Yoga

In my quest to better my health and mind, I decided to try yoga today.  I am nowhere near bold enough to try this in front of strangers (I can not imagine that my enormous toosh in the air will help others stay focused and balanced anyhow), so I tried it in my living room where only my children could make fun of me.  They did.  To anyone that says that yoga is not a workout; my thighs, calves, and sweat drenched yoga clothes will tell you otherwise.  I may not have been pumping iron or running for miles, but holding a downward dog for over thirty seconds can make your muscles twitch.  The poses themselves are in no way easy for a woman of my "stature," and holding them for any length of time can create gravitational disasters a-plenty.  Even after a few tumbles and some obscenities directed toward the thin, balanced woman speaking calmly on the TV screen, I feel as if I have accomplished something great.  I have a very long way to go before I will be rolling out my yoga mat in front of anyone else, but I am sure that this is a step in a direction that will help me inside and out, unless I get stuck in a pretzel-like position and have to call for help.

Thyroid

So, I haven't been to the doctor since being a teenager because of anxiety that I will be told bad news.  I finally took the leap and went to the doctor's a few weeks ago because of my depression, anxiety, and overall yucky-ness.  She ordered blood tests and low and behold, I have a thyroid disorder.  I have what is called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an auto-immune disorder that attacks the thyroid.  This condition can cause the depression and anxiety symptoms that I have been experiencing as well as the weight gain and inability to lose weight.  She prescribed Levothyroxine, which is a synthetic thyroid hormone and I will be on it for the rest of my life.  She also sent me to have an ultrasound done on my thyroid which showed that I have cysts in my thyroid.  So, on Tuesday I will be going to get a Fine Needle Aspiration biopsy done.  Although I am not anxious about the procedure itself, I am not really excited about having a needle stuck into my neck.  I am more anxious about the result and what will come after.  My mother had to have her thyroid removed, and I am pretty nervous about having to have surgery.  I shall see what the outcome will be...