Fob

My car requires a key fob to operate. Just yesterday I tossed my gym bag into the trunk of my car and then shut the trunk. I heard some beeping. It didn’t lock. THANK YOU KEY FOB! It’s just that smart.  I feel as if this concept was created for me and those like me who may nonchalantly leave their keys in the car or trunk when hurrying off to the gym…DOINK! (Thank you NeNe for that word. iLove!)

Larabar

I always carry something to eat. Today I’ve got a Larabar in Apple Pie. I get hungry!

That’s it, aside from a few bills and post-it notes to help me remember things. I love sharing little pieces of me with you. I like when you share too. What’s going on in your purse, pockets and messenger bags?

Have a great weekend, darlings.