As you may have read on facebook, I killed my thyroid. Now you may be wondering "why? why stephanie? what has your thyroid ever done to hurt you?". So, let me explain...
It all started back in September. First, it was shaking hands, then a strangely high heart rate(130-150 resting!),then major hot flashes, no period, dark bags/circles under my eyes, the big D, and losing 10 pounds without trying(awesome). So, I reluctantly made a doctor's appointment. (I have anxiety, and pretty much assume when I go to the doctor that they are going to find out that something is seriously wrong with me, and I'm going to die. But only if I go to the doctor. So, I try not to go. Stupid, I know. ) Anyway, I went to the doctor, after about three weeks of having those symptoms, because I couldn't ignore the fact that something was wrong. My doctor gave me a check up and said that it felt like my thyroid was enlarged. I asked her if i was going to die. Seriously. (side note: I also asked my dentist that once. anxiety sucks.)
So, after blood work and an ultra sound, I found out that I had hyperthyroidism(which explained everything), and I was referred to an endocrinologist. After a thyroid uptake/scan, I was told that I had Graves Disease. If you are like I was and do not know what that it, Graves Disease is when, for some reason, your antibodies turn on your thyroid and start attacking it. I think that is why it enlarges. Then, it tries to fight back, and that's why it is overproducing. The overproduction of the thyroid hormone is what causes the many symptoms. That's Graves Disease in a nutshell.
Although thyroid problems are pretty common, there is not an easy solution to this one. I was given three choices:
A. Thyroid Medication
B. Iodine Radiation to kill thyroid
C. Surgery to remove thyroid
Obviously, the medication seemed like the best, and least permanent option. So, I told Dr.N that I wanted drugs. She informed me that she did not recommend this option, because the drugs have caused liver failure in several cases. To someone whose father's liver is failing, this is pretty bad news. No drugs for me.
It came down to killing my thyroid, or surgically removing it, and I opted for the bloodless, scarless solution.
It is called an ablation, and basically you swallow a pill that your thyroid absorbs, and gradually your thyroid dies. Then, you take synthetic thyroid hormone pills every day for the rest of your life.
It's really not too bad, but here is the downside. We can't try to get pregnant for a year, because of the high dosage of radiation. And, I will probably struggle with my weight for the next several months, to years. Bummer. I REALLy should have lost that baby weight when I had the chance. :)
Although I know that it could be a LOT worse, and I am really thankful that it is completely treatable, it has not been fun to deal with this, on top of everything else going on in my life. I'm really looking forward to this being completely in the past so I can focus on more exciting things like....for example...giving madeline a little brother or sister!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
99 Things
I thought this was kind of fun...
Instructions:
Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends. I also added my own touch and put stars by the ones I REALLY want to do.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars- Mexico, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and probably more...
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii-once with some girlfriends. but you don't want to hear about it. :)
5. Watched a meteor shower-also in Mexico during a summer working for AMOR
6. Given more than you can afford to charity- I'd like to be brave enough to give so that it hurts. **
7. Been to Disneyland- - I wasn't a fan until I had madeline..now I love it.
8. Climbed a mountain- proud to say I have hiked half dome 4 times
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo- AND completely choked.
11. Bungee jumped- no thank you
12. Visited Paris- YES please! **
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch**
15. Adopted a child***
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- a long time ago..I don;t think you can anymore, sadly.
18. Grown your own vegetables***
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France*
20. Slept on an overnight train - poland to germany on a mission trip
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping -several times :)
27. Run a Marathon- 2001..4 hours 48 minutes. I'm still proud of that.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset- thanks to my husband, I actually notice them now
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise -Jon's parent tool us on an Alaskan cruise when we got married. It was awesome.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person**
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*****
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person*
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke; I love karaoke..as long as there is alcohol involved
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt*
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa***
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing*
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person*
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris*
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling- in St. Lucia on our honeymoon
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching**
63. Got flowers for no reason**
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- I have tried but it has never worked out!
65. Gone sky diving - AMAZING experience! I surprised Jon on his 30th birthday.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp- Aschwitz in Poland. It was devastating.
67. Bounced a check - TOO many times
68. Flown in a helicopter***
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - thankfully my mom did!
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt*
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades*
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle - yes, gotta love the bad boys. :)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person- breathtaking
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car -2002 Nissan Altima..still driving it.
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve- not quite a stranger, but almost
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -I participated in panamaa..it was pig
88. had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life- my best friend in high school tried to kill herself by taking all of her heart medication. My dad and I rushed her to the hospital..
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby- my life is forever changed for the better
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Copy and Paste if you want to!
Instructions:
Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends. I also added my own touch and put stars by the ones I REALLY want to do.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars- Mexico, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and probably more...
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii-once with some girlfriends. but you don't want to hear about it. :)
5. Watched a meteor shower-also in Mexico during a summer working for AMOR
6. Given more than you can afford to charity- I'd like to be brave enough to give so that it hurts. **
7. Been to Disneyland- - I wasn't a fan until I had madeline..now I love it.
8. Climbed a mountain- proud to say I have hiked half dome 4 times
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo- AND completely choked.
11. Bungee jumped- no thank you
12. Visited Paris- YES please! **
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch**
15. Adopted a child***
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- a long time ago..I don;t think you can anymore, sadly.
18. Grown your own vegetables***
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France*
20. Slept on an overnight train - poland to germany on a mission trip
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping -several times :)
27. Run a Marathon- 2001..4 hours 48 minutes. I'm still proud of that.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset- thanks to my husband, I actually notice them now
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise -Jon's parent tool us on an Alaskan cruise when we got married. It was awesome.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person**
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*****
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person*
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke; I love karaoke..as long as there is alcohol involved
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt*
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa***
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing*
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person*
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris*
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling- in St. Lucia on our honeymoon
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching**
63. Got flowers for no reason**
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- I have tried but it has never worked out!
65. Gone sky diving - AMAZING experience! I surprised Jon on his 30th birthday.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp- Aschwitz in Poland. It was devastating.
67. Bounced a check - TOO many times
68. Flown in a helicopter***
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - thankfully my mom did!
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt*
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades*
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle - yes, gotta love the bad boys. :)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person- breathtaking
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car -2002 Nissan Altima..still driving it.
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve- not quite a stranger, but almost
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -I participated in panamaa..it was pig
88. had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life- my best friend in high school tried to kill herself by taking all of her heart medication. My dad and I rushed her to the hospital..
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby- my life is forever changed for the better
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Copy and Paste if you want to!
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