About 30 years ago I was running some cattle at a farm and also a cash van business. I thought I was fairly fit and the doctor agreed. I would tell the doctor that I would get spasms of acute tiredness. He checked me out and said he thought it was because I was working so hard. I made sure I ate good nutritious food and would go to bed fairly early.

I became very interested in nutrition years before the GPs were taking it very seriously. I mentioned this to my doctor that I wouldn’t mind going to University to study it. He said I had no need as I could research it myself at the university library. He gave me the info to gain entry to the library. My introduction to good nutrition was by a ninety year old man who had studied it for years and gained answers by ongoing testing. The same as the researchers do today except they also approach the subject more scientifically of course with modern science with what it is in today’s world. I asked him how he proved his theories. It was by years of practical testing and practical knowledge to get the results. Today experiments are not accepted until after sever years’ trial which have the sanction of at least five eminent doctors.

By Friday lunch time I would arrive at my brother’s home where I was given a good nutritious lunch and completely relaxed myself. I would have just about be worn out. After some weeks I took my brother’s wife’s advice and went to the doctor. As I tell people with tongue in cheek that the doctor jumped up on his desk and said it was great that someone had come into his surgery that eventful Saturday morning who was really sick and he could make him better again. He told me I had to go straight home to bed and to not do a thing all the weekend. The doctor said he thought I had hypothyroidism and that he would have it confirmed by Monday morning and could he bring in a couple of colleagues as you very rarely see a case like mine. I rang the company and they could not believe that I was so sick. They wanted me to drive a car to collect the orders. My doctor told me to tell them to ring him and he would soon put them straight. He was very mad about their attitude.

The doctor had me on the full [male] adult dose (200 µg thyroxine) for quite a long time. I have taken a couple of small changes over the years. I am on 150 µg at present. My TSH is not right at the moment. My T₃ and T₄ are in range. I am seeing the doctor after a space of three months to check my thyroid again. I am lucky I have another excellent doctor. I moved to another area and my doctor also retired about the that time.

My coeliac disease was diagnosed about four years ago. I went on an excursion on the Maribynong river. I thought I had caught food poisoning. It was not too bad so I thought it would ‘come okay’. It was not causing me too much trouble. After a week I made an appointment with my doctor. He gave me many tests and he could not find the cause. He sent me to the hospital but as it was going to take three months to see someone, I made arrangements to go to a specialist. He saw me straightaway and he diagnosed diverticulitis. After finishing the prescription I did not think I was quite right so I made arrangements to see the specialist again. This time he diagnosed the Coeliac disease. I went straight onto a gluten free diet.

There are about 6% of Coeliacs have been found to have negative antibodies, which I am one of that 6%. The villii in the small colon absorbs the nutrients, vitamins, minerals etc. the bumps or fibres are flattened if one has the Coeliac disease. There is no medication. The doctor did not know about the Coeliac disease. Just after my episode he found two more. There are about 80 patients diagnosed every month. The children at the Children’s Hospital are checked now because it is in our genes.

I had family and friends who unconsciously helped me through the years. I am very careful about what I eat. If I go out one night I do not go out the next if possible. I tend to become tired. I have resigned from several activities because of the busy life style. Our Coeliac Support Group has a separate brochure for the doctors and a separate one for the restaurants. I am very lucky in the fact that I have a most caring friend and companion who supports me and we are very happy together.

Best wishes to Thyroid Australia.

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