‘Losing sense of self’: Kirsty Young opens up about illness on Desert Island Discs

[helvella]

Well aware that there is at least discussion about fibromyalgia and thyroid - and not meaning to open up any arguments about that!

But I thought some might find this interesting - and possibly some nice music.

‘Losing sense of self’: Kirsty Young opens up about illness on Desert Island Discs

The full interview with Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs will air on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds on Christmas Day at 11.15am

theguardian.com/tv-and-radi...

On right now as I type!

bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ghvx

(That might only work within the UK.)

[Sparklingsunshine]

I haven't listened to the show but saw some interviews with her in the press, she has Fibro and Rheumatoid Arthritis so two really tough and painful conditions. She's taken a 4 year hiatus from presenting duties due to her conditions. However she's had to pace herself, reduce stress (how often do we hear that) ? And cut back on workload.

Lifestyle changes plus getting on the right medications have also helped. I really wish her well, I always liked her and its good she's able to bring the cost and burden of chronic illness into the spotlight.

[janeroar]

I think it’s great she’s talking about her illness and the context of it occurring whilst being v stressed and busy.

There isn’t enough mention made in the media about the links between mental and physical health. On this forum too we could be drawing those links more.

Every bout of physical ill health I’ve had has occurred after a lot of mental stress. The two are so interconnected.

So alongside tests and supplements we could be thinking more about how we can reduce stress through exercise, talking therapy, breath work and probably most of all having good connections with others (such as this forum!!)

Take care all. 🤗

[Boo30 in reply to janeroar]

I totally agree , I've often wondered whether stress and anguish has made me I'll or whether the illness makes it harder to deal with the stress . I suppose both are true. In August this year , I started doing a yoga class, largely to get my aching limbs gently moving again. However, I have found the greatest gift has been learning how to breathe and relax. I do 2 'restorative' classes a week and it's made such a difference to my inner calm. I joined the forum in October, and altough I didn't post until recently, I have been inspired by all I've read, from both sides of the equation. Having these connections is aready changing my life for the better

[janeroar in reply to Boo30]

yes I’ve found yoga life changing in this regard.

[Christabel]

I heard this too, and was glad that she said that. I'm listening to 'Woman's Hour' at the moment, which is all about rest.

bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:...

[helvella in reply to Christabel]

Thanks - I'll listen later.

[arTistapple]

Your take on this interview, the phrase you chose to highlight “Losing sense of self” is for me the most important phrase too. Maybe (although both physical and mental pain are extremely difficult to quantify) this is the phrase that so totally covers the lack of empathy or understanding in the medical profession for thyroid illness particularly. When I have used this phrase myself to medics, at best it is just rolled over and worst (my fear) is being written off as demented. It’s a dangerous business discussing our symptoms with our medical helpers. I think their ignorance, their incapacity to help and maybe as something as simple as their own downright selfishness and unwillingness to engage, is so very dangerous to us patients. I was just reading something there about todays medical knowledge running about 25 years behind scientific knowledge. For us that is scary. All this talk about ‘stepping back’, ‘taking things easier’ etc I have less and less truck with. I stepped back from my job 22 years ago and it did not help but it may have contributed to an even longer wait for diagnosis. It further contributed to “Losing sense of self”. It probably works for some but not everyone. It is the illness, no matter how it came about. Something else I have become aware of (probably not articulate enough to explain properly) is that how close we can be to ‘normal’ on occasion. I have found (especially with my recent disasterous fumble with T3) that we are actually so close to ‘normal’. It feels like less than a veil between us and ourselves? It’s there, right there. It’s not a million miles away. It’s there. Why can’t we have it? Is it lack of comprehension on the part of medics? Yes but ignorant selfish medics with no sense of self, I would say.

[helvella in reply to arTistapple]

Out of honesty and respect to the Guardian journo/subeditors, it was they whose headline I "stole".

But I agree with you - it is at the crux.

[Christabel in reply to arTistapple]

What an interesting post. I agree, though I have found this with another condition that may be tangled with thyroid issues. I remember saying to a consultant that it felt that I'd lost my personality.

[arTistapple in reply to Christabel]

I have no doubt whatsoever that this turns up in other illnesses. I went twenty years without help or recognition for a condition which forced a heart attack - turned out levo helped enormously, dispensed twenty years after the heart attack. We are still dealing with the same medics, trained and educated in the same way. Uninterested. Lacking in the kind of curiosity necessary to get to the bottom of things. Lack of crucial thinking skills. It’s truly shocking and it seems to have happened a lot to thyroid patients. Lack of empathy could be overcome by proper approach to patients. Lack of empathy could be forgiven if the medics could just do the job for which they are so handsomely paid. I am old enough to remember when ‘they’ finally agreed that smoking was recognised as more than a link to lung cancer. I remember when diet was pooh poohed as a contributing factor to illness. I also remember when ‘mental issues’ became an issue. Stress. These type of issues now prop up doctor/patient relationships. However all these things are now somehow the patients ‘fault’. It all seems like a ‘get out clause’ for the medics. Anything but actually help ‘difficult’ patients. It’s my opinion it starts with who is encouraged to study medicine. I have a friend who openly says “It’s the scientists who are the clever bods, not us medics”. I always thought it was a sort of false modesty but now I know different.