Feeling Off? Pay Attention to Your Neck

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You know how some folks claim that the aches and pains of getting older are all in your head? Well, I’m here to tell you that they might just be hanging out in your neck.

Just last weekend, while swimming in the chilly Atlantic with my daughters-in-law, I realized something was off. “Wow, this water is COLD,” I remarked. “You’re just weird,” they shot back. We all had a good laugh at my inability to keep my hands in the water, flailing around like a toddler who just spotted a wave. Meanwhile, my 38-year-old companions were happily searching for shells and spotting fish—clearly enjoying their youthful energy while I was over here acting like a total goofball.

My strangeness wasn’t exactly a surprise. Since I hit 47, I’ve been grappling with those odd symptoms that seem to come with nearing the big 5-0. I felt so drained sometimes that I could have sworn I was a caveman with my knuckles dragging along the ground. And don’t even get me started on my nails, which seemed to split at the slightest breeze.

Living in the desert of Abu Dhabi, I noticed my hair turning into a frazzled mess. Of course, right? It’s over 110 degrees! My eyes were puffy, sure, but that’s just a family trait—thanks, genetics! I splurged on fancy skin cream to combat my dry skin, but my arms and legs felt worse than ever by the end of the day. I briefly considered blaming the beauty industry for selling me a dud, but then I felt bad for generalizing and went back to blaming the heat. Plus, my hands were swollen, which meant they were just as hot and bothered as I was.

Then there was the brain fog—the most unsettling of all my weirdness. It runs in the family that we’ve got a history of Alzheimer’s disease lurking around. My father, a neurologist, passed away from it three years ago, and that made me hyper-aware of when my brain wasn’t functioning properly. I was constantly misplacing my to-do list, which sent me spiraling into panic. Is this the beginning of the end? I thought, so I added a bit more to my life-insurance policy at work.

It didn’t help that I had accumulated a little extra weight around my waist. Exercise seemed futile, so I decided to ditch alcohol a few months ago. I was fed up with feeling sluggish and constantly bloated, plus I was definitely overdoing it with the white wine. But even cutting out those calories didn’t transform me into a slimmer version of myself, nor did it bring back my energy. How weird is that? I’m a sober person who feels worse every day without booze!

I made a list of all my symptoms—except for the brain fog, which I genuinely forgot about—before visiting my doctor. It hit me right before I walked in, and I jotted it down in bold letters along with some other terms I couldn’t even decipher after writing them down.

We went over the list and checked my vitals: high blood pressure, low pulse, belly fat, dry skin, swollen hands, leg aches, and red, crusty eyes. We also talked about depression and rage—two things I hadn’t listed. I was already on antidepressants, so why was I still feeling down? And the rage? Well, I figured that was just part of being a woman in today’s world. I even justified my lack of a sex drive by telling myself I must have had my fill.

A simple blood test revealed the culprit: low T4 and high TSH. My thyroid—a little gland in my neck responsible for metabolism—was slacking off. How did I not connect the dots? I’ve known friends who have struggled with their thyroid levels. I knew the signs!

Just four days into taking Synthroid, I can feel myself starting to come back to life. It might take a while to get my thyroid in check, but I’m hopeful I’ll be back in the Atlantic with my hands in the water before the temperature drops too much.

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Summary:

Getting older can bring a host of unusual symptoms that might be linked to thyroid issues, as I discovered after grappling with fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog. A simple blood test revealed my thyroid was underactive, leading me to start medication that has begun to help. It’s a journey of understanding your body at this stage of life, and remember, it’s always good to listen to what your body is telling you.