Energy Crisis, or Gland Ho!

[lolmac]

I've been very quiet lately (although this blog has gotten some activity).  In particular, it's now over a month since the last time I posted anything on LOLMac.

The fact is, I've been having health problems for some time.  I finally got tired of feeling like crap, and went to the doctor for a check-up -- my first in three years.  I've been resisting it since the botched colonoscopy back in 2011.

I was diagnosed with low thyroid, and sent for more tests, and finally got a confirmed diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease.  This probably sound scary, but it's actually a huge relief to have something identifiable and treatable.  Basically, my immune system has gotten confuzzled, and is producing antibodies that are messing with my thyroid.  Silly immune system.  Y u do dis?  It's in the very early stages, just barely at a level where it will even show up on a test, and the symptoms are pretty mild -- but the full list of symptoms is a detailed summary of practically every damned annoying physical problem I've been having for the last 10 months or so, and the thought of possibly being able to improve all that crap at the same time is a really bright light on the horizon!

I started treatment on Monday.  Recovery will be gradual and incremental; the condition is expected to be permanent and progressive, so I'll be taking these little pills for the rest of my life, probably in slowly larger doses.  But that's okay.  I already have meds (antihistamines and antidepressants) that I take every day; taking them means a greatly improved quality of life.  This one I have to take at bedtime, and I have to not snack late at night so it can be on an empty stomach, and it will greatly help if I get to bed at a more regular time, which would be good habits to get into anyway.

The upshot is that, finally, finally, I can look forward to having real energy again -- so that I don't come home from work every day and sit and stare and do puzzles, and I can do more on weekends than do laundry and nap and do puzzles.  I really, really miss doing the LOLMacs, and I desperately want to have enough energy to get those going again.  I miss, most of all, the interaction and cheerful silliness of hanging out online with my friends.

I'd also like to have enough stamina to write more consistently -- at last, I've had a few nibbles of inspiration, enough to get a few ficlets out, wheee!!  I'm actually working on my third prompt from Obscure & British, which is turning into crazy kinky smut (sorry, lost_spook, you might not be able to read this one at all, but I think at least a few people are going to love it).  I have a promising start to an Unconventional Courtship prompt, featuring Mac and yet another Lady Scientist of the Week.  I have the Laundryfic.  I have Spider's Web, waiting for me to get both focus and energy back in line.  So much fic, so little energy for so long . . .

. . . I can't wait to get the energy back.  *pokes self*  C'mon!  Get weller faster!!

Comments

[sid]

Shows you how well I'm doing that I never even noticed no LOLMacs for so long. *head/desk*

I'm very glad your problem has been named and treatment begun! We all win, cuz in time we'll start getting good things from youuuuu!

[lolmac]

Maybe my mental fog was contagious?

[sid]

I was definitely exposed! :-D

[lolmac]

We could blame the margaritas . . .

[sid]

NOOOOO! They were tasty!

[lolmac]

And they're no longer here to defend themselves!

[sid]

We took care of that, yes. *g*

[perkyandproud.livejournal.com]

Yay for getting to the doctor and getting help!! :)

I know, it is scary...but I am so glad you finally went and that they identified what the problem is! And that it is fixable!

*hugs you tight*

[lolmac]

*hugs you back*

It kind of hit home, just how bad I felt, when I filled out my Orycon panelist questionnaire and realized I just didn't have enough energy to care about it, and that had to mean something was wrong!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

So great to get a diagnosis, and so much greater to be diagnosed with a problem that can be easily treated with medication.

Really glad you'll be feeling much better soon. Hooray!

[lolmac]

I can't wait! I miss the LOLs.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

*Glomps tightly*

[lolmac]

*is happy to be glomped!*

[campylobacter.livejournal.com]

So glad you finally went to get medical care! Hope you'll be feeling better soon :)

[lolmac]

Me too! After all, there's smut to be written. Kinky smut!

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Arf! Trinity here. I takes the thyroids, too. It's no bigs deal.

And mom says I can't talk in Engrish anymore, because I'm an educated dog. Thyroid auto-antibodies suck, but you should do okay. We're glad you're going to be alright!

[lolmac]

Having too many of the wrong antibodies is, I suppose, better than having none at all, right? ;) I'm already noticing improvements, and looking forward to it getting better.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

That's debatable...but in this case, very much so.

And good! I'm glad.

Trinity is, too. ;)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I had noticed them missing, but I wasn't sure what was happening and assumed that RL just hit you. Sounds like exhaustion hit first - and though I'm sad you got diagnosed with this, I am thrilled that it is treatable and you are feeling more up to your old energy levels! Here's to hoping you 'get weller faster'! *Beams*

*Squishes you tight*

[lolmac]

*squishes you back* The biggest thing has been missing the interaction with my online folks -- it meant that, in addition to just not having energy myself, I wasn't getting the additional energy that I get from that kind of contact and connection. Which was a real pain!

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, I'm sorry that you've been so ill, but really pleased to hear that it's something that should be fairly easily treatable - hope you are soon much, much better!!

Glad the commentfest has provided at least a little bit of inspiration for you!

(btw, if it cheers you up, you've been recced on calufrax again!

[lolmac]

You recced me again? SQUEEEE *runs in circles flailing* Thank you!!

And yeah, given how many debilitating conditions there are that can't be effectively treated, I feel very fortunate indeed.

[justice-turtle.livejournal.com]

*huggggs* Yay for treatable illnesses! ...I mean, that came out wrong. ^_^ Boo on illnesses, yay for getting treatment! :D

[lolmac]

Didn't come out wrong at all. Treatable FTW!!

[thothmes.livejournal.com]

I've been mostly incommunicado myself these days, both online and in RL. Part of the way I am handling losing my dad, I think. A small retreat inward.

Still, there was a niggle of worry. Beth is a bit quiet. I should drop her a PM, and just say "Hellooooo out there! How are you? I am fine." But I didn't. Bad me.

I'm glad they have found a cause, and a manageable one at that!

So you have it right. Get weller faster! My mother-in-law is on total thyroid replacement after a thyroidectomy for cancer, and although it took some time to get the dose just right, when they did, life resumed normality. Hopefully this will work itself out well for you soon.

[lolmac]

*belated hugs*

I had figured you were offline in your usual summer pattern. I can certainly understand the added element of retreat for grieving!

During one of the waits between tests, I did have to deal with the spectre of possible cancer; I was very glad to have that dismissed as even a remote possibility.

[thothmes.livejournal.com]

P.s. Just noticed " thy roid and thy staff" providing a wonderful coffeelicious spit take here. Well played! Well played!

[http://users.livejournal.com/traycer_/]

The road to recovery is great after a tiring bout with an unknown illness. :) I'm glad you're starting to feel better!!

[lolmac]

Thank you! :)

[hermit.livejournal.com]

SO glad you received a diagnosis and are now on your way to recovery. I'm treating my cat, Annie, for the hyperthyrodism (a pill a day) and it's made a huge improvement in her quality of life as well. Yay for medical science!

...now, did I hear you say something about smut-fic? ;-)

[lolmac]

Poor cat! And poor you, having to give her pills. I hope she's not too difficult about them.

It's been almost two weeks now, and I can really feel the difference. I haven't actually gotten the smut finished, but it's progressing. ;-) And it looks as if the next MacGyver fic will have some potential for smut as well.

[hermit.livejournal.com]

Annie is actually very good about letting me pry open her jaws every morning and popping that pill in (thank God) - though, in truth, I've had prior experience giving cats pills (and eye ointment) over the years. :-)

I'm glad you're already feeling better, but that's only because I'm selfish and I want more stories. Oops... did I say that out loud?

;-)

[clocketpatch]

Only just realized you had a secondary account. Boo on being ill and tired, but huzzah on getting a treatable diagnosis which is now being treated!

[lolmac]

Whups, yup, this is where the fic and personal stuff and meanderings get posted. LOLMac is just for, well, LOLMacs.

Do feel free to look around, if you've a mind! I think there might be a couple of posts that are members-locked, but no more.

[callibr8]

I too am a beneficiary of better living through modern chemistry, and one who has been on thyroid supplementation for a handful of years now.

I'm somewhat surprised that you were advised to take it on an empty stomach at night. The instructions I got were empty stomach, yes -- because many foods and beverages interfere with thyroid absorption -- but taking the dose in the morning, half an hour (minimum) before putting anything else other than water into your system. That's how I've been doing it for years and it has worked for me. I don't know whether that's practical in your situation, but figured it might be worth mentioning.

Here's hoping that you're already feeling better, and will continue to do so.

[lolmac]

At least in this corner of the world, taking it in the morning is Exploded Wisdom. I was told that recent studies demonstrate better absorption if it's taken at night, and since that works much, much better for me in terms of morning habits, I was very glad to go with it. I am not a happy person in the morning until I'm caffeinated.