A PSA of Sorts

Those who have been reading along at home will perhaps recall that I have an underachieving thyroid. It's no big deal; is, as I understand it, fairly common, or at least not uncommon; and perfectly treatable with a daily dose of a prescribed medication. You can read about it here, if you're interested.

Now, one of the interesting things about the hormones produced by your thyroid, my thyroid, and the thyroid of the woman at the coffee counter trying to decide if she wants a double-shot of espresso, is that "normal" is a range -- between X and Y is normal function.

With me so far?

Good.

The aim of medicating people with hypothyroidism is to supplement hormone levels to "normal," which makes perfect sense.

Except that -- and despite the fact that hypothyroidism is a pretty common problem for Women of a Certain Age -- apparently no one takes a baseline of "normal" thyroid function when you -- General You -- are young and healthy and presumably firing on all cylinders, so that there's an on-file "normal" to return you to, should your thyroid suddenly come up lazy.

This potentially leads to circular discussions with one's doctor about if one's supplemented hormone level is "normal" on the scale, but one is still experiencing symptoms, could it be that one had been used to a higher "normal" production level of hormone, back in the day?

So! If you're a young woman -- ask your doctor about a thyroid test the next time you get blood work, so you have a baseline on-file, should the day ever come when you need supplements. You might have to get a little chesty with him or her, but, hey, it's your blood and your future.

Now! Another cup of coffee, and to the couch!

*blink*

OK. I think I've got the recycled stuff woven in nice and tight and everything in the right place.

I think.

The recycled scenes came to about 6700 words, give some or take it, and magically I have a smidge more than half a book in the hopper. Yes, I am a ghoddess, thank you very much.

As I type, Steve is packing. He plans to be on the road to North Carolina and points ReCONStructive early tomorrow morning. The cats are dubious with regard to my ability to wait on them tail and paw and fulfill their every desire while he's gone.

I'm kinda dubious about that, myself. Though I will, of course, do my very best.

For the moment, having cut, pasted, rewritten, and retrofitted all day, I think I'll go do something useful, like the dishes, then see if I have a book to read that isn't science fiction or fantasy...

Progress on Ghost Ship:

52099 / 100000
(52.1%)