I was diagnosed with thyroid
conditions Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
(an autoimmune disease) and
Hypothyroidism, in the summer
of 2015. I had been living with
mounting symptoms of these for
around five years before the
eventual diagnosis. These thyroid
conditions have resulted in pain
for me in the form of: muscle
spasms/cramps/aches and pains,
migraines, foot pain and all over
body aches and pains on flare up
days.
After mounting symptoms of a
thyroid condition for years, I was
eventually tested for the first time
at 21-years old and was found to
have Hashimoto’s and hypothyroiditis
(autoimmune hypothyroidism).
18—iPain Living Magazine
Living With
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
with Rachel Hill, The Invisible Hypothyroidism
Receiving that diagnosis was obviously
life-changing but also
very stalling.
I had a whole mix of emotions
surrounding this diagnosis at
such a young age and didn’t
know straight away what it meant
for my life or outlook in terms of
my health. I was confused yet felt
validation for my symptoms. I
felt frustrated yet relieved to have
an answer. I definitely grieved
for a while.
The current medication I am on,
called Armour, has been hugely
beneficial. Unfortunately, the initial
thyroid medication I was on
(levothyroxine) did not work for
me, and in fact my thyroid symptoms
and especially the pain, only
intensified. Once I was on my
current type of medication, many
symptoms improved or disappeared
altogether, including the
cramping, aches, pains and more.
Migraines have decreased in frequency
from experiencing several
a week to just once a month.
Other treatments that have helped
me have included raising my deficient
levels of Vitamin D and
iron, as both can contribute to
pain, taking magnesium supplements,
and when a migraine
strikes, applying ice packs/cold
compresses and using Sumatriptan
from my doctor.
We need to talk about whichever
health condition we live with,
openly and honestly, in order to
normalize its existence and effects
on those who experience it.