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Meet HypoGirl, Hypothyroid Blogger
HypoGirl.com is a fabulous blog, penned by Jody Turek, a Hashimoto’s/Hypothyroid patient. Her blog illustrates her experience of her disease via written posts and podcasts. She’s an approachable dame, a wonderful writer and visually her blog is so attractive; we think you’ll just love it.
We asked HypoGirl a few questions about her blog. Please find her responses below. Thanks, Jody!
Your blog is called Hypo Girl. Love the name. Aside from being hypothyroid, why did you choose the name?
I named myself about 4 – 5 months before I even started my blog. A large part of the name really came from a place of power. I was driving in the car one day, after a particularly terrible hypo day, and asked myself what would/could give me strength. An imagine came to me, it was like a picture out of a comic book, it was very colorful, and this cape (yellow in color) flashed before me and I felt comfort. I felt that with a cape I could take over my disease! I felt the name Hypogirl gave me strength. It sounds corny when I write it down, but it’s the truth!
Can you tell us more about you and your background with hypothyroidism?
My background with Hypothyroidism started by me just not feeling right and unsure what was going on. I can’t even tell you when I put most of my Thyroid weight on, or when I started losing my hair or when my skin became very dry. The reason I can’t is – I never paid that much attention to myself. I know it sounds terrible to say, but I just wasn’t that in tune with my body. I was really too busy living! The first sign or symptom I suffered from was being tired. I couldn’t seem to get enough sleep and I started having problems focusing. I did research online regarding my symptoms and actually felt that I could have a Thyroid problem. I met with my doctor in 2002 and was immediately told that my Thyroid wasn’t the problem – the problem was that I was depressed and needed a hobby! It wasn’t until months later that I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis after joining a boot camp at the gym and almost giving myself a heart attack after the 2nd week. Looking back my decent into Hashimoto’s was a rather slow one. I gradually added symptoms as the years went on. My first Podcast explains most of the things I went through before being completely diagnosed.
What does Hypo Girl mean to you?
The name has many meanings to me, power, strength, the ability to leap buildings in a single bound. It represents me. Every time I see it or think of my name it evokes a sense of self. It feels very much a part of me.
What kind of information and resources are you sharing with your readers?
Most of the information from my site comes in the form of daily life with Hashimoto’s. I share my experiences and daily struggles with the disease and add some fun things in between.
What makes your blog different and unique from other thyroid blogs?
I thought long and hard about starting a blog. I questioned it a lot. What could I add to the Thyroid Blog community? What is interesting about my story? Why would anyone read it? Can my thyroid keep up with a blog? In the end I jumped. I choose to start the blog, had my husband design it and promptly didn’t write a thing. Once I did start to write I found it fun. I am by no means a good writer – my sentence skills are terrible! But I like doing it. I think it’s unique in that I sometimes write about my disease and I sometimes don’t. I show a larger picture of myself because there is much more to me than being Hypothyroid.
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Tags: hashimoto's blog, hashimotos bloggers, hashimotos thyroiditis blogs, HypoGirl hypothyroid blog, hypothyroid patient blogs, hypothyroidism bloggers, hypothyroidism blogs, Thyroid Bloggers
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14 Responses to “Meet HypoGirl, Hypothyroid Blogger”
Leave a Reply to Shelly
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Wow! Thanks for sharing this. I was also told that my syptoms were caused by depression and that I needed to take anti-depressants. I was told that it was all in my head. Its really depressing to me, even now. I have since been diagnosed both Graves and Hashimotos. I am finding that this is a common problem. Am I wrong?
Thanks for sharing the information!
My darling, Jill, You are NOT WRONG. Sadly, so many of us are misdiagnosed and diagnosed with multiple thyroid autoimmune conditions. there are a lot of community members at Dear Thyroid who have both. I want to make sure that you know, that you aren’t alone!
How are you doing, kid? How are you dealing with everything? How are you managing/coping? When were you diagnosed?
xo
My endo told me it was rare but its so nice to hear someone else out there is on this trip with me. I would never wish this on my worst enemy, let alone a friend, but it is comforting to know I am not alone. THANK YOU.
I am not here to lie so I will say that I did not start off handling this well. I have had serious depression in the efforts of finding what was wrong with me because I had been told by a few different doctors that it was all in my head. It was actually my husband’s support and encouragement that led me to switch doctors again. My new GP was fantastic and felt a goiter and nodule in our first visit. I was first diagnosed with Celiacs disease in April, then unexplained hypoglycemia a week later. I was diagnosed Graves first week of May and referred to my endo, who diagnosed me with Hashimotos as well 2 weeks later. The whirlwind of testing and medication has been truly overwhelming.
I am still struggling with serious symtpoms of both Graves and Hashimotos, am on a strict diet and check my blood sugar often. Two weeks ago got a diagnosis of Degenerative disc disease and am awaiting a referral to a spine specialist as well. I have three children. My oldest has Tourette’s syndrome, my daughter has Celiac disease also, and my youngest has a migraine disorder with insomnia that requires him to go to school online. I try to be super mom but it all just caught up with me I guess. I’m grateful it was summertime! lol I am thankful for my husband’s good health and his strength.
I am trying to keep my mind occupied and am thankful for Dear Thyroid. I feel like I have a place to speak without being judged. Its refreshing. I am taking one day at a time and am trying to have a positive attitude and be thankful for the small things. -Thanks Amanda!-
Sorry for my rambling but thanks so much for asking.
Jill! Loved that you shared your story. We all deal with so much INCLUDING our disease. Here is the place to let go and ramble. I was unsure about it when I came her a few short months ago, but now I know it is so damn helpful to get stuff out and sort of let it go.
Amanda
Amanda,
I have only found you all recently but in that short time it has seemed to help me tremendously. I didn’t realize how helpful it would truly be. Thanks again.
Jill
Jill;
Katie here. I have Graves’ disease. Many of our community members have both. I PROMISE YOU THAT YOU AREN’T ALONE. In fact, some of our members have been diagnosed simultaneously or diagnosed as having one and acquiring the other afterwards.
OF COURSE IT’S OVERWHELMING and the depression is fierce. Not only are you dealing with psychiatric issues as a result of your thyroid, you’re also dealing with depression associated with misdiagnoses, TIME LOST, and autoimmune conditions. You never invited this disease into your life. Yet, here it is and a forced reinvention has taken place. You have every right to mourn and feel sad, and angry, and frustrated, and anything else you feel. This is the place to express EVERYTHING YOU FEEL (save religion and politics).
I am thankful to your husband, too. My dear, you are super mom, just by being you. These are autoimmune conditions. I feel compelled to reiterate that you did not bring this on. Autoimmune disorders can be genetic and lay dormant. some scientists have said that they surface when triggered, while others debunk that.
PLEASE NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR RAMBLING. YOU AREN’T RAMBLING. YOU ARE EXPRESSING YOURSELF, BEAUTIFULLY, ARTICULATELY AND HONESTLY. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. PLEASE KEEP WRITING. KEEP TALKING. KEEP CONNECTING. YOU AREN’T ALONE. Anything I/we can do to help, we want to do. this isn’t an easy journey. You will get through it. you will find your way.
We’re grateful that we found each other.
Please check out these posts re: psychiatric disturbances in thyroid patients.
Psychiatrist, Dr. Bremner: http://dearthyroid.org/psychiatric-manifestations-in-thyroid-patients-written-by-douglas-bremner-md/
Thyme for Literary healing: Psychiatric manifestations: http://dearthyroid.org/thyme-for-some-literary-healing-part-viii/ and Anxiety: http://dearthyroid.org/thyme-for-some-literary-healing-part-vii/
are you friends with us on Facebook, too? http://facebook.com/dearthyroid.
If you need anything, don’t hesitate to email me http://dearthyroid.org/about/katie-schwartz/ or any of our team members. http://dearthyroid.org/our-team/
You’re doing great, kid.
xo
Katie
Katie,
Thanks so much for your support and encouragment. It truly means the world to me. I will check out the links you shared with me.
Jill
Jill;
It and you are my pleasure! Anything you need, let us know. Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.
Wishing you the world,
Katie
Jill,
while I don’t suffer from both Hashi’s and Grave’s. I wanted to let you know I stand with you. You are never alone and we love hearing stories about others with our disease. It gives all of us strength. Many hugs to you.
Hypogirl- I loved reading your story and I really appreciate the encouragement and support I have found here. Thanks so much.
Jill
Hypogirl!
I loved reading your story, and about why you chose Hypogirl. It is like a super hero name, great positive reference for yourself. I really think we can help each other buy just sharing how we get through a day, it gives others hope.
Amanda
Hypogirl Jody I love your blogs and podcasts what they stand for, just putting things down daily goes a long way in undertanding what your disease does to you on a daily basis, thanks for sharing it with everyone.Your just amazing.
I luv u thyrella and I am still wearing my flame resistant pants incase my thys set them alight.
Lollyxoxox
I have been dealing with Hashimoto’s and am wondering what else I can be doing to feel better. I have been gluten and dairy free for quite a while. I am on an elimination diet right now to see what else I am sensitive to. I am not currently on medication, because I could not sleep and was having heart palpitations. My doctor has not been proactive in helping me. Do I need a new doctor? What other suggestions might you have?
Everyone – Thanks so much for the support! The reason I do the podcast is for all those mentioned. Sharing and getting my thoughts out. I appreciate everyone of you and would carry a torch with you to throw your thyroid out of town!
Lolly – Keep those pants on! We don’t want you catching fire luv! 😉
Shelly – It sounds like you were on too high of dosage. Maybe try to see if you doctor can give you a lower dosage or maybe look for another one.