DEAR THYROID^TM

THYROID DISEASE

I move slowly, suspended in gel

Perhaps no one else except me can tell

A shadow of my former life,

a fading woman; mother; wife

My clock winds down, reflexes slow

Waning desire to come and go

As if I’m trapped in slower motion

Less vitality to face life’s growing commotion

At 20, a swelling in my throat;

At 30, weighed down by a heavy coat;

At 40, I begin to despair

At 50, I mourn my falling hair

The doctors tell me that I’m all right;

Though I can no longer go out at night

They tell me it’s all in my head;

When morning comes, I’m still in bed

They give me Prozac; I’m a mess,

Feeling that “I” am less and less

I know something’s wrong, I can’t do my best;

I’ve lost desire, lost my zest

They tell me just to exercise,

To trim my growing waist and thighs

The models from magazines laugh in my face

As I look at them, I see a trace

Of my former self, who I “could” be

If I could only find the key

“Unlock this door – this is not me!”

I demand to find my vitality

I am not old, my desire’s not cold;

I simply must find someone I trust

To walk with me on this lonely road;

To help relieve this heavy load

To help me find my former self,

So I can put this Prozac back on the shelf

So I can live my fullest life,

So I can be his fullest wife

So I can be their fullest mother;

Without wishing I could be another

There was a woman, too tired to care;

She laid on the couch, and simply stared

Her toddler wandered out the door;

And she, too tired to arise once more

The baby crawled out and down the hill;

But she was unable to find the will –

To arise and seek her precious child,

All because of  Hypothyroid – Mild

Her child drowned in shallow water;

Because her doctor wouldn’t order

A standard bottle of thyroid pills;

She simply couldn’t find the will

The thyroid is a tiny gland;

Though small indeed it can command

The thyroid can command the will

Through a simple cream, or a combined pill

It can make the difference

In the quality of life;

Can turn a shadow back into a wife;

Can restore the will of a tired mother;

Struggling to care for her beloved other.

It can help one be her fullest self;

Help others put Prozac back on the shelf

When functioning well it can restore our health;

Help us create love and wealth

It’s because of finding the proper amount;

That I stand before you with blessings to count

Its’ the little meds that help me think;

That brought me back from a lonely brink

It’s cheap, and quickly can restore

The will to live in millions more

Why should so many suffer in pain,

When someone like you can help them gain –

their dignity, strength and self esteem

from a compounded solution or a cream?

I urge you to help them to repair

The damage to their skin and hair,

The exhaustion that has overtaken their life

The courage to be a full mother or wife

Fathers, brothers, and animals too

Can benefit from what we’re telling you

That thyroid is a simple cure

For millions who walk in through your door

Help them to take a different track;

To gain their strength and vitality back

Help them to know the simple truth;

They’ll consider you a sayer or sooth

It’s truly not a mystery,

Simply a matter of finding the key

Help them unlock the door to health;

And to put toxic medicines back on the shelf!

Presented by: Karilee Shames, PhD, RN (Added by Katie, and thyroid patient advocate). PCCA International Seminar. January 2003. www.feelingFFF.com

Tags: creative writing, Dear Thyroid, poetry, thyroid, thyroid community, Thyroid patient letters, thyroid patient writings, thyroid poems, Thyroid Poetry, thyroid support

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