I have hypothyroidism, diagnosed in 2008, I take 100mcg thyroxine but it makes very little difference and the treatment and diagnosis of this condition is quite controversial. I was fighting for my rights and more adequate treatment and Chris was supporting me in this quest. In November 2010 he accompanied me to a hospital visit to see an endocrinologist and by November 2011 he himself was dead. Now I couldn't care less. Oh I still take my thyroxine like a good girl even though it doesn't stop the symptoms but the fight for better and more informed treatment has gone from me.

So on I plod weighed down now not only by being hypoT but by grief and shock. It is difficult to know which is causing what now. So yes I am sick with hypoT but mostly I am sick with grief.

What you said, IStillSayWe, is true for me, too. After losing my Joe, I have the strong feeling,like well, so what? If I don't take my medicine what difference will it make to anyone? I'm not very strict on testing my blood either, for my diabetes. I think the only way we can regain a sense of caring about our own health is when we see that our health is important to somebody else besides ourselves!

I don't take any meds other than for menopause. They took me off hormone treatment since I have had recurring questionable mamograms. My biggest issue is my weight. In the 10 months that my Bob was sick I put on 75 pounds. His cancer was in his lung (no symptoms) and his spine, which meant he was in an enormous amount of pain and he couldn't walk with out assistance. Most days he would just want to lie in bed and have his back rubbed, so that is what I did. I laid with him and tried to make him comfortable. The down side was I gained and gained, but honestly I would do it all over again to spend time with him.
I joined weight watchers but find it so hard to motivate myself to go. Right now I just don't care, and I know that I need to for myself. My Bob he always had blinders on and thought I was beautiful no matter what the scale said. I miss him more than I have words to express.
I am having surgery on my knee next Monday, the damage is due to helping Bob get in and out of bed and the car but I am sure that this excess weight is making it worse.
Cathy

I so worry that some horrible illness or injury will get me and what would I do!!!

Coming back from my vacation with grandkids I got a horrific cold: coughing, fever, stuffy and still one week later hanging in there...but I keep going over the counter and fighting it...

SO far so good but gosh.....at this age....and being down with grief and all I worry the stress could trigger worse...
HUGS

Thank you for sharing with us. Yeah...we all have something, or a close family member has something.. We are all human and therefore human conditions hit us and those that we love.

You all are going to just say ....yeah..really when I get done...

You know my list of what I have been through.

I also have factor 5...it's a blood clotting disorder...it's mild...and means I take an aspirin a day.

I also had a fast growing goiter on half of my thyroid so had half of it removed around 2004. I then have hypothyroid and take 75 mcg of levothyroxine. The key to handling that is to take the medicine consistently when you first wake up and do not eat or drink anything for a couple hours before or an hour after. It works if you do that..doesn't if you aren't consistant.

I really could not make this up...really.

When I was at the Neurologists appointment for the first time this past week, he read my file first and when he started talking to me, I said, "you know I really am healthy and have been very fortunate my whole life.". You should have seen the twisted face look that I got.

I just never thought of myself as sick, or bad off, or poor, or sad.. I just feel like everyone has something. It's not like I am 100% happy about the crap I have been through. I just feel like I've been lucky still to have had so many good years and I know that I am going to have more.

After the support I got today here on DS, I realize that it is safe here to share the good the bad and the ugly.

We have all shared the deepest emotions known to mankind here, so now I am realizing that that can go beyond the grief that we are going through.

You all rock here on DS!! To the others that deal with illness or have family members that deal with illness...whether shared and disclosed, or not...you have my deepest respect. It isnt' easy dealing with not only losing the love of your life, but also medical issues side by side.

I still think we should all be exempt from any other life struggles at this point...Where's that exempt box on the "life form."

hugs to everyone!!
-Diana

I have RA and Firbomyialai ( can say it or spell it) The longer the name the more it costs.

I worry if I get sick with something that will take someone to help me. Got now one there. I guess insurance will get me a nurse.

But I do have pup and bird to help me along

Peace to you
Dually

I've had Diabetes most of my life and use insulin. I have also had blood pressure issues that now has become worse since the death of my husband. Like you, they don't seem to matter because my heart is so broken and no one can fix that. I try my best to maintain my health, because I know that is what he would want me to do.

I understand you, CathyLynn58. How can one NOT gain weight when we sit in ICU for weeks and weeks ongoing and then take care of a person who is dying for months? I gained about 20 pounds.

Under ordinary circumstances it's not easy to lose weight, but my stress level was off the charts all those weeks he was in ICU and I comforted myself with 3 chocolate chip cookies from the cafeteria every day. Now, with Joe gone, I find the motivation to lose weight even harder. I sympathize with you.

I'm bipolar. Something that is public as I'm a member of that community and one of the CLs for bipolar.

Yes, I've been attacked a couple of times on this very board for it but generally I don't feel any rejection over it.