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Going For The Throat: 6 Word Thyroid Monographs
Going For The Throat: Written by Robyn Davis Hahn
I was listening to NPR the other day while driving to work when I heard an interesting story. (This is a statement I can make several times a week). On Talk of the Nation, the creator and editor of Smith Magazine discussed their 4th book, a collection of 6 word memoirs from submissions to the site written by authors known and unknown. Immediately, this popped into my head:
never the same again. thanks thyroid
Their idea is not unique. If you google “6 word” you will find blogs, contests, college exercises, and the like all attempting to boil down the essence of an idea, autobiography, feeling, or story down to just 6 words. It’s the ultimate short story (my favorite literary art form), a concentrated haiku, a condensed digest, and I am in love.
it all revolves around my throat
The origin of this enterprise is a bet. (Seriously, could the story get any better?), In the 1920’s, colleagues of Ernest Hemingway wagered that he could not write a story in just 6 words. Of course, Papa rose to the occasion, and wrote what he allegedly considered to be his best work: For sale: baby shoes, never used.
I couldn’t wait to get pen to paper (or rather, fire up the MacBook) and have thought of little else since. Dear Thyroid is a literary thyroid disease and thyroid cancer support site, right?, We have so many fantastic, creative, distressed, soulful, funny, uncertain, and courageous community members–and I am in awe of your letters every week. Having written a letter myself, I know the catharsis, and the effort that go into them, and we all heal a little with each addition.
I didn’t know I was sick
How would you describe your disease in 6 words?, Or how your life has changed? Maybe it’s a feeling or emotion that you can’t shake, or a quiet relief for an official diagnosis.
little white pill, please heal me
My challenge:, create your 6 word thygraph (thyroid monograph) and either post it in the comment section, on the forum, or email it to me (robyn@dearthyroid.org). Submit one, or a hundred. Submit one every day! Next week, Katie, Liz, and I will each choose our favorites, and I’ll ask my husband to choose one as well (a non-thyroid patient perspective). From these four semi-finalists, one will be chosen at random for a Dear Thyroid T-shirt.
let the thyroid literary games begin!
Tags: 6 word literary contest, conveying symptoms, endocrinologist issues, improving patient doctor relationships, literary contest, patient responsibility, Robyn Davis Hahn Health Care Writer, speaking with doctors, thyroid health, thyroid patient issues
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174 Responses to “Going For The Throat: 6 Word Thyroid Monographs”
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Dana – so glad I’m not the only one who feels that way. I feel like when I talk about it in terms of cancer, people think I’m overreacting because of the high cure rate, but 1. I’m losing my whole thyroid gland (there’s another 6-word for you), and 2. It still feels like my body betrayed me completely and my whole sense of being healthy is off. Not to mention the radioactive iodine, fears of recurrence, etc.
Which is riskier: radiation or not?
I never stopped talking before surgery.
Ironic surgery steals my voice too.
It’s not me but it is.
I know I was a bitch.
Can’t explain why I’m like this.
Blame me for symptoms and stress.
Who destroyed this: me or it?
Anxious, depressed insomniac needs lower dose.
What if the drugs never help?
Which symptoms won’t ever go away?
Lower right lobe; one stupid tumor.
Stop calling it a nodule, jackass.
The “good cancer” is all yours.
It’s exactly the same except not.
The critical difference is side effects.
I can’t stop typing six words.
Dear thyroid, tried to save you.
You’re ruining my life, ambivalent gland.
Hyper, hypo, euthyroid: the numbers lie.
Feel like a support group impostor.
I’m Stephanie and I’m a number.
It’s so much worse than PMS.
You know they’re symptoms; don’t care.
I’m always too hot or cold.
I should probably go to bed.
Brava and Bravo!
I am so proud of all of you. Over 100 comments–memoirs, eulogies, epitaphs, monographs–about our lives since diagnosis.
Today was WAY bigger than I ever imagined!
My last 6 for today:
I love each of you, thanks!
Wouldn’t wish this on my enemies.
SO MANY THYROIDS…SO LITTLE HEALING…
Hello, I’m new here, but these are so fun! Thyroid has actually been the least of my issues for the most part, and I’ve never had a very bad form of hypothyroidism, but being diagnosed at 14 couldn’t have hurt that.
Thyroid: the start of it all.
The first thing found, medicated forever.
The one thing under control: Hypothyroidism.
The big, bold, horrible mess of illness.
It’s three. Twelve was just here!
Hauling eyelids up is tough work.
Each cell steals away my energy.
Yes, I know I look fine.
Big fucking tumor changed my life.
YOUR “good” cancer is not MINE.
This is great, I think it’s theraputic for all of us! Funny too. I like Christina’s: “What did I want to say???” <—that's me all day long!
Living blood test to blood test.
I'm not afraid of needles anymore.
Butterflies have a whole new meaning.
Don't ask me how I'm doing.
Sorry, honey, no sex drive tonight.
Sorry, honey, no sex drive EVER.
Shoot, I thought I submitted a comment but it’s not showing up.
But of course I could have just as easily hit the back button instead of the submit button.
And now I can’t remember what I wrote…
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by ThyroidMary: RT @dearthyroid: U have 2see the entries for the 6-word monograph contest, U must enter! http://bit.ly/9bAx77 @lejal @katieschwartz…
this is very interesting. i love this idea… where to start…
Dear Thyroid, you changed my life.
Dear Thyroid, i HATE you so.
Why did this happen to me???
Where did you come from thycancer???
Why did you chose me thycancer???
three weeks of no thyroxine… interesting???
WASN’T ME, IT WAS MY THYROID
Thanks Katie for helping me realize this. All water under the bridge now, and I’m clip-clopping in a new direction, no regrets. Thanks to my thyfriends, you all must know what a difference it makes to have this kind of support.
Hypo, Hashi’s, goiter – thyroid thyfecta hoiter.
(I just woke up and this popped into my brain. You didn’t say we couldn’t make words up!)
Slice, dice, mice or play nice?
Sleep only happens in the afternoon.
Tiny little messengers telling thyroid lies.
Wow, this is addictive!
hypo with insomnia. what. the. fuck.
Yes, my symptoms aren’t that typical
Did we already talk about this?
yeah, I still have some hair…
But it looks like spider webs!
Stupid TSH value holds me hostage.
Fuck labs, I KNOW HOW I FEEL
Hypothyroid/Hemorrhoid- both rhyme and hurt!
Feeling like crap, that never changes!
Hey, I’m still in here somewhere!
Wish everyone could be more understanding!
Can I get paid for naps?!
No, I’m not lazy, just sick!
hot, cold, raging, demur, fat, fatter
various symptoms, diagnosis, medication, unknown cure
I once was, now I wish
youth, thyroid hell, menopause, eldery, life
Finally understanding, and loving wife more.
Hate myself for not being there.
Oh, Thyroid, you’re making me CRAZY!!
Thyroid, Thyroid, living in my neck…
You are making me a WRECK!
Wish that you could GO AWAY,
I feel really weird every day!
Forever Searching, Can’t Quit, Strong – lonely!
(I may feel lonely in my search but I am never alone with Dearthyroid.org – THANK YOU!)
Thyroid disease…a life-changing diagnosis…
Treat the patient, not the chart!
Thy can do this, yes thy can!!!
Can you tell…sleep avoids me…
One minute FREEZING, next minute SWEATING!!
SORRY, JUST CAN’T STOP MY BRAIN!
NEW MEDS HAVEN’T KICKED IN YET!!!
Need You To Leave Me Alone!
Thyroid cancer saps your juices dry
TSH (Thycancer Smells Horrible) – so true!
T3 T4 Tease … Dosage Roller Coaster
ThyVampire goes for your precious energy
Graves Disease…Your Body ATTACKING ITSELF!!
Hyperthyroid, Hypothyroid…hope, fear, panic…
My son, only 25, has Graves…
I have it, but WHY HIM???
Hypothyroid of unknown cause – Iodine Deficiency??
Looking for answers, reasons – Competent Endo!!
Why Me? Why Me? Why Not!!
Life is too short for this!!
Thyroid, time for a little chat!!
Thyroid look out, LETTER coming soon!
Did my diet just fail you?
Mom’s hyperthyroid, soy formula, my hypothyroid.
———–
To Dearthyroid.org – This experience/exercise has given me an opportunity to “come out of the closet” about my hypothyroid (unknown cause). I can feel a letter to my thyroid bursting out of me SOON. Thank you for offering an open door, a friendly ear and mostly a caring heart!
Hyperthyroid: harder than my breast cancer…
only thyroid cancer? aren’t i lucky?
Hypo, Hypo, off to bed I go!
Two Benedryl equals two hours sleep.
I feel so out of control!
Robbed my kids a “living” mom!
Husband hates me because of you!
Just want to be normal again.
I want to start living again.
Why isn’t thyroid disease taken seriously?
And no I am NOT FINE!!
Forgot what I wanted to write
Dear Thyroid Cancer:
Did you cause my weight gain?
Did you cause my idiopathic urticaria?
Why did this happen to me?
My parathyroids suffered because of you
Good riddance forever, don’t come back
DOCTOR, WALKA MILE IN “MY” SHOES!!
Just received purple bracelet – feeling SPECIAL.
THANK YOU Dearthyroid, you are SPECIAL.
did i already submit that one?
losing track, but having fun here…
and that Dr. needs to COMPREHEND!!!
Do you relate to my problem?
I sure want a purple bracelet…
Dear Thyroid, can I have one?
My reason for a fat ass
After wearing my new awareness band/bracelet all afternoon I have decided it is more a calming shade of lavender or maybe lilac (emphasize “calming”). Either way I still feel special!!
Whew! – I can still speak in sentences longer than 6 words! But it just isn’t the same!