A PSA of Sorts

[rolanni]

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!

Comments

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

How long after the test did the results get faxed? Of course, an adult would be reporting such laxity.

My parents were of the "don't until marriage" school. I think the only contraceptives covered in "social health" were condoms and maybe the Pill. Don't know how I learned about other methods, unless it was by reading Our Bodies, Ourselves.

My son refused to take Social Health, or whatever they're euphemizing now, because "my parents already told me everything I need to know". We have talked to him about things sexual and reproductive since he was a small child, when he'd bring up the topic, or we'd hear something on the news I wanted to explain.

I was flattered, but I suggested we might have forgotten a few things, and to take it if it were offered later. I certainly didn't go over the stages of STDs--didn't think to--but I explained why he was to use condoms, although the AIDS talk came only last year.