InHisLove726 Posted July 22, 2009 Posted July 22, 2009 (edited) Hi all. I was wondering about something after visiting my doctor today. She told me that I would inevitably get hypothyroidism because it is VERY prevalent in our family (mom, dad, sister, grandmother and several of my uncles and aunts on my mom's side all have it) and she tested me today for it. I've been tested in the past for it but it always came up borderline (which means subclinical). I guess my question is... [b]Would having hypothyroidism be an impediment to religious life?[/b] It's incredibly treatable, and my family have been on Synthroid with no problems. I know it's standard procedure to get your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone checked every now and then to see if your medication needs to be adjusted, but that's about it. That's done with a blood test. Thank you for your help! I'm so glad to have this forum to ask questions that are weighing on my mind. Edited July 22, 2009 by InHisLove726
the lords sheep Posted July 22, 2009 Posted July 22, 2009 It's something to address with your individual community when you decide what direction God is calling you, because it varies community to community. In the meantime, take care of yourself. Is there anything you can do that can help prevent/delay it's onset?
toservelove Posted July 22, 2009 Posted July 22, 2009 I have that same problem, and every community I told about it said it was no problem. Mostly, they are looking for any medical issues that effect your day to day living--your ability to work attend liturgy and generally participate in community life.
NisiTe Posted July 22, 2009 Posted July 22, 2009 [quote name='InHisLove726' post='1928583' date='Jul 22 2009, 06:37 PM']Hi all. I was wondering about something after visiting my doctor today. She told me that I would inevitably get hypothyroidism because it is VERY prevalent in our family (mom, dad, sister, grandmother and several of my uncles and aunts on my mom's side all have it) and she tested me today for it. I've been tested in the past for it but it always came up borderline (which means subclinical). I guess my question is... [b]Would having hypothyroidism be an impediment to religious life?[/b] It's incredibly treatable, and my family have been on Synthroid with no problems. I know it's standard procedure to get your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone checked every now and then to see if your medication needs to be adjusted, but that's about it. That's done with a blood test. Thank you for your help! I'm so glad to have this forum to ask questions that are weighing on my mind. [/quote] Hypothyroidism is very prevalent in my family too (Great Grandmother, Grandmother, mom, sister, two cousins)...I have been tested but I have always come up negative and I don't show signs of ever getting it (those in my family who have it, have always incurred it at a young age, like my sister at age 10)...but, seeing as it is highly treatable and (in my opinion) not what I would consider high maintenance, I do not see why it would prohibit fitness for the life...
InHisLove726 Posted July 22, 2009 Author Posted July 22, 2009 Ok, gals! Thank you! I am just concerned about entering a cloistered community (if God calls me there) and having to get regular checkups. I know some orders have doctors that come and do checkups at the cloister; it just depends on the order. As far as being able to delay the disease, I don't think that there is anything one can do. Apparently, if it's genetic, you are born with the precursors so it's just a waiting game of when it will happen. I really don't want to get the disease, but I've learned it's a miracle if I don't (God is capable of miracles!). I'll just keep praying for God's will and ask if He can make it possible for me to enter religious life one way or another.
CatherineM Posted July 22, 2009 Posted July 22, 2009 I wouldn't think it would matter. It doesn't affect your functioning levels, and more importantly, the medicine is cheap. That shouldn't make a difference, but I know it does.
mariaassunta Posted July 22, 2009 Posted July 22, 2009 This usually is not a problem for communities if it is under control and if and when you enter a community you do not have it as of yet. So they cannot say you do until and if it develops. Yes you are a genetic carrier of it, this does not mean you will develop it though. So don't let this Worry you. God will take care of you always!
InHisLove726 Posted July 22, 2009 Author Posted July 22, 2009 [quote name='CatherineM' post='1928603' date='Jul 22 2009, 06:59 PM']I wouldn't think it would matter. It doesn't affect your functioning levels, and more importantly, the medicine is cheap. That shouldn't make a difference, but I know it does.[/quote] True The medicine that my mom is on is only $4 for a month's supply. What is good about thyroid medicine is that if you have had problems that are connected (like clinical depression or fatigue), they usually go away with proper treatment. So that's always a good thing...
Gemma Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='InHisLove726' post='1928628' date='Jul 22 2009, 08:20 PM']True The medicine that my mom is on is only $4 for a month's supply. What is good about thyroid medicine is that if you have had problems that are connected (like clinical depression or fatigue), they usually go away with proper treatment. So that's always a good thing...[/quote] All the women in my family have had their thyroids removed due to pre-cancerous cells, except my mom, and I'm not sure what her healthcare providers have said recently. The only obstacle I can think of would be ignorance of the subject on the part of the community. Unless, like in my family, the thyroid ends up having to be removed, and that would incur costs. Blessings, Gemma
VeniteAdoremus Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 The Missionaries of Charity would probably have problems - a (wonderful) MC told me (very gently) that my wonky knee means I'm not in the category "only the best is good enough for the poor", even if I can walk 75 miles on it in three days without a problem Apart from that - it surely wouldn't be a problem in my community, and that's all I know.
InHisLove726 Posted July 23, 2009 Author Posted July 23, 2009 [quote name='VeniteAdoremus' post='1929766' date='Jul 23 2009, 05:24 PM']The Missionaries of Charity would probably have problems - a (wonderful) MC told me (very gently) that my wonky knee means I'm not in the category "only the best is good enough for the poor", even if I can walk 75 miles on it in three days without a problem Apart from that - it surely wouldn't be a problem in my community, and that's all I know.[/quote] No offense to anyone who has any sort of attraction to the MoC, but I have never been attracted to that order. They are beautiful in their own right, but I will stick to the Carmelites. If all else fails, then the Visitation order is where it's at.
Sarah147 Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 [quote name='toservelove' timestamp='1248302752' post='1928590'] I have that same problem, and every community I told about it said it was no problem. Mostly, they are looking for any medical issues that effect your day to day living--your ability to work attend liturgy and generally participate in community life. [/quote] Well, this condition could be a problem because the fatigue makes it hard for me right now. Getting the treatment just right for you takes a lot of work.
Sarah147 Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 (edited) I've got a question for you all. I may be seeing a fantastic specialist doctor in my state, and if I ever enter an Order in some years into the future, would they allow me to continue with this doctor via phone appointments (which he does)? (It would be an out-of-state order.) I may need to go on a tricky treatment of thyroid and adrenal (cortisol) treatments, plus supplements, so I'm thinking he is best to stick with. This is especially important because I have levels that not every doctor will agree to treat, but he is open to treating the person and symptoms, not just blindly treating numbers. I can't tell you how hard it is to find a doctor like him; I've searched for years and only found unhelpful doctors. I'm so thankful to have finally found him, and I'm hoping I can manage to see him. Edited August 21, 2011 by JoyfulLife
faithcecelia Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 [quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1313956051' post='2292782'] I've got a question for you all. I may be seeing a fantastic specialist doctor in my state, and if I ever enter an Order in some years into the future, would they allow me to continue with this doctor via phone appointments (which he does)? (It would be an out-of-state order.) I may need to go on a tricky treatment of thyroid and adrenal (cortisol) treatments, plus supplements, so I'm thinking he is best to stick with. This is especially important because I have levels that not every doctor will agree to treat, but he is open to treating the person and symptoms, not just blindly treating numbers. I can't tell you how hard it is to find a doctor like him; I've searched for years and only found unhelpful doctors. I'm so thankful to have finally found him, and I'm hoping I can manage to see him. [/quote] You would need to ask specific communities I think, it would depend on how they feel about it. If you were over here I would suspect it would be allowed, but I get the impression that other countries can be different due to costs of treatment.
Sarah147 Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 (edited) I'm in the USA, where did you mean it would be allowed? And the Order I might enter would be in Alabama or Michigan. This doctor even has people coming to him from other states; he's a rare find. Edited August 21, 2011 by JoyfulLife
faithcecelia Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 [quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1313957335' post='2292818'] I'm in the USA, where did you mean it would be allowed? And the Order I might enter would be in Alabama or Michigan. This doctor even has people coming to him from other states; he's a rare find. [/quote] Oooops, sorry, Im in the UK - we are so lucky to have the NHS. Sounds like you have found a good doctor. I would just be honest with whichever community you feel called to enter and see what they say.
Sarah147 Posted August 22, 2011 Posted August 22, 2011 What would you say/how would you approach telling an Order and trying to get them to agree to such an arrangement?
TheresaThoma Posted August 23, 2011 Posted August 23, 2011 I have to take meds daily and for awhile I was really concerned that it might prevent me from entering. Then I realized that if it is God's will then He will take care of it. I now see it as a "tool", if a community won't allow me to enter because of it then I know that it wasn't meant to be.
OnlySunshine Posted August 23, 2011 Posted August 23, 2011 [quote name='TheresaThoma' timestamp='1314061517' post='2293521'] I have to take meds daily and for awhile I was really concerned that it might prevent me from entering. Then I realized that if it is God's will then He will take care of it. I now see it as a "tool", if a community won't allow me to enter because of it then I know that it wasn't meant to be. [/quote] This is completely true. I do the very same. I used to look at each turn-down like there was something wrong with me, but God willed that I was not called there, and I needed to learn to trust His judgment. Now, it's not so much finding an order that would accept me so much as finding an order where I believe I am called. Just because you get to apply to an order, doesn't mean you are called to it, as I discovered.
Sarah147 Posted August 23, 2011 Posted August 23, 2011 (edited) [quote name='TheresaThoma' timestamp='1314061517' post='2293521'] I have to take meds daily and for awhile I was really concerned that it might prevent me from entering. Then I realized that if it is God's will then He will take care of it. I now see it as a "tool", if a community won't allow me to enter because of it then I know that it wasn't meant to be. [/quote] I totally agree. It makes it so much easier to tell what Orders to discern and to tell where I may be called. I'm still wondering though how to get an Order to let me keep up phone appointments with an out-of-state doctor and keep up treatment through him. I'm sure I'll need to keep with him because he is soooo good and he treats the person, not the numbers. Plus, I'm sure I'm going to have a tricky to treat situation with a few meds and supplements. Edited August 23, 2011 by JoyfulLife
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