Some more hugs, dear Sona.

I know the exercise endorphins would help your mood, but pushing it when you're exhausted and in desperate need of time, especially downtime, will only continue the vicious cycle. Are there other mood-boosters you can recall helping you in the past, which you can make a habit of? Music, meditation, aromatherapy... whatever floats your boat, find it and immerse yourself, please --- regularly, like brushing your teeth, if not for long.

And while you feel how you feel, there is certainly no helping that, I know you're too smart a woman to believe how you feel about your body while depressed and medicated reflects the actual objective truth necessarily. I discovered this first hand, but you probably have your professional experience to remind you of this too --- yes, you're sad, and that makes you feel worse about being 'fat', which makes you sadder... even though you aren't fat and you know a few lbs is not the worst thing you could be dealing with by a long shot (you've survived much worse already, haven't you?).

Hang in there, Sona. You are fabulous today as you were a few months before and you will continue to be fabulous tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that... Just keep reminding yourself (put it on the mirror, on the monitor, wherever) until you believe it and until the obstacle is gone.

I wish you better health in the long run, as well as a happier day today than you had yesterday in the short term (baby steps...)

Sona,

From what little I know about you, you seem to be a go-getter. And that makes 1 hard on oneself.
The scales might say that you have gained a few pounds, but the photos still show a fab you. Even the posts you are not happy about , those too have a fab looking Sona.
Please donot be hard on your self.

And study, yes medicine is difficult(though a engineer, I come from family of doctors) and there is a lot to study. But then Sona you have been there done that. It's just the matter of last minute revision.And I know you will do it:).. Keep faith and hang in there...

I am sure Bappa(as He is fondly called in Maharastra) is listening to you and saying, "Trust me Sona Baby... Just do your duty... I am there taking care of the rest"...

Lots of love and Prayers:)

Beautiful, fabulous Sona a few pounds will only make you more beautiful not less. Be kind to yourself and get lots of hugs and kisses from DH & DD. I hope the dark cloud lifts soon - you are a special person.

oh.. Sona, I would never guessed that you always look so happy in the pictures. You don't look fat at all. Try to start by eating well and cut all the sugar!

Hugs, Sona. You are going through some very tough period in your lif and should be gentle and forgiving with yourself. You are still recovering after the surgery, right? I don't know what you are studying but maybe you should consider postponing nit until you fell better and healthy again? Studying is a very demanding activity even for very young and strong and healthy and it can take a high toll on you. If you are feeling tired all the time it maybe your body's way of telling you to slow down and allow it to heal...
In any case take care of yourself, our beautiful Sona!

oh Sona. Docs often fail to understand the truly all encompassing misery of whacked-out thyroid levels.i've been on replacement T4 and T3 for years, when it's not right it affects every. single. body. system. and you have issues on top of that - oy!

The worst of it is, you can tell your docs how rotten you feel and they will never believe it because of how gorgeous, vibrant, and chic you look !!!!! Seriously, you do look wonderful in spite of it all, and fortunately your major body troubles are under medical care and mostly it sounds like you just need to recuperate. Like others have said, try to catch even five minutes here and there doing something to 'recharge', like a little walk around the block, meditation, yoga, sitting outside looking at the beautiful sky, etc.

also (i am sure you know this but being a mother hen) tell your docs if you don't feel better after their deadline for when you should so they can adjust. take care sweetie, you will feel better soon. steph

Sona, big hugs, sweetie!!! I'm sorry you're feeling down. You look beautiful, always, and you are very, very loved here at YLF!

Sona-You are beautiful inside and out! You have a lot on your plate right now with your test . Take care of yourself and try to make a little time for yourselg everyday even if it only 5 minutes just to recharge.
Lots of hugs!

Sona, sending healing vibes your way --- I have had hypothyroidism and anemia much of my life. I don't know if you've tried "Armour" thyroid, instead of synthetic hormones, but this has been wonderful for me.

I also took a pretty high dose of Poly-O-Iron for a while (and still take it sometimes) which seemed to make a huge difference in my energy (my ferritin level was only 7 out of 100 when my long time doc finally ordered a ferritin test). After just a few days of the high dose iron my energy level was so much better - I hadn't realized how many symptoms were related to low iron. Cyclic migraines, Ringing in ears. Restless legs, foot cramps at night. Feeling depressed and tired. Of course these symtoms can also be from other things too. But for me, these seem to have disappeared when I started taking the high dose iron. Mine is from Cypress Pharmaceuticals. Non-prescription.

From what I've read you aren't supposed to take iron/thyroid together - for some reason they can interfere with each other so I take thyroid in AM, iron in afternooon and the other half of thyroid in PM. I also take 400 MGs of Magnesium every day plus eat a lot of magnesium rich foods (spinach, nuts, beans, lentils, oats). Another thing that causes low energy is low magnesium levels (and it's very common to be low but not easy to diagnose). And vitamin C is necessary for iron absorption of course. I also use cast iron to cook much of the time. I've never been a big meat eater and was vegetarian for years.

thank you everybody! I decided to dress in a look I've been waiting to try today.
plan to go for a very short walk today just to take in some brisk air.
brought my board study review book to work to study in between seeing patients since this is the major part of my stress.
and stood on the scale- I have gained 3 lbs. not a lot but it shows.
I decided to buy myself bigger size karen kane bootcut jeggings so I don't feel so bad about my bloated belly when I go to dress.
And I keep coming back to this post to read your words of widom, support, therapy and love. thank you my friends.

More healing vibes from me, Sona. One day at a time. I hope that you can feel our YLF love. xoxo

Sona, you've already received so many encouraging words and tips, but I would like to add that although medical conditions can affect our emotions, we have control over our mind, our thinking about how we feel about ourselves. Many people validate their worth based on outward appearance, too short, too tall, too thin, too large, etc. But our true value is who we are inside -- in our hearts. Not on what the scales say, or even what we wear. So every time a negative thought comes to mind, replace that with a good and true thought about your person and character. This goes a long way towards a joy-filled life.:)

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, Sona. You're one of the kindest, most generous women I've met, and that shines through immediately. (I think back fondly on the fun we had together with you and your adorable, brilliant daughter.)

As is the case with most women, your life has so much stress in it that's affecting your health, your health is affecting your life, and it's a vicious circle. I wish I had answers for you. Just know that we are all sending you our best healing vibes and our gratitude that you're here.

Oh, Sona. I totally hear you on this. My weight fluctuates by three or four pounds a month with no real explanation, and it affects me far more than I'd like. As everyone says, you are such a lovely, gracious, giving, smart, strong woman, and you're going through a lot right now.... I know you've gotten through to the other side before, so just try to remember that there will always be a time when you look back on this moment and realize it's behind you.

When my son is hard on himself I tell him "Be nice to my little boy!" and I'm going to jokingly say the same to you - "Be nice to my dear friend!".

I've been blown away by your recent WIWs, so whatever you are feeling, it's not showing in how you look. Chances are you are the only one who notices those couple of pounds, believe me.

Big hugs to you!

Sona, I don't "know" you very well but I hope things are brighter for you soon.

*hugs* to you Sona. You look so beautiful and vibrant in your latest WIWs it seems hard to believe you are feeling sad and fat. The best cure for feeling fat is to wear clothes that fit you right now, so you're absolutely doing the right thing by purchasing the new pair of jeans for this temporary fluctuation. You're going through so much right now - our bodies do tend to hold on to a few extra pounds during times of stress. We're not a number on the scale - we are "our actions" in the world if that makes sense. You define yourself by how you choose to dress, behave, etc and you are exemplary by those standards.

Also, I really want to second making sure that you find time in the day to do whatever relaxes you - going for a walk, meditation, dancing to a silly song with your daughter, reading a book. I'm a knitter and have noticed that even knitting for 10 minutes just "takes the edge off" sometimes.

And yes, I get totally pissed off at my weight too and it affects me as well. I would go up and down 4-5 pounds for no reason. I can relate!!!!
((( Psttt... You look fantastic)))

*hugs* Sona ... sending happy, healing vibes your way

Big loving hugs, Sona! I feel for you about how that darned scale can make us feel so awful about ourselves! I wish you could see yourself the way we all see you -- beautiful and perfect just as you are!!!

Hej. Sona. I've got Graves, plus being Type 1 diabetic. It's a slog, isn't it? Sometimes it gets so ridiculous, you can't even cry - you have to laugh. And totally go shopping.

Sona I don't know you & I'm new here so I don't know what you used to look like but you are beautiful. I also don't know what is going on with you besides the anemia & thyroid issues. That alone is enough to make you depressed but if there is other stuff as well I want to be sensitive to your issues.

I will only give advice if you ask for it as sometimes that can make us feel worse. I will keep you in my prayers & send you blessings. I work as a healer & I too am dealing with low energy right now.

I can totally relate to you Sona dear. I am for sometime now having thyroid, anemia, uterine and ovarian problems and thus being aloof, tired, depressed, fat and pale. So no WIWs or any thing of those sort now. But I do check YLF sometimes to keep up with all of you and be still in touch so you all dont forget me.

My prayers with you and may Lord Ganesh hear you prayers and take away all your obstacles this year on the auspicious occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi (though its over now). Love kisses and prayers for you all the way from Nepal.