Thursday, June 30, 2011

My Medical Problems Solved?

One Hundred and Eighty Seven Dollars.
That's what a 2 day migraine cost me this week.
Ugh.

But as one of my favorite songs from Annie sings...
The Sun will come out tomorrow.
 And it has.
I can feel it's rays shining down on me.
I am feeling hopeful and a bit excited.

Yesterday was my doctor's appointment in Kansas City. Around here you only go to KC to see a doctor if it's important...and it was. You may remember back in April I began seeing a Pulminologist for my shortness of breath and dizziness. After many tests he sent me on to a thyroid specialist. You see, they thought I had thyroid cancer. I have hundreds of tiny tumors all over my thyroid with one larger one that may have been cancerous. There was even talk of me losing my thyroid. The past month I have been a wreck imagining what it was gonna be like living without a thyroid.

So yesterday {after an hour massage and one chiropractor adjustments and $125 less richer} my Mom and Em and I drove to KC. My neck was still ouchy and my mood was less than jolly. 

We talked all the way down about my headaches and neck pain and how I just can't keep living this way and that along with finding out more about my thyroid I was going to pick this Dr. Thompson's brain about my migraines and see if he could reccomend a specialist for me.

Nearly 2 hours later I was sitting in his office with a list of questions and determined to find relief for my migraines and to face the truth about my thyroid cancer. {if i even had it}

Here's what I found out and here's my "Sun will come out tomorrow" moment....

*I DO NOT have thyroid cancer-Hooray!
* I am NOT going to lose my thyroid-Whew!
*My blood test indicates I have....Drum-Roll Please....Hashimoto's Disease. What's that you ask and what are the symptoms? Well it causes extreme muscle pain in the shoulders {that would be ME} and unexplained weight gain of about 10 to 20 pounds without being able to take it off {Yep, me again} and sluggishness and fatigue {so that's why I've been soooo tired} and depression {i thought it was just me and all the stuff I have going on} as well as a few other pesky problems {most of which I have}.

So today I am starting a drug called Synthroid. This is gonna help my thyroid levels get back to normal and will help all those symptoms go away. Could it be my shoulder aches and pains have been this all along??

Dr. Thompson also gave me a script for a new migraine medication AND the name of an excellent migraine specialist. He was so sympathetic to my issues...just a great man.

Girls, I have HOPE...something I didn't even know I had lost. But I had...because I haven't felt this hopeful in a very long time.

Today I feel like there is a chance for me to get my life back in control again...to minimize my down time with migraines and neck and shoulder pain and to lost that 20 pounds I have been working on for years. This is huge for me!!

I am off to clean my house today. With nearly 1 week of feeling down with pain...today is a good day. Very little pain...NO migraines. It's laundry and picking up and then the fun stuff...a bit of art.

Thanks for listening to me ramble on today. It's a long post without any fun art or photos. You girls are great.:)

I will be sharing my Summer of Color PINK project tomorrow!




8 comments:

  1. Oh, Wow! Les . . . well, when you "get it", you sure "get it!" Hashimoto's disease? I've never heard of it - but at least there are some answers. Blessings on the thyroid being cleared - and here's wishing you a LIFE without pain, my friend. Thinking of you!!!

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  2. Best post in the world!!!! Yay!!!!!!

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  3. So glad to hear that you have answers now! And thank you for sharing, very brave of you! Praying that the new meds will help your symptoms! :-)

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  4. So sorry to hear you were in migraine territory, but glad you got help to get out. I hope you continue to improve!

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  5. I am so glad that you have a better understanding of what could be wrong. What a blessing that you may keep your thyroid and that it is not cancer. I hope you find relief soon and can overcome many of the challenges you face so that you can do and be what Heavenly Father wants you for you. I'm thinking of you Leslie!
    Maggie
    P.S.
    It's so hard having the BG site down right now... I feel out of the loop!

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  6. Oh my goodness! I am SO happy that you have answers AND solutions! Hopefully that does come with some peace of mind. I am thinking of you and am so glad to hear the good news, xoxoxo

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  7. Great news and great hope!! Healthy thyroid is a very good thing!! Sounds like your "tomorrow" has already started!! Hugs!

    PeggyK

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  8. I'm glad that you have gotten some answers, and I hope, hope, hope that you've found an effective treatment!

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I appreciate your thoughts and ideas...they inspire me!! I will be visiting you soon. Have a CREATIVE day!!