Dear Thyroid^TM

I had P.M.S.
But I am not a woman
Damn you my thyroid!

(Bio) Mike has the nobody-knows-why-type of hypothyroidism for at least the last 9.5 years.  He’s only 36 now, but feels 63.

Dear Thyroid,

How are you doing today? I hope that all is well with you and your Endocrine family. I know that when I have support in my life, things seem better. So I hope that you are supported by your many glandular friends.

My days, Thyroid, are on the mend. I have been researching about your devious ways, and now I feel empowered, and ready to fight back. But, my goal is for us to be friends, and actually work together.

Twelve years ago, I allowed you to take the reins, and because of that, you lead me down a very dark and scary path. My health was not good, thanks to you, and you had many doctors puzzled. I have to give you credit though; you are very smart and persistent. But, by you trying to be the master, you pushed all of your supporters away. And that pushing is what caused me to be infertile. What have I done to upset you so much? You know that having a child is a dream of mine, and you come along, and crush it. You can try all you like to keep me on the sidelines, and keep me feeling bad, but I am here to tell you that your time is up. I am taking back my life, and you are going to comply. 

Please do not be upset with me. I have spoken to your supporters, and they all agree that you need to work with us in order to be happy. Thyroid, how can you be happy, when everything else around you is so miserable? I thought you were intelligent enough to notice others’ discomfort.

So I am writing to you today, begging you to talk with us. What can I do for you that will enable our happiness? Is there something that you need, or require of me? I am very sorry that you have decided to ignore me, now that I am feeling better.

I really do need you, Thyroid, and I love you. Always know that you will be a part of me, no matter where I am in life. I really want us to be friends. After all that we have been through together, I don’t think that is asking too much. Please give it some thought, and in the meantime, I will support you as long as you need. 

Thank you for listening to me. I am here for you if you need to talk as well. And don’t worry; those feelings of rage, depression, and frustration have not been around in awhile, so rest assured that you will not be ambushed by them. The only emotion available to you now is love. 

* Arms open wide, waiting for an embrace*

Love,

Courtney

(Bio) My name is Courtney Hamm, and I am a thyroid survivor. I have suffered from Hashimoto’s for the past thirteen years. I have ridden the emotional roller coaster that we have all ridden, and it seemed as if there was no end in sight. I am 31 years old, and each day, was a challenge. But I refuse to allow this to consume me any longer. I am a figher, and I am going to beat this… just like the rest of you will.

Twitter:

@EAWake Sick and tired of freezing and sweating at same time!

Facebook:

Robyn Davis Hahn I feel like poop. I am on the WHEENIEST amount of Synthroid and had been feeling very HYPO. Two days into a miniscule increase — heart rate up 20 bpm, hard beats, anxiety. Seriously? Over 12.5 mcg? I’m not sure if that means I need a different drug (Levoxyl? Armour?), or if my system is just that sensitive. Whah, whah, whah. Rant over.

Billie Jean Doty I’m trying to figure out a way to carry my bed around with me, like to work, without getting in trouble. Brain Frog/exhaustion/swelling bad this week and as to this eating it raw stuff, that raw turnip I just cut up and ate has done quite a number on my bowel loops.  Thanks for that.

Sarina Favazza-Bray New to all this. One week out — thyroid cancer — and now a nasty scar that looks like a chainsaw taken to my neck. I am on tons of vitamins and my heart rate was in the 140 range yesterday. Went to the ER, now on Digoxion to slow it down, all because of the removal and hormones. I’m tired but have insomnia so I don’t sleep, just lay around, so miserable. What am I in for??

Annie Rz Oh ya know, my fingers actually “peel” more so on my thumbs.  Such DRY skin. The endocrinologist just says, “Oh, that, just… blah blah blah.” I have turned to this peeling when I am nervous. Also, wash hands lots — work with young art students!

Sarina Favazza-Bray Well lets see, two surgeries in two weeks, heart flutter problems, a-fib, and today a visit with doc cause puss is in the incision. So how your week?!? ‘Cause mine sucks!

Billie Jean Doty Getting pretty damn tired of feeling pretty good only to have a thyroid crash and the need to nap in my car on my lunch hour.

Joyce Jordan Corley I’m tired of not getting to sleep until midnight, then by 4 in the afternoon I can’t hold my eyes open. I actually fell asleep at my desk today. Sitting straight up, hand on the mouse. Then I almost fell asleep driving home. Plus the extra 10 pounds I have gained in the past month really make me feel great.

Kathleen Taylor I squashed you a little bit while I was away on my trip, ‘til you tried to sneak thru in mood swings and sleeplessness. I hid it, but it was there in my head. What now?! Do you think that you’re trying to get even with me by making me so achy and tired that I can’t even get up to go to bed? The gassiness from the ibuprofen propels me from the bedroom door right into the bathroom. I’m tired from all this running around. You hear me?! I’m tired!

Rebekah McAlinden I can’t seem to shake this stupid cold. Stupid thyroid fucking with my stupid immune system.

Sarina Favazza-Bray Oh what am I looking forward to in the coming years?? Scary, just like it’s Halloween everyday… without the candy

Robyn Davis Hahn I got one for you. Thyroid — you suck. I was on 50 mcg of Synthroid–BABY DOSAGE — and you made me hypER. Cut the dose in half and guess what? My latest labs say I’m more hypO than before starting treatment! No wonder I feel like shit!

Hans-Dieter Honscheid Thyrant: So my thyroid cancer reared its ugly head this week through an uptake on a scan. Growing things is wonderful in the garden, but not in your body; that is unless your last name is Uterus, then, of course, it’s called bundle of joy.

Dear Thyroid,

Do you realize what you are doing to me? I am in my mid-twenties, but because of you, I have to take a nap each day like a 3-year-old. Every day I try to do my best at school but it seems like I just can’t seem to concentrate for more than 10 minutes. Thanks for making me feel like an idiot. And what about chocolate? You know how I like chocolate, but just looking at it makes me gain 2 pounds.

I have been dealing with you for a long time without even knowing it. A few months ago, I actually thought I was just fat and tired. And now I know that I am sick. It is kind of a relief, because I can fight those, and the many other symptoms, but I am constantly reminded of you.

Every day I wake up knowing that I am sick and that I will be sick for the rest of my life. As frustrating as that is, there is something worse, that has nothing to do with you, dear thyroid, for a change—

It’s the way people react when I tell them about my disease. A few have been very supportive, and, I especially want to thank @ThyroidMary for her help and support here. Most people told me that I finally have found an excuse for being fat and lazy. Isn’t that nice?

I am helping you, my dear thyroid, now by taking the meds you and I need to go through this. And how do you thank me for that? You are turning me into a manic depressive insomniac. I have seen more doctors in the past few weeks than in my whole life before. I had to get all the information on what´s wrong with you on my own.

I did all this to make sure we get along. So could you do something for me for a change? Please let me go back to the person I was before you and I got sick. Please, just give me back my life.

(Bio) My name is Christina Hütten and I am 25 years old.I got diagnosed with Hashimotos disease two weeks ago, but I have been dealing with it for a long time before that and there is almost nothing left of my thyroid.