Thyroid diseases and problems are becoming more common as medicine continues to advance shedding light on new issues. The severity of these thyroid diseases vary, some are extremely severe while others are considered mild. One of the most common thyroid diseases that has been gaining more notice is Hashimoto's Disease. Hashimoto's is characterized by a decreased function in the thyroid gland called hypothyroidism. The disease is classified as an autoimmune disease, which basically means that the antibodies that fight off diseases are instead attacking the thyroid. This wreaks havoc on a person's body and the effects are different for everyone.
As someone who's been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, I can only attest to the problems that I have faced with my body. However, I would like to provide a small glimpse into what life can be like while living with Hashimoto's so those of you who have a loved one with a thyroid disorder might understand a little of what we go through. Obviously, different diseases effect people differently so the problems I face may not even effect your loved one. It's always best to have a conversation with the person to see what challenges they face and how you can help.
For me, Hashimoto's means a few things. Firstly, it means medication to regulate my thyroid hormones for the rest of my life. Every morning, i'll have to take a pill in order to make sure that my body is able to function like a healthy persons does. However, after a certain amount of time, the body builds up a tolerance to the dosage your on. What this means is that blood work has to be done every three to six months in order to make sure your dose is still working properly. That's a lot of needles.
Secondly, it means that any sort of weight loss is hard to achieve. With Hashimoto's Disease, a limited diet is supposed to be met. No gluten, no dairy and no soy. This leaves options pretty limited especially on a budget. With the diet, you also have to try to exercise twice as hard and long in order to achieve the same weight loss as someone who is healthy. Often times, it can be months before any sort of progress is seen.
Hashimoto's also causes issues with other aspects of life. For me, when my thyroid isn't under control and a change of medication is needed, my body often fights back. My joints swell and my hands shake rather violently. I also am significantly more tired than I was when my medication was working. It also results in decreased focus and an overall lack of energy. Even when my thyroid is under control, some of these symptoms still present themselves. Most of the time, there isn't anything that can be done about it.
It isn't all bad though. Most of my days are like regular days and I can function just as well as anyone else. The biggest part in maintaining that though, for me, is having a support system. That way during the bad days, I know I have someone who's got my back and sometimes that's all I really need.