I’ve designed a routine to keep me going on hard days

With a chronic illness like hypoparathyroidism, it’s easy to lose myself on bad days. When intense pain and anxiety steal my sleep, it’ll launch a chain reaction. If I don’t sleep well, I’ll become more anxious, which causes me to hyperventilate. That, in turn, lowers my blood calcium levels because of respiratory alkalosis. The lower my calcium levels, the more anxiety I have. It’s an endless cycle that’s hard to break.

On days when I wake up knowing I’m going to struggle, I must try to mitigate the effects. Rest, medication, and hydration become my most important goals for the day. My first line of defense is a routine that’s so familiar it’s become muscle memory.

If I wake up at 5 a.m. drenched in sweat, with my heart racing like a Formula One driver or my head throbbing in sync with my back, I’ll know it’s going to be a bad day. To give my body a fighting chance, my goal is to stay in bed until at least 7:30 a.m., unless I need an immediate intervention with medication. I might not fall back asleep, but I’ll force myself to continue resting, because rest benefits both mental and physical health, even if sleep is elusive.

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If my brain is running wild, I’ll grab my headphones and navigate to a favorite audiobook or podfic (fanfic audiobook). I’ll try not to check messages or social media and stay away from news headlines. The moment is all about peace and comfort. Sometimes I’ll drift back to sleep while other times the best I can do is cling to the familiar podfic words to keep my mind from spinning.

When the time finally comes to get out of bed and take my daily medications, it’s all about movement. I’ll begin with clenching and unclenching my fists and moving my feet. I’ll bring one knee to my chest and then the other, a bonus stretch for when my hips and back are having spasms, which is common with hypopara.

Then, I’ll employ Mel Robbins’ five-second rule, counting backward from five and then forcing myself to do one action when I reach zero:

Five, four, three, two, one … blankets off.

Five, four, three, two, one … feet on the floor.

Five, four, three, two, one … push out of bed.

With the hardest part over, I’ll remind myself that I’ve gotten this far, so I might as well keep going.

Once I’m up, my first two tasks every morning are to brush my teeth and wash my face. I find that my mental health worsens when I don’t do these things after getting out of bed. Done is better than perfect, and even if it’s only a splash of water and a rinse with mouthwash, I’ll feel more centered and refreshed after my daily ablutions.

Then it’s time for the most important part of my routine: my parathyroid hormone replacement injection, Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide). Taking my medication at a consistent time every day is important to both my routine and the effectiveness of the treatment. Self-care isn’t only about speaking kindly to myself and scheduling rest days; it’s also about making sure I’m eating, hydrating, and taking my medications.

Any food is better than no food when I need to take my calcium supplements and anti-anxiety medications. I keep easy-to-prepare and easy-to-eat meals on hand, such as gluten-free oatmeal packets, frozen fruit, granola bars, and a carton of eggs. I give myself permission to eat any of these foods at any time. I also fill up a water bottle to make sure I’m staying hydrated.

Once I’ve managed to eat breakfast and take my medications, I open my curtains, no matter the weather. I force myself to stop hiding and face the day.

Not every day is a workday; sometimes, by the time I’ve opened the curtains, I’ll nearly be out of “spoons” (a popular metaphor for energy levels). I’ve spent years learning ways to avoid feeling guilty when I need rest — although I’m still a work in progress.

There are times when my routine just doesn’t cut it, and I’ll need to call my doctors for an intervention to address acute pain, hypocalcemia, or my mental health. But overall, my long-standing routine will get me out of bed long enough to take my medications and get my blood flowing.

I’m grateful I’ve developed a way to keep going, even when hypopara makes some days feel insurmountable.

Note: Hypoparathyroidism News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hypoparathyroidism News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hypoparathyroidism.