Are You Sick and Tired, or Tired Because You’re Sick?
I am finally back after feeling like crap and having zero energy. I blamed myself, and my self-talk was debilitating.
I am lazy.
I am fat.
I am useless.
I am a failure.
No one else is this pathetic.
I am so weak.
I have no self-discipline.
I will never be a good __________ ( mother, partner, friend, author)
Then I almost feel asleep while driving, so I went to my doctor (shocking they can help). After blood work, tests, and a sleep study, not only was my thyroid medication not helping but I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I would stop breathing an average of 95 times an hour and my blood oxygen level was going down to 73%!
It took weeks before I could get a CPAP machine, but now I can sleep and breathe at the same time. It’s amazing! I feel so much better, and I am slowly increasing my activity. I will need to go back for more bloodwork to check my thyroid, but I wonder why I waited so long to go to my doctor and get help?
And the truth is assumptions about myself.
I assumed I was lazy.
I assumed I was old.
I assumed I was depressed (which is true) and the meds improved my emotional state but not my energy.
I assumed I needed time to rest and recover from a stressful life situation.
I assumed I was a loser.
I assumed I was a failure.
I assumed I was lacking as a functional human being.
The truth is I was and am sick. I have chronic illnesses—hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, and I easily become anemic. All which steal my energy, my emotional stability, and my brain function. I am LUCKY. So, so lucky, as my conditions can be managed.
What to take from this—ask yourself are you sick and tired or tired because you are sick? See your doctor, get a full blood workup. If they blow you off, get a new doctor or pay a lab to do the blood work for you. Don’t dismiss your symptoms as age, weight, or a personality deficiency. You don’t have to be the media ideal of “perfect” in order to be worthy of self-care and good health.
2018 is all about self-care for me, and I hope self-care will be important to you too.
Love yourself and give yourself the best. YOU ARE WORTHY RIGHT NOW.
February 27, 2018 @ 8:10 am
Great writing with a good message Alica. Self-care and intuition!
February 27, 2018 @ 8:06 pm
Thank you! It’s my focus for this year 🙂
Alica
February 27, 2018 @ 8:17 am
So glad that you got some help and that they found treatable conditions! This really resonated with me, as I have grappled with chronic pain for years, and I wrote it off to bad luck and bad genetics – that was just the way I was. It was a revelation to realize that the pain was a sign of something that could actually be changed. Full recovery will take a lot of time, but even small improvements are motivating to carry on.
February 27, 2018 @ 8:09 pm
I am so glad you’re getting help! It amazes me how much we will ignore and make excuses for our own health. It is amazing how good I already feel, but the process is slower than I was hoping for because I am impatient.
Alica
February 27, 2018 @ 10:21 am
So glad you got the help you needed. Good luck with maintenance, and welcome back to your life!
February 27, 2018 @ 8:10 pm
Thank you!
Alica
February 27, 2018 @ 4:14 pm
Good thing you went to the doctor. I’m constantly fighting chronic fatigue. I should probably check into a sleep study to see about sleep apnea. Hope you get the thyroid issue worked out and you start feeling 100%. I’ve heard some people with sleep apnea say the C-Pap machine made a huge difference in their lives. Good for you taking care of yourself and finding answers!
February 27, 2018 @ 8:12 pm
It took almost falling asleep while driving to get me to the doctor, but I am glad I finally did. I would recommend a sleep study because if you can get better sleep it will help a lot.
Alica
February 28, 2018 @ 8:34 pm
Alicia0mSo glad you are doing all thus. It took me a while to realize that. Along with a cross country move.
If you have any questions on Throid, IAsk away and if I can help you I will. I’, pretty sure you probably have it well in hand.
I tthink I told you, I developed Hashimotoes Thyroiditis at the age of 9 and have nee on hormone replaceent ever since.
My doctor i really good. I can call her if I think my thyrod levels need to be checked and she’ll write the order for me.