DEAR THYROID^TM

As thyroid patients and patients with chronic autoimmune conditions and cancers, we undergo vast amounts of forced change. Obviously, this is a point of contention for us, as it should be. Why, the very idea of ‘change’, small or grand can seem invasive and overwhelming, even if it’s not related to disease.

Recently, I’ve come to learn how positive change can be, too. I haven’t, as a rule, acclimated to change graciously, shall we say. Before I got sick, change irked me — for a minute. I needed to catch my breath and regroup. During the heights of Graves’ disease, change has been even more challenging. No. Terrifying. Tough, recently my relationship with ‘change’ has, well, changed — entirely. I’m fascinated by this, actually.

Interestingly enough, today’s Dear Thyroid posts encapsulated change in varying degrees and regarding different topics. Amanda’s Dear Thyroid Letter  today was astounding. If you glance through Amanda’s posts and previous letter, you’ll see that for her, to now see doctors is empowering. That is a HUGE step forward. BRAVO to Amanda for this. Reading Sara’s butterflygraph is equally inspiring. Though, her butterfly gland has morphed her, to be sure. She stumbled on and recognized a sense of beauty. Again, bravo. Melissa’s column this week speaks to empowering ourselves and changing our doctor/patient relationships, as well as educating ourselves about our diseases. How magnificent is that?!

I guess my point is, that change can beget evolution, metamorphosis, healing and perhaps other positive things, too, even when we don’t always recognize it.

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Pissed Off Has Turned To Empowered, please connect with Amanda in comments, even if it’s just to say ‘atta girl’ or ‘way to go’. Thanks to all of your support, Amanda has grown leaps and bounds.

Excerpt: “And you thyroid?  She put me in control, you are not the boss anymore. I chose methimazole [not endo’s first choice, and she was good with that] and she gave me gory details regarding possible side effects and allergic reactions.   Somehow her descriptions, and what she does to counteract or treat…relieved my fears.  She will be on top of this, I WILL BE ON TOP OF THIS.”

Butterfly Paragraph Submission, By Sara MacPhee. If you haven’t read Sara’s entry, please do, and cast your vote in comments!

Excerpt: “Butterflies are supposed to be beautiful, a sacred omen of change, pied beauty at its most glorious height.  As a young girl, I chased you from grass blade to leaf-palm, as if I could somehow absorb those dazzling colors and make them my own.”

Chronic Snarkopolist: The Snarkopolist Way to Educating Yourself As A Patient. Every patient should read this post. In fact, it should be required reading. Being educated and informed improves OUR HEALTH and OUR DOCTOR PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS.

Excerpt: “I was snarking around lately when I received another question from one of you.  It was a BRILLIANT question that every doctor, therapist, psychologist, physical therapist, and pain counselor would weep beautiful tears of joy over!  If more people asked these questions and then followed through and self-educated, the world would be a healthier place!science of [my illness]? How do I educate myself on this one?””

Comment of the day…

Parin Stormlaughter says:

It’s a shame that doctor’s fees often go to pay for their education and not ours, isn’t it?

Very good post and EXCELLENT library advice! Got a daughter who is a librarian and she starts on her MLIS in a month or so. Libraries are vastly underutilized and your recommendations are spot-on.

GO US!!

Tags: Comment of the Day, community building, Dear Thyroid, graves disease support, hashimoto's disease support, Health Community, health support community, hyperthyroid support, hypothyroid support, literary community, literary support, thyroid cancer support, thyroid community, thyroid literary community, thyroid support community

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