maybe it's something else...

I have been very busy with work and life. On top of the normal obligations and responsibilities, I have been dealing with my body lately. It's no secret that I am 49, in my 50th year, and like many other women my age, am dealing with hormone decline. I have been attributing lots of things to my hormones (or declining hormones, or lack of hormones). I haven't had any specific blood tests done, but some things are just obvious.

I also mentioned in a previous post that I was going to try yoga. I have been to two sessions. The instructor is lovely. I find it very difficult because my body hurts so much to get into certain positions. My tailbone area and hips, as well as my shoulders, cause me so much pain that I have to adjust many positions. I look around me and nobody seems to be wincing the way I am, or having to unfold slowly and carefully after certain moves. I feel incredibly old.

Every night is a succession of shifting from one side to the other, usually very slowly, with my hands having to lift my hips and ease myself over. By early morning, I have a small pillow between my knees to take some of the pressure off my hips. As well, my shoulder joints are screaming at me and I am only able to place my arms in certain positions. All of this, I attributed to the onslaught of the next stage of my life.

I finally decided to go to my local chiropractor because I would really like to lie on my back again. It's the little things in life... She did tell my that things were out of place and "locked up" and I have had two treatments already. I have been doing stretches for weeks, with no relief. I shared with her that when I get up in the morning, I move like a 78 year old woman. Everything is stiff and sore and needs time to "warm up". She suggested that I get some blood work done and be tested for other things. I had another professional suggest I have my thyroid tested.

Finally, I looked up symptoms of thyroid problems, specifically hypo. And there I saw a list of things that describe me for the past year or so. Weight gain (I attributed that to hormones and just not eating as well as I should), hip and shoulder pain (I'm the poster girl for that), muscle weakness (again, just blamed that on not exercising as much as I should), exhaustion (work, age, life...), always feeling cold (that's been me my whole life apart from hot flashes which are no longer bothering me), and on and on...

So... I will be calling to make an appointment with my doctor (which could take two weeks to get in to see him) and I will ask for all the necessary tests. I am curious to find out the results. Have any of you experienced thyroid problems? Were they discovered right away? Did medication help? Thanks for any comments about this topic!