A lot has been going on and I'm almost at the point of going insane... I'm trying hard to keep myself together. On the 14th of May I went to my second endocrinologist, who didn't seem to be able to read my pathology report or knows anything about variants. I had to tell her that they narrow my cancer down to four aggressive types, which she was like "well it says you have papillary cancer"... to which I said "Yes, the main is papillary cancer, but there are variants," which that was pretty much ignored. She also didn't understand the blood work orders and my medication adjustments. We had to explain the labs were done first and then the medication was adjusted based on those orders. She claimed based on my lab reports that it seems like the 125 mcg of Levothyroxine was close to the dosage I needed. I told her I didn't understand was my labs showed my TSH was high and I felt like crap just like I did on 175 mcg and 150 mcg.
I tried to get her to order adrenal saliva test and my full iron panel, but she refused just like the other one. She claimed that my issues might not be thyroid related, but still refuses to see if I have an adrenal problem (also in the endocrine system). These results could explain why my medication isn't working along with other symptoms I have been experiencing. I also explain to her that my family seems to have a lot of endocrine problems: kidneys, stomach, and thyroid, so it's reasonable to think I am having another endocrine problem that could be messing things up. Still got no for the tests. The thing with ordering tests is... I can order them online (really expensive though), but I have insurance and doctors that can order them for me and I am still paying for them... so what's the big deal?
She then tried to get me back on synthetic medication, which I got angry as she wouldn't do anything I wanted and she expects me to throw my body back into that crap?! She claims that the natural thyroid medication is bad for the heart and bones (actually natural thyroid medication is good for the bones, it has improved people's bone density). I felt like saying to her that sometimes heart medication can be bad for the heart as well, but are people going to stop taking needed heart medication because others had issues? No, they aren't since what works for others, doesn't always work for other people. This is why they are a lot of companies making their own version of the medications as there are many ways to make them with different fillers and such as not everyone can absorb the same medication the same way.
She also claimed that my natural thyroid medication is too high (basing this on the results from my last Levothyroxine test that was done in MARCH), but I agree, thinking it was too big of a jump as I was basing it on the UPS numbers. I was willing to lower my dosage, but not willing to change my medication. She was not happy with this and ordered the normal tests. Well I got some of my lab results today (TSH, Free T4, and Free T3)... My TSH increased (which is good since it was .020 before), but my FT4 and FT3 decreased, so I might need to increase my medication and not decrease it. Now I am wondering if it will be easy now to order my Reverse T3, adrenal saliva test, and full iron panel... probably not.
Then on Tuesday I have to go to Ohio's Department of Human Services for a two hour interview thing about work stuff. I'm just hoping my last work place sent them the paper that said I quit due to medical issues... I hope so, if not I might be screwed big time. Tuesday is also the funeral of my fiance's grandmother and I couldn't reschedule the interview since there was no information on the paper about it. On top of that, we are leaving this Friday for 2.5 weeks, so yeah... had to reschedule it.
Then starting today I am in Summer classes... yay, lol. Luckily the full semester I only have two classes, but the second half there is a third added to it. I should do fine this semester as it doesn't seem hard, just a lot of work in the one class. Oh! Spring semester I got a 4.0, which makes me be on the Dean's List a second time and making my overall GPA to be a 3.7, yay!
When I come back from my trip, I'm going to talk to one of the advisers from the school I went to transfer to talk about my Bachelor degree stuff. I am thinking of skipping my Associates and go straight into my Bachelor's to save some time and some money. Just have to see what I find out from the school before I make that decision.
Showing posts with label appointment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label appointment. Show all posts
Monday, May 20, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Bad News/Good News
I know it's been awhile again that I posted on here since I've been busy with school and trying to figure out my job stuff. I had left my one job due to lack of hours and also lack of understanding my health issues by some of my supervisors, which caused my anxiety to get bad. I went back to a job I had one and a half years ago and loved working there, I was so excited to work there again. I guess, I never realized the job was actually harder than I thought. For those that don't know, it's a sales associate job at a department store, doesn't seem hard I know, but it is on the body. I was crying after being up on my feet for two to three hours with no break (you get a break if you work five hours) and my arms were hurting from lifting so many clothes. I started this job at the beginning of the month and it makes me so depressed that I had to leave so soon. Sadly since I had to end up job without a two weeks notice (there was no way I could handle it for another two weeks, especially with the eight hour shifts), they will not hire me based on company policy even though it's because of a health issue. I actually broke down crying when I was telling them, but it's out of HR's hand because it's the company policy.
The plan is to go jobless for awhile until my health gets better, which hopefully will once I see my new Endocrinologist and I start (hopefully again) getting better treatment. I am pretty sure that my adrenal is one of the reasons my reverse T3 is so high, so that needs to be taken care of so the medication can work for me.
The 24th of April was my 28th birthday, which was pretty depressing for me not only because I was working, but because where I am in life. I'm not married though I do have a boyfriend, I don't have kids nor one on the way, I don't have a degree as I just started college last year, I don't have a car or a place of my own, and so on... and yet I'm close to being 30 years old. On top of that I don't know if I still have cancer, I still don't have my old life back or close to and I continue to keep getting worse.
Okay... some good news, so far I am still make straight A's in school and running for Publicity Director for Phi Theta Kappa. When I filled out FAFSA I said I wanted to apply for work-study, so hopefully I can get that in hopes to be able to pay my bills. I have my school reunion on June 1st in Austin, TX that I plan to go to and at the same time visit friends and family. I'm going to try posting on here more often now that I am jobless, but also work on comic and game idea outlining and scripting, so I can get closer to actually start working on the final product.
That is all for now...
The plan is to go jobless for awhile until my health gets better, which hopefully will once I see my new Endocrinologist and I start (hopefully again) getting better treatment. I am pretty sure that my adrenal is one of the reasons my reverse T3 is so high, so that needs to be taken care of so the medication can work for me.
The 24th of April was my 28th birthday, which was pretty depressing for me not only because I was working, but because where I am in life. I'm not married though I do have a boyfriend, I don't have kids nor one on the way, I don't have a degree as I just started college last year, I don't have a car or a place of my own, and so on... and yet I'm close to being 30 years old. On top of that I don't know if I still have cancer, I still don't have my old life back or close to and I continue to keep getting worse.
Okay... some good news, so far I am still make straight A's in school and running for Publicity Director for Phi Theta Kappa. When I filled out FAFSA I said I wanted to apply for work-study, so hopefully I can get that in hopes to be able to pay my bills. I have my school reunion on June 1st in Austin, TX that I plan to go to and at the same time visit friends and family. I'm going to try posting on here more often now that I am jobless, but also work on comic and game idea outlining and scripting, so I can get closer to actually start working on the final product.
That is all for now...
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Do Your Research!!!!
Today I am STRESSING to do your own research on thyroid issues, diseases, and cancer since your doctor may not think of things like you might have Hashimoto's, hyperthyroid, and such. Also if you go to a pcp/family doctor to get thyroid testing done since it's cheaper than going to an ENT or endocrinologist... you know which tests to ask for. Due to the changes in late 2012, doctors now think that TSH only testing is the best route to go before testing other thyroid tests. This is WRONG! There are MANY people that have a TSH that shows up fine, but their Free T4 and Free T3 are not fine at all. The TSH test is more of a pituitary gland test and the thyroid patient community is trying to get doctors to view it as such. Now I'm not saying the test isn't important, it just shouldn't be done alone. The TSH test shows how the pituitary gland is reacting to the thyroid's hormone production... TSH will be high if the pituitary thinks the thyroid isn't producing enough and yelling at it to make more (hypothyroid), but if it's low, the pituitary gland thinks there is too much (hyperthyroid). The problem is... this is what the pituitary thinks and what if the pituitary gland is messed up or misreading the production level? That's why TSH alone isn't good, you need Free T4 and Free T3 tests to be able to COMPARE all of the results.
You can ASK your doctor to do more tests and tell them why you are asking for them. If you have a great doctor they will listen to you, but if they dismiss you and you really want those tests, demand it. Remember the doctor is hired by you, their job is to make you healthier and treat you... You are paying them for this service. Let's put it this way... You hire someone to take care of your plants and lawn... and you notice the plants are dying and the grass doesn't look good, you wouldn't just sit there and let it continue to happen, you would go and talk to the service provider and ask what's going on or fire them because they aren't treating it properly, they aren't keeping it healthy or treating it right. They aren't providing the service that you hired them for, so why would you allow this to happen to your body when you can prevent it by the right treatments and tests that you want?
Also to state... if you take the TSH test separately and then find out after those results that they want to do the Free T3 and Free T4. This will make you pay for the blood drawing fee twice, so to save some money might as well do it at the same time since you don't have to pay the extra fee for blood drawing. Also make sure that the T3 and F4 say Free... not Total. If it doesn't say Free on the paper order, they are asking for Total. Total results are affected by proteins in your body, which can give an incorrect result. It could make someone have normal results when it's either truly low or high and vice versa.
To give you an example (of myself)... in January I saw my endocrinologist for the first time and had done a TON of research including why my three different dosages of synthroid weren't working and all felt the same. Along with why was I still having hypothyroid symptoms while I was supposedly hyperthyroid and so on. When she was going off what tests she wanted to do she didn't list anything about T3 even though I complained about still being weak, tired, and blah blah blah. I asked about doing the Free T3 and Reverse T3 tests and right away she said no to Armour, which was odd since I never asked about it, and said cancer patients don't need T3. This isn't true and I know this based on my research and talking to other thyroid cancer patients, so that was my red flag. After I restated that all three dosage of synthroid all have felt the same, she gave me a very small dosage of T3 medication, but still refused to do the blood tests... which was my other red flag. The problem is depending how much of your T4 is converting into T3 and how much is being absorbed factors into the T3 dosage, but to find this out Free T3 and Reverse T3 are important tests that need to be done and done together. Your Reverse T3 and Free T3 have to be compared. Luckily my PCP is nice and listens to me because she gave me these tests among others that I wanted. It turns out my Reverse T3 is very high, but my T3 is in the normal range.
What does this mean for me? My body isn't absorbing T3 at all... it may be converting, but it's not absorbing. Now my TSH is very low (.020) and my T4 is normal as well, so based on the TSH, T4, and T3, a doctor could say I'm hyperthyroid or normal, but with the results from Reverse T3, I'm hypothyroid. The pituitary gland is probably reading the T4 levels I have been taking (synthroid) and not understanding that the T3 isn't being absorbed, which is why my ENT thinks I'm hyperthyroid.
If you have a family member that has a thyroid related auto-immune disease... I would ask for those tests as well since you never know. Also if you already have an auto-immune disease (other than the thyroid ones) and have thyroid issues (or suspecting to have a thyroid issue), you might have a thyroid related auto-immune disease as well since it has been found that people with an auto-immune disease tend to or have a high chance of having multiple types. Hashimoto's, one of the thyroid related auto-immune diseases, is usually viewed as a hypothyroid disease, but it can make you feel normal the one minute, hyperthyroid the next, and then hypothyroid. It's random and it can be in any order.
For tests that you can take for thyroid issues:
TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 - These are your basic tests and I would never do TSH only.
Reverse T3 - If you have been taking T4 only medication and find that it's not helping... I would ask for Reverse T3 and Free T3 and see what's going on there. Your body might not be converting or absorbing T3.
Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) - This is present in both Hashimoto's (usually hypothyroid) and Graves (hyperthyroid) diseases. I would do this if you think you have a thyroid auto-immune disease or have someone in the family that has one. I had this done personally because my aunt has Hashimoto's. TPOAb has been linked to miscarriages, premature deliveries, and reproductive difficulties.
Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) - This is a Hashimoto's test to see if you have it.
Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody, Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TRAb, TSHR Ab, TSI) - These are tests for Graves disease, again to see if you have it.
There are other tests you can take to help with the thyroid care, some of them are vitamin related tests like B12 and Iron. There seems to be a connection with B12 and thyroid issues, some thyroid patients can't absorb B12 and have to take a shot for it. There's a list of other thyroid important tests that are listed on Stop the Thyroid Madness and on other sites as well.
The main purpose of this post is to research... don't have the mindset of your doctor knows all because they have went to school and been in the field for blah blah blah years as doctors are human too and can overlook things. Also sometimes doctors can place their bias opinions into play when it comes to your treatment and medication stuff. This is an issue when it comes to natural thyroid medication like Armour... remember most hospitals and doctor offices are funded and supported by large pharmaceutical companies like Abbott Laboratories (creators of Synthroid). Not all doctors, but a lot get incorrect information about natural thyroid medication and stick to the T4-only medication like Synthroid for their patients. If your doctor keeps adjusting your medication and it's never seems to make you feel even a little bit better... your body might not even be absorbing the medication right. If this is going on, changing to another brand can help since (another example) Synthroid and Levothyroxine are the same type of medication (synthetic thyroid), their fillers are different which can affect if the body absorbs it correctly. Some people have good results with Synthroid, but bad results with Levo. Sometimes a T4-only route might not be working for you as well... so there's that too. If you tried synthetics and they don't work well for you, you might need to try natural thyroid medication (many think this works best, but may not be for everyone).
If you think you aren't getting the right treatments or not doing all of the proper testing... fight! Don't just sit there! Talk to your doctor and if they don't listen... find a new doctor or get a second opinion. You can go to your family doctor/pcp for blood work to be done if your ENT or Endocrinologist won't... it's usually easier to do this anyways. I'm sure you don't want to feel like crap for 10, 20, or even 50 years from now... I know I don't.
To me, thyroid related research is a class assignment for me... it's a lifetime assignment that I must do to be able to make sure I get healthier and have close to a normal life again. I believe if I have not done my research and was not persistent on getting all of my blood work done that I will forever be stuck with feeling like crap for the rest of my life. Well, maybe not, I might have found a doctor that would test for Reverse T3 (though that is rare by what I have heard) or my TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 will eventually reflect the hypothyroid status. I now have hope that I will get better treatment and possibly be close to being my normal self again. Though I still have to worry if my doctors will listen to this Reverse T3 issue or if they will they just ignore it.
I will stress this right now... do your research on thyroid specialist sites as I have found sites that are medical sites that don't specialize in thyroid stuff don't giving the WHOLE story on thyroid related issues. You might want to check out thyroid disease and cancer groups on facebook to find some good sites on this subject.
You can ASK your doctor to do more tests and tell them why you are asking for them. If you have a great doctor they will listen to you, but if they dismiss you and you really want those tests, demand it. Remember the doctor is hired by you, their job is to make you healthier and treat you... You are paying them for this service. Let's put it this way... You hire someone to take care of your plants and lawn... and you notice the plants are dying and the grass doesn't look good, you wouldn't just sit there and let it continue to happen, you would go and talk to the service provider and ask what's going on or fire them because they aren't treating it properly, they aren't keeping it healthy or treating it right. They aren't providing the service that you hired them for, so why would you allow this to happen to your body when you can prevent it by the right treatments and tests that you want?
Also to state... if you take the TSH test separately and then find out after those results that they want to do the Free T3 and Free T4. This will make you pay for the blood drawing fee twice, so to save some money might as well do it at the same time since you don't have to pay the extra fee for blood drawing. Also make sure that the T3 and F4 say Free... not Total. If it doesn't say Free on the paper order, they are asking for Total. Total results are affected by proteins in your body, which can give an incorrect result. It could make someone have normal results when it's either truly low or high and vice versa.
To give you an example (of myself)... in January I saw my endocrinologist for the first time and had done a TON of research including why my three different dosages of synthroid weren't working and all felt the same. Along with why was I still having hypothyroid symptoms while I was supposedly hyperthyroid and so on. When she was going off what tests she wanted to do she didn't list anything about T3 even though I complained about still being weak, tired, and blah blah blah. I asked about doing the Free T3 and Reverse T3 tests and right away she said no to Armour, which was odd since I never asked about it, and said cancer patients don't need T3. This isn't true and I know this based on my research and talking to other thyroid cancer patients, so that was my red flag. After I restated that all three dosage of synthroid all have felt the same, she gave me a very small dosage of T3 medication, but still refused to do the blood tests... which was my other red flag. The problem is depending how much of your T4 is converting into T3 and how much is being absorbed factors into the T3 dosage, but to find this out Free T3 and Reverse T3 are important tests that need to be done and done together. Your Reverse T3 and Free T3 have to be compared. Luckily my PCP is nice and listens to me because she gave me these tests among others that I wanted. It turns out my Reverse T3 is very high, but my T3 is in the normal range.
What does this mean for me? My body isn't absorbing T3 at all... it may be converting, but it's not absorbing. Now my TSH is very low (.020) and my T4 is normal as well, so based on the TSH, T4, and T3, a doctor could say I'm hyperthyroid or normal, but with the results from Reverse T3, I'm hypothyroid. The pituitary gland is probably reading the T4 levels I have been taking (synthroid) and not understanding that the T3 isn't being absorbed, which is why my ENT thinks I'm hyperthyroid.
If you have a family member that has a thyroid related auto-immune disease... I would ask for those tests as well since you never know. Also if you already have an auto-immune disease (other than the thyroid ones) and have thyroid issues (or suspecting to have a thyroid issue), you might have a thyroid related auto-immune disease as well since it has been found that people with an auto-immune disease tend to or have a high chance of having multiple types. Hashimoto's, one of the thyroid related auto-immune diseases, is usually viewed as a hypothyroid disease, but it can make you feel normal the one minute, hyperthyroid the next, and then hypothyroid. It's random and it can be in any order.
For tests that you can take for thyroid issues:
TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 - These are your basic tests and I would never do TSH only.
Reverse T3 - If you have been taking T4 only medication and find that it's not helping... I would ask for Reverse T3 and Free T3 and see what's going on there. Your body might not be converting or absorbing T3.
Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) - This is present in both Hashimoto's (usually hypothyroid) and Graves (hyperthyroid) diseases. I would do this if you think you have a thyroid auto-immune disease or have someone in the family that has one. I had this done personally because my aunt has Hashimoto's. TPOAb has been linked to miscarriages, premature deliveries, and reproductive difficulties.
Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) - This is a Hashimoto's test to see if you have it.
Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody, Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TRAb, TSHR Ab, TSI) - These are tests for Graves disease, again to see if you have it.
There are other tests you can take to help with the thyroid care, some of them are vitamin related tests like B12 and Iron. There seems to be a connection with B12 and thyroid issues, some thyroid patients can't absorb B12 and have to take a shot for it. There's a list of other thyroid important tests that are listed on Stop the Thyroid Madness and on other sites as well.
The main purpose of this post is to research... don't have the mindset of your doctor knows all because they have went to school and been in the field for blah blah blah years as doctors are human too and can overlook things. Also sometimes doctors can place their bias opinions into play when it comes to your treatment and medication stuff. This is an issue when it comes to natural thyroid medication like Armour... remember most hospitals and doctor offices are funded and supported by large pharmaceutical companies like Abbott Laboratories (creators of Synthroid). Not all doctors, but a lot get incorrect information about natural thyroid medication and stick to the T4-only medication like Synthroid for their patients. If your doctor keeps adjusting your medication and it's never seems to make you feel even a little bit better... your body might not even be absorbing the medication right. If this is going on, changing to another brand can help since (another example) Synthroid and Levothyroxine are the same type of medication (synthetic thyroid), their fillers are different which can affect if the body absorbs it correctly. Some people have good results with Synthroid, but bad results with Levo. Sometimes a T4-only route might not be working for you as well... so there's that too. If you tried synthetics and they don't work well for you, you might need to try natural thyroid medication (many think this works best, but may not be for everyone).
If you think you aren't getting the right treatments or not doing all of the proper testing... fight! Don't just sit there! Talk to your doctor and if they don't listen... find a new doctor or get a second opinion. You can go to your family doctor/pcp for blood work to be done if your ENT or Endocrinologist won't... it's usually easier to do this anyways. I'm sure you don't want to feel like crap for 10, 20, or even 50 years from now... I know I don't.
To me, thyroid related research is a class assignment for me... it's a lifetime assignment that I must do to be able to make sure I get healthier and have close to a normal life again. I believe if I have not done my research and was not persistent on getting all of my blood work done that I will forever be stuck with feeling like crap for the rest of my life. Well, maybe not, I might have found a doctor that would test for Reverse T3 (though that is rare by what I have heard) or my TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 will eventually reflect the hypothyroid status. I now have hope that I will get better treatment and possibly be close to being my normal self again. Though I still have to worry if my doctors will listen to this Reverse T3 issue or if they will they just ignore it.
I will stress this right now... do your research on thyroid specialist sites as I have found sites that are medical sites that don't specialize in thyroid stuff don't giving the WHOLE story on thyroid related issues. You might want to check out thyroid disease and cancer groups on facebook to find some good sites on this subject.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Rant
So it's been a month since I last posted in my blog and sorry about that. On January 7th, I started up my spring semester and this time I think I over did it with my classes as I have four classes with each having three credit hours. My classes for this semester are Cultural Anthropology, Foundation of Business, English 2, and Computer Concepts and Applications. Lately I haven't had much me time, especially since last week and this week I'm visiting family while I have a lot of homework. I should be reading right now, but figured I let people know that read this that I am still here and alive.
So... what's been going on with my health lately? Last month I went to see my Endocrinologist for the first time and also went to my ENT to see my results from my blood work. My TSH was at .026, so my ENT lowered my synthroid to 150 mcg and the chest pains have lessen, but I'm still having breathing issues and I can't take deep breaths without it hurting. My Thyroglobulin went from .4 in November to .5 in December, which isn't a huge worry since sometimes they will miss thyroid tissues that try to rebuild and also I swear I have a thyroglossal duct cyst under my chin, which might be making the numbers go up. I got a copy of my pathology report from my surgery and turns out they don't know exactly what kind of cancer I had, but narrowed it down to four rare and uncommon types with one of them being Tall-cell thyroid cancer. Tall-cell doesn't always react to Radioactive Iodine (RAI) treatment, which isn't good, of course, but because there's a chance of it my Endo wants me to have RAI (though she kept saying my numbers are good). I was told I didn't need to worry about my thyroglobulin numbers until they hit 1 or 2, so I'm not doing RAI until that happens.
Oh... and one thing that pissed me off about my Endo... She was talking about doing TSH and Free T4 tests on me and I asked her about Free T3 and Reverse T3 testing. Her answer to T3 was that cancer patients don't need T3. WTF!? I had to explain to her that 125, 175, and 150 of the synthroid were doing nothing for me and they all felt the same. She was surprised and gave me a small dosage, 5 mcg, of Cytomel, which I'm supposed to take once a day, and still wouldn't do a blood test. The problem with T3 medication is that it only lasts you for four hours a day and then after that, you are just relying on your body. I can feel the difference when my body has the T3 medication in it, especially at the two hour mark, but once it's gone I feel horrible. I know the 5 mcg is too low for me since there isn't as big of a difference between how I'm now normally am and when I have the medication. Also when I brought up T3 right away she said she wouldn't put me on Armour... so red flag there, so I'm going to be looking for a new Endo and when I talk to the front desk my first question is 'are they known for giving out Armour or do they refuse to give people that?'
I see my ENT in March, so I'll be asking him to do a Free T3 and Reverse T3 blood test and if he won't I will go to my PCP since I know she'll do it for me. Oh speaking of blood tests... I've been trying to get my mom and sister to check out their thyroids since they have a lot of signs and issues that can be related to the thyroid. Well my sister goes to see her doctor, but I guess, she saw the nurse practitioner instead... my sister asked about checking her thyroid and the NP just gave her a request for the lab to do TSH. I got angry. I think I was yelling about it outside of the building over it. TSH alone does crap to see if there is a thyroid issue and that's basic common sense for doctors even my PCP and her nurse know that. The results from TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 are compared to find out for sure what's wrong with a patient or if they need more testing done for like auto-immune diseases. Justin understood why I was so angry, but my mom and sister were like 'If something shows up on the TSH test they will probably do more testing'... I kept trying to explain to them that's not how it works since TSH is NOT checking the thyroid, but the pituitary gland and its reactions to the how much of your hormones the thyroid is producing and even this test alone can show things are okay when they aren't.
Okay.. I think that's enough for today as I really, really need to do school work.
So... what's been going on with my health lately? Last month I went to see my Endocrinologist for the first time and also went to my ENT to see my results from my blood work. My TSH was at .026, so my ENT lowered my synthroid to 150 mcg and the chest pains have lessen, but I'm still having breathing issues and I can't take deep breaths without it hurting. My Thyroglobulin went from .4 in November to .5 in December, which isn't a huge worry since sometimes they will miss thyroid tissues that try to rebuild and also I swear I have a thyroglossal duct cyst under my chin, which might be making the numbers go up. I got a copy of my pathology report from my surgery and turns out they don't know exactly what kind of cancer I had, but narrowed it down to four rare and uncommon types with one of them being Tall-cell thyroid cancer. Tall-cell doesn't always react to Radioactive Iodine (RAI) treatment, which isn't good, of course, but because there's a chance of it my Endo wants me to have RAI (though she kept saying my numbers are good). I was told I didn't need to worry about my thyroglobulin numbers until they hit 1 or 2, so I'm not doing RAI until that happens.
Oh... and one thing that pissed me off about my Endo... She was talking about doing TSH and Free T4 tests on me and I asked her about Free T3 and Reverse T3 testing. Her answer to T3 was that cancer patients don't need T3. WTF!? I had to explain to her that 125, 175, and 150 of the synthroid were doing nothing for me and they all felt the same. She was surprised and gave me a small dosage, 5 mcg, of Cytomel, which I'm supposed to take once a day, and still wouldn't do a blood test. The problem with T3 medication is that it only lasts you for four hours a day and then after that, you are just relying on your body. I can feel the difference when my body has the T3 medication in it, especially at the two hour mark, but once it's gone I feel horrible. I know the 5 mcg is too low for me since there isn't as big of a difference between how I'm now normally am and when I have the medication. Also when I brought up T3 right away she said she wouldn't put me on Armour... so red flag there, so I'm going to be looking for a new Endo and when I talk to the front desk my first question is 'are they known for giving out Armour or do they refuse to give people that?'
I see my ENT in March, so I'll be asking him to do a Free T3 and Reverse T3 blood test and if he won't I will go to my PCP since I know she'll do it for me. Oh speaking of blood tests... I've been trying to get my mom and sister to check out their thyroids since they have a lot of signs and issues that can be related to the thyroid. Well my sister goes to see her doctor, but I guess, she saw the nurse practitioner instead... my sister asked about checking her thyroid and the NP just gave her a request for the lab to do TSH. I got angry. I think I was yelling about it outside of the building over it. TSH alone does crap to see if there is a thyroid issue and that's basic common sense for doctors even my PCP and her nurse know that. The results from TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 are compared to find out for sure what's wrong with a patient or if they need more testing done for like auto-immune diseases. Justin understood why I was so angry, but my mom and sister were like 'If something shows up on the TSH test they will probably do more testing'... I kept trying to explain to them that's not how it works since TSH is NOT checking the thyroid, but the pituitary gland and its reactions to the how much of your hormones the thyroid is producing and even this test alone can show things are okay when they aren't.
Okay.. I think that's enough for today as I really, really need to do school work.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Eventful?
This past week and this weekend has had it's up and downs... understandably, I believe. This coming Monday (tomorrow) is the day I find out if I still have cancer and then the following Wednesday is the day I learn if I need to have Radioactive Iodine treatment (RAI). To find this out, I had to do a blood test in November, which is what we will base all of my future blood work to and a blood test in December. The two will be compared and see if my numbers are decreasing or increasing. Decreasing is good in this case as my body shouldn't be seeing any thyroid cells and my TSH was high (hypothyroid), so that needs to lower, too.
The other reason for my Monday appointment was to adjust my medication (if needed) and the last time he also based this on how I felt. Well Wednesday morning one of his nurses called to tell me they were lowering it, okay... I don't feel better and I feel the same as I did on the 125 (was on 175... now on 150)... so why is this happening? The hospital my ENT works at allows patients to get online accounts to see their results in their account... he hasn't approved anything to be placed on there, not even my TSH results. Of course, I'm sitting here wondering 'Do I still have cancer?' 'Has it spread?' and then I tell myself everything will be fine... it's probably nothing. I try to not over think it... but at times I can't, which is driving me insane!
Other than that, later today I'm doing an webcam interview with some students that are doing a report on cancer. They posted their request on reddit and I replied saying I was up for it. I did it because it's a cancer that many people don't know about, which is bad since it seems like more and more people are getting it recently. So this will be interesting for me to do since I don't normally like talking on the phone with people I don't know (I used to not mind... but yeah) and be put on the spot.
Then tomorrow I am starting my spring semester of college and taking four classes this time. I can't wait! I'm so excited (odd, I know)! I'm taking my English 2, an anthropology class, a computer class, and foundation of business, so it should be easy-ish this semester. My goal is deal's list again!
The other reason for my Monday appointment was to adjust my medication (if needed) and the last time he also based this on how I felt. Well Wednesday morning one of his nurses called to tell me they were lowering it, okay... I don't feel better and I feel the same as I did on the 125 (was on 175... now on 150)... so why is this happening? The hospital my ENT works at allows patients to get online accounts to see their results in their account... he hasn't approved anything to be placed on there, not even my TSH results. Of course, I'm sitting here wondering 'Do I still have cancer?' 'Has it spread?' and then I tell myself everything will be fine... it's probably nothing. I try to not over think it... but at times I can't, which is driving me insane!
Other than that, later today I'm doing an webcam interview with some students that are doing a report on cancer. They posted their request on reddit and I replied saying I was up for it. I did it because it's a cancer that many people don't know about, which is bad since it seems like more and more people are getting it recently. So this will be interesting for me to do since I don't normally like talking on the phone with people I don't know (I used to not mind... but yeah) and be put on the spot.
Then tomorrow I am starting my spring semester of college and taking four classes this time. I can't wait! I'm so excited (odd, I know)! I'm taking my English 2, an anthropology class, a computer class, and foundation of business, so it should be easy-ish this semester. My goal is deal's list again!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Two Days Before Surgery
TO NOTE: Some of this may not be exactly how it happened as the memory can play tricks on you.... so yeah.
The only thing at that moment that I was looking forward to was seeing my parents of the Monday before my surgery. My mom was talking about once they land they were thinking about having lunch at this local place called Little York Tavern. They used to live in the area and were missing this place, so they really wanted to have it while they were up here. So I plotted what time we needed to get up to meet them at the airport to surprise them and everything, but by the time we left we were afraid that we couldn't meet them at the airport. I had to figure out a new plan, so I started texting my parents as soon as I found out they landed and see if they were going to do lunch still and also what kind of car they were renting. We got to the food place, parked in their lot far enough from the entrance to not be seen, and waited... waited... and waited until we saw them walking into the tavern. I waited until they got through the door and then we exited the car, quickly making our way in. My parents, as usual, went into the bar area to sit and I followed behind them not making a sound. They were about to sit down and my dad was facing me and I quickly motioned him to not notice me, so I can surprise my mom, who's back was still facing me. I believe I tapped her shoulder, so she would turn around and she was shocked to see me. We all hugged, well minus Justin as he's not the hugging type, and we all sat down for lunch. It was nice and made my day to see my parents just with Justin and me early in the day.
Now I think after that my parents went to their hotel and we went back home, so we can all nap for awhile and get ready for that night as my sister was going to go out to dinner with all of us. The last time I saw my sister was once during my summer classes and before that was two years... sadly, I've been trying to see her and talk to her, but she's never able to because she's working or partying with friends. The last time I saw her now was October 5th as she dropped off my mom, so we could take her to the airport and only saw her for like two, maybe three minutes.
I called for reservations for P.F. Changs and then went to Walmart to get my dad a birthday cake since my surgery day is on his birthday and also went to the Hallmark at the Dayton Mall to buy his birthday card. After that we went to the restaurant and waited to be seated as we were the first ones there. Some time after, not by much, my sister and parents showed up and sat down in the booth. The dinner was nice though the conversation seemed mostly about my sister since she never really acknowledge that the main reason our parents were there was because of me and my cancer. At times I felt like I was forgotten about within the conversation and it kinda hurt me... though luckily my mom was sitting next to me and was talking to me at times. I know Justin was more annoyed than me about the situation at dinner that night. I understood that she hadn't seen our parents for along time too, but it would have been nice if she realized they were there mainly for me. I don't even remember a time at the table she talked to me about my situation or a time that we talked about something other than her.
After dinner Justin and I went over to the hotel that they were staying at, so we can again spend time with it just being the four of us. I had brought with me the prayer scarf my Godmother (my mom's best friend from 5th grade) had asked her church to make me (it's so pretty I really need to take a picture of it) and the Precious Moment statue I was going to give my mom for Christmas, I figured to give it to her then since I didn't know when I would be down next and also figured my parents can fly it down more safely than I could. I think we spent four hours or more just chatting with them. It felt like I never moved out and it felt so nice that I didn't want to leave the room.
The next day mom and I planned to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to have lunch with just the two of us like old times. Justin was going to drop me off at the hotel room and then my dad was going to drop us off at the food place while he did his own thing. Before dropping us off though my dad asked me to take him to my workplace, Sam's Club, to get something and also I had to to get paperwork from there, I believe. I can't remember now. I told some of my co-workers of what was going on. It was nice to see my fellow workers concern over my health and well-being and hearing their get well wishes.
Then my dad dropped us off to the food place and sat in the booths like usual... Justin and I go to this Buffalo Wild Wings at least once or twice a week, so everyone there pretty much knows us. I think we spent two to three hours there since it had been a VERY long time my mom and I were able to do this. Also it was nice to not have the guys around, nothing wrong with them, but sometimes the topics you want to get into or stay on never happen, especially when it comes to my dad (he changes topic to topic so fast). At this point I was telling my mom how much I wanted my dad to stay an extra day, so he can see me the rest of the day of my surgery and also the next day when I'm more awake. I even talked about Justin and I paying a fourth each of the changing flight price. At this time she said she would try talking to him later about it.
Once dad picked us up and Justin met up with us at the hotel, we went to my sister's place, so my parents can see where she lives and her cat. Then we went to the TGI Friday's in her area for dinner and again dinner was okay, but the conversation wasn't the greatest. My dad was playing around on his iPhone and my sister was mainly talking about her situation. This is now the day right before my surgery, so I'm getting nervous and upset. Luckily Justin noticed this and started comforting me by scratching my head (this usually calms me down) and also my mom and dad noticed, asking if I was okay. I started crying at one point and Justin just hugged me, letting me cry on him.
After dinner... we went back to the hotel (minus my sister) and at one point my mom talked to my dad about staying the extra day. From what I remember originally he said no until he heard how Justin and I were willing to help pay for him to stay the extra day including paying for the hotel stay since this showed him how much I wanted and needed him to be there. Also there was the situation of my sister being mad about dinner how all he did was being on his iPhone, so all of this made him decide to stay the extra day and planned Wednesday night to be a dinner with him, my mom, and my sister. He even went as far as booking a cheaper hotel room in the same area as they were before, so they were still closer to my sister's area (I think originally he was thinking about booking it closer to my hospital) to make it possible for them to do this, but it never happened because of my sister.
After the hotel visit, Justin and I went back home, so we could pack up and set our alarms, we had to leave the house around 6am. It took me forever to fall asleep, but eventually I did.
The only thing at that moment that I was looking forward to was seeing my parents of the Monday before my surgery. My mom was talking about once they land they were thinking about having lunch at this local place called Little York Tavern. They used to live in the area and were missing this place, so they really wanted to have it while they were up here. So I plotted what time we needed to get up to meet them at the airport to surprise them and everything, but by the time we left we were afraid that we couldn't meet them at the airport. I had to figure out a new plan, so I started texting my parents as soon as I found out they landed and see if they were going to do lunch still and also what kind of car they were renting. We got to the food place, parked in their lot far enough from the entrance to not be seen, and waited... waited... and waited until we saw them walking into the tavern. I waited until they got through the door and then we exited the car, quickly making our way in. My parents, as usual, went into the bar area to sit and I followed behind them not making a sound. They were about to sit down and my dad was facing me and I quickly motioned him to not notice me, so I can surprise my mom, who's back was still facing me. I believe I tapped her shoulder, so she would turn around and she was shocked to see me. We all hugged, well minus Justin as he's not the hugging type, and we all sat down for lunch. It was nice and made my day to see my parents just with Justin and me early in the day.
Now I think after that my parents went to their hotel and we went back home, so we can all nap for awhile and get ready for that night as my sister was going to go out to dinner with all of us. The last time I saw my sister was once during my summer classes and before that was two years... sadly, I've been trying to see her and talk to her, but she's never able to because she's working or partying with friends. The last time I saw her now was October 5th as she dropped off my mom, so we could take her to the airport and only saw her for like two, maybe three minutes.
I called for reservations for P.F. Changs and then went to Walmart to get my dad a birthday cake since my surgery day is on his birthday and also went to the Hallmark at the Dayton Mall to buy his birthday card. After that we went to the restaurant and waited to be seated as we were the first ones there. Some time after, not by much, my sister and parents showed up and sat down in the booth. The dinner was nice though the conversation seemed mostly about my sister since she never really acknowledge that the main reason our parents were there was because of me and my cancer. At times I felt like I was forgotten about within the conversation and it kinda hurt me... though luckily my mom was sitting next to me and was talking to me at times. I know Justin was more annoyed than me about the situation at dinner that night. I understood that she hadn't seen our parents for along time too, but it would have been nice if she realized they were there mainly for me. I don't even remember a time at the table she talked to me about my situation or a time that we talked about something other than her.
After dinner Justin and I went over to the hotel that they were staying at, so we can again spend time with it just being the four of us. I had brought with me the prayer scarf my Godmother (my mom's best friend from 5th grade) had asked her church to make me (it's so pretty I really need to take a picture of it) and the Precious Moment statue I was going to give my mom for Christmas, I figured to give it to her then since I didn't know when I would be down next and also figured my parents can fly it down more safely than I could. I think we spent four hours or more just chatting with them. It felt like I never moved out and it felt so nice that I didn't want to leave the room.
The next day mom and I planned to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to have lunch with just the two of us like old times. Justin was going to drop me off at the hotel room and then my dad was going to drop us off at the food place while he did his own thing. Before dropping us off though my dad asked me to take him to my workplace, Sam's Club, to get something and also I had to to get paperwork from there, I believe. I can't remember now. I told some of my co-workers of what was going on. It was nice to see my fellow workers concern over my health and well-being and hearing their get well wishes.
Then my dad dropped us off to the food place and sat in the booths like usual... Justin and I go to this Buffalo Wild Wings at least once or twice a week, so everyone there pretty much knows us. I think we spent two to three hours there since it had been a VERY long time my mom and I were able to do this. Also it was nice to not have the guys around, nothing wrong with them, but sometimes the topics you want to get into or stay on never happen, especially when it comes to my dad (he changes topic to topic so fast). At this point I was telling my mom how much I wanted my dad to stay an extra day, so he can see me the rest of the day of my surgery and also the next day when I'm more awake. I even talked about Justin and I paying a fourth each of the changing flight price. At this time she said she would try talking to him later about it.
Once dad picked us up and Justin met up with us at the hotel, we went to my sister's place, so my parents can see where she lives and her cat. Then we went to the TGI Friday's in her area for dinner and again dinner was okay, but the conversation wasn't the greatest. My dad was playing around on his iPhone and my sister was mainly talking about her situation. This is now the day right before my surgery, so I'm getting nervous and upset. Luckily Justin noticed this and started comforting me by scratching my head (this usually calms me down) and also my mom and dad noticed, asking if I was okay. I started crying at one point and Justin just hugged me, letting me cry on him.
After dinner... we went back to the hotel (minus my sister) and at one point my mom talked to my dad about staying the extra day. From what I remember originally he said no until he heard how Justin and I were willing to help pay for him to stay the extra day including paying for the hotel stay since this showed him how much I wanted and needed him to be there. Also there was the situation of my sister being mad about dinner how all he did was being on his iPhone, so all of this made him decide to stay the extra day and planned Wednesday night to be a dinner with him, my mom, and my sister. He even went as far as booking a cheaper hotel room in the same area as they were before, so they were still closer to my sister's area (I think originally he was thinking about booking it closer to my hospital) to make it possible for them to do this, but it never happened because of my sister.
After the hotel visit, Justin and I went back home, so we could pack up and set our alarms, we had to leave the house around 6am. It took me forever to fall asleep, but eventually I did.
... and the News
After getting the news and scheduling my appointment, I tried to call my mom, but couldn't get a hold of her. This was understandable since she was on medicine that made her sleep most of the day. I then tried to call my dad and again I failed. It was 9:15am their time, so he was at work. Justin decided to take me to the Jack-in-the-Box that just opened in our state (and happened to be the first one in Ohio) that very day. This was a big deal to me since I used to live in Texas and been missing it for a long time. This was his way of calming me down, though I was calm, but also I was still in shock.
Sometime after ordering my food and sat down at a booth my dad returned my call. It was painful to tell my dad I had cancer. I wish there was a right way, a true right way to explain over the phone that you have cancer to your parent. I told my dad when my appointment was and he said he would look into plane tickets, hotel room, and talk to my sister about picking up my mom from the airport. I expressed to my dad how I wanted him to come up as well and thought it would be best for my mom if he came. For those that don't know me, I always put others before me, especially when I'm dealing with a major issue myself.
Most of the day is a blur to me now. I remember we went home and told Justin's parents the news with his dad's reaction of yelling "OH MY GOD!" I eventually told my mom, my siblings, and after getting to tell them I posted it on Facebook and Plurk so the rest of the family and friends can see the news.
When I was on the phone with my mom I learned that my dad was able to come, but was leaving the day after my surgery since he had to work. This was fine to me until the next day when I got an email from my ENT's secretary asking to move my appointment a week earlier. I quickly replied asking why we need to move it and explain my parents already bought their tickets to fly up from Texas. It turned out that someone had the cancer far worse than me and needed a 12 hour surgery and she asked me if we could move it back a day. I was not going to block someone from having surgery, especially someone that needed it more than me and I said I was fine with moving my surgery back a day.
My parents were coming up on Monday, my dad was leaving the Wednesday which is now my surgery date and my mom was leaving Friday. I told my parents the news and my dad went to see about changing his leave date to Thursday, but was going to cost too much. My parents are dealing with a lot of money issues from their move, so I understood, so no judging people.
The next week and a half was spent with Justin and me preparing for the surgery... getting me clothes that would be easier for me to put on afterwards, food to eat, a couch pillow with arms, and probably other things that I needed. I also spent a lot of time on the internet on support group sites reading about other people's experience and talking to them. Throughout this week I was mostly fine, but it wasn't until the week of that I started getting nervous.
Sometime after ordering my food and sat down at a booth my dad returned my call. It was painful to tell my dad I had cancer. I wish there was a right way, a true right way to explain over the phone that you have cancer to your parent. I told my dad when my appointment was and he said he would look into plane tickets, hotel room, and talk to my sister about picking up my mom from the airport. I expressed to my dad how I wanted him to come up as well and thought it would be best for my mom if he came. For those that don't know me, I always put others before me, especially when I'm dealing with a major issue myself.
Most of the day is a blur to me now. I remember we went home and told Justin's parents the news with his dad's reaction of yelling "OH MY GOD!" I eventually told my mom, my siblings, and after getting to tell them I posted it on Facebook and Plurk so the rest of the family and friends can see the news.
When I was on the phone with my mom I learned that my dad was able to come, but was leaving the day after my surgery since he had to work. This was fine to me until the next day when I got an email from my ENT's secretary asking to move my appointment a week earlier. I quickly replied asking why we need to move it and explain my parents already bought their tickets to fly up from Texas. It turned out that someone had the cancer far worse than me and needed a 12 hour surgery and she asked me if we could move it back a day. I was not going to block someone from having surgery, especially someone that needed it more than me and I said I was fine with moving my surgery back a day.
My parents were coming up on Monday, my dad was leaving the Wednesday which is now my surgery date and my mom was leaving Friday. I told my parents the news and my dad went to see about changing his leave date to Thursday, but was going to cost too much. My parents are dealing with a lot of money issues from their move, so I understood, so no judging people.
The next week and a half was spent with Justin and me preparing for the surgery... getting me clothes that would be easier for me to put on afterwards, food to eat, a couch pillow with arms, and probably other things that I needed. I also spent a lot of time on the internet on support group sites reading about other people's experience and talking to them. Throughout this week I was mostly fine, but it wasn't until the week of that I started getting nervous.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Huey Lewis
After my first appointment with my ENT I went to have the barium swallow test on the sixth of September to see if there were any issues with my esophagus. I had to stand with a white, upright table with a white screen in front of me while drinking this thick milkshake that tasted chalky. It was not a fun experience at all. I had to even drink a more water down "milkshake" while laying down on my stomach. The last thing I had to do for the test was to swallow a barium pill, but for those that don't know me, I can't swallow pills. I've never been able to and I wish I could because liquid medicines taste horrible. Luckily the ones testing me didn't think I need to do the pill test since they couldn't see anything wrong.
By this point I should have gotten my test results, but no calls. I called the office, but was told that lab results will be backed up due to Labor Day weekend and also there was a conference in Washington D.C. Then the following week it was a game of phone tag with the office as they were trying to get a hold of me. I finally got them on the phone during one of my breaks at work and was told they would give me my results on Monday after my endoscopy test. I originally had an appointment with my ENT that day anyways.
A week and a half after my barium swallow test, I had to do the endoscopy to check further into my esophagus for muscle issues or any tissue problems within it. This was interesting and I'm not sure if it's in a good way or a bad way. Just thinking about it makes my one nostril hurt and the back of my throat taste like metal again. Pretty much I had to eat and drink different things with different textures and sizes to see the reaction of my muscles while there's a tube with a camera on the end of it that went through my nose and pushed down my throat. The one performing this was happy that Justin was there to help feed me. Some of the foods I was not pleased to see on the table: applesauce and fruit. Of course, my usual swallow issues never kicked in, but she said my muscles looked really good for my age and I didn't have acid reflux (my mother and my brother has this).
I was sent back into the waiting room to now wait for my ENT appointment that was 30 mins after the test, but was able to get in sooner. We sat in the room that we were taken into by his nurse and waited for my doctor to come in. I was trying to remain calm as I waited and also hoped that the test actually had results instead of having to do the biopsy again. Oh how I hope I did not to have to do that again. But then my doctor came into the room with some woman, I forgot now who she was, but I knew something was up. Most of what happened in the room is now foggy to me, but I do remember him telling me I have cancer and that I will need to have surgery.
Like I said in my other post I researched a lot on the cancers of thyroid, so I knew a good amount on it. I think that's why I wasn't crying, but also I think I was also still in shock over it. 27 years old and having to deal with cancer. Luckily with thyroid cancer there is a high survival rate, but still. Cancer. It was just... wow. Even right now I still can't believe it that I have cancer at such a "young" age. I remember looking at my boyfriend and laughed a little saying, "First one. First one in the family to get."
After that my doctor took me to his secretary to schedule my appointment for October 2nd (it was later moved back a day since another patient needed a 12 hour surgery), which was only a week and a half away. I couldn't believe it... I still can't believe it.
By this point I should have gotten my test results, but no calls. I called the office, but was told that lab results will be backed up due to Labor Day weekend and also there was a conference in Washington D.C. Then the following week it was a game of phone tag with the office as they were trying to get a hold of me. I finally got them on the phone during one of my breaks at work and was told they would give me my results on Monday after my endoscopy test. I originally had an appointment with my ENT that day anyways.
A week and a half after my barium swallow test, I had to do the endoscopy to check further into my esophagus for muscle issues or any tissue problems within it. This was interesting and I'm not sure if it's in a good way or a bad way. Just thinking about it makes my one nostril hurt and the back of my throat taste like metal again. Pretty much I had to eat and drink different things with different textures and sizes to see the reaction of my muscles while there's a tube with a camera on the end of it that went through my nose and pushed down my throat. The one performing this was happy that Justin was there to help feed me. Some of the foods I was not pleased to see on the table: applesauce and fruit. Of course, my usual swallow issues never kicked in, but she said my muscles looked really good for my age and I didn't have acid reflux (my mother and my brother has this).
I was sent back into the waiting room to now wait for my ENT appointment that was 30 mins after the test, but was able to get in sooner. We sat in the room that we were taken into by his nurse and waited for my doctor to come in. I was trying to remain calm as I waited and also hoped that the test actually had results instead of having to do the biopsy again. Oh how I hope I did not to have to do that again. But then my doctor came into the room with some woman, I forgot now who she was, but I knew something was up. Most of what happened in the room is now foggy to me, but I do remember him telling me I have cancer and that I will need to have surgery.
Like I said in my other post I researched a lot on the cancers of thyroid, so I knew a good amount on it. I think that's why I wasn't crying, but also I think I was also still in shock over it. 27 years old and having to deal with cancer. Luckily with thyroid cancer there is a high survival rate, but still. Cancer. It was just... wow. Even right now I still can't believe it that I have cancer at such a "young" age. I remember looking at my boyfriend and laughed a little saying, "First one. First one in the family to get."
After that my doctor took me to his secretary to schedule my appointment for October 2nd (it was later moved back a day since another patient needed a 12 hour surgery), which was only a week and a half away. I couldn't believe it... I still can't believe it.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The First Appointment
After getting my results from the ultrasound, my doctor told me to find myself an ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) doctor also known as Otolaryngology to find out what the next stop was, though I would soon find out that would take awhile. Originally my family doctor told me to go to one ENT group from the area, but I had gone to them a year prior, but was not impressed by them. So I went to search for a new one and I never knew how hard it would be to find a decent specialist in my area. I also learned it would be hard to get in fast until now.
I spent at least two full days searching online for an ENT nearby that had good reviews. I didn't want to find another doctor that didn't listen to me and told me nothing was wrong (I had this happen to me many times including a time when I had a cyst the size of a softball in my back). I called UC Hospital for an appointment with one of their ENTs, but sadly my first choice would have been a two month wait. I told the one over the phone I couldn't wait since I was having issues breathing, swallowing, four nodules, and a slightly enlarged thyroid. Luckily I was able to get an appointment with my second choice three weeks later on August 27th.
For three weeks I kept researching online what could be wrong with me... I have an aunt with Hashimoto's and we thought maybe I had that, so I kept cross referencing with her symptoms and mine as well as what I found on the internet. I don't know why, but I had a feeling to look into Thyroid Cancer and their symptoms, it just kept drawing me in. My family and my boyfriend all told me that it's probably not that and not to worry about it too much. Though eventually my mom and I agreed it wouldn't hurt to know to just prepare myself. I didn't wanna go dramatic if my doctor told me the news and I could think straight to ask him any questions I had.
The first day I went to see my doctor I was surprised how young he was, probably a few years older than me. He asked what was going on and I told him, I also had the ultrasound report with me. Of course, he asked if there were any thyroid issues in the family and I told him about my aunt. Then he asked about cancer of the gland and the answer was no, but I did warn him that anyone that cancer in my family are the first ones of that type. He did a fine-needle biopsy on the largest nodule stabbing my neck four times, the last two being the worse. He also wanted to run blood tests on me to see what my levels were like and then do a barium swallow test and an endoscopy because of my swallowing issue. I've been having the issue with the swallowing most of my life, so he thought this could be something different from the nodules and the breathing issue.
Now began the waiting game and the testing phase of this whole thing...
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