Living with Hypothyroidism
According to WebMD Hypothyroidism is “a lack of thyroid hormone. It develops when the thyroid gland does not produce enough of the hormone, which controls the way the body uses energy. A lack of thyroid hormone affects all body systems.”
Six months after my first son was born I started noticing that I was sleeping as much as he was which was about 9 to 11 hours a day. I felt very lethargic all the time, like I was in a fog. I was also very cold all the time. My husband told me that I’d better do something soon.
I knew hypothyroidism was a possibility since both of my parents have the same condition. I went to the doctor and had a blood test that tests the TSH, or level of thyroid hormone in the blood. Normal TSH levels are between 5 and 15. Mine was around 90.
I was placed on thyroid hormone replacement therapy. I take a pill once a day in the morning. It takes awhile for the replacement hormone to take affect. So it’s important to take it everyday. I use a pill box that has a space for each day of the week. I place my pill box next to my tea cup so I remember to take it before I eat breakfast.
Your doctor may test your blood as often as every 3 months until your TSH is in the normal range. Then once it is regulated you will still have to have your blood tested at least once a year.
It is important to watch for signs that your thyroid is still not working properly. In women this can be periods that are heavier or last longer than normal. Also if you notice that you are very tired or lethargic like when you were first diagnosed.
If hypothyroidism is not treated properly it can lead to high cholesterol and fluid around the heart. Studies have even shown hypothyroidism to sometimes be the cause of late term miscarriage.
I have now lived with this condition for 11 years. At first I thought that it would be difficult to manage. I also thought that it would make it difficult for me to conceive more children or interfere with future pregnancies. I went on to have 2 more healthy beautiful boys.
Thanks to hormone replacement therapies hypothyroidism is a condition that can be easily treated and will not get in the way of you living a full life.
