“January is Thyroid Awareness Month. 60% of people with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. When I first started experiencing symptoms of hyperthyroidism (from an autoimmune condition called Grave's disease), they were dismissed as anxiety. I had been sexually assaulted four months earlier and everyone thought my symptoms must be related to PTSD. I first noticed it in my running. I went from running 8 min miles to getting out of breath saying a sentence. My heart rate raced over 100 bpm even when I was lying down. I'd wake up drenched in sweat from hot flashes and I rarely slept more than 2 hours a night. After 2 months of suffering, I decided to talk to my doctor. It took a month to get into an endocrinologist's office and he was surprised to see me that early on in the disease's course. Most people don't recognize a problem until they lose a significant amount of weight. My weight dropped under 100 lbs before my condition was under control with medication, but I'm glad I started the process before it reached that critical point. Untreated hyperthyroidism can cause serious problems with the heart, bones, muscles, menstrual cycle, and fertility. I wear this necklace to spread this message - listen to your body and don't let others invalidate you if you feel like something is wrong!” @backwardsthroughthefire