Hi fellow nice person.

Hey Ali,
Firstly ... I love reading your blog and admiring your works of life art! :)
Today when I when your blog, I got a shiver ... I have recently found myself in a very similar situation to you with regards to an enlarged thryoid. A very nice person, rather uncomfortably told me that my thyroid loks enlarged. (It totally is! I am amazed that I did not feel I myself, as it feels and looks huge (now that I have seen it!). I have been for tests and they are still not sure what it is, so I am off for a biopsy next week to get some more information about what is going on.
I am amazed at how common thyroid problems seem to be, just from reading all the comments to your post! I am scared about what results are waiting around the cornerfor me, but feel less alone and feel comforted by hearing your story and reading the comments of your many readers.
Best of luck ... and take care.
Katie in Oz.

I was diagnosed almost 7 years ago. It also took about that long to convince the many Doctors I went to that I wasn't just whining. Thank goodness that you didn't have to go through that. I was beginning to think they were right. Sad huh?

I, too, have thyroid disease, specifically Hashimoto's. And it has caused issues in my life-- weight gain, irritability, etc. I was almost relieved when I finally got the diagnosis because a everything finally made sense. I've had a partial thyroidectomy because of non-cancerous nodules and will be on medication the rest of my life.
I had a baby last fall and I've been very bad about remembering to take my meds. Your post today and your reader's comments have reminded me that I need to keep on top of things. I had no idea about the cracked heels and balding eyebrows that one reader explained. I definitely have been having issues in those areas! Thanks for sharing and providing such a wonderful forum for all sorts of important discussion. You are awesome, Ali!

My sister works in the CDRC builing at OHSU!!
It's such a small world!

Ali,
As always, thank you for sharing yourself. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism during my last pregancy. What a difference having this information has made for me. The fatigue was pretty much taking over my life before I found out. It is hard to describe the symptoms because like you said, who isn't tired? It was amazing for me to realize just how badly I felt, once I started feeling better. Best of luck to you Ali.
Beth

Two brave women; the woman at the shop and you! Two women who are blessings! And so much strength from so many women that I am reading about in all of these posts today. Thank you for always being so honest Ali. Your honesty supports so many people. Know you are in our thoughts!

Dear Ali,
three things, first of all, I hope and pray that this is all just something that can be fixed with drugs. Secondly, you just reminded me to check on my sister, She has been going through the exact same thing. Our lives are very different,and we get so busy, just trying to get though our days/weeks; and I don't always remember to say in touch. Thanks for giving me a wake-up call. And lastly, I'm very hard on myself because I too suffer from depression, and as a result have a great difficultly concentrating; I admire you a great deal, and it helped me to feel better about myself knowing that I'm not the only one who struggles with these issues. You are an amazing woman, mother,wife, and artist. Keep up the good work, and Thank-you for your constant inspiration, I know that you work very hard at your job, and we all appreciate it.
Dara

Great post, Ali. Thanks for the info. I can SO relate to having a stranger step out of their comfort zone to say something personal like that. We were at a Farmer's Market and a woman approached me and told me that my daughter (8 years old at the time) had a curvature of the spine. I thought she was crazy, thanked her and went about my day. Her comment stuck with me and we did get my daughter checked and turns out she DID have a curvature. During the course of determing the cause, a tumor was discovered on her spine. The tumor the size of a grapefruit. Wrapped around her ribs and spine. Thank God it was benign so the outcome was good but none the less, fairly tramatic for all involved (probably me mostly!) I'm sure the tumor would have made itself known sooner or later, but finding it sooner, when my daughter was young, made a big difference in her development! Thank God for fellow nice persons in the world!
:-)

Welcome to the hypothyroid club, Ali! i'm so glad you had this checked out. i, too, am hypothyroid (with Hashimoto's), but because i completed a triathalon and did not have the weight gain, i went undiagnosed for years. i take meds every morning to control it, but the dosage can change with your body's needs. My unsolicited advice to you is this: Listen to your body. Thyroid issues happen in a lot of women after they have a baby. Hormones get a little nutty and are tied to so many things, including thyroid, depression, energy. i get my blood checked every 6 months when i'm feeling good, but as soon as i feel sluggish & foggy & sad for a couple days, i get my numbers checked. Sure enough, it's my thyroid not working enough. Thanks to getting tested when i felt good, too, i know where my numbers should be. i am rooting for you to feel good and hoping for good test results in your future.

I too have hypothyroid (hashimoto's like the above poster). i however had to have the right half of my thyroid removed. I guess years of being undiagnosed and so many flair ups caused a growth. But since it's been removed and since I've been on the synthetic hormone, I've lost 25 pounds, my energy level has shot up, and I just feel good. :) I'm on the hormone replacement for life probably, but I've embraced it. I take it in the morning..."cofee and a hormone, the breakfast of champions" or so i've dubbed it! lol.
So from one fellow scrapper to the other, I hope things work out!
xoxo
jess

Hi ali Reading your blog in Australia!! I have Hashimotos hypothyroidism as well .It was found by accident as I was being investigated for depression that wasnt shifting . Thyroxine tabs have made all the difference . Heres to having the courage to put our own health first and to take ourselves seriously,tiny vague symptoms and all. Our families need us and we need to be up to the task .

someone emailed me and asked me to have my thyroid checked. i still havent done it. i have had this odd swollen part of my neck for about a year. im calling tomorrow. :)

wow. thanks for sharing your story. glad you went rock shopping!!!!

You will look on this diagnosis later as a blessing. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease (Auto-immune hyperthyroidism)where my body is killing off my thyroid. I have to get checked every year and usually have to get a stronger amount of my levoxyl. As long as I take my little pill every day, I am mostly symptom free. I look at this as a blessing because I had so many wierd symptoms and thought I was going crazy. Symptoms like hair loss, fuzzy thinking and memory, sensitive to hot and cold, weight gain, Irritability, depression, etc. When I got this diagnosis I was so excited because I actually had a name to put to all my symptoms and the best part was that it would all be fixed by one little daily pill. I can always tell when I need my meds upped because my symptoms begin to creep back. Hypothyroidism, untreated can be very serious eventually. I'm so glad that kind woman said something even though I'm sure it was very uncomfortable for her. Good luck! You will see a big difference when you get on the meds and find the right dosage for you.

Hi Ali,
I'm Giorgina Neilson, met you at Kiwi Scraps in Aussie when you were here. Hate saying that, I know that you definately won't remember me! I read your blog faithfully everyday and am quite annoyed when occasionally you haven't blogged!! You are such a REAL person who happens to be well known and I like that. Anyway I was diagnosed with Graves Disease four years ago and cried for days as apart from depression I have never had any kind of sickness or operation. I was monitored for 18 months and was on medication and monthly blood checks. At the end of the 18 months I went into remission and thought great! After about six months it came back again and in May this year I had to have a total thyroidectamy which obviously removed my whole thyroid which was enlarged to cause a goiter and also had modules growing. My first ever operation and I survived it but you know the stupid thing is that I have two boys and was always scared to have a C section not wanting a scar and now I have one right accross my neck!!! Like you my neck grew and I was totally oblivious to this thinking I had just put on weight. I am taking great comfort in your story to the world. I am a sole parent of two boys and life has been totally hard for me with abusive issues and a non supportive ex emotionally or financially. The reason I take comfort is not that I am happy that a celebrity has as much risk of getting sick as a me, but I am a really firm believer that women need to stand together, not point and say I'm glad it's not me but be supportive. As I said I too suffer from depression and have gone through this and I thank you so much for sharing this. I too am an avid scrapbooker you may see my work if you wish on my blog which I haven't updated for a long while as I don't think anyone reads it!!! giorgineilson.typepad.com. you probably won't have time but anyway. Just thankyou Giorgi

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 12, during a doctor's appointment - but not by my doctor! An intern was making rounds with him that day and just asked out of curiosity if my neck was always that large. Isn't that crazy?! The lifetime meds are no big deal. Just something to take each day like a vitamin. I will tell you that it's so important to stay on top of this...if your thyroid goes out of whack, your whole world follows! Best of luck...keep us posted!

Hi Ali.
I understand what you are going through.
I have an underactive thyroid, which leaves me tired, overweight, shocking memory loss and depressed. I gained 20kgs right after having my first son. Where my mother has Graves Disease and has really enlarged eyes. People are not really aware of thyroid problems, and is very common. That lady is so wonderful to point that out to you. I hope you get the treatment you need soon. I am on the medication for the rest of my life, the only problem is that I am so forgetfull now I forget to take it :)
Goodluck with it all
Hugs
Kellie

Ali - good for you, taking your health seriously. And good for that lady, mentioning a potential problem.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroid about 3 years ago (after a couple doctors missed it) and after getting on medication, became almost a "new" person. It's amazing how that little organ causes so much imbalance in your life/health when it is not working properly.
So glad to hear you're on the right track now. You'll notice a BIG difference over the next couple weeks, too! For the good!
Denise

Be well, Ali! You will be in my prayers!

That story is the VERY reason I never hesitate to discuss my financial history or my panic/anxiety disorder. You never know who you'll help just by being open.

Ali,
my daughter, who is a few years older than you, was diagnosed with a goiter when she was in elem. school. She's been on synthroid since. Both of my dogs have hypothyroidism and are on synthroid........ so, you're in good company! :))
good luck with the rest of your tests! scrappinJudy

I'm it's been posted already, since like you said, hypothyroidism is so surprisingly common. My mom has had hypothyoidism most of my life, and through her, I've seen the whole spectrum of symptoms and severity. There are LOTS of tests and re-tests the first few years. Once things get more regulated, though, the whole "doctor" part of this becomes much less a part of your every day. Re-testing is important, but on the whole, it's a pretty livable thing. And, once everything is regulated, your whole world really does take a surprising upswing. There were things my mom dealt with for years (super dry skin, excessive hair loss, weird sleep patterns, changes in metabolism AND emotional issues) that all made changes for the better once the medication was well balanced.
So glad you found out about it.
Good luck. :)
Jessica

Ali,
thank you for sharing not just scrapbooking or art realated things, but thank you, thank you for sharing your life with us. It has enriched me so much more.

Hi Ali - Thank you for sharing something as personal as this with all of us. I am in the club along with so many of your fellow readers. I had a "huge" neck for most of my life. Many doctors commented on it, but no one ever tested me for hypothyroidism. After the birth of my youngest daughter (she is now 10) I became extremely ill. My weight dropped to 114 (I am 5'7"), I couldn't eat and hold it down, I was so weak I couldn't walk, I couldn't even stand in the shower...I had to sit on the floor of the tub along with struggling to raise my arm so I could wash my hair! It was scary! Finally when I went to the hospital because I was becoming extremely lethargic...they diagnosed me with Addison's Disease and hypothyroidism. At the time of my diagnosis my doctor told me that I was within 12 hours of a coma and that by the next morning I would have been dead! Wow...talk about wake up call!
Like many of you, I am on meds for the rest of my life...without them I would last about 2 weeks tops. With my meds I feel great and live a normal active life.
Thank God for people who take notice of us when we can't see it for ourselves (as you said, we see ourselves everyday and don't always notice the physical changes).
You are in my prayers, and I know that everything will be just fine.
Nicki

Hi Fellow Nice Person, Ali. What an amazing story. Take care.