Aa
LONG LONG POST HERE - In Oprah's words on her hypothyroid condition.
OK I am very upset after reading this and no wonder why a "real " thyroid patient has no backing from her. If anyone is interested in this article I copied - great! -
I particulary love the part where she states she retreated back to her Hawaii palace and rested - dined and walked her dog to relieve her thyroid stress.
Now I know why so many found this thyroid patient off a bit. Here is the article from O magizine.
What I Know for Sure
My body was turning on me. First hyperthyroidism, which sped up my metabolism and left me unable to sleep for days. (Most people lose weight. I didn't.) Then hypothyroidism, which slowed down my metabolism and made me want to sleep all the time. (Most people gain weight. I did! Twenty pounds!)
The thyroid, one of many body parts I'd never given a thought to, is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. It influences everything from digestion to metabolism to reproduction. When the thyroid is out of balance, so are you.
I craved balance. I was desperate to be somewhere in the middle of hyper and hypo—where, obviously, I'd been my whole life, taking it for granted because I didn't know any better. We often need a malfunction to appreciate all the things that function.
I decided to give myself July. Yes, the whole month—dedicated to myself, for myself. To regroup. Rejuvenate. Restore my soul.
By the end of my show season, in May, I was so exhausted, I was numb. But I still had commitments I needed and wanted to fulfill, like being in South Africa to take my girls to see their first stage play, The Lion King. That was a treat worth traveling for. One of the girls—Thando, whom you may remember if you watched our special—wants to be an actress. After seeing The Lion King, she told me, "It was so spectacular, my eyes didn't know where to land."
So I spent June with my 150 daughters, who are happy and thriving. But in July, I actively worked at doing nothing. I had no schedule. I told my office, "Call me only if someone or something is dying or burning."
I flew from Africa to Hawaii, which involves a 12-hour time difference that takes some adjustment even when you're well-rested. I made the transition by sleeping and waking when my body wanted to and not a moment before. It took a week for my internal clock to reset itself. I took vitamins. Drank soy milk. Munched on golden flaxseed. I ate only fresh foods: grilled fish, corn, tomatoes, spinach, artichokes, broccoli from the farmers' market, mangoes from my neighbor's tree. I hiked with my dogs (who daily rolled in cow poop along the grassy trails), then came home and bathed them. I actually read the stack of books I'd chosen to read by summer's end. I dozed. And drifted into the afternoons waiting for the sun to set. I watched 28 consecutive sunsets. Took pictures and marveled at how each one was so different.
After 14 days, I started to feel my self returning. Not fully—just an awareness that I wasn't as tired and rote as I had been. By the end of the month I'd given myself, I was better in myriad ways. Not only was my physical health improved but I'd also become mentally stronger.
I won't tell you how many people challenged my decision to give time to myself. I have never gotten more requests to do something or be somewhere than I did the moment I declared that I was going out of circulation. And these were from people I normally would have said yes to. But I was steadfast in my commitment to finding balance and reordering my life's priorities. So I said, "No, I can't come to Italy." And, "No, I can't be in Boston no matter how important you think it is." And, "No, I won't have you fly to Hawaii for a meeting here."
I may have lost a few friends, but I know for sure I saved myself. And learned that making the decision to look after yourself is the ultimate in healthcare.
As I write this, I'm wrapped in a blanket on the back of a friend's boat off Vancouver Island sipping a glass of nice red wine…watching the whales swim by. The earth has rotated to yet another sunset, and my balancing act continues.
Cheers!
Ok - what do you all think - Maybe my trip to Hawaii in Jan 09 will cure me! LOL
I particulary love the part where she states she retreated back to her Hawaii palace and rested - dined and walked her dog to relieve her thyroid stress.
Now I know why so many found this thyroid patient off a bit. Here is the article from O magizine.
What I Know for Sure
My body was turning on me. First hyperthyroidism, which sped up my metabolism and left me unable to sleep for days. (Most people lose weight. I didn't.) Then hypothyroidism, which slowed down my metabolism and made me want to sleep all the time. (Most people gain weight. I did! Twenty pounds!)
The thyroid, one of many body parts I'd never given a thought to, is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. It influences everything from digestion to metabolism to reproduction. When the thyroid is out of balance, so are you.
I craved balance. I was desperate to be somewhere in the middle of hyper and hypo—where, obviously, I'd been my whole life, taking it for granted because I didn't know any better. We often need a malfunction to appreciate all the things that function.
I decided to give myself July. Yes, the whole month—dedicated to myself, for myself. To regroup. Rejuvenate. Restore my soul.
By the end of my show season, in May, I was so exhausted, I was numb. But I still had commitments I needed and wanted to fulfill, like being in South Africa to take my girls to see their first stage play, The Lion King. That was a treat worth traveling for. One of the girls—Thando, whom you may remember if you watched our special—wants to be an actress. After seeing The Lion King, she told me, "It was so spectacular, my eyes didn't know where to land."
So I spent June with my 150 daughters, who are happy and thriving. But in July, I actively worked at doing nothing. I had no schedule. I told my office, "Call me only if someone or something is dying or burning."
I flew from Africa to Hawaii, which involves a 12-hour time difference that takes some adjustment even when you're well-rested. I made the transition by sleeping and waking when my body wanted to and not a moment before. It took a week for my internal clock to reset itself. I took vitamins. Drank soy milk. Munched on golden flaxseed. I ate only fresh foods: grilled fish, corn, tomatoes, spinach, artichokes, broccoli from the farmers' market, mangoes from my neighbor's tree. I hiked with my dogs (who daily rolled in cow poop along the grassy trails), then came home and bathed them. I actually read the stack of books I'd chosen to read by summer's end. I dozed. And drifted into the afternoons waiting for the sun to set. I watched 28 consecutive sunsets. Took pictures and marveled at how each one was so different.
After 14 days, I started to feel my self returning. Not fully—just an awareness that I wasn't as tired and rote as I had been. By the end of the month I'd given myself, I was better in myriad ways. Not only was my physical health improved but I'd also become mentally stronger.
I won't tell you how many people challenged my decision to give time to myself. I have never gotten more requests to do something or be somewhere than I did the moment I declared that I was going out of circulation. And these were from people I normally would have said yes to. But I was steadfast in my commitment to finding balance and reordering my life's priorities. So I said, "No, I can't come to Italy." And, "No, I can't be in Boston no matter how important you think it is." And, "No, I won't have you fly to Hawaii for a meeting here."
I may have lost a few friends, but I know for sure I saved myself. And learned that making the decision to look after yourself is the ultimate in healthcare.
As I write this, I'm wrapped in a blanket on the back of a friend's boat off Vancouver Island sipping a glass of nice red wine…watching the whales swim by. The earth has rotated to yet another sunset, and my balancing act continues.
Cheers!
Ok - what do you all think - Maybe my trip to Hawaii in Jan 09 will cure me! LOL
In the real world, we aren't able to take that much time off. I'm with Skeeter42, wish she would have mentioned her treatment. At least I have my weekends...lol.....
Of course she doesn't mention her million dollar medical attention, I'm sure. If we were Oprah Winfrey maybe we could feel better and actually enjoy a trip to hawaii with all her money and attention. If is a shame she didn't mention her treatment and what she takes for thyroid disorder. I had a month off work but could barely function!!
For me, resting did not help my hyperthyroidism. I think she does a disservice to people that need medical attention and medicine. Also, she makes it seem like thyroid issues are no big deal and either ignores or doesn't know what a struggle it is even after getting medical treatment. Honestly, her article annoys me.
I went to Hawaii while hyper and undiagnosed, I was on edge, argumentative, exhausted, and couldn't leave our room for 2 days.
I went to Hawaii while hyper and undiagnosed, I was on edge, argumentative, exhausted, and couldn't leave our room for 2 days.
Well, I wish I had not only the time she has taken for herself but the resources to let others do what she gave up to heal .. and , honestly, if I did what she did for herself and never even had a thyroid condition I'd be healthier too ...
Did I say that? Oops .. oh well
Tiaraless Tater on this one ...
Did I say that? Oops .. oh well
Tiaraless Tater on this one ...
I did almost the same thing, but not in Hawaii. My boss allowed me to take a three week break in our summer slow time and mark two weeks as 'sick time' since I had spent the past 5 months dealing with graves diease and a fulltime job that requies a lot of travel. I was exhuasted and did nothing but read/sleep for three weeks. I think her point is valid, even if she does has the luxury of going to Hawaii vs staying at home. The point is to allow yourself time to heal/try and get your body at peace. It's hard to take time off in today's world I admit, especially with a family. But you need to take time to heal.
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