- Hashimotos Disease
- Interviews
Dreamskald's interview
How did all start?
I was working full time and training with a personal trainer regularly. I began to get extremely exhausted and it did not matter how much I slept. It got to the point that I would rather sleep than eat as it took too much energy to make food, cook, then clean up. I started sleeping more and more. Eventually, it took too much effort to stand in the shower when bathing. I had to do something as I could not continue feeling so bad. I knew I wasn’t depressed so I looked for a medical explanation
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
I had subclinical hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s. Went on meds immediately and began to feel better. I now have hypothyroidism and Hashimoto disease. My levels have been up And down. When I feel better, it seems they want to change my dosage. At this point, I rarely feel one hundred percent better. It is a constant struggle to get doctors to listen and not state you have to feel better as your levels are in normal range.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
I have been treated for Hashimoto and hypothyroidism. I also have had issues with blood clots and my gallbladder removed.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Trying to watch what I eat and doing slow walking has helped.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
I still struggle with fatigue. Sometimes, I am simply tired and other times I am bone weary exhausted. Caffeine helps but I can’t rely on it too much as it affects my sleep and gives me heart palpitations
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
My family is supportive. They just want me to get better. It is hard to get them to understand that exhausted is not a simply state of being tired. My relationships have not changed.
What things have you stopped doing?
I might not do as much socializing as it can make me tired. I also can’t go crazy exercising as I feel the effects for days on my energy levels
What do you think about the future?
I am going to school to learn more about nutrition and hope to use that knowledge to heal myself
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
?
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
I would get a lot more accomplished daily if I wasn’t sick. I used to have the energy to do so much more on a daily basis
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
Life is full of surprises, some good and some bad-what you make of them defines you
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Don’t give up
