better living thru chemistry.

[rmd]

so, a few years ago (back before my most recent go-round with cancer), my thyroid started slacking off. apparently, it didn't hear what happened to organs that slack off around here (answer: THEY GET REMOVED!), although i confess maybe the thyroid knew exactly what it was doing since i haven't actually had it removed yet in spite of its laziness.

anyways, around the time it was first diagnosed, i'd been noticing some mental slowness -- i could tell i wasn't as sharp as i had been. at the time i'd wondered if it was just a function of getting older or something. turns out that, no, it was just a side effect of my thyroid slacking off. i started on thyroid enhancement drugs (initially on levoxyl, with it's trademarked thyroid shape. no, really. look at their web site. later a more boringly shaped generic of it). things improved, i got smart again and had more motivation, and life was good.

fast forward to a few months back, when i started noticing bouts of that same sort of "i'm not sharp like i should be. i can tell." it took a while for it to sink in and then a bit longer for me to recognize the familiarity of it. so when i went for the pre-appt blood-draw, i made sure they were going to test my thyroid levels. and made a note in my "list of stuff to talk to my dr about" palm pilot memo to mention that i was having that lazy stupid feeling again. (it's kind of like being depressed except for the part where i wasn't depressed.)

sure enough, while my levels were in the "normal" range, they were way at the very bottom of "normal". so we upped my dosage (from 75ug to 100ug, so not a huge change). that was a week ago, and i've just started noticing the physical effects (the first thing that seems to change is digestion). i figure another week and things should be feeling like they're back in focus, mentally.

it's about fuckin time.

not sure why i needed the adjustment in the meds. i suppose i'll blame menopause, since it's a great excuse for all sorts of things.

note to self: in the event of major apocalypse or major zombie-induced breakdown of civilization, break into the nearest pharmacies and collect a stockpile lots of this stuff.

Comments

[marith.livejournal.com]

The lazy stupid feeling can be caused by thyroid problems? HMM. Another thing to check for when I get medical insurance.

Working drugs are awesome, aren't they?

[rmd.livejournal.com]

yes! some of the symptoms of low thyroid are lethargy, confusion, dry skin, and constipation (since your metabolism slows down).

i love the description of symptoms on about.com (http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/symptoms.htm) because it lists a "brain cloud" which makes me think of "joe vs the volcano"

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Brain cloud!!! I love that movie.

Sounds like the meds adjustment will really help. You'll be back at the gym with me in no time. ;-)