Warning: Possibly TMI

In attempting to pack lightly for this trip, I thought "Really, what are the chances that I will have my first spontaneous period since 2000 in the next four days?"

You see where this is going.


On the plus side, this means my thyroid levels may finally be correct.

Apparently it really isn't just the media...

Guess what? Despite my previous post, it turns out I am suddenly quite interested in the Anna Nicole story. Why?

In working through my inbox, I came across this story in Mary Shomon's weekly thyroid disease newsletter.

It seems that Anna Nicole Smith had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a condition that causes hypothyroidism. Let me just say, hypothyroidism sucks. In any case, her condition may have been untreated. Depression & weight gain are just two of the symptoms, some others can be found here. I have to wonder, might Anna Nicole have been able to avoid all the other pharmaceuticals if her thyroid disease were treated?

Year ago, I moved and had to switch doctors in the middle of being diagnosed with hypothyroidism. It just so happens that doctors are not excited about you coming in to their office and saying "I have this" even when you assure them the "this" was suggested by another doctor.

My new doctor suggested antidepressants instead of thyroid hormone replacement therapy. I considered saying "Yes, I'd love to treat the just one of my many symptoms instead of the underlying condition" but I was afraid the sarcasm would be missed. Instead, I opted for the less ambiguous "Given that I know thyroid hormone is involved in the pathway for the production of serotonin in the brain, I will not even consider antidepressants until hypothyroidism is ruled out. Check my antibodies. Bitch."

Okay, I didn't actually say "bitch" - but I did get the antibody test leading to a diagnosis of Hashimoto's.

Anyway, if someday you are sleeping 9 or 10 hours a day, have dry skin and dry eyes, gain weight, lose hair and can't think as quickly as you could before: please get your thyroid checked.