A letter to my youngest son on his 6th birthday... My Sweet Alex aka Alexander the Great, I can hardly believe that you have made 6 trips around the sun already. What an incredible 6 years it has been! I have a few things to tell you and writing them down is always my best way to communicate. If I could tell you just one thing that I would want you to know for the rest of your life, it would be: "Be You". You know that you are loved and adored. Who you are is simply incredible. Never doubt that. Let me begin by reminding you of how you came to be. In the beginning, I was told that there was a problem with my pregnancy and that you may not make it. It was stressful, but I knew that you would be okay. I prayed that day as I laid on … [Read more...]
A Letter to My Son on his 10th Birthday – Congential Hypothyroidism
To my sweet son, William on the eve of your 10th birthday, Tomorrow, you will be 10! I've had a lot on my mind that I wanted to tell you. So, here goes... Ten years ago today, I went to Grammy & Grandpap’s house for an impromptu Bojanlges breakfast before Uncle Nick headed back to Florida. I wasn’t feeling so well, but couldn’t put my finger on why. The rest of the day was a pretty normal Saturday. That is until your Dad and I went to REI to cash in his gift cards from his birthday a few days before. I was standing there waiting for him to decide on a knife and I felt a pretty intense pain. I figured I was just tired (you were pretty heavy in my belly by then) and went to wait in the car. Later, it was determined that I was in … [Read more...]
Motivation Monday & Your Thyroid Disorder
I hear that it's Motivation Monday in the social media world. Here's what I want to say to you today. I spend an hour or so every day answering emails and Facebook messages from fellow thyroid disorder sufferers. There is a common theme and it's this: "I'm taking thyroid medication and I still have _____ symptoms." Are there some things that you may always deal with when you have a thyroid disorder? Yes, of course! However, if you are doing everything else right (taking your thyroid medication regularly, eating well, exercising, taking your vitamins and minerals, etc.) AND YOU STILL HAVE SYMPTOMS (like depression, hair loss, weight gain, etc.), then something isn't working! It's not normal to feel like crap! Let me say that one … [Read more...]
Congenital Hypothyroidism: The First Year
I am thrilled to share this touching letter with you from a mother to her daughter. Gabby, like my sons, was born with Congenital Hypothyroidism. Like all of us mothers and fathers who hear those words spoken about their newborns, Gabby's mother, Meghan, was so worried about what life would be like for her beautiful newborn daughter. Well, a year passed, and this is what Meghan has to say... Hi, everyone. We've just celebrated our baby girl’s first birthday. I write letters to my children on their birthdays, and I felt this was a great one for sharing. Gabby's one year birthday letter is for the day she leaves home, telling her story and diagnosis from the beginning. It brought me to tears many times thinking about the past year and the … [Read more...]
Too Young To Be So Sick: A Young Woman’s Battle With Graves’ Disease
As many of you know, my husband suffered through Graves' Disease. It was one of the worst things he has ever been through and it was devastating to watch. One of the more rewarding aspects of having opened up about our family's struggles with thyroid disorders is meeting other people who have been through the same things. Connecting with them and sharing with them has been so helpful to me, and I hope that it's helpful to you as well. I am honored to introduce you to Camilla Bevington: an incredible woman who was faced with the harshness of Graves' Disease at a young age. Her story will undoubtedly give you hope and courage as you face your own struggles or as you care for your children who are battling thyroid disorders. ~Blythe aka … [Read more...]
Vitamin D and Your Thyroid
I took this picture of turtles sunning themselves last summer. Not sure if you can see it very well, but there's one little turtle who crawled up onto a buddy's back. It reminds me of my youngest son, who is always climbing on someone or something. I so wish I was outside sunning like that right now. But, alas, it's winter, and most of us are spending our days inside. Winter is when Vitamin D levels are typically at their lowest. The Importance of Vitamin D I was sitting in a waiting room somewhere recently and I stumbled across an issue of the magazine, Natural Awakenings, and found a very interesting article about Vitamin D by Lisa Hogan, M.D. In the article, entitled "Vitamin D: A Very Important Hormone", Dr. Hogan discusses just … [Read more...]
How Do You Stay Hydrated in the Winter?
Did you know that you can become dehydrated in the winter just as easily as you can in the summer? It's true and the symptoms of dehydration are the same whether it's winter or summer. Even if you aren't sweating, you lose water vapor through your breath. I know that my kids and I have been feeling particularly parched lately and have dry, itchy skin. Hydration is important to adults and children with hypothyroidism. Many people with hypothyroidism complain of having dry skin, nails and hair, being constipated, and experience weight gain. Staying well hydrated can help with all of those things! While water is the best way to re-hydrate yourself, sometimes I want something different. Eating lots of fresh fruits (like watermelon) and … [Read more...]
Rise and Thrive!
So, it's that time of the year where we focus on new beginnings and starting over. I used to write new year's resolutions. I have kept some and totally missed the boat on others. A friend of mine, Sunny Schlenger, suggested new year's intentions. Sunny is a professional organizer, flow coach and author. I know that it's no coincidence that our lives crossed paths. In her article, Intentions vs. Resolutions, Sunny states that "intentions are desires that start at the feeling level." She goes on to say: "They’re quests of our higher self that want to see us be happy, healthy and successful at the things we have a desire to do." I love making lists, setting goals, etc. I have always felt sad, though, when I didn't succeed with … [Read more...]
ThyroidChange: What It Means To Me by Thyroid Mom
This post originally appeared on the ThyroidChange website: The name, ThyroidChange, resonates with me. I think about my own journey with thyroid disorders, and my family’s journey with thyroid disorders. You see, I was diagnosed in my twenties with hypothyroidism. I had been trying (unsuccessfully) to conceive. Eventually, I was tested for hypothyroidism. Once my thyroid levels were normal, I was able to conceive my first child. Shortly before my oldest son was born, my husband was diagnosed with Graves’ disease (autoimmune hyperthyroidism). Two weeks after my oldest son was born, he was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. My youngest son was also diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. A few years ago, I was told that I had … [Read more...]
Your Journey with Thyroid Disease
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. By … [Read more...]