the reason i've been absent from life lately..

for years i've felt exhausted.
everyone gets tired sometimes, but generally i've felt completely drained. tired all the way to my core. it's a whole other level of tiredness.
recently, over the past couple of months, it's got a lot worse. most days i'm only out of bed for a few hours and everything tires me out completely. it feels like my body is just giving up.
i've been having blood tests for all sorts of things but nothing has come of it so far. my mum has been doing a lot of research and after initially thinking it is chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, we now think it could be hypothyroidism, which is basically a hormone problem caused by the thyroid gland. it doesn't sound like much, but just a slight change can affect you in a big way.
we've been researching online and a lot of the symptoms seem to match, including:
slowed speech
impaired memory
impaired cognitive function (brain fog)
increased sensitivity to heat and cold
low temperature
dry skin
puffy face
brittle hair and nails
depression
anemia, impaired iron and folate absorption
slowed metabolism
abnormal apetite
fatigue (physical)
anxiety/panic attacks
increased need for sleep
joint pain
unsteadiness
paleness
irritability
abnormal menstrual cycles
mood instability
poor muscle tone (muscle hypotonia)
decreased libido

a lot of these symptoms match, so i'm seeing my doctor in the next couple of weeks and hopefully being referred to a specialist. i'm hoping there is some way of being able to tell how long this has affected me but i'm not sure they will. if this is what i have i'll have to be on medication for the rest of my life :(
it is not life threatening, but myxedema coma, the most severe (and rare) form of hypothyroidism can result in death. it may be caused by an infection, illness, exposure to cold, or certain medications in people with untreated hypothyroidism. but i'm sure it won't come to that.
it would be so nice to know what is actually wrong with me so that i can start getting better and back on track.
it really feels like everyone around me is having a brilliant time and getting really stuck into uni and working hard and doing well, and i'm just stuck here. i feel like i'm getting left behind and everyone is looking forward to exciting times ahead and all i can see is this, forever. it's so frustrating. some days i just lie in bed and cry. i find it really difficult and embarrassing to talk to people about it, as i don't really know what's wrong and people think i'm just being lazy.
i'm trying to look forward to christmas and not dwell on it too much. it's hard though. especially when you're getting zero support from someone who is supposed to be your best friend. i am very grateful for my mother to support me.
on the days i do feel well enough to get up and do a little something, i've been making christmas cards and cats. i'm hoping if nothing else, i can be a little business of sorts making these while i don't have the energy or concentration to do anything else. here is a cat i made and gave to my housemate/graphic designer ash:
go and visit his site www.ashbougourd.com


i may also make a book to get out how i'm feeling. i need to vent somehow!