I got 99 symptoms...

Many have asked me: "what the hell is wrong with you?"...
well not really, generally people have been really nice and concerned, and I appreciate that.  I've had a pretty interesting 2 years, healthwise.  I'll tell the whole story on here, but it will be a process, as my path to wellness has been a process too.  I've learned a lot, and I'd like to promote all the good things I've learned in my quest, because I think the information I've gathered from various sources is relevant to EVERYONE, not just people with an Auto-Immune disease. 

For now, I'll start with the beginning...July 2009, I start feeling like shit...

The Long and Pathetic List of Hashimoto's Auto-Immune Thyroiditis Symptoms
(The hi-lited ones are mine, specifically)
(from the website: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/long-and-pathetic/)

Less stamina than others

Less energy than others

Long recovery period after any activity

Inability to hold children for very long

Arms feeling like dead weights after activity

Chronic Low Grade Depression

Suicidal Thoughts

Often feeling cold

Cold hands and feet

High or rising cholesterol

Heart disease

Palpitations

Fibrillations

Plaque buildup

Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise

Hard stools

Constipation

No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows

Dry Hair

Hair Loss

White hairs growing in

No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows

Dry cracking skin

Nodding off easily

Requires naps in the afternoon

Sleep Apnea (which can also be associated with low cortisol)

Air Hunger (feeling like you can’t get enough air)

Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time

Forgetfulness

Foggy thinking

Inability to lose weight

Always gaining weight

Inability to function in a relationship with anyone

NO sex drive

Failure to ovulate and/or constant bleeding (see Rainbow’s story)

Moody periods

PMS

Inability to get pregnant; miscarriages

Excruciating pain during period

Nausea

Swelling/edema/puffiness

Aching bones/muscles

Osteoporosis

Bumps on legs

Acne on face and in hair

Breakout on chest and arms

Hives

Exhaustion in every dimension–physical, mental, spiritual, emotional

Inability to work full-time

Inability to stand on feet for long periods

Complete lack of motivation

Slowing to a snail’s pace when walking up slight grade

Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others

Handwriting nearly illegible

Internal itching of ears

Broken/peeling fingernails

Dry skin or snake skin

Major anxiety/worry

Ringing in ears

Lactose Intolerance

Inability to eat in the mornings

Joint pain

Carpal tunnel symptoms

No Appetite

Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure

Swollen legs that prevented walking

Blood Pressure problems

Varicose Veins

Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear

Low body temperature

Raised temperature

Tightness in throat; sore throat

Swollen lymph glands

Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisol–common with hypothyroid patients)

Headaches and Migraines

Sore feet (plantar fascitis); painful soles of feet

now how do I put this one politely….a cold bum, butt, derriere, fanny, gluteus maximus, haunches, hindquarters, posterior, rear, and/or cheeks. Yup, really exists.

colitis

irritable bowel syndrome

painful bladder

Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime

Dysphagia, which is nerve damage and causes the inability to swallow fluid, food or your own saliva and leads to “aspiration pneumonia”.

...to be continued...