Re: Please, help me, Topper...On denial and managing multiple diseases

[Guest guest]

Just want to add to this with a couple of observations...

In the work I've done in the lupus, arthritis, cardiac, and thyroid patient communities, I've seen most patients go through a period of denial. It's actually a very natural part of assimilating the bad news that something, physically, is wrong. So, even if someone brushes aside or rejects your suggestion that their problem might be thyroid/autoimmune related (or related to some other illness or factor), they do hear what you're saying. And, in time, they might learn that you are correct.

As someone who manages multiple autoimmune conditions in her own life, among them, lupus, vasculitis, cardio-vascular disease, and autoimmune thyroid disease, it can sometimes be difficult to discern which condition is causing which symptom, or if it's a combination of conditions...or if it's something new altogether. In the case of living with lots of diagnosed illnesses, communication with docs AND carefully recognizing your own symptoms and what might trigger them, is SO important. And then there's the human factor...for example, some days, I can focus on lupus to the almost exclusion of my other conditions. Maybe I have just had a conversation with another lupie, maybe I have just received my recent labs, or maybe my malar rash is particularly pronounced. On such days, I might not consciously think of my hypothyroid condition, or my CVD...doesn't mean they're not there, but my focus is just elsewhere. Someone living with diabetes might do this, too, focusing on blood sugar levels and not even wanting to "go there" when someone well-meaning brings up hypothyroidism.

We all try to help others, through our experience and insight. Sometimes, however, others are just not at the point where they can listen with open ears and hearts. We gotta keep trying!

Maureen Pratt

www.maureenpratt.com

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Maureen.

>From: maurpratt@...

>Reply-To: The_Thyroid_Support_Group

>To: The_Thyroid_Support_Group

>Subject: Re: Please, help me, Topper...On

>denial and managing multiple diseases

>Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:15:04 EST

>

>Just want to add to this with a couple of observations...

>

>In the work I've done in the lupus, arthritis, cardiac, and thyroid patient

>communities, I've seen most patients go through a period of denial. It's

>actually a very natural part of assimilating the bad news that something,

>physically, is wrong. So, even if someone brushes aside or rejects your

>suggestion

>that their problem might be thyroid/autoimmune related (or related to some

>other illness or factor), they do hear what you're saying. And, in time,

>they

>might learn that you are correct.

>

>As someone who manages multiple autoimmune conditions in her own life,

>among

>them, lupus, vasculitis, cardio-vascular disease, and autoimmune thyroid

>disease, it can sometimes be difficult to discern which condition is

>causing

>which symptom, or if it's a combination of conditions...or if it's

>something new

>altogether. In the case of living with lots of diagnosed illnesses,

>communication with docs AND carefully recognizing your own symptoms and

>what might

>trigger them, is SO important. And then there's the human factor...for

>example,

>some days, I can focus on lupus to the almost exclusion of my other

>conditions. Maybe I have just had a conversation with another lupie, maybe

>I have

>just received my recent labs, or maybe my malar rash is particularly

>pronounced.

>On such days, I might not consciously think of my hypothyroid condition,

>or

>my CVD...doesn't mean they're not there, but my focus is just elsewhere.

>Someone living with diabetes might do this, too, focusing on blood sugar

>levels

>and not even wanting to " go there " when someone well-meaning brings up

>hypothyroidism.

>

>We all try to help others, through our experience and insight. Sometimes,

>however, others are just not at the point where they can listen with open

>ears

>and hearts. We gotta keep trying!

>Maureen Pratt

>www.maureenpratt.com

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