Readers Respond: You Know You're a Thyroid Geek When...

I get Google Alerts on about 30 different thyroid-related terms.

I own my own copy of the popular thyroid reference book, Werner & Ingbar's The Thyroid...all ten pounds of it!

And that's just the beginning! So yes, it's clear: I am a thyroid geek.

So how do you know if you're a thyroid geek -- a thyroid patient who is knowledgeable, empowered, informed, savvy, and totally absorbed in thyroid information, facts, figures and details? Tell us how YOU know you're a thyroid geek! Share Your Own Signs!

Thyroid Geek

No, if you are getting your whole thyroid removed, you will be placed on Synthroid (you might be on it now) and that will give you a normal TSH. If you currently have hypothyroidism and have never gained weight, I highly doubt you'll see an increase in your weight.

—Guest IAsgEZwzoaLWJWlxYll

Geek Enough

I know I must be a geek because I am researching and studying all that I have time to. My family thinks I'm obsessed. I see people who I know must have this disease. Like my mother-in-law, who is bald headed with skin like a reptile (so dry) and stricken with Alzheimer's disease, but her doctors say she fine. Why is it so hard to get help? Nobody wants to listen or hear! I complained for 10 years about body aches, weight gain, no energy and fear. Yes, fear because I didn't know what was happening to me.

—Guest Tired from Texas

I Know I'm A Thyroid Geek When

. . . the first thing I want to know about a doctor is which thyroid medications he prescribes. The second is which thyroid tests he runs. The third is does he freak at a suppressed TSH. I have been known to email strange doctors in distant states in order to get the answers to these questions on behalf of members of my state thyroid groups.

—TexasThyroid1

Hi my name is Tina, and I'm a...GEEK.

Yes, I have confessed! I do minimum 30 minute cardio excersise a day; I ask how and if chefs can prepare foods a certain way at resturants; I do not eat sugar, soy, corn/maize and wheat; I am currently making my own chocolate - with cacao powder, Brazil nuts (high in selenium), extra virgin olive oil etc (all organic); I read food labels (keep away from Emulsifiers); drink minimum 1.5 litres of water a day; I go mad for tuna in olive oil; and my treat is frozen yoghurt from Tutti Frutti. I tell everyone to check their Thyroid, and I am trying to convert all to healthy living. I have lost 9 kilo in 4 and a half weeks. Oh yes...I am currently trying to devise recipes specific for Hypothyroid, and substituting ingredients that are negative. Tomato sauce makes me ill - that's fine - I'll make it myself. Oh, and since I was a choco'holic...I searched high and low for a pure organic chocolate from Bolivia. Oh yes...and I am brainstorming recipes for jams and sauces that will have no sugar.

—Guest Tina

I know I'm a thyroid geek because...

I am filling out this "I'm a geek because" questionnaire............ ;0)

—Guest dgriff13

Thyroid Geek

I never thought of myself as this till I saw this article. I guess I am. I have serious symptoms and want to educations others so they don't have to suffer as long as I have.

—Guest Monarch59

Maybe the Real Test of Geekiness…

Last time I reviewed my labs with my doctor, she asked ME what I wanted to do with my dose!

—Joan4U

I Get Geeky About Several Things

I know I'm getting geeky when I offer up tidbits of info into conversation. When I hear people complain about being tired, or other likely problems, I give 'em a little "take your hormones seriously" speech and a "look out for yourself" speech. If it's strictly about thyroid I always tell them to test T4 and T4, as most only are having TSH tested. I've also begun to study chemical makeup of various hormones and their synthetic versions, and it's made me a big believer of only using bioidenticals. It's amazing how many hormones are called "the same" by doctors, and when you actually look at them how different they really are. No wonder there are side effects! My current kick is looking at how various hormones affect each other. For example, neither my OBGYN or main doc knew that progesterone would block my thyroid hormone uptake. My labs looked like they belonged to a totally different person! No wonder I felt rotten. There is so much more to learn about all hormones.

—Joan4U

When You Need An App To Track It

After wrestling with my thyroid issues and trying to get a handle on the 6 week lag in symptoms/meds, I started tracking my symptoms in a spreadsheet, but I would always forget to fill it out (brain fog?). So I used my own money and contracted a developer to build an app for me just to track my symptoms. A free version can be found on the Android Market (there is also a paid version with more features if you want to be truly geeky!).

—Guest ThyroidTracker

Admitted Geek...

Just reading "I get Google Alerts on about 30 different thyroid-related terms." has me worried that I might be missing some alerts... how do I get a list of THOSE alerts???

—Guest Lorylyn

Thyroid Geek

When I went to the hospital last year with I thought was a heart attack I had to convince the emergency room doctor that I was hypothyroid. I rattled off my symptoms but he still wasn't convinced. My husband told him he better listen to me as I'd been researching for years. My satisfaction was on the hospital release paperwork the doctor had written, "The patient was right..."

—pearlswithplaid

On My Way to Full-Fledged Geek

I am a budding thyroid geek. I am an RN and have been in the field 22 yrs. I have never thought about, talked about, or studied about thyroid issues as much as I do now, since being diagnosed as having Hashimoto's. I talk about thyroid with all of my patients who complain of suspicious symptoms. I know among all my coworkers who has thyroid problems, and discuss with other coworkers about the possibility of a problem. I share my literature with any one who is interested. I read -- or more like, devour! -- any thyroid info I come across. I am in the early stages of geekdom, but I know that I will truly flower into a full fledged thyroid geek!

—Guest Karen

Thryroid Geek

I know I am a thyroid geek because everyone I know comes to talk with me if the doctor tells them their has a problem, and before they have anything done such as radioactive tests, etc.

—Guest BettieS

I'm a Geek

I know I am a geek and have asked everyone I know if they have their thyroid checked. I also know when I'm hypo when my hair -- which is wavy -- straightens out, my tummy is bigger and I haven't gained weight. My head feels foggy and I don't remember things I have to do.

—Guest judierudie

Thyroid Geek

I know I am a thyroid geek when I can talk to my brother, a professor of pharmacology at a university, at length about thyroid medications and he thinks I know a lot about it and have my medications down to a precise science!

—Guest membername