<p>Thyroid tests can be difficult to interpret; you can have normal values and still have symptoms, and vice versa. Treatment can also be complex-- from the super easy replacement to difficult cases, and there’s a whole controversy re types of thyroid meds (bio-identical, etc etc). A good endocrinologist is often the best place to go. But if one doesn’t want to treat, then, of course, the point is moot.</p>
<p>shellis, I think it’s absolutely WONDERFUL that you’re thinking about adopting an adult dog. They’re just looking for some love, too! Our local shelters have recently launched an ad campaign aimed at getting people to adopt DOGS rather than puppies. At least the Humane society thinks it’s working a little. </p>
<p>We’ve had up to three dogs at a time (all ruled by the cat, of course). As long as they play well together, after one dog the rest just kind of get added in to the mix and it doesn’t really seem to make a difference. Less bed space for the humans though :p</p>
<p>We are getting dalmatians after we buy the house. 
I have been promised that I can have them once we have a fenced yard. I can’t wait. I’ve wanted them since I was in diapers.</p>
<p>It should work out well for me… white doggies with sharp nails gave me an excuse to boot the black leather bachelor pad furniture to the basement so I can pick out better stuff. Unfortunately fenced yards are rare where we are house shopping and it is a continual pain in my behind… but the right house is out there somewhere.</p>
<p>I do not do yearly physicals, not in plans, even when I am kicked out of my job and have to retire. I will continue to monitor everything in my body that I can. If I have some symptoms, I will go (hopefully having correct diagnosis and correct meds to let them know what exactly I need).
Having dogs around is good for people who are used to them. When I visit somebody with dog(s), they bother me so much, I cannot imagine having them in my house. Not my type of entertainment at all. I am tense on my walks when somebdoy is passing with the dog, most of the time I go to another side of the street and hope that the dog is on a leash, but sometime they are not, then it is almost a heart attack to me, but dog owners never understand it. Now I know when I actually have stress, when the dog “just wants to say Hi” according to his owner. I wish some people are a bit more sensitive to humans than animals.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>And in the extreme…</p>
<p>[Myxedematous</a> psychosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myxedematous_psychosis]Myxedematous”>Myxedema psychosis - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Miami- What part of “sometimes there are no symptoms” don’t you understand? I’m sure your “first in her class, full ride to state university, prestigious medical school and great ECs but only during the school year” daughter can explain it to you.</p>
<p>I love all animals - except snakes. I grew up on a farm and got attached to every pig, cow, mule, bird, stray dog and cat in sight. I told my mom when I was young that if I saw a baby and puppy in the road, I would grab the puppy first. She reminded me of this when I was pregnant.</p>
<p>miami, if you think you might have an issue and your general doctor seems to be blowing you off, I’d go to a specialist. I honestly don’t have the most trust in my GP (or any GP I’ve ever had), she seems to want to medicate every possible thing without looking at the underlying causes, and she is a very well trained, respected physician.</p>
<p>One thing I do is go to a clinic that does very precise tests, and gives me bioidentical hormones. They test every 3 months for several things, one issue being thyroid. But they test many things, and determine where I should be in the OPTIMUM level for a thirty year old (I’m not thirty), not just the generic ranges that most doctors test for. Specialists would test for several different issues, not just the one your doctor would test for. Then again, many thyroid problems are solves purely by getting your hormone levels (estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, etc) in acceptable ranges. You can suffer through it if you want, or try to figure it out. Why suffer?</p>
<p>As far as the OP’s question, that’s a tough one. Sometimes after work, I think, God I need to retire, and now (though I can’t retire for 5 1/2 years and get a pension, we can retire pretty early). Other times, I really like and think I have a rewarding job. But it would be nice enough to feel secure enough to know I could if I really wanted to.</p>
<p>Yesterday i was watching “Proposal”, one of my favorite movies, that I have watched at least 10 or so times. It was so funny to see Margaret and that tiny white dog. This is exactly how I feel around dogs and this is exactly what my H. is saying about the little ones and how it is not possible for them to hurt me. It is completely useless talk, I know that they still have their teeth.<br>
Could not do much yesterday, conditioner drains my energy, I need fresh air, but it was way too hot for me, around 80F. So, I ws happy that at least I went to work and it was very adventurous day as we were very thin on people, the things got piled up and that is exactly what I love. I hate slow times, I hate to be bored. This is my greatest fear for retirement. I have been out of work 9 times, experience that is very scary, it is very depressing to be that disconnected. At least I had a kid to take care of, but she is out of house, empty nesters… I went to gym in a morning instead of afternoon, but then what you do in afternoon? Be in a kitchen and get even more down because I hate to be in a kitchen. I can’t even do my favorite hobby for that many hours, it would be boring. Very scary…</p>
<p>If finances had allowed, I would have definitely not held jobs and devoted myself to the family and my non-work interests more. When I survey the years and seasons of parenting, I really don’t think the years I worked full time were good ones for my kids, or me, or my DH. Those were years we just sort of “got thru” with the whole household always rushed, always stressed. My older child had a lot less of my attention because I worked thru most of his upbringing. I regret that I was not more engaged in his emotional development. He was getting terrific grades and not getting in trouble so I made assumptions about him that were way off base. I realize now that he was inwardly very unhappy but felt a lot of pressure to not cause me any unhappiness so he held it in. This gives me some pain today. I think back of what seemed to be such compelling reasons to work and if I could do over I think I would choose to live at a lower income but have stayed much more attuned to both my kids.</p>
<p>Interestingly, I think my kids ended up “achieving” more in terms of academics because I worked and was stressed and they wanted to be a source of happiness to me. If I could do over, I would have stayed home a lot more, encouraged my kids to achieve less and goof off more and figure out how to just live more contentedly. </p>
<p>Mind you, the older one looks great on paper – graduated from a top school, gainfully employed. But there were issues under the surface and I wish I’d slowed down and paid more attention.</p>
<p>Just discovering this thread, and not having the time to read through 12 pages (because I HAVE to work), I think the answer for most people would be that they would want to work at something they love. For those lucky enough to be doing what they love now no change would be necessary. For the vast majority stuck working at something they have to but don’t love doing, a change in jobs (paid or unpaid) but continuing to work would be in order.</p>
<p>I’d probably only work 6 hours 4 days a week and spend the rest of time on research, like work from 7 to 1, and do research from 1 to 5, eat, then do more research from 6 to 2 am.</p>
<p>"Interestingly, I think my kids ended up “achieving” more in terms of academics "
-I feel that my kids achieved much more because of my work. I am not talking strictly academically. They are very outgoing people who accept people with various backgrounds and who adjust easily to new environment, requirments, people…who are liked a lot by many and who accumulated friends from the very early ages.</p>
<p>My short answer is NO. I would travel, sit at the beach, go to lunch with friends, etc. I have a brother that retired at 52 and a sister that retired at 50. Both travel extensively. They have no regrets about not working at all. I was laid off from a job for 11 months once and loved the time off.</p>
<p>Especially today - stuck at work waiting for the memorial day weekend to start. :(</p>
<p>I honestly love my job! I feel very blessed about that and the fact that H mostly loves his job as well. It is definitely a blessing to be able to have a job you love which you are also paid for.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed all stages of nearly all the jobs I have held throughout my life–summer jobs, part-time school jobs, working 60-80 hour week jobs, staying home & raising my kids, part-time and flex-time jobs. I feel so fortunate that my jobs have allowed me the flexibility to be available for H & the kids, especially when our health issues required a ton of medical attention, including repeated trips and travel across the country. The income from the part-time jobs helped finance these medical costs as well.</p>
<p>One great thing is having the financial security and knowing that you COULD quit if you wanted to without undue financial hardship. We are so fortunate to have that. Not sure what I would do differently if I quit being paid for what I do–I created the non-profit that I am now being paid to run. Will see in the near future what H figures out to do when he decides to to leave the job he’s held for over 40 years.</p>
<p>I think about this a lot. Spouse and I could actually both retire now at 48 (with some lifestyle adjustment), but we don’t because we enjoy what we do (though I DO enjoy the mental game of thinking about we readily could, and it’s liberating). </p>
<p>I’m not sure what i would do if I didn’t work (and I find this fact to be rather sad really). It isn’t always rosy at work, of course, and I don’t like the grief that parts of it brings me but most of that is self-imposed. What I mean is I would be far better off learning how not to let the stressors impact me rather than seeking to escape them (especially when I so enjoy the other parts).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Wow MamiDap – maybe you should write a book about your parenting!</p>
<p>And by “Proposal” do you mean the Sandra Bullock movie? Interesting. I slept thru most of that one, as did both my kids.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I think that’s the key. If I was still stuck in the rat race I ran for 30 years, I would be itching to retire (and probably would be able to). But 12 years ago, DW and I made a conscious decision to make some changes in our lives. What I do now is interesting and, because it makes an important contribution to our small community, immensely satisfying. I do not plan to retire until I’m no longer able to do the work - even if the money was there, which it isn’t.</p>
<p>I spent many years without pay as the at-home parent. We moved a lot and there was always a new yard or house to tackle, plus all the little stuff with new schools and Drs and repeat in 20 months…
I started teaching 12 years ago as the nest emptied. I don’t have to do it, don’t do it for the money (which is good, considering the money involved) and would do it for considerably less. My job gives me great pleasure every day. The kids keep me energized and on my toes. Are there bad days, and do I unload on my poor H sometimes? Of course. But I’ll quit when the bad days come anywhere near the good ones. And I’m not sure what I would do if I quit…</p>