My Story, up until recent...

In 2011, I had a regular physical scheduled with a new doctor in my area. The original appointment that I had, I wanted to cancel, just because I simply had so many other obligations that week. If you have a family of 4 or five, you can understand when I say that usually your own needs come a close second to that of others in the family. I felt that my health was good, and would reschedule for a later date. The day came and I went to my appointment, as my activities allowed me a few hours to kill, and the encouragement of my husband of course made me go. I got to the office early, as suggested by the nurse on the phone, filled out my packet of information and handed her my health insurance card. Just a regular visit, I supposed.

I had not gone to a doctor, other than my gyno the last couple years since the birth of my youngest in 2009, so I was a little anxious to see about other issues. I needed an epi-pen for one, My husband camps in the summer so I figured I could go my often with him if I had the safety net of an epi-pen for my allergy to bee stings. I had also wanted to talk to the doctor about some nicotine replacement options for myself, I was eager to quit my bad habit. So other than that, I figured smooth sailing.

They called me to the scales, and then onto the room for my blood pressure and temperature readings, and told me to wait a bit and the doctor would soon be in. I had never been here before, and they all seemed pretty nice upon first meeting everyone. The office was nice too, just recently built and still had the "new" smell. As soon as the doctor came in, he asked me a few questions about what brought me in, and then he began his exam. Routine stuff really, then he came to my thyroid exam. He felt my glands, as I has done to me many times before, and he stopped. He asked me if I had always had a thyroid issue. I said no, and he became alarmed. He told me that my thyroid had a pretty good sized goiter, and was enlarged, he was sending me for tests.

A week or so later, after all my blood work came back, the doctor called me on my cell. My thyroid levels came back as zero. He told me he suspected that I had Hashimotos, and was the lowest thyroid levels he had seen. He was sending me to a specialist right away for further testing and treatment. He set me up with an endocrinologist in my area.

I had to wait about a month to see this specialist, and didn't quite know what to expect. She was kind, and personable. She looked at my records my regular doctor had sent over, and suggested no diagnosis yet, she wanted to do more testing. She had a Thyroid Uptake test ordered, with radioactive iodine in pill form, and also more blood work. She said that we would then see what the tests said, before she diagnosed me.

The tests came back, and she had a chance to see the images from my thyroid scan (ultrasound). It was then that she said, it was not Hashimotos, that I had Graves Disease, and my thyroid levels were now thru the roof...hyperthyroid. I was sent home with pills and so many questions. How could it be that? My levels were ZERO, then to be skyrocketed??

I was on methimazole 5 mgs a day and returned back to see her once a month. During this time, I was also busy being a mother to my three kids, enrolled in college classes online to earn my associates, as well as trying to hold down a job. EVERYTHING was suffering. I began my college classes with a pristine grade average, and my grades and concentration fell to flat lined status. My work life also suffered, trying to juggle a million things with no arms, will do that.

Soon, I returned for a normal visit with my endo, in May 2012, she told me I was in remission. Remission??? I felt like crap, had a million symptoms, my brain was still scattered, and my energy was still a zero, yet she said remission. She told me that I would not come back to her, and to stop my meds. I was good to go according to her. Should I feel happy? Should I feel relief?? I was numb.

So, I was told to follow up with a regular doctor if anything came up, and sent on my merry way. Days came and went. I had quit my schooling with just two classes to go, I could not concentrate. I quit my job to try to focus more on family and school work, I was scared. I was at home, but my housework was falling behind. The messes and oils were piling up. My moods went from heavenly to hell daily, sometimes more or less. I was sleeping on the couch, and not with my husband. With his work routine(he was lucky enough to have a routine), he went to bed at 10pm every night, no later, no sooner. Myself, I would literally lay on the couch wide awake, with a remote in hand till 5 or 6 am...alone watching bad reality TV, or whatever movie I could find. Finally falling asleep at that time, then wouldn't wake till 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I'd get up putter around for an hour or two, dishes, make food, pick up, thats it. Then at 7 at night...back on the couch. This was my new self. I was depressed, crazy, and alone...maybe not in a physical sense of being alone, but alone with my grief over the death of myself.

In January 2013, I couldn't take it no more. I was either to go back to my regular doctor or lose everything. I was in remission tho, so YAY??
The new regular family doctor told me he would run some tests, after I told him my problem, he was quite concerned. I was to follow up with him in his office a week later.
At the follow up visit, he told me that my thyroid levels we extremely high, he himself had never seen levels quite that high. He went ahead and prescribed me more methimazole, at 10 mgs a day....until he could get me into see a new endocrinologist. GREAT.

I went to my new endo appointment filled with hope. I left to a drive home in tears. Why is it that endocrinologists, come in, talk about numbers, then walk out..and send you on your way?? UGH!!!
I was going to just take my meds, and I would call him with my questions. I called when I got home right away. Did he have a plan for me?? What did he think?? Idk, I was frustrated. He answered a few questions for me, so I was happy I guess.

My time with this new endo was good, so I am still seeing him. In October of 2013, he sent me to a cardiologist because he said he thought I was having atrial fibrillation...The cardio did some testing too, and sent me home with a plan to have a heart monitor on for two or three weeks to monitor my heart rate all day, everyday. I wore it to work, in sleep, everywhere..except the shower. A few weeks went by, and I could finally take it off, and I would soon get the results.

The cardiologist told me, I was ok. My heart was structurally good, and he could see no reason why, I would not be okay. I just had an irregular heartbeat which is common with Graves. My endo seemed happy about that news, and suggested I have RAI or my thyroid removed cuz as he put it, "You only have one heart." He was right. So after much discussion with my husband, I was soon scheduling my thyroid removal surgery.

I had my surgery on January 31st, 2014. It was okay, but I had some sickness associated with the anesthesia. My calcium levels were down, and had to stay in the hospital for a night. They staff tried to have me take some pain meds, but I opted for just some Tylenol. (I am also in recovery for addiction, and opt out of anything that I deem a danger to that). I did fine, no pain, just down for a couple days is all, tired...very tired and hard to breath.

                                                            (me the day after surgery)

So here we are, its now April 2014, and I am now thyroid free, hypothyroid permanently, on Synthyroid 150mgs a day, taking calcium supplements daily and still have Graves Disease raging in me. I also still do not have a voice, and liken the effect I feel in my neck as someone walking around with me all the time with a tight squeeze on my throat. My last visit with the surgeon he said I might now have a voice for up to a year, and go back to him in 6 months. I see my endo in two.

(Me one week after surgery)

(Me two weeks after surgery)

(Me two months after surgery...today)

So that's my story, I am anxious to discuss many topics on here with you and share some photos too. It is so nice to not feel ALONE, I would be happy to have you come along with me and my family......