For the record

[pjthompson]

Have your thyroid hormone levels checked regularly, my darlings. Do not get complacent if they've been stable for a long time. You never know when they've gone ticky and the effects can be subtle—but cumulative and worsening over time. A low or high level of hormone can put you in a very bad place, but so gradually you hardly know how you got there.

Just sayin'.

Comments

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

My father has suffered from low thyroid levels since college (he noted symptoms immediately following an illness, although it was months or years before he got an accurate diagnosis) and I've got a number of relatives on both sides who also have problems. I continue to be surprised every time my levels are checked to find them in the normal range.

Hugs.

[pjthompson]

As long as you keep checking, that's the important part. Mine has been stable for a very long time--but one can be surprised.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

My recent physicians have been very good about keeping track of such things. To the point that I've become pretty good friends with some of the lab techs. :/

[pjthompson]

My physicians weren't to blame this time around. It's all on me and my complacency.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

I hope that everything is under control, or will be very quickly, now that you know what you're dealing with.

[pjthompson]

I'm on the mend.

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

It should be part of the blood work-up during your annual physical. It always has been for mine. Which is how my hypothyroid was discovered.

[pjthompson]

I usually go twice a year to have it checked by my endrocrinologist, but that doesn't do any good if the patient gets complacent and doesn't check.

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

I go once or twice a year to the endocrinologist depending on the numbers from the previous tests. I've been stable for the last couple of years. After a while, you can get to learn your body, but menopause has screwed things up a bit as the symptoms can be similar. Which was why we weren't sure I'd even started menopause at first, because the thyroid can affect estrogen levels. So, my thyroid levels are checked by the endocrinologist once or twice a year and my internist once a year, making 2-3 annual checks.

[pjthompson]

Yes, middle age can certainly smoke screen things. My levels have been stable for close to ten years, so I was really complacent. Still, I finally recognized the symptoms were probably thyroid in nature. As you say, after awhile you learn to tell the difference, especially if you've been through it a few times.

[purdypiedad.livejournal.com]

You pay for the blood work, I'll get the test!

Seriously though, I know the bad place. It's really, really bad.

[pjthompson]

It is. And the blood work is obscenely expensive. I wish there was a clinic for you somewhere that would do it for free/reduced cost.

Socialized medicine is looking pretty good to me these days.

[darkspires.livejournal.com]

I hate to say this, I really hate to say this, but we don't pay for blood work. I get checked about three times a year according to my dr's instructions. It is more this year as I have changed to the dessicated thyroid and I am being monitored more as a result.

Waves from over the border.

[pjthompson]

I'm tellin' ya, dearie, it's looking better and better. The blood test for thyroid alone takes care of my $300 deductible for the year and then some. It's obscene, I tell you.

[darkspires.livejournal.com]

That is obscene! Again,and I am sorry for insidious comparisons, but as of January 1st we will not be responsible for paying for our heath care premiums. This is the Alberta Advantage.

Waves and ducks from over the border.

[pjthompson]

Grrrrr....

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Take care.

[pjthompson]

Doing much better now, thanks.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

There is much to be said for socialized medicine. I get bloodwork done twice a year for free, get my MS meds, which are horrendously expensive, for free etc.

I hope you'll feel better soon, a friend of mine have thyroid problems and I know it can cause all sorts of issues. :(

[pjthompson]

Thank you. Actually, I'm on the upswing now as I've been on the increased thyroid meds since August, but it took a long while to start feeling better.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Oy. On the off-chance this is more than some random notation, I hope things get back in order soon, and hopefully this'll end the spate of off-ness you've had recently.

[pjthompson]

I'm feeling much better these days. Thanks.