One Year Later

So. Here we are. One year after it all began. How do I feel? I feel pretty good! I feel like I've reached 90% of normal Louise. It's hard to know what to contribute to working too much and having two monkeys running around and being 32 but I think that if I had a normally functioning thyroid, a few things would be different.

I just take 50mg PTU in the morning. That's it! Sometimes if I'm going to be doing something stressful or running around a lot, I might take a beta blocker. Maybe once or twice a month, that's it!

What things are still affected the most?

1. My neck is sensitive. If I piggy back the boys, they need to hold onto my shoulders. Even having a sheet on my neck is uncomfortable. The thought of a turtle neck makes me shudder.

2. Insomnia. It's not too bad (dare I say?!). I now fall asleep by midnight 5 nights a week and the other two nights I fall asleep somewhere between 1-3am.

3. Weight. I am a good 10lbs heavier than I should be. Why? My metabolism changes constantly AND I am unable to exercise like I used to.

4. I have muscle weakness but it's not too bad. I'm still `normal' in the strength department but I used to be quite strong:) I don't know that I could carry a 40lb pack and hike for 5 days. That makes me sad.

5. I wake up feeling like I'm shaky but I just take my pill and I'm good to go!

6. Some random coronary artery spasms but they usually only last a minute or so.

The upside of Graves' Disease?

I can work til 11pm each night, no problem!!

Goal?

So, I really want to run 5km this year. I have the Run For the Cure in a month and I have to run the whole thing or I will be so disappointed in myself. I ran 4.7km a month ago and I'm trying to run here and there. So yes, I will run 5km on Oct. 3rd. No choice. I'm so glad I got my half marathons in when I did because I don't know how I could do them now!

Thankfulness? I am thankful that this is all I have. I am thankful for drugs. I am thankful for a diagnosis. I am thankful for an understanding husband. I am thankful that I can work from home.

So, to anyone that is newly diagnosed with Graves' Disease, it gets better, I promise!! But, you have to take time to get better (like, don't work) and you need to eliminate stress. See your endo. Take your medication faithfully. Get your blood tests monthly. You will be okay!!

Thank you to everyone for your support, I really appreciate it!!