Five years today I decided I wanted to try my life sober. For that I am forever grateful 🖤
I recover loudly to stop others from dying quietly. My DMs are always open to anyone struggling or thinking about their relationship with alcohol and drugs.
If you told me more than five years ago I could have a happy, fun life without alcohol and drugs I wouldn’t believe you- or even want it.
We do recover. 🖤
#AA #Recovery #Sobriety
This morning we suddenly lost our little Betty Boo 💔 she was my best friend, endlessly loving, sassy and dramatic. I don’t really have any words except I love you Betty. Xxxxx
A month ago I felt more depressed than I can ever remember feeling. I didn’t feel like myself anymore.
For the past year something hasn’t felt right in my body. I saw multiple private doctors and kept being told I was “OK” or that I should feel OK according to my blood results.
Because I have Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, I assumed everything was thyroid-related. My medication was increased (I became hyper), then reduced again (back to hypo). Anyone with an autoimmune condition knows how unpleasant that can feel.
After one appointment where a doctor suggested my not drinking alcohol, vaping or coffee was “a bit extreme,” I started to wonder if it was all in my head. Maybe I just needed to be less lazy, do more exercise, eat better food. (All things I was trying and struggling with)
Then last month I hit a wall.
I woke up one morning and couldn’t stop crying. I was exhausted beyond sleep, covered in cold sores, gaining weight, struggling with brain fog, had dark depressive thoughts, puffy eyes and cystic acne. If anyone asked if I was OK, I would immediately tear up. At one point I genuinely wondered if I was developing early dementia.
My mum @janievh suggested a full at-home blood test looking at other markers and chat GPT suggested which ones based off my symptoms.
The results:
B12: 43 pmol/L
Ferritin (iron): 42
In the UK Drs consider anything above 150–200 pmol/L “normal,” but many specialists recognise that people especially those with autoimmune conditions- often feel well only when B12 sits above 400-500 pmol/L.
So it wasn’t just a bit low. I was severely deficient. Funnily enough the result was like ‘possible’ 🙄
People with Hashimoto’s often struggle to absorb B12 and iron something none of the doctors I’d seen in the past year had tested.
I’ve now had two B12 injections and honestly feel like I’ve stepped back into the land of the living. Looking at iron infusion if supplements don’t work.
I’m sharing this because if you feel unwell but keep being told everything looks “normal,” listen to your body. Advocate for yourself and ask wider questions.
Sometimes it isn’t mental health or a personal failing.
Sometimes your body just needs help x
