Always blaming my thyroid

[jezebel69]

Am I the only one who manages to blame everything on their thyroid? I've just been through a very stressful time and now have awful IBS symptoms. I immediately blamed my thyroid. Is it a Hashis attack? Is my medication wrong? (I'm T3 only) I could be tempted to mess with my dose which for months has been absolutely fine. Do others do this? And does anyone have any tips for IBS? lol

[Supul]

I think, my answer to that question would be, yes, and no.

You recognise, you have been through a very stressful time, and your IBS is triggered. So, you know stress unsettled your IBS.

Thyroid symptoms do join in, because our thyroid is useful, in letting us know, that our overall metabolic system is now suffering.

This answer, is my own experience, my own opinion. Now, if you, or anyone can tell me, how do we live a stress free life, in a stressful Modern (capitalist), society, without becoming a monk?

I do all the useful stuff, meditate, pray, eat healthily, exercise, mindfulness practice..... yet, we are sharing our lives amongst others... for instance, we get bombarded with stressful media output (even if we personally, choose to ignore media, we get affected, infected? through social interaction?).... then there's discrimination etc etc..

Also, consider genes, my grandmother, aunt, sister all suffer with thyroid ... whether it stress related (maybe, we come from a family who don't deal well with stress, who does?), or not stress related, our thyroid need extra support at times.

I conclude, if one part of our body system is failing (e.g. IBS), best to consider thyroid med dose/get blood test, because, you bet, our thyroid will be on alert! Tweaking our meds, and/or checking/treating our adrenals, because we have thyroid issues, can help.

I ramble, of course, because I found your question to be really interesting, and worthy of some deeper thinking.

Bonus is, I sat pondering awhile, and feel great for that little rest, and little workout on my brain! Lol. So, thank you.

I hope stress sorted, IBS improving, and thyroid settling for you.

[jezebel69 in reply to Supul]

Thankyou so much Supul and you are so right. A lot of our ability to deal with stress is inherited. Theres a great book called 'Why love matters' which gives some interesting reasons for this. I'm a counsellor and though I try very hard not to, I will absorb my clients' stress and anxiety too. You have reminded me that sometimes our body is simply telling us to be kind to it - and now I'm listening

[Supul in reply to jezebel69]

Ah jezebel69

Thank you, for that lovely reply.

It is for the very reason you say, that despite your best efforts, you absorb some of the clients stress and anxiety, (which I think makes you a great person to offload to), that I chose/choose not to be in that profession.

Psychology is a passion of mine. Though, I believe I love too much! I think you probably do too?

I know myself, fairly well. I think I'm a great listening friend. However, I believe i would need an outlet for my own feelings, if counselling for a living.

I may look out for the book you mention. There is another great book I would recommend. If I remember, title is, Women Who Love Too Much. I guess, love is all about balance isn't it?

Sometimes, I've even pondered on Tina Turner hit, Whats Love Got To Do With It? All about abuse she suffered, when she was with BB, I believe.

I did choose to be a registered nurse, and I was able to manage my emotions fairly well, I believe, because I was working within a team. We were able to share our pain, if things got too much emotionally. Working alone in counselling I imagine is more difficult?

Also, being a palliative care link nurse, meant I was able to share emotion, when appropriate, for instance, with families, when they cried over the loss of loved ones. Having built up a rapport with terminally ill patients and their families; it was a most natural human/nursing response, to shed a tear at the passing...

Perhaps, all thyroid patients are no more, no less, just really nice, kind, sensitive individuals , due to life experiences, from generations before us?

In sum, you are just the sort of counsellor I would prefer. One, who can truly empathise.

[Hidden in reply to Supul]

I've done a lot of reading over the past few years on Empaths. I believe I am one although as many people including healthcaregivers don't believe in it I very rarely mention it and understand some people will think I'm off the rails. I can gauge the mood of a room full of people; I take on other people's pain and anxiety-often at my own expense. Mostly growing up we often are told we are too 'thin-skinned' or 'don't take (whatever) personally.' It isn't that easy. I've come to believe having empathy is a gift but we have to learn how to use it (helping people) without burning ourselves out. There is a very good book for anyone interested : "The Empath's Survival Guide" by Judith Orloff M.D. She is a well known psychiatrist and author here in the states and is an associate professor at UCLA in California. The opposite of Empaths are narcissistic personalities who don't have very much, if any, ability to empathise or show compassion. They are often unable to 'put themselves in another's shoes to see the other side of a situation.' Often narcissists and empaths are attracted to each other. They get us to meet their needs and we feel we can 'fix' them. I would be interested in hearing what anyone has to say on this subject. This attraction can be problematic in any relationship not just romantic ones. We can have a narcissistic parent or coworker or friend. There are many good short videos on youtube to explain this. There are also many unhelpful videos; ie information like 12 signs you know you are an empath- so be discerning if you want to know more. This subject may seem off target and have nothing to do with our thyroid but I believe that when we don't learn how to take care of ourselves emotionally and protect ourselves from people who may be toxic to us we can't do the best for ourselves medically. Many doctors blow us off in toxic ways creating an imbalance of power between them and us.. We usually feel very frustrated when we are treated this way and don't understand why they just can't listen and relate to what we might be going through. Because we are afraid of standing up to their bullying we can't get what we need from them to improve our health. We are whole people and when part of us isn't functioning well our whole being (physical and mental) is out of whack. Sound familiar to anyone? Just my opinion. Thanks for reading. irina 🐱

[Supul in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes, I agree, and am definitely an empathiser.

Over the years I have learned to manage my own emotions so that I don't break through over -empathising.

The book sounds interesting I will seek it out.

My daughter (a teacher), bought me a book a good few years back. It was about sensitive people. Well right on cue, I laughed, and said oh, you see me as sensitive?? (That response probably showed I am! lol). She smiled, and said, Mom, read it, I think you will be surprised.

I read the book. It was beautiful. The gist of it being that sensitive people, do indeed feel atmosphere, read people, and situations, and that they are rarely leaders, however, it concluded, one day we will have a better world, when these sensitive people become our leaders.

I think your right opposites do attract. However, I thought people who are unable to show compassion and/or empathise were sociopaths... thus, I think the book will be good to read.

[Hidden in reply to Supul]

You are right; sociopaths come under the narcissist umbrella. They have other added traits that put them in the sociopath range. For instance, sociopaths often don't feel guilt or remorse. whereas narcissists may be good people who contribute to society. Their 'sympathy intuition' is just not well-developed. But they can learn if motivated. Psychopaths are also under the low intuitive umbrella but they have difficulties with reality. Often this is not their fault. And there are meds that can sometimes help. A little humor: There's a saying that some mentally ill patients build castles in the air, psychopaths live in them and the psychiatrists collect the rent. I love to learn more about the mind and how we are often born wired so differently than even other family members. I think most of our brain is still undiscovered territory. 🐱

[Supul in reply to Hidden]

I love that saying!

Thank you for explanation regarding sociopaths n narcissists traits... hmmm... I was able to place previous acquaintances... lol

[Hidden in reply to Supul]

Me too. Isn't it fun to privately diagnose friends and family? LOL Actually sometimes when I have to interact with a difficult person it helps if I can categorize them in my mind. Then I can see them as a patient and handle the situation better. It probably works both ways as I certainly have my own basket of crazies!

[Supul in reply to Hidden]

We had to have a bit of crazy to do the j o b and relate to many people.

Where would we be without a bit of crazy? And to laugh about that? Don't answer that! I'm not going there! Lol

[hobbycat in reply to Hidden]

Irina1975. For me I think it has everything to do with my thyroid. It is so interesting to read your comments today. I am sure to be the Empath and I have been in a rollercoaster of a relationship with a narcissist for 6 years. I am just now seeing the impact of the huge upset and stress I have experienced coinciding with my need for T3 and subsequent dips in my health. I think the ongoing stress has taken a real toll on my whole system. I believe there is a recovery for me. My challenge is to remain patient and to accept where I am it not where I’ll be for ever.

[Hidden in reply to hobbycat]

I'm working on these issues too-especially my boundary setting. I will put up with a lot just to keep the peace when I should have stood up for myself. I took some 'alone time' recently and my big epiphany was about my living situation. Almost 2 years ago I moved into a beautiful senior living community. But over time felt more and more stress about living here. Have probably bored many people here moaning about my living situation. I realize now that being around so many people-esp as our age group has many illnesses and many residents don't talk about anything but their health. It has been draining my energy. So my goal now is to stay one more year (had just signed a new lease) and I see the light at the end of the tunnel, be more frugal so I can move to a living space that suits my emotional needs more.I have never liked big crowds. I even like to go out to eat at off-times to avoid the noise and crowds of a busy restaurant. When we drive up if I see a line waiting to be seated I want to leave. Good luck to us. We can get more peace and less stress in our lives. I had received therapy at times in my life and thought I was pretty far along the mental health path. But this environment has caused me to backslide-too much noise, gossip, nosiness etc. Sometimes just saying good morning to 20-30 people as I'm going through the lobby stresses me out. At least now I understand what changes I need to make. Thanks for listening to my rant.

[Hidden in reply to Supul]

Hi Supul. I'm also a registered nurse-retired now but worked 40 years. Mostly I worked in the Operating Room. Often people would ask how I could work in that environment. It took me a long time to realize that in many ways the O.R was a very comfortable emotional environment. Contact with sad patients and families was limited; working with the same surgeons, nurses, etc meant we knew each other well and were more relaxed in otherwise stressful situations. I heard some of my best jokes in the O.R. Not disrespectful but more like the TV series M.A.S.H.- a way to relieve tension.

[Hidden]

No. I don't think you are wrong to feel thyroid problems are the root cause of some of your medical issues because often they are. I believe a thyroid that is not functioning properly is responsible for many more symptoms that doctors blame on other body systems and associated illnesses. I really push to look at my thyroid first when a new symptom crops up. It's easy for doctors to say we are depressed and throw an antidepressant prescription our way (just an example). For me I want to look at my thyroid situation first before adding yet another diagnosis, treatment, and meds to my list of problems. Sometimes this concept is hard for doctors to understand but it's worth a 'medical skirmish' to keep from being incorrectly treated and dismissed.

[Supul in reply to Hidden]

Oh, I do agree! This is proactive medicine.

It is also the very reason I changed my GP of 28 yrs. When my thyroid crashed I just could not get her to listen. She just told me I wasn't due my yearly blood test!

I got myself checked out by a Dr in London who told me I had AI thyroid, plus he had results of an ultrasound telling us, my thyroid had shrivelled and died. My tsh was <0.01 (0.27-4.20), so offered me hope.

I booked an appointment with Dr Peatfield who helped bring my thyroid back to reasonable levels.

I was then able to come off immune suppression therapy I had been given for a new diagnosis made at time of thyroid crash.

[Hidden in reply to Supul]

Your story is very similar to mine. I got a good endo in April after putting up with my Primary doc for 2 years. I actually inherited her when my former Primary who I loved retired. I couldn't get her to even test my T3 or Vitamin levels and she believed really high TSH's were fine. My thyroid is also atrophied from radiation for larynx cancer years ago so I was not converting T4 to T3. I wouldn't have minded helping her find treatment options as I do my own research but she was always dismissive of any info I brought to her table. Now I'm doing very much better. All my docs are on the same hospital campus and my only problem with her now is trying not to run into her when I'm at the campus for other appts. I don't want to be rude to her but I'm still angry about her cavalier treatment.

[Supul in reply to Hidden]

Yes, same experience.

Lovely woman but oh dear obviously living in fear of government guidelines now instead of using clinical judgement.

Ah well, we are fortunate following gut instinct a nd researching to get what we need, eventually! Lol

[hobbycat]

Jezebel69, I am often wondering if it’s all down to my thyroid. I’m in a T3/T4 combo for 18mths now. Twice now I’ve changed my T3 dose hoping for better things and both times I’ve had a really horrible time, the second change I’m trying to rebalance from now. Once adding more, this time trying to reduce. I wish I had left things be. I just want to be back to where I was. Maybe look for IBS relief and at all the other possible triggers and be extra kind to yourself after your stressful time. For me I’m now I’m also considering the effect my adrenals are having on my thyroid meds, and so symptoms.

[Hidden in reply to hobbycat]

You might be onto something. When I finally started effective thyroid treatment in april with a new endo I was so happy about getting the thyroid tests I forgot to ask about my adrenals. The doctor told ME he was going to work them up. I have had a small adrenal cyst for at least 15 years. It was accidentally seen on an MRI for something else. I was told not to worry; they were common. The size never changed and I had no symptoms I was aware of. But in the back of my mind I felt it wasn't normal to have a cyst in my body for so long and every so often I would ask about it. I was always told not to worry and the doctors even had a name for it: an 'incidentaloma.' Well in April the new endo ordered tests I hadn't even heard of and said depending on various adrenal hormone levels it might have to be removed. Fortunately removal wasn't necessary but he will evaluate it every 9-12 months and decide if it needs to go. This guy is thorough. Take care irina

[jezebel69]

Thankyou everyone. You’ve helped me a lot and gave me the courage to up my dose a little. I felt better almost instantly. Maybe 99 times out of a 100 it is our thyroid but beware of the 1.....