Thyroid a year later......and more

Hello!

I know I have a problem with not updating my blog very often, I attribute that to being busy and forgetful! I have good intentions but when it comes down to it I falter.......I'm sorry for that, I really am!

So, it's been a year since I had my thyroid removed and I can tell you that I notice nothing different. My levels are still wacky, I'm losing hair by the handfuls, I still lack energy and god forbid I want to lose a little weight - it takes an enormous amount of effort and it always comes right back. So, having my thyroid removed didn't help me with any of my major issues. At least I don't have growths anymore but my levels still have not leveled out. I started on 150 mg of Synthroid last year and am now on 100 mg - I continue to be adjusted to lower levels without it helping.

So since it's been a bit since I've updated let's see what's been happening:

January-March 2016 - I started back to college at an online University - Ashford University. It's been 7 months and I'm doing great! I have straight "A" grades and just last week was invited to become a member of Alpha Sigma Lamda Honor Society. This is an honor society for exceptional adult learners. It was such a great surprise and honor. So being that I have such great grades should also tell you I spend a lot of time with my schooling. I haven't had time to be sick or tired or sore or anything other than focusing on school. My intention of going back is to complete the degree I started right out of high school - which was a long time ago.........I'm studying "Social and Criminal Justice" and will graduate with my BA in 7/2018.

Regarding my FMS and CFS I'm still holding steady. I haven't had any major flare up of either condition. I have learned to just listen to myself and if I'm tired, I go to bed. I still have issues with my hips being achy and locking up after sitting down for a bit but overall I can't complain. I have a lot of contact with people who have FMS really bad and I feel terrible for them but at the same time am grateful I have been able to reverse a good majority of my issues with FM and keep it under control.

April - July 2016 - I ended up in the ER on my birthday, April 5th - with what I thought was chest pain - it was bad, had me convinced I had a blockage - after a night stay and many tests that came back negative I was sent home and referred to a cardiologist. A few more tests and nothing. I still get these weird chest pains but haven't gone back to the cardiologist because he already determined it's not my heart but of course, as with most things they don't know why I'm having these pains. I thought maybe heartburn but I really don't think so since I never get it. So chalk it up to another strange thing related to FMS I guess.....

I was just talking with my mom about when I first got sick back in 2010 and took up juicing to get better. It definitely worked after a period of time - between juicing AND taking many supplements I brought my nutrition levels back to where they needed to be and was able to reverse a lot of my symptoms that had me bedridden for several months. Everyone also is different so what worked for me may or may not work for another - but it's all worth a try! In fact, coming back to my juicing information I've decided to juice a metabolism boosting juice and see if it helps me shed a few lbs like it says it does.

In other news, I've been off work since the first week in June and it's been great! Since I work in a school, I have the same schedule as the kids do and it's fantastic. We go back in just 3 wks from now......summer vacay goes way too fast! But it will be good to get back on a schedule. When I have no schedule not much gets done because I don't have to....it's bad.

My daughter is going into her senior year of high school - I can't believe in just a short year she will be going to college. My "baby" girl is grown into such a beautiful young woman. Makes me sad that she will be leaving but I know it's coming quickly. My son is starting his sophomore year - he is another one that I can't believe has grown so much both physically and mentally. The past several months have been big in the growth area for him. My daughter will be playing volleyball with the school over the next few weeks leading up to try outs - in fact next week we go to a big college camp with some girls who were invited from the school - should be fun!

I hope this update has found you all well! I would like to say that I will update in a month but, I've said that before and 7 months later I show up ...... I know I suck at this but I'm trying! I will be back soon, how is that???

Three weeks post surgery, no changes

Hello!

Well here I am 3 wks post surgery and really, I don't feel like there has been any change in how I feel. I realize it takes time so I'm hopeful.  I have a follow up with my endocrine the first week in August for another blood test to see how my levels look.

I just finished a very busy week with my daughter and her High School volleyball team.  We had two big camps we attended.  It was busy and I'm glad it's done.  This next week doesn't have many plans which I'm glad about - time to rest up!  The following week will be another busy one with another volleyball camp and a trip to California to see my family.  I'm the only one going and it will be a nice break/vacation before school starts again, which means I go back to work.

While my blog has mostly been about Fibromyalgia I am going to start including some things on Thyroid disease and hypothyroidism.  I think there are links between the two.  So as I get information I'll be including it here in link and just general information.

I don't really have a lot to report right now......I'm healing well from my surgery and hoping to see some changes as time goes on.  I'm currently on a 150mg dose of Synthroid which I'm beginning to wonder if it's too low since I'm really not seeing any kind of difference in how I feel overall.  I know that this particular medication is a T4 replacement and I wonder about the T3 - something to ask the dr and do a little research on.  I know Amour is another medication that replaces both the T4 and T3 so we'll see.

Until next time - to your health!

Gerri

More on Teeth, Thyroid surgery

Hello everyone!

I have some updates for you since my last post (note that I'm really trying to stay on top of this blog! Today is May 3rd.....) Just a small victory in my world of many set backs!

So for starters, I got my new crown placed - that was all great but the dentist informed me that I still need a lot of work in my mouth - 3 crown replacements and one of my molars has a crack and needs a filling.  My priority is dealing with the cracked molar so I don't end up losing it too!  That appointment has been made although now that I'm looking for the date I don't see it on my calendar so I'll need to call and make sure I really made the appointment.  Gotta love the fibro brain!

I saw the surgeon on Thursday last week.  He said because one of my many goiters is 6 cm in size, very large for a goiter, the thyroid should come out.  He explained that with goiters 4cm and larger they automatically want to take it out due to increased risk of cancer.  He said even though my biopsies have been benign, there still is the chance of having cancer cells that either were not captured or will develop.  He followed that up with telling me that those cancer cells may never do anything but they prefer to get rid of any potential of having cancer.  I agree with that!  We discussed what that means for me - basically taking a pill everyday for life, a scar on the base of my neck and possible issues with calcium which would be treated with high doses of calcium.  He did discuss with me the possible risk of vocal cord issues or voice box issues to which he said the risk is only about 1% and usually temporary in nature. He said it doesn't mean my voice would be lost but that I would have a hoarse sounding voice for an unknown length of time that generally fixes itself unless there is nerve damage.  Hospital stay over night and potentially a drain for a week.  He said the drain will help fluids that might want to accumulate due to the large vacancy that will be left from the 6cm goiter.

So I have that surgery scheduled for June 26th.  Due to the continued growth of goiters on the thyroid I feel my best option is to remove it to stop the growths.  Taking a pill forever is an easy fix and I won't have to deal with the painful biopsies every year anymore.

According to research, there is a link between fibromyalgia and thyroid problems.  There are a lot of thyroid diseases so I personally find it hard to make the connection especially if the hormones are within a normal range when tested.  I have tried for years to tell my endocrinologist that I think I have hypothyroidism but she insists that my blood work proves otherwise because all my numbers fall within the "normal" range.

(Note that I started writing this on May 3rd, today I am finishing it and it's June 23rd - I guess my quest to stay on top of it kind of failed with end of the school year and summer coming upon us....but hey, at least I came back to it!)

So back to those Normal ranges.  Since I wrote the above, I had another blood test to check my numbers - the following information is what I was given.

The blood tests ordered were TSH, Thyroxine (T4), T3 uptake

• TSH - 0.749 (Normal ranges for this lab - 0.450-4.500) I'm barely above normal 
• Thyroxine (T4) - 5.4 (normal ranges 4.5-12.0) This one is low 
• T3 uptake - 30 (normal ranges 24-39) This one seems OK 
• Free T4 1.6 (normal ranges 1.2-4.9)  This one again, just above the normal zone

Does anyone notice something with my numbers?  The first thing I thought was that my numbers, while "normal" are very, very much on the lowest end of normal.  This could explain and account for a lot of health problems and general issues I deal with daily!  

I'm pretty nervous as I approach my surgery.  Today the hospital called with details for the day of - I have to arrive at the hospital to check in at 5:30 am and the surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am.  I'll be there over night and as long as everything is good they will let me go home the next day.

I just really hope everything goes well and that I don't have any issues with my thyroid levels after all is said and done.  I'm hoping the meds they put me on will raise the low numbers - that would mean the Dr will have to prescribe me the "right" dose from the beginning.....praying for that!

I want to go back to the numbers real quick.  Each lab has a different "normal" range for those thyroid numbers.  So out of curiosity, I went and searched on google for normal thyroid numbers and found that is could vary from 0.3 to 5.0 and anywhere in between as "normal".....my immediate question is "normal for WHO?"  Not me, that's for sure!  I would be willing to put money down that if my low numbers were raised I would notice a huge difference in how I feel on a regular basis, day to day.........

Enough thyroid talk, school was done June 4th for me, the kids were out a week before that.  My daughter took a little over a week to spend with her auntie and grandma (she calls her "bacca" and it really doesn't mean anything, the kids made it up when they were babies) in California.  She had pictures done for her birthday and enjoyed being with the family.  

Ryan went to a spring football camp with his high school and enjoyed that.  He is in strength/conditioning through the summer through his school as well.  Come fall he will hopefully be playing a little football!  I just run the kids back and forth anymore :)

Taylor turned 16 on June 8th, that same day she got her driver permit and a job as a cashier at Wal-Mart.  She is playing volleyball 3 hours a day as well right now getting ready for upcoming team camps she will be participating in for the rest of the summer.

BUSY is an understatement for our little family but it's good this way, keeps us all out of trouble ;)

So as I approach my surgery I want to wish you well and please send me a little extra positive thoughts and visions of healing fast.  

Until next time......(I will try to post an update on my surgery as soonas I can!)

Gerri :)