5 Ways I Keep Myself on Track

There are so many things I do to keep myself on track when it comes to my Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease (TED).

5 Things I do to stay on track with thyroid eye disease

I make sure I go to my doctor's appointments

My doctor is great and I am so very lucky and grateful to have her. I find that since my blood work with my levels go up and down, it is important for me to meet with my doctor whether it is virtually or in person. I also make sure that I tell her the truth when I do not feel well because that is important. When I am more tired than normal, I tell her. When I feel off, I tell her.

I make sure I take my medication

I am on levothyroxine and will be for the rest of my life. I had a radioactive iodine treatment that destroyed my thyroid, so I need this medication. It’s not healthy for me to miss a day. In fact, if that does ever happen I immediately feel the effect of it. I feel really tired and drained.

Acceptance

Today, I can finally say that I have accepted the fact that I have Graves' and TED. I will never be okay with it, but I am accepting that this has become my new normal.

Acceptance is a crazy thing. In order to truly have peace within yourself, you have to accept what you cannot change, and I certainly can’t change my diagnosis. It took me a long time to get to this point but I can honestly say I am a happier version of myself because of it. Just because you accept something doesn’t mean you have to agree with it or be okay with it. It just means you don’t fight it anymore. For me, it meant accepting that my body had changed and doing whatever I need to do to try to take care of myself with this new normal.

I speak up for myself and put myself first

I have never been the type to do that but I have come to realize if you don’t stick up for yourself, who will? You can have a great support system but I’ve learned the most important support system comes from within yourself since you are the one going through it.

I don’t hide out.

When I was first diagnosed I didn’t want to leave the house, I was so self-conscious, it was debilitating. I missed out on some great parts of life that I can never get back. I was honestly afraid to go out anywhere with friends because I thought pictures would be involved and I did not want to see photos of myself anywhere. I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror. Eventually, I started living my life regardless, because I thought it was important. So, go out and live your life because you might regret it if you don’t.

What are some ways that you keep yourself on track within your thyroid eye disease journey?