Several months ago, I was talking to my 83-year-old grandma, and all the sudden she said this:
“You know, Oprah just found out she has a thyroid problem and she immediately lost 20 pounds. Maybe you need to have yours checked.”
Thanks A LOT, Grandma.
I didn’t think much about it until a few weeks later when I was sitting talking to my other 83-year-old grandma. She looked at me thoughtfully and said, “Do you have thyroid problems?”
“Um, I don’t think so,” I replied. “Why?”
“Because I think you have a goiter.”
Well ok then. Obviously my post-partum self was looking HOT if even my ever-loving grandmothers were dogging my appearance.
In any case, I still didn’t give this thyroid theory much credence until I was sitting in the exam room with Andy at his diabetes doctor’s office, and there was a poster about thyroid disorders on the wall.
“Look at that,” I said. “That list of symptoms is like a description of me. I have every one of those things.”
After that, I did a little digging online (you know how I am about online research) and became convinced that my grandmas could have been onto something.
Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I was able to get an appointment with Andy’s diabetes doctor, whom we love (because she pretty much saved his life last winter, but that’s a whole other story). During my appointment with her, she examined my neck and said she could palpitate my thyroid, and she shouldn’t be able to do that. She also noticed the spot where my hair is thin (a symptom of thyroid issues and the bane of my existence). So she ordered up an ultrasound on my thyroid and referred me to a dermatologist for the hair thing.
Which brings us to today, when I’m going to both of these appointments. I’m a little nervous about it, I guess. I’m not even sure there’s anything wrong, but if there is, it would be nice to know what it is and get it sorted out. It appears that most thyroid disorders are easily treated with medication, so if that’s what it is, it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be too difficult to deal with.
In any case, the moral of the story is this. Listen to your grandmas. Though they may not phrase their advice with your fragile self-esteem in mind, they have in fact picked up a thing or two along the way.
I’ll keep you posted.
This is precisely why I let Grandma talk me into all those extra helpings of food at her house. I figure she MUST know best!
Good for you for listening, because boy howdy, if you DO have a problem with your thyroid, once they start treating that puppy you are going to feel worlds better. I have a low thyroid, and once I started getting meds for it, I was less sleepy, less moody and didn’t put on random pounds for no reason as often (now there’s totally a reason – like cookies. Or cheesecake).
I’ll say a prayer for ya! And, those older folk do really know a thing or two!!
I agree with Sarah. I had low thyroid as well. And meds make a WORLD of difference. My mom ad mom-in-law both had high thyroid, and that’s a little trickier to treat…but still fairly easy. Good luck!
Good luck today! I hope you get good news. Grandmas always know best!
I am having mine checked in January. My Mum had to have hers removed several years ago as it was overactive and potentially cancerous. Comforting, no?
My husband and I tried for five years to have a baby. I finally went to a fertility specialist who did all kinds of tests and determined that my thyroid was not producing enough. I had the symptoms but was not really overweight and never thought that it could be a problem. We got pregnant three months later after I started medication. I have now been taking meds for eight years and have had three children. If this is your issue, you will feel much better. You’ll have to get tested every year to see if it is still the right dosage, but it is easy to deal with, much like taking a birth control pill every day. I have read that it is common for women to suddenly have thyroid issues after they have had children as well. Good luck at your appointments.
First part of the post was super funny! Sounds like something that would definitely happen in my family. Grandma’s advice can be deadly, even if it might be completely accurate. And why, oh why, is it related to weight, appearance, and marital/child status 95% of the time? These are the things that I believe I won’t truly understand until the day that I become a GRANDMA!
PS: In all seriousness, good luck with your appointment today.
The day I tried on my wedding dress for my 93 year old great-grandma she said “Girl you better lose some weight if you don’t want to rip that dress!”
It stung, but she was right. I lost 42 pounds and had to have the dress majorly altered. Of course I gained all of the pounds back over the next few years too. I was back right where I started when she died 4 years later. I’m just glad I was fortunate enough to know my great-grandmother and have her in my life for 23 years.
I know you never expected them to be right about that. I hope everything turns out okay at your doctor’s appt.
Let us know what you find out! I have a hypoactive thyroid. Just a small does of synthroid has it all fixed up! 🙂
Oh, MY! I was just told the same thing from my doc…and my ultrasound is Monday. I couldn’t figure out why I never had energy! I have all the textbook symptoms and yet, I didn’t even consider it!
Let us know how you’re doing. I’m looking forward to some energy!
It’s hard to see all those symptoms when it’s ourselves we’re considering, not our kids or spouses.
Anyhoo….my mom had her thyroid removed at 19 (must have been hyperthyroidism) and has taken meds all her life.
She’s ok!
And you will feel so much better once everything is in balance. Will keep you in my prayers…