Sharon; she/her; Chronic Fatigue and Graves' Disease with Hypothyroidism
Chronic Fatigue can include profound fatigue, sleep abnormalities, pain, and other symptoms that are made worse by exertion.
Chronic fatigue syndrome occurs more commonly in women. The cause of this condition is unknown, and symptoms do not improve with rest.
There is no cure or approved treatment for this condition. There are over 200,000 reported U.S. cases per year.
Graves' Disease is an immune system disorder of the thyroid in which the thyroid overproduces hormones. The condition is more common in women.
Symptoms include anxiety, hand tremor, heat sensitivity, weight loss, puffy eyes and enlarged thyroid. Treatment can include medication and, at one time, radiation therapy. Due to radiation this subject now has Hypothyroidism (under production of hormones) which can cause fatigue, cold sensitivity, constipation, dry skin, and unexplained weight gain.
This subject described her conditions as "parasitic". She chose shaggy mane mushrooms to symbolize her symptoms of overpowering fatigue and heaviness, as well as her years of problems with her thyroid.