Sunday, October 23, 2011

Three Months (almost) of Remission

It's been almost three months since coming off all medication and I've been feeling pretty darn great. Apart from this week.


Last week I went for my annual physical and my GP says everything looks great although my blood pressure was a little low. He is not concerned though, due to my history of naturally low BP. It made me smile when he told me I could eat more salt to help raise it. I love salty foods. ;) So after a month of no medication I gained five pounds! I was really excited, but then I weighed myself the other morning and I have lost those pounds again. I'm wondering if it had anything to do with the fact that I have been more physically active lately or if it was the multi-vitamin I have been taking the past couple weeks. I realize now that it contains iodine. I've stopped taking it and have felt more normal than I have in ages!

Although I am "well" again, I do think about what I've been through and all the people just starting out on their journeys. I hope that what I've written will help those people know that they are not alone and will encourage them to research as much as possible about this disease, as there is new information out there. I also hope that what I've written about will educate people on what this disease is capable of, even if what I experienced is not as bad as it could be. 

I am so glad to be moving on with my life, grateful (as weird as that sounds) for this disease. It taught me a lot about the human body and a lot about myself. This might only be a temporary remission, but I am so happy to have a reprieve.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

1 Month in Remission - Update

Well, it's been a month of no medication, yay!! I had my blood drawn this past Saturday and my Endo's office called this morning to report that my thyroid levels are Normal! :) So glad!



I don't need to see him until March of 2012, but I'm a little concerened that I don't need to get tested again until a week before my appt. That's SIX MONTHS of not being tested... Is this normal? Wouldn't it make sense to monitor it, at least biMonthly until then? I guess I sound critical, but this my  health, I don't like to mess around with it! I'm thinking that if things are still ok in October, when I go for my annual physical with my Primary GP, then I'll just sit back and not worry. But if anything changes in how I feel, then I will most definitely look into getting a personal "script" for bloodwork, online.
 
Hoping to continue in remission "bliss".
On to figure out other issues...like the probability of fibromyalsia... The fun doesn't stop.
 
Grateful for what I have and for what I don't!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Ugh, Allergies...Hoping that's it though! =]

Went to the ENT Dr. last night. He seems convinced that my breathing issues are because of seasonal allergies. I'm hoping he's right. 
I was given a steroid nasal inhaler to use every morning, Singulaire for at night, and was told to take Claritin 24hour (w/o the decongestant) every morning as well. I am to follow up in 7-10 days and also get an audio hearing test done. 

On the up side, my blood pressure is down =) and I haven't felt as "crazy" as I have been. I'm still forgetful, but hopfully that will improve with the allergy management.

Here's to feeling fully like myself again soon!!! *clink*   ;]

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Looking forward to some more answers.

Yay, I was able to get an appointment with an Ear Nose & Throat Dr. for this evening. I hope to get some answers about not being able to breathe correctly, my ears feeling clogged although they are perfectly clean, my throat feeling thick and my head feeling like it wants to explode at times. Hoping it's just seasonal allergies, but who knows... I'll update as soon as I know something. :)

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Update - Great News!! =}

So, I am done taking Methimezole. My Dr. thinks I'm IN REMISSION!!!! :) YAY!!! I go for blood work in a month to see how I'm doing without ANY medication!!! I'm so relieved to not have to worry about making sure to take them...lol!


I have been having some issues with breathing though. My throat has been feeling tick and swollen, my ears have been either ringing or muffled and my seasonal allergies have been really bad this year. So, my Dr. referred me to an ENT Dr., I'm looking forward to being able to get an appointment. Hopefully I'll be able to get a handle on things soon. =}

Friday, May 27, 2011

Sheesh, where has the time gone...?

It's been Quite a while since I've written, Mainly because I've been exhausted! Working ten hours of overtime a week for the past six weeks...and it'll continue for who knows how long. 


Other than exhaustion, I've been feeling pretty good. I still have the pains in my arms and legs,  arms mostly. My throat is still swollen but not as bad as it has been. My mind is fairly sharp and I've learned to recognize if I'm about to get upset/angry over nothing and able to curb my "want" to release my frustrations...this, I feel is a Big step! ;] I go to my Dr. in July and I'm hoping that the visit will bring me closer to having my thyroid removed.


I wish I had the time energy to put into researching and posting more, but I am Very grateful for the blogs I follow and the sites I'm a part of, to keep me up to date on interesting  and informative articles and studies. But I am mostly grateful for just knowing that I am not alone in my frustrations and fears associated with this disease.  It's been well over a year since my diagnosis and even though I still Feel as though I am no closer to having a permanent solution, I Know that I am on the right path...This is not something that can be cured, nor can any treatment be successfully done overnight. I am still new on my journey, but I have the privilege of being able to connect to others who are suffering and to those who have been successfully able to live full lives with this disease. This give me hope. 

Monday, March 28, 2011

Not sure what to say...still HyPO

It feels like forever since I wrote last. Things have been so busy for me. So much "on my plate" aside from this disease that I felt like I was drowning, no time to write.


Well, things are starting to slow down, including my thyroid. My Dr. says I'm still hyPO...so now my dose is 5mg-1x day, Every Other day. Hopefully things will begin to start looking brighter.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Deeper Thoughts

It's been a very long time since I've been able to think, deeply. 
My head has been clouded by this disease (literally and  figuratively) and the medication dosage fluctuations. I believe they really made it difficult for me to think and to feel simultaneously. The last year and a half has been only a fuzzy memory. Most of what I remember is sadness, feeling lost, frustration and emptiness.

The last couple weeks has been, an awakening. An awakening of feelings, thoughts, emotions and clarity. All mixed together yet separate, each in their own way. For the first time in what seems like forever, I've been able to tell my emotions apart. I feel happy again...!!! This feeling I've missed the most. This disease took away so much of me, who I am, my quirks, my humor, my overall outlook on life. During this past year I knew this, but it hasn't been until now that I realized the extent of it. As much as I dislike what I felt, or didn't feel, what I've gone through has helped me appreciate what I had, what I now have and what could be in the future.

I know this clarity might not last forever and that it's not as good as it could be, but if it sticks around for even a few more weeks, I will be content for the year (I say for now...lol). ;) I find myself looking forward to each day as a new beginning. A brighter, fresh, exciting beginning of life, my life.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Feeling Pretty Great!

It's been just over a week of reduced medication, (5mg. from 15mg.) and I feel so much better! My mind feels clearer, I feel like I have energy again,  I can actually remember things, and not just my day to day things, but even things from when I was a kid...it's been a while since I've been able to do that. =] I still clench my teeth, but sleeping is easier... =)
I know that I am not 100% and probably won't be for a long time, if ever, but I am very grateful for feeling as well as I do, now.


I'm looking forward to a full night's sleep tonight before I start my new job tomorrow. =]

Friday, January 28, 2011

I'm HyPO...?

Just got the call I've been waiting for all week. My most recent labs, and apparently they indicate that I am HypO.
I don't have the numbers yet, my Dr. is sending me a copy of the report via mail, so I'll post them once I get them.

He reduced my dose of Methimezole to 5mg once a day (from 7.5 2xday) for a few weeks to see where that puts me, he doesn't want to cut me off completely yet.  I will re-test in mid February and see from there.

I forgot to ask him while I had him on the phone, but if I'm hypo, why is my thyroid still swollen? I'm going to do some research on this and have some idea when I talk to him again after my next blood-work results, if it still is swollen at that point.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Not feeling that great...

The past few weeks have been stressful, but the way I'm feeling is starting to get to me.
I have the shooting pains almost constantly again, I'm grinding and clenching my teeth at night to the point that they hurt all day. I've been getting headaches too, right behind my eyes and they last for hours. I'm not sleeping well either lately, maybe three hours at a time...and I wake up with a very stiff neck. I think I might be coming down with a cold on top of all this... Grrr. =[
 
I am Supposed to get my lab results today... Very curious as to what my levels will be. I've been on the same dose of 7.5mg/2x day of Methimezole for three months now... My goiter seems to fluctuate in size day by day, makes me even more curious about my levels...
I'll update as soon as I hear...

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

=) Thank you God!

I am so very grateful today.
My Endo was so wonderful. I feel so comfortable with him, I was able to talk about how I feel and know that he listened. I am actually looking forward to going back to him and get a true game-plan in place.


I got blood drawn this afternoon and will get the results around the 24th as my Endo is on vacation next week. We will see what medication dosage needs to be then.

With feeling my throat, he said his estimate is that my Thyroid probably weighs about 43grams and for a woman of my age (25 y/o), it should normally be around 25grams - WOW!!!! Almost Twice the Size!!!  SCARY! (to me...)

As of right now, I'm scheduled to go back in six months because he hasn't seen updated labs and will change that if necessary or at the least, we will talk over the phone. =) Very cool to me that this an option...I dislike having to go into an office so often, esp. now as he's a half hour away.

I was also given a website to check out here, it is a joint effort of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology. I am looking forward to see what this site has to offer.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Yay! Dr. appointment tomorrow

I am feeling the most exited I think I've ever felt about going to a Dr. I just hope that I am not disappointed!
 The last visit I had to my previous Endo was Nov. 1, 2010... I get to see my diagnosing Dr. tomorrow for this first time in over a year.
I am planning to go in with all my accumulated knowledge and keep my feet planted about my care... If this Dr. doesn't listen, then I'll look for a new one!