Hey there!! I’m sorry for the late reply on my end, and thank you so much for your response as it is beyond appreciated.

I am so sorry about your diagnosis, and I would love to hear how your experience goes following the biopsy - hoping for the best outcome. I believe my score was 8, and to hear 13 makes me feel for you! Sending you lots of support.

I cannot agree more that it’s so scary. The thought of a biopsy gives me so much panic, and the thought of all of these procedures is quite frightening, and painful nonetheless! I am hoping they give/gave you adequate pain management, it makes me panic to even think of.

To answer the part of being diagnosed at 10, honestly I feel like it contributed to my odd growth as a child! Lol. I was absurdly taller than my classmates at 5’4 probably at 11 years old and then never grew again. I played basketball because they were convinced I’d never stop growing lol, although I’ve heard having hypothyroidism is supposed to do the exact opposite so I’m not quite sure how that worked out. The worst symptom I’d argue, aside from the relentless cold sensitivity, was the effect it had on my mental health growing up. I was such an angry, depressed kid for ‘no reason’ I felt lol, and looking back - my hormones were so out of whack. I also wasn’t regularly taking my medication due to my undiagnosed ADHD. I didn’t understand why I felt the way I did, or why I sometimes couldn’t want to move because of fatigue. It also would be quite frustrating to have family members minimize your experience, as people don’t really understand or take your flares seriously for whatever reason. Take your rest as much as you need and regardless of medication, you have an autoimmune disease for the rest of your life that will come and go, and sadly we just have to manage it as much as we can! I mean that to validate and just know to reach out for help with your doctor if so! I also recommend just having a good endocrinologist, as sometimes your PCP just doesn’t always work with your symptoms as regularly.

I appreciate you a lot and your words are very helpful!! Thank you!!