In 2002 I was diagnosed with a slow thyroid. I like to call it a lazy good for nothing thyroid. I take a pill every morning to get it going. I have to wait an hour to eat every morning so that this pill will work its magic and make my stuff regular. This is a very common ailment, and a lot of overweight people have this undiagnosed issue. It is simple to get tested, and all you need is a little blood draw. I found out I had an issue because I kept passing out places. Mostly bathrooms (weird). I even went to the Post Office once to mail a package, got in line, started to pass out, and had to go sit out in my car.
You should have your thyroid tested at least once a year, to make sure that the dosage of medication you are taking is still the correct dosage. I use to get it tested every 6 months, but haven’t for the last year since I was pregnant. There is a point to this I promise. Since I quit my full-time job and started staying home with Hanna, I have no healthcare (hub’s and baby are covered, I didn’t qualify because of my weight), so I can’t go get my blood tests without paying crazy hospital bills.
The funny thing is that the thyroid is supposed to be the regulation system of the body. It makes sure everything is synced up and running like a well oiled machine. On my last major weight loss (last month) I had been without my thyroid pill for almost a week, and I lost a good amount of weight. I’m not saying that this is a magic maker or anything, but I haven’t been taking my medication for the last 3 days and I have weighed myself every morning, and every morning I have lost weight. I have been eating nothing out of the ordinary. I can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with the medication?
Has anybody dealt with this issue before? Any advice?
Second, my foot hurts. I can weight lift, I can ellipticize, but walking is difficult without a lot of pain in my arch. It also feels like it has a great big bruise on the top of my foot, like someone dropped a HUGE book on it. I have no idea what I did to it, but for now I’m trying to take it a little easy. The 5K is this weekend and if my foot doesn’t start feeling better I may not be able to even walk it, let alone anything faster.
Sorry to whine, but at least the scale seems to be moving! Weigh in tomorrow!
wordsfallfrommyeyes
/ October 12, 2011Wow, I haven’t at all dealt with this issue before, but I can’t help thinking it would be okay FOR A WHILE with the weight loss – I could do with a bit of that! But as for taking a pill each morning for life, not sure about that. I hope you are coping okay
J.Sto (@jennstolen)
/ October 12, 2011Your foot thing sounds exactly like what I’m dealing with now – a mid-foot sprain from overuse. I’m in a boot for 10 days at this point to treat it. If you continue to push it, it can result in a stress fracture which means a boot for even longer. Rest and advil/aleve until it feels better.
Marion
/ October 12, 2011Hi Carrie! At least for me–I had to find a reasonable balance for how much exercise to do. Too little–not in shape, but too much–over 100 blisters and very sore feet, scary wobbly knees, and extremely sore shoulders that made me feel ancient. My body cannot handle 1 hour of elliptical for my knees or feet. I’m happier with no more than 30 minutes of intense cardio on my exercise days. So I do a very wide variety of exercises each week. A little bit of a lot of things.
Over-training is something you should be careful about. You are the type of personality (very excited and motivated type) that could over-train without realizing it. Listen to your body on workout days, and on the 1 to 2 days afterward to figure out what’s right for you.
Marion
Michelle
/ October 12, 2011It was also tough when I found out about my overactive thyroid about a year ago (mine has the opposite effect). My metabolism was going crazy and I lost 17 lbs in less than a month. I too now take medication everyday to help “control” or regulate my thyroid. My weight is back somewhat to normal, and I now see a endocrinologist twice a year. It definitely takes a lot of adjustment when you basically don’t have the control over your body anymore. Hang in there though. I’m still going through the motions of slowly readjusting to life with this disorder and I have faith that you will too.
Mary
/ October 14, 2011I’ve been taking thyroid medication since I was 15! Now that’s a long time! I’ve got LOTS to say about this issue, but to make it short and sweet — I say, “Take your medication and get a blood test twice a year!!!” Since Merrell had his thyroid removed last July, the medical profession has been trying to get him regulated. He is still not regulated (they keep increasing his dose), but that’s because they don’t want to overdose him. That causes other issues. This little gland really needs to be fine tuned and stay fine tuned. May I say that it is a pain.