My Un-TTWD Post

Hello, out there!  What a great morning to write.  So, the title today is exactly what it means.  I feel compelled to share some things with you that are not particularly TTWD related, but felt it may help some of you who were curious about why I had been rather sporadic in my posts of late.  Well, not the last few days, but over the past few months.  

TTWD/DD is definitely alive and well here, but it's a bit different.  I have had some health issues that are effecting our day to day lives and that has made doing anything extra rather...challenging?  I guess that's the correct wording.  At least, that is what I"m going with right now.  So let's chat a bit and see if I can explain things better.  Let's see if I can pull out my courage, as I rarely like to give time to such matters, but really want to share in case it may help someone else.

In my early years of college I had some "episodes" of fainting and low energy.  My parents were proactive and tried to figure out was going on.  There were times my energy level would drop out of no where and I was often exhausted and dehydrated for no known reason.  After a plethora of testing it was finally deemed I was hypoglycemic.  So, the recommendations consisted of small meals throughout the day and it seemed to regulate the problem.  No, real concern and things finally worked themselves out as I learned that a granola bar did not constitute a meal.  Yes, I was a college girl who would forget to eat and busy with school and work.  

After college I began my career and worked extremely long hours, but always had snacks on hand.  Fast forward a few years and Hoss and I were dating.  That December life changed in more ways than just an engagement.  I lost 20 pounds, started losing my hair, could not control my body temperature and would have frequent chills and bouts of confusion.  More testing.  The day after Christmas my doctor called and informed me that my thyroid had gone hyper to the point I was literally in danger of dying from a thyroid storm.  My levels were so high!  A mere three weeks later my thyroid was completely removed along with some of my parathyroids.  I'd had a goiter that was benign, but had caused things to go cattywampus.  Poor Hoss, I have no idea how he tolerated all of the craziness, but I'm so happy he did!

Fast forward a few months to a lovely wedding and a honeymoon.  A busy start to our life and things were running fairly smoothly until I became pregnant.  A few weeks in morning sickness hit with vengeance.  No, problem, right?  Everyone has morning sickness.  By week 13, I was feeling better, but then something else started to happen.  What we came to know as "lows" or "drops" happened frequently.  The doctors were not sure what was going on, but the OBGYN kept adjusting my thyroid meds as that seems to be the problem and I drank a ton of electrolytes and ate those small meals (and sometimes not so small meals) a day.  Love those pregnancy craving!  Things went well.  We had a beautiful new baby and lots of love to go around.  Each subsequent pregnancy brought more of the same.  Lots of drops and morning sickness worse with every pregnancy until the last one which literally went until my third trimester.  My OBGYN, recommended an endocrinologist, but my insurance would not cover it because our family doctor did not see it as necessary.  I made the mistake and let it go.  We were done with having babies and all seemed fine, well I coped.  I never had energy.  I liked our doctor and did not want to change just so I could see a specialist.  I was getting by.  I did not want to make waves.  I used a ton of excuses.  I became depressed.

Fast forward to the fact that we started TTWD/DD and Hoss found his voice.  Finally, when my cousin passed suddenly in March, and had similar symptoms throughout her life as I have had, he said, enough.  Hoss had me make a doctor's appointment with our doctor and when the results came back "fine" he said, "No, you go back in there and tell him you need to see an endo."  Well, I did.  My doctor told me it was a waste of time, that my thyroid numbers were all within normal range and I would be disappointed when the endo doc did nothing for me.  He also said it would take several months because of there being only a few endocrinologist in our area.  I said it was worth the risk and when I had an appointment the following week. Yes, literally the following week,  Hoss went with me.  

Guess what?  Yeah, I'm sure you already guessed.  My level were not correct.  Not only that they were severely out of whack.  So the specialist recommended some changes, but said it would take several weeks for my body to adjust to the additional meds.  Well, it felt like I've been stuck in crazy town for the last eight weeks.  Adjustments mean I have had times of no energy, times of wild hormones, inability to regulate my body temperature, heart racing or slowing, among other symptoms as my body tries to adjust to the medications.  

Let's just say, if my sweet hubby had not found a voice I would have settled for status quo.  I'm just complacent and do not like to make waves.  I put myself in a dangerous spot, but things are better.  Yes, my man said, "I told you so!"  Even so, Hoss has had to give me a great amount of leeway.  If I am tired I have to nap.  This is not an option.  The doctor insisted that was one of the best things to do was to listen to my body.  Eat my beloved carbs, no dieting until I go back in June.  Then hopefully, I will be able to find a lower carb diet that will not exasperate the symptoms.  The ultra low carb diet was making my condition worse.  So, I am coming back.  The lows and drops are less, bouts of craziness better, and energy is returning. 

So why share all of this?  I am hoping at least one person will learn from my mistakes.  Do not settle when it comes to your health.  Maybe, you have thought there was something wrong and your doctor has said things were fine.  Maybe, you have a lack of energy and wonder, if there may be a problem going on, but do not follow through.  Who knows, maybe the whole purpose of this post is to motivate you to push harder to find an answer.  Whatever the reason I felt so compelled to write this, I hope it helps someone.  Trust me, it is very hard for me to share as it is such a personal and scary experience for me, but I want to be real and truthful.  I want you to know that I care about those out there who are struggling and realize I struggle to.  I struggle to acknowledge I am not super woman, even though many tease me that I am.  I'm just me, doing the best I can, with one of the most amazing man to love me.

Thanks for listening.  Sending my love to you all.  
--Baker