Worried I'll lose my job

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Worried I'll lose my job
3
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 2:13pm
Hi:

Thanks to your help before, I now have a referral to Endo! Now I need help coping in the meantime, though. I'm very tired at work, which is especially hard because I work with the public in a front office/reception situation. Perhaps even worse is my forgetfulness! Even though I write everything down and try really hard to be organized, I am so easily confused... it's like I can't connect the dots. My boss is very understanding and I've been upfront with him from the start about my health. I'm starting to worry, though, that I just can't do my job. I don't have any benefits, so sick leave is unpaid; it is a small nonprofit organization that really couldn't let me go on an extended leave without replacing me. I only recently took the job because my husband and I could no longer make it without a second income (we've been living on our home equity to make up for my lack of income for nearly 3 years since the birth of my daughter). My husband is supportive, but my doubting whether I can go to work every day is causing a strain. Is there anything that I can do about the forgetfulness and "brain fog," while I wait for my hypothyroid to be under control? Anything other than coffee that might help me fight the sleepies at work?

Help!

--Dee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 6:03pm
Hi Dee - I'm sorry that this is so difficult for you! I felt the same way and worried all the time about what I was forgeting. First, I would skip the coffee. It's not going to do you any good in the long run and it's not going to help you to think more clearly either!! I know it seems like it helps but it ends up releasing more stress hormones into your system and that's thelast thing you want! Make sure you get planty of rest at night and eat a healthy diet. You have no idea what a benefit a healthy diet is! Plenty oflean protein, whole grain carbs, fruits and veggies. Try to start the day off with some protein and a carb, not just a bowl of cereal or bagel. That gets burned in no time! Then you crash. An egg and toast, cottage cheese and berries, whatever it is you like to eat, but try to get your protein in. Have a mid-morning snack, same thing, carb and protein, and after lunch, a mid-afternoon snack ...... again, a carb and protein. If you need some ideas, I can come back later and post them for you. Keeping your metabolism running all day will really help you.

If you can get a little bit of exercise in each day - just a walk or something light - it would really help you sleep better at night and it would also release some good hormones that help lighten your mood and make you feel better.I'm sure the last thing you'll feel like doing is walking but maybe the whole family can go after dinner or something? Just a thought.

Another thing to do is try to relax about what you think you might miss! I know this is hard to do but I went through this exact thing and my job involved researching so it was nothing But memory and facts. But you know what, what's the worst thing that could happen? So if you forget to do something, you'll apologize and deal with it, do you know what I mean? The stress of worrying over it is probably worse that anything that you can atually experience on your job!! I'm not making light of this either ....... just trying ot help you put this in perspective. I think paranoia is one of the "un-named" symptoms of this condition. The whole worrying thing certainly is. And soon, you'll be getting your diagnosis and medication and you'll be back to normal mentally-speaking! That aprt seems to clear up pretty quickly. I hope this helps a little. I'll check back later if I can to see if you need soem help with the food ideas.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Thu, 07-15-2004 - 10:04am
Thanks so much for your reply; these are excellent points. I think I especially need the reminder that my forgetting things at work might not be as catastrophic as it feels someimtes! Also, I have been really, really negligent about excercize, so I'm going to start the family walk idea. I have been working a lot at diet... I am a weight watchers lifetime member and before my diagnosis had lost 30 pounds; I've kept myself from gaining it back, but it's been really, really hard since the hypo (one of my first symptoms was weight gain). I forget sometimes to eat enough protein at work... I'll pack a good lunch today; I'm feeling inspired.

I'll check in soon;

Thanks again,

Dee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Thu, 07-15-2004 - 10:14am
Hi Dee - Congratulations on losing those 30 punds! That's a big accomplishment! And on not gaining it back. People thinkt heh ardest part is losing the weight but it's not - it's keeping it off. (And people who have been most successful at keeping it off are the ones who exercise regularly.) So you've done great!

I've thought of you often since you posted yesterday. Your post brought back all that panic I used to feel, too. And made me realize that things never got as bad as I thought they might! And I also realized, with great relief, that the whole brain fog/memory thing is a memory itself! So that's something for you to look forward to. Now when I walk into a room and can't remember why I'm there, I really can't blame my thyroid! LOL! Although I'm not exactly sure *what* to blame just yet. :) Hang in there. Hugs, Cathy