I walked into the bowling alley, in shock. I had left the Doctor’s office where I had a routine blood test and the results were not what I was expecting. I had started bowling in a league next to my Doctor’s office for something to do, since I had given birth to David, and was looking for ways to socialize. The bowling alley had a nursery where a kind lady would watch the kids while their moms bowled.

I made the appointment before my league on Tuesday, so I only had to make one trip to the mini mall which housed both of my destinations. I was not sure what exactly was wrong with me, but I listened as the Doctor told me I had a thyroid problem, and then again as he informed me my cholesterol was higher than it should be. He told me I would take medication for the thyroid problem for the rest of my life, and if I couldn’t get the cholesterol problem under control, he would give me medicine for that as well.

With the presciption dropped off at the convenient drug store between the bowling alley and Doctor’s office, I asked my teammate about the thyroid issue. She was a nurse and explained that basically it was lifelong issue that would make my life more difficult. Reading about it showed her words to be true. I could expect weight gain, thin hair, cold body temperatures and “brain fog” to name the most common problems. Common knowledge suggested that it would be hard to lose weight while having this issue and it was considered an excuse for many obese women to claim they could not lose the weight.

My maternal grandmother had heart problems, including a pace maker, and my mother has high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, diabetes and cancer. Obesity runs in my family, and so does cancer and thyroid disease. This means I could take the medicine for choesterol and give in, or I could fight. In less than six months, I lowered my cholesterol to a respectable level, and the Doctor said I would not need the medicine.

That was more than 24 years ago, and just last year, while checking my blood once again for the thyroid level, so the daily dose of medicine I am taking is the right dose, my Doctor looked at the cholesterol numbers and told me they were not good. There was too little of the good cholesterol and too much of the bad stuff. The levels were not so bad that he would write a prescription that day, but he warned me, if they were not improved by my next visit, I would be on another medication daily.

Every morning for the past 24 years I have begun my day by taking a tiny pill, trying to take it on an empty stomach. I usually have water next to me and upon waking, I pop the pill in and then go about my day. While traveling, getting the prescription filled has been a priority more than once, because I am not sure what happens if I do not take it right. I already have gained too much weight, have thin hair and ‘brain fog” is a regular occurrance for me. What else is there?

Fear that I will gain more weight, or never be able to lose the weight I have accumulated has been a concern for me. About 8 years ago I lost the extra weight I was carrying at that time, so the thyroid is not an excuse, though I do believe it is harder for me. I knew I needed the exercise component to be a part of my plan, because I can’t just eat less and lose. In fact, sticking to a 1000 cal/day diet for a month with no loss, was why the Doctor originally checked my thyroid. I know my battle is not as difficult as others, but it could be easier.

The trip back to Chicago gave me enough time (barely) to get to the Doctor’s office and have them draw my blood. I made sure they were checking for everything, and I was anxious for the results. Waiting until the Doctor called seemed to take forever. While in the office he reminded me of the higher levels and our “deal”. I said nothing, but I hoped I had worked hard enough to keep the medicine away. One pill a day was enough.

I waited each day for the Doctor’s call. Finally today, the call came. I was nervous as I dialed the voicemail number to hear the message from the Doctor.  My family has cancer, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity and high cholesterol running rampant, and though I could not do anything about my thyroid, the rest of those issues can be fought. A good diet and exercise would be my best chance to avoid those hereditary complications.

I have lost more than 35 pounds, and many inches while exercising and trying to eat better. I was hoping the number on the Doctor’s pad showed I tried to fight back. I listened to the Doctor go through telling me my liver, blood sugars, and thyroid (on the medication) were all good and then he said “your cholesterol is….VERY good, both kinds!” He even sounded surprised at this. I was so excited I barely heard what else he said, but I did listen enough to know I am in better health than I was at the last visit, before I left Chicago.

I can continue to improve my health, and I plan to do that. I will continue to take the one little pill my body needs to function properly, and which there is no cure for, but despite how easy it would be to use my thyroid as an excuse to be overweight, or to reference the many overweight women in my family who have the same genes, as my reason to be fat. I will not.

I have never felt better than I have since I have been working out and getting stronger. Being able to perform 10 “girlie” pushups, properly as well as extending my runs have made me feel so good about my strength. There was a time I felt old and ready to “give up”, but now I feel youthful and anxious to start each day.

I was not feeling well today, just having a cough, headache and typical sick feeling. After I got the call, I looked up the Bataan Memorial Death March which a friend had told me about. I read more about it, and even in my sick state, I wanted to do it. I wanted to prove I would not lie down and let all the sicknesses in my family take over. I want to fight for my health and this march is a good way to start. It seems kind of rough, but I will do my best. I am going to start training as soon as I feel well enough. I will have to put the incline up on the treadmill and keep adding the miles.

Dierks Bentley has a song called “Every Mile a Memory”, and for me it is like every mile walked/ran gets me farther away from those hereditary issues I am fighting against. I would like to think each mile will make a future memory for me, maybe one I would not have been able to have, had I just given up.