Polar Bear run and Plunge

 This morning, Chad and Noel braved the cold, ran a 5K, and plunged into Horsetooth Reservoir. I went with to take pictures and video. As they got ready for the plunge, it was 26F outside with a water temperature of 34F. I don’t know how they did it. I was cold in all of my winter gear. 

Shoveling in the Cold

 

Sean knows how cold it is outside, but he wanted to shovel the snow. Thankfully, he too has plenty of warm clothing including a beanie I knit him over the summer. When he came in, he said it wasn’t as cold as he thought it would be. It’s -7F right now with a wind chill of -21F. How does a hat and gloves make that big of a difference?

Cold Day

 

When I woke up this morning, it was -12F outside, and I had brunch plans with one of my best friends. I didn’t want to change my plans, so I made sure to dress as warm as I could. I have never been happier about how many warm things I have knit! Along with a pair of jeans, t shirt, hoodie and winter coat, I work hand knit mittens, socks, and hat. It was still a bit cold because it was so cold outside, but I was warmer than I would have been if I did not have my hand knits. They really are warmer than most of the store bought stuff I have. 

So Cold It Hurts

Having an autoimmune disease sucks sometimes. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was about 21 or 22. I was diagnosed while trying to find out why I was not getting pregnant. The only symptom I noticed at the time other than the infertility was the weight gain. It didn't take long for me to notice the brittle hair, too. I didn't take it too seriously, though. When I was told that my baby could have issues with brain development if I did not take my meds while pregnant, I made sure I took them during the pregnancies. At the time, I did not understand how important the meds were for me, too. 

After Sean was born, I had a water cyst on my thyroid that the doctors were concerned was a tumor. I had blood work and an ultrasound done followed by the draining of a cyst (not a fun procedure). At this time, I was I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and was told I needed to take it more seriously. Spoiler alert...I did not. When funds were low, the first thing I cut out was my thyroid meds. 

As time has gone on, I have realized that there is more going on than I had realized. I am now on a high dosage and have more symptoms than in the past, even when on the meds. The one that I hate the most is my intolerance to hot and cold. The cold is far worse!

Tonight, I got to deal with my intolerance to cold. (I should point out that it was about 45F and raining when I was having these issues.) I took Noel to the doctor because she was not feeling well and to the gas station after for treats. I ran the heat in the car the entire ride home, and the house was warm when I got inside. The problem was that my feet got cold while out and about. It is really hard for me to warm up once I am that cold. I tried to grin a bear it for as long as possible. By the time dinner was over, my feet were so cold that they hurt. (Yes. That is a thing.) I ended up sitting in bed with socks, three blankets, and two dogs on my feet as the pain intensified. Thankfully, my husband understands my issues with being cold, and he climbed under my desk and turned on my space heater to warm up the room. It took about an hour, but I was finally able to be warm was the room got so warm he changed into sorts. 

I don't think this symptom will ever go away. If my feet get too cold, they will hurt. If my hands get cold, they will hurt. If anywhere else gets cold, I will always feel the cold down to my bones. Will that make me leave Colorado? Probably not. I just have to suck it up and accept it as one of the symptoms of Hashimoto's disease that I will deal with for the rest of my life.