So I just finished my semester of college and quite proud of myself since I didn't allow my cancer to take my schooling away from me. It may have delayed me in turning in my school work on time, but my teachers were understanding thankfully. I got an A in English (a miracle for me), an A in Environmental Ethics, and a C in College Algebra (which I plan to retake in the future to get my GPA up). I already signed up for Spring semester classes even though I don't know if I still have cancer and need radioactive iodine treatment... I'm not going to allow this cancer to prevent me from doing everything that I want and need to do. Though right now it's preventing me to work more hours to due the current issues I'm still having.
I did get my blood work results in the mail, but it seems my iron and B12 are fine though my B12 is a little low in the normal range, so my doctor said it wouldn't hurt to take some B12 vitamins. Though my MCH, and Carbon Dioxide (total) are both low and I'm not sure what this means, but I'm going to show the results to my ENT and Endocrinologist and see what they say. I know the carbon dioxide might explain the joint pains and the weakness I have been having though it might be a sign of liver or kidney issues. I hope not, but it's a possibility.
I had to call off of work three times already this month and hope to not have to again anytime soon, but it's hard to go to work when you're unable to put weight on your legs without falling down. I have to talk to my doctors about this when I see them next month as that's the soonest I can see them. I'm hoping to ask my Endocrinologist to put me on Armour as I don't like how Synthroid makes me feel and its side effects.
Though other than dealing with the cancer and its affects on my life, I'm looking forward of the two weeks I have off from work to go see my family and friends in Texas. I will be able to celebrate a late Christmas with them and my fiance, so I'm really happy about that. My manager was nice enough to approve it for me and Justin brought our plane tickets to see my family. I'm also excited about winter break as Justin and I will be working on our comic stuff again once he's done with school this Thursday.
There isn't much else to say that's new in my life other than this though I would like to add that I hope this blog is helping someone else out there. The main reason for this blog is for me to vent and write out my experiences, but I still hope this is helping or at least spreading the word of thyroid illnesses and diseases... and the need to take care of this gland.
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Monday, December 17, 2012
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
Thanksgiving
Today is the first Thanksgiving without my thyroid and still getting
adjusted to my medicine increase that started on Tuesday (going from 125
to 175mg), which has been taking a toll on my emotional state. I spent
about a half hour crying in the bedroom due to how the medicine makes
me feel. I also snapped at Justin (my boyfriend) over the stupidest
thing ever... but anyways. We made three different kinds of chicken
that were all so yummy: Garlic Cornflakes Chicken, Funyun Chicken, and
Captain Crunch Chicken. We were about to make a french toast cinnamon
roll dish thing, but turns out we don't have cinnamon, so going to run
to the store.
I have much to be thankful this year and I don't think words are enough to thank the people in my life. I am thankful for my parents, my boyfriend, and his parents for coming to the hospital when I was having my surgery. Also thankful for my parents for coming up to where I live and spending a week with me, especially my dad who was supposed to leave Wednesday, but stayed an extra day (my surgery was moved back a day). I am thankful for my friends to let me talk and rant to them about the things I was and still am going through. Thankful to have siblings that truly do care about me. Thankful to be part of a great family.
Much thanks to the ones that have donated to me, so I can pay for some of my medicals bills and also to the others that shared my link for the donation page. It has helped me greatly.
I'm thankful for facebook support groups like Thyroid Cancer Awareness, Support Thyroid Cancer, and Thyroid Disease Awareness. These pages are full of great people that help each other understand what's going on with others, answer questions, and provide great information. I highly recommend them to anyone that is having thyroid issues.
I can't stop thanking Justin, the love of my life, for being there for me and never leaving my side throughout all of this. Some people wouldn't want to deal with something like this for long and would just leave, especially when the medicine makes you seem impossible to deal with.
Anyone that's in my life, thank you for staying in it. It might not seem much to you, but it means a great deal to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I love you all dearly!
I have much to be thankful this year and I don't think words are enough to thank the people in my life. I am thankful for my parents, my boyfriend, and his parents for coming to the hospital when I was having my surgery. Also thankful for my parents for coming up to where I live and spending a week with me, especially my dad who was supposed to leave Wednesday, but stayed an extra day (my surgery was moved back a day). I am thankful for my friends to let me talk and rant to them about the things I was and still am going through. Thankful to have siblings that truly do care about me. Thankful to be part of a great family.
Much thanks to the ones that have donated to me, so I can pay for some of my medicals bills and also to the others that shared my link for the donation page. It has helped me greatly.
I'm thankful for facebook support groups like Thyroid Cancer Awareness, Support Thyroid Cancer, and Thyroid Disease Awareness. These pages are full of great people that help each other understand what's going on with others, answer questions, and provide great information. I highly recommend them to anyone that is having thyroid issues.
I can't stop thanking Justin, the love of my life, for being there for me and never leaving my side throughout all of this. Some people wouldn't want to deal with something like this for long and would just leave, especially when the medicine makes you seem impossible to deal with.
Anyone that's in my life, thank you for staying in it. It might not seem much to you, but it means a great deal to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I love you all dearly!
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