I've heard of people having trouble with AA, but I haven't heard of anything anti-Catholic. I know atheists have some difficulty (for some reason, they find it difficult to "submit to a higher power")
rhys | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 4:20 am | #

Wonderful.
J. D. King | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 6:51 am | #

This is great Dawn. It's like watching the hand of God work in your life.
Kristina | 02.05.08 - 8:52 am | #

Hi Dawn:

Great post. I can't tell you how many times in life this has happened to me. Whether trials or triumphs, all of a sudden I have looked back on a period of time and said "Hey, look what God has done!"

I believe I'm in the midst of one of those periods of time right now following the death of my mom and having some time off to think, reflect, pray and cry.

Anyone who knows me well knows my favorite saying is, "Everything happens in the right order." How true.

With regard to your first point (about the OB/Gyn) as well as your overall post regarding your diagnosis, thyroid issues are one of the most UNDERdiagnosed problems. Having received a "low thyroid" diagnosis of my own last summer, I started reading everything I could on the topic. I am death on taking any sort of pills unless there is no other answer. While the thyroid is a tricky little mechanism, I am happy to say I received a "normal" diagnosis six months later due to an uptick in my potassium level (through potassium-rich foods and supplements).

I'm not saying there are easy answers to thyroid issues. Obviously, there are many factors to consider in each case, as with your diagnosis, Dawn. My good report could well be classified as 'results not typical,' but many doctors certainly like to dangle prescriptions over your head rather than get to the real route of a problem.

I have a good friend who has complained for YEARS about aches and pains and various maladies. I keep urging her to have her thyroid checked, but to no avail. She prefers the quick fix - none of which seem to work.

Good rule of thumb - diagnosis bad; second opinion good.

In any case, glad to see you connected all the dots on the long and winding road of this particular blessing.
June | 02.05.08 - 9:14 am | #

Beautiful post!
Jeff Miller | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 9:41 am | #

Hmm, this is interesting- I just read that one of the symptoms of Hashimoto's disease is....depression. I wonder if your thyroid could have been causing problems for you for many, many years now? Exciting to think about how much better you may feel soon!
serpentyn | 02.05.08 - 9:47 am | #

Thanks so much for this encouraging post - it helped to remind me that grace can come out of each and every challenge, and that all things really do work together for good!
Belloc | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 9:50 am | #

Buy a mega-millions ticket, you're on a roll.
John J. Simmins | 02.05.08 - 10:03 am | #

So happy to wake up to all these beatufiul comments -- thank you!

Hmm, this is interesting- I just read that one of the symptoms of Hashimoto's disease is....depression. I wonder if your thyroid could have been causing problems for you for many, many years now? Exciting to think about how much better you may feel soon!

Serpentyn, that's what my dad said too, particularly as depression is indicated with Hashimoto's.

One misdiagnosis I didn't mention here is that in 1991, when I was 23, as I have written in the Wuz series, a psychiatrist misdiagnosed me with "Major Depression" and put me on lithium. He did a battery of thyroid tests at the time, so I am fairly sure I did not have Hashimoto's then (also, it tends to be discovered in people who are a bit older).

It was not until last year that I received what I believe to be the correct diagnosis, from a different psychiatrist, who told me that the depression -- from which I was healed with my conversion in 1999 -- had actually been caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, for which lithium is not indicated.

Lithium decreases production of thyroid hormone -- which would have aggravated my Hashimoto's when it eventually developed, which could have in turn contributed to my depression.

Looking back, it seems terrible that for 16 years I was on an unnecessary drug that in fact may have made my symptoms worse. But, again, although I stress to everyone the value of getting the right diagnosis, I can't say that the events of my life could have turned out better if they were different. Everything seems the way it should be now, or on the right road, at least, and for that I remain thankful.

Come to think of it, if I had not been on the lithium, I would not have been regularly seeing an endocrinologist in the first place. My primary-care physician might still have discovered the nodule and recommended I get it examined by a specialist, as she did. I might still have taken thyroid medication to reduce the size of the lump. But the specialist might not have seen any reason for me to remain on the medication after the lump biopsied benign, and so I might well never have gone in for the endocrinologist appointment that resulted in the advice I get a second biopsy.

So, who knows! Only God.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 10:09 am | #

Dawn -

I know I speak for many when I say that we are touched by the humble grace you have demonstrated in this difficult time.

May you continue to be united to Christ in this time, so that His compassion (suffering with) and the light of the star of hope may transform and give meaning to whatever anxieties and sufferings may lie in your path (See, e.g. Salvifici Doloris 19-20).

Whatever the outcome, know that God and the love of your brothers and sisters are with you. And if God is with you, you shall have treasures in abundance.

And may St. Bernadette of Lourdes and Servant of God John Paul II, both of whom experienced many afflictions in their lives, accompany you and watch over you as well. Especially in this Lenten season, I highly recommend and encourage you and everyone to learn more about humble Bernadette Soubirous, whose own trials and sufferings were transformed into spiritual fruitfulness.
Bender | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 10:53 am | #

I've heard of people having trouble with AA, but I haven't heard of anything anti-Catholic.

There isn't anything in the AA literature that is anti-Catholic; in fact, much of what is there is rooted in or parallels the spiritual practices of many of the saints. I'm given to understand that the 12 steps are very similar to the Ignatian exercises.

That said, there are a lot of people in program who don't want to talk about God; you'll often hear people complain about the Church and their Catholic upbringings, etc.
Fallen Sparrow | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 11:16 am | #

I am a member of Al-Anon (Alcoholics Anonymous Family Groups), a 12-step program founded by the wives and other family and friends of A.A.'s founders, as a means of support and recovery for family and friends of the alcoholics. Al-Anon has its own program, literature, and traditions, but all of these are very much in the spirit of, and often derived from, those of its counterpart, A.A. Sometimes at Al-Anon meetings I have heard individual members who, when it was their turn to share their experiences with the group, include in their remarks very disparaging and vociferous opinions about their Catholic upbringing, the child-rearing practices in their Catholic homes growing up, and about the Catholic Church in general. As a faithful Catholic, it is difficult for me to listen to this sort of thing, and when I was a new member of Al-Anon, I found it very offensive and wondered if the group was anti-Catholic. I can assure you, it is not. The members who speak in this way are speaking solely for themselves, not for Al-Anon or A.A., and it is not recommended by either program that participants vent their personal issues with various religious bodies during meetings. This is not what meetings are for. However, no one member or group of members is "in charge of" what is said during meetings of Al-Anon and A.A. Members are free to share whatever they want to; those hearing them are invited to "take what you like and leave the rest." It would be a shame - understandable but a shame - if a new visitor heard one or two members sharing (somewhat inappropriately) their personal hatred toward the Catholic Church, and concluded from this that the entire group was anti-Catholic. I would also like to add that there are healthy and unhealthy A.A. and Al-Anon groups; the latter tend to be groups that have unfortunately "gone off the rails" somewhat, and no longer abide by the published principles of the world-wide program, but have gone into a sort of do-it-yourself or "Cafeteria" A.A. If you find yourself in what seems to be an unhealthy group, it would be better to stop attending that one and find a group that seems to be operating in a sound, and healthy way.
Marion (Mael Muire) | 02.05.08 - 1:11 pm | #

I know about as many "ex" Catholics as I do Catholics, probably more. Without exception, their various and sundry problems arose about the time they dumped their Catholic faith.

I doubt that practicing prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice will guarantee you a happy life but I will bet that NOT living a life of prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice will guarantee you a life of turmoil.

I've lived both ways.
John J. Simmins | 02.05.08 - 1:29 pm | #

I agree with you, John. Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that Papa and Mama like to hold themselves out as devout Catholics, and observe all the externals of the faith such as regular Sunday Mass attendance, but behind closed doors Papa or Mama can unleash a reign of holy terror upon each other and upon the children, not behaving with charity, patience, and gentleness toward their little ones, but quite the opposite, abusing their authority, and forgetting Saint Paul's admonition, "do not provoke your children, lest they lose heart." Adults who came up in such families often become very bitter toward whatever brand of religion their family identified with - Catholic, Evangelical, Amish, or what have you. They confuse the dysfunction of their particular parents - who had behaved as wolves wearing the sheeps' clothing of the Church - with the Church itself. Understandable, but a big mistake. I wouldn't go so far as to say that such fallen-away Catholics have fallen away through no fault of their own, but I certainly have a great deal of sympathy for these lost sheep and pray that they encounter wise and holy pastors who will gently and patiently coax them back into the fold.
Marion (Mael Muire) | 02.05.08 - 2:16 pm | #

I've never met an atheist who had a good relationship with their father. I guess it's hard to imagine an all-loving, all knowing, all powerful father in heaven when the only father you've encounter personally was a bastard.
John J. Simmins | 02.05.08 - 2:50 pm | #

Hi Dawn,
I've been following your posts on your thyroid troubles for the past few weeks as I am going through the same thing myself - I felt compelled to finally write to you here as it was finally confirmed for me yesterday that I too have thyroid cancer and will require surgery. (my doctors are going for the conservative approach, like you had, where they remove only 1/2 of it, where the nodule is)

I'm only 32 yrs old and this is the last thing I thought I'd be facing...right now I'm going through all the same emotions that I'm sure you experienced when you found out.

Anyhow, I wanted to say that I think it's wonderful that you have kept such a positive attitude about it all, and that it's helping me do the same. I'm especially glad to hear how well you are doing so soon after surgery. I've been browsing some online cancer support groups and while the intentions are good, they do make me worry so much about my condition.

So thank you for being so positive - I needed to be reminded that like you, I am still very blessed, and hopefully this will be behind us both very soon.
Michelle | 02.05.08 - 3:49 pm | #

Michelle, I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and at the same time so happy that my writings are helping you to keep a positive attitude.

You may be better off not spending a lot of time reading the posts on the support-group boards. There will be plenty of time to read those after your surgery. Right now, it's better just to listen to your doctors and find a place of peace and meditation within, where you can open up to the love that God is trying to communicate to you and quiet your mind's ongoing narrative.

If you are Catholic, I would recommend finding out if there is a church near you that offers adoration -- some churches have special holy hours during Lent. If you are not, I would recommend taking a walk to a beautiful place or a particularly lovely church, sitting down with the Gospels or the Book of Psalms, and reading them while keeping in mind that there is a message of love and hope in them addressed personally to you.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 4:43 pm | #

Dear Michelle,

I am a high school friend of Dawn's from NJ, and I have advanced thyroid cancer. As you can imagine, reading about Dawn which a bit of a shock to me.

While the online support groups would probably be overwhelming at this stage in your journey, I highly recommend the Thyroid Cancer Survivor's website, www.thyca.org. It has a lot of fantastic information for the newly diagnosed.

All my best to you and Dawn!!!
Stephanie | 02.05.08 - 5:22 pm | #

What "...dumped unceremoniously on St. Patrick's Day..."? Speaking as the other kind of Pat(the orange kind) obviously some of the snakes from Eire ended up in America.
Pat Patterson | 02.05.08 - 9:06 pm | #

LOL, Pat!
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 9:20 pm | #

Hi Dawn,
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful message of how grace has worked in your life. It's also a reminder to me that there is a wider perspective that we are not always aware of, and that our true life is really "the life of the spirit". Sometimes what may not be most beneficial to us materially may be what is most needed spiritually, which is not always easy to see at the time (I am not necessarily speaking of your specific circumstances Dawn, but just speaking generally of how grace can work in our lives). I try to remind myself of this when I am facing difficult times.
Anne | Homepage | 02.05.08 - 9:36 pm | #

nice post thnaks!'
tercüme | Homepage | 02.06.08 - 7:46 am | #

Beautiful, heartfelt post, Dawn! As my mother always says, it's all web of grace! God bless you and keep you, Sheila
Sheila O'Connor-Ambrose | 02.06.08 - 9:49 am | #

This post made me feel as though I was reading a Michael D. O'Brien novel!

His books are filled with the divine providence of God .... wonderful stories, if you haven't read him I highly recommend his stuff. (His latest book is as good as all his previous books - "Island of the World".

Thank you for posting this ... it is yet more evidence for a loving God who, despite our unwillingness, doesn't refuse us anything as long as we don't refuse Him!
John | Homepage | 02.06.08 - 12:42 pm | #

I appreciated this post, which made me think of Romans 8:28. :^) I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism one month ago, and so I am taking Synthroid (well, actually the generic version thereof). Looking back, I always felt like taking an afternoon nap and it was increasingly hard to stay at my desired weight, but I didn't suspect a thyroid problem. How is Hashimoto's treated, assuming there's a standard treatment? Blessings ... KS
KS | 02.08.08 - 1:52 pm | #