Thursday, January 28, 2010

I am not a toad!

Not that anyone really called me that outright... but Someone did kind of hinted.

It is like this...

I have been diagnosed as having "subclinical hypothyroidism".

Subclinical hypothyroidism refers to an early stage of hypothyriodism. Hypothyroidism is when your body doesn't have enough thyriod hormones, whose main function is the body is to run "run the body's metabolism". And so, people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism. It is the opposite of Hyperthyroidism, which is when your body produces too much.

The doctor explained it in a rather undiplomatic way and here, I've kind of quoted her explanation:

If you think of the two extremes of hypothyroidism and hyperthyrodism - One is like a toad and the other like a rabbit.

The toad is cold, puffy and somewhat fat and constipated. 

The rabbit is wide-eyed, jumpy, nervous and very active.

Her explanations were clear enough but I went away from the clinic wondering if I have just been called a toad, for the first time in my life.. (and hopefully, the last.)

If I say that I didn't feel somewhat anxious of having been diagnosed of an illness (it's kind of like failing a test, isn't it?), I would be lying.

But I was also in a way kind of relieved to know that the weight gain, intolerance to cold and dry skin  is not just in my mind.. but is in fact real and there is something I can do about it now that I know the reason.

I've always thought of myself as a healthy person.. since I exercise about 4 times a week, averaging about 5-6 hours each week. But I guess there is more I can do to make myself even healthier.. especially since I have more information now..


OK, so this is supposed to be a statue of a frog, not a toad.. 
but is a picture that came to mind for today's post. 
The Japanese word for frog sounds like the word "Come Home"
and is used as a symbol for safe journeys for fishermen.

6 comments:

Blur Ting said...

Oh dear, the doc is rather insensitive. You do look good and healthy. Don't worry, you'll be fine.

Petunia Lee said...

It takes some management, and if you didn't say, I couldn't have known.

At least you have an easy way to lose weight! Take medication!

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Thanks Ting and Petunia, so sweet of both of you... :)

poppy said...

Wah, your doctor is really tactless. I have hyperthyrodism for years but my physician has never described it as anything remotely close to a rabbit or any hyperactive creature. Change doc!

Sk said...

Hi! What made you go to the doctor? I suspect I may have hypothyroidism too as I seem to have some of the symptoms I found when I googled. Did you just go to a GP to be diagnosed? Blood test?

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Hi SK, I found out about it when I did my annual health check-up. But yes, it was diagnosed via a blood test. In you are in Singapore, polyclinics would have that facility.. I'm sure a GP should be alright as well. Do go and check it out if you suspect you have hypothyriodism