Bliss

For an English class I took a long time ago I wrote an essay about the phrase "Ignorance is bliss". Tomorrow I am going in for an ultrasound of my thyroid. I couldn't help but to think back to the first time I was confirmed hypothyroid. I was in fifth grade. I was on medication for about nine or ten years until my insurance changed, and I decided that I didn't want to pay that much for my prescription. Once you have started this medication you generally have to continue taking it for the rest of your life. After a year or two of not taking it I decided to go have my hormone levels checked and start taking my meds again. Much to my surprise my thyroid had started working again, and the doctor said that I didn't need to take them. A few weeks ago I decided to go have my levels checked because I have not been feeling well. This time they came back low. It makes me happy to know that I can take medication to feel better, and that I am not just left feeling like crud! This time my doctor thinks that my hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's disease. It is an autoimmune disease that attacks your thyroid. Sometimes the thyroid will start working again, but usually it is only for a short time. So I am back to my medication again, and tomorrow I have to go in for an ultrasound. When I was in 5th grade I had this same ultrasound. The first time I went in I remember how casual and carefree I was about it. The technicians told me that I needed to stop laughing because they couldn't see anything with my throat bouncing all over the place. I couldn't help it- it was so funny having that cold gel squirted all over my neck, and them rolling that little wand all over kinda tickled. I didn't think that I was really nervous about going in for this check up again, but I find myself worrying about it. I think the difference is that I now realize all of implications that would come if there is anything found on my gland. It has really made the phrase "ignorance is bliss" ring true. I almost wish that I didn't know about the things that might happen. I hate worrying about the "what ifs". If you are curious here are some of the fun side effects of being hypothyroid:

Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
Coarse, dry hair
Dry, rough pale skin
Hair loss
Cold intolerance (you can't tolerate cold temperatures like those around you)
Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
Constipation
Depression
Irritability
Memory loss

When someone is really overweight and says that it is glandular -this is what they are talking about. I wish that I could wear a shirt with that excuse on it :) I am amazed at how many people I have met that have this same condition. It is quite common. About 1 in every 13 women have it. So if you are feeling icky you should go get checked out.