| Well, if you are like me and a female, the thyroid has | | | | I decided that I was not going to have surgery to |
| plenty to do with weight. I want to share my | | | | remove my thyroid on inconclusive results. Instead, I |
| experience for those who have had a hard time losing | | | | proceeded to look for a thyroid specialist. I am so glad |
| and keeping weight off, feeling tired all the time, unable | | | | that I did. He worked with me and explained things to |
| to get motivated, and just not feeling good. | | | | me and he did his own blood testing and FNA biopsy. |
| A few months after having my second child, I noticed I | | | | He reviewed the results with me and said that there is |
| was becoming increasingly tired. I was rapidly gaining | | | | definitely no cancer in your thyroid. That was a really |
| weight. I felt sluggish and achy. My family noticed I was | | | | big relief. But at the same time, I am wondering what is |
| losing a lot of hair because they would find my hair all | | | | wrong with me. He did mention that my blood work |
| over the house. My skin was increasingly getting drier. I | | | | showed that I was not producing enough thyroid |
| seemed to forget things and I felt clumsy. I was also | | | | hormone so my thyroid function was low like being |
| intolerant to cold temperatures, I always needed lots of | | | | hypothyroid. In turn, since my thyroid controls |
| extra sweaters or blankets. Another thing I did not | | | | metabolism, my metabolic rate is running slow as well. |
| realize at the time was that I had a bit of depression, | | | | And if you ask me, I would say it was going in reverse. |
| but I think its from gaining weight, losing hair, and | | | | Another shocking thing he told me was that I had a |
| always being tired. I did not want to talk to or see | | | | multinodular goiter, which is almost always not |
| anyone. | | | | cancerous. Usually, when you think of goiters, you think |
| During several years, I tried to self diagnose myself. | | | | of not enough iodine. Well, in my case, it was the other |
| One main thing I thought about was that it had to do | | | | way around. I had too much iodine. He suggested I |
| with my metabolism and weight. I could literally walk by | | | | reduce my iodine intake, which includes multivitamins! I |
| food and gain weight. I had participated in a couple | | | | could not believe I was hurting myself with vitamins |
| diets after my first child and several diets after my | | | | and diet plans that had iodine. |
| second. Instead of getting healthy and losing weight, I | | | | I started being aware of what had iodine in it. I started |
| was getting sicker and gaining weight. | | | | taking my thyroid medication. I researched and found |
| My usual OB/GYN was not available but I was seen | | | | the best foods I should eat and what to avoid. I am |
| by another for a routine check up. She notice that | | | | increasingly feeling better and more energized and |
| there was something protruding in front of my neck. | | | | started exercising. I found a very good yoga program |
| She asked if I had a thyroid condition. I said, ''no." She | | | | that not only helped me lose weight but it seems to |
| suggested I have my thyroid examined. | | | | help my thyroid. |
| I was seen by an endocrinologist and had blood work | | | | Right now, I am under the watch of my Thyroid |
| done and an (FNA) fine needle aspiration biopsy of my | | | | Specialist and all I need to do is to check my |
| thyroid. He reviewed the results with me and | | | | medication dosage from time to time. I am hoping to |
| prescribed some thyroid medication because I was not | | | | stop taking the medication all together. Also, if the |
| producing enough thyroid hormone according to my | | | | goiter starts to get bigger, there is a plan in place to |
| blood work. He also mentioned that my biopsy came | | | | have radiation therapy to shrink it. |
| back inconclusive and that I should have surgery right | | | | It is important to find a doctor you can communicate |
| away, just in case there could be cancer. That is a | | | | with. Also, finding the most suitable nutrition plan that is |
| very scary statement to my ears and I really | | | | best for you. Include an exercise program that works |
| considered doing just that. But, I wanted to do some of | | | | best for you. For myself, I also include looking for things |
| my own research first, since he actually specialized in | | | | that benefit not only my thyroid but my immune |
| diabetes and not the thyroid. | | | | system. |
| From my own research, I came across many stories | | | | In conclusion, if there is anyone that has had a hard |
| and statistics. It seems that of all the people who had | | | | time losing weight, just feeling lousy all the time, or you |
| their thyroid removed in case in could be cancer, only | | | | may have experienced the same symptoms that I did |
| 5% actually were. I also learned that most thyroid | | | | and you have tried everything, consider having your |
| cancers are slow growing but there is one that does | | | | thyroid examined. |
| spread fast and should be carefully considered. | | | | |