Well, I am exhausted after two doctor appointments in two days. On Monday, my doctor said something like--and with your having Hashimoto's thyroiditis.... . Well, I was gutted. NO, I did not know. He said--well, it is right here. I asked why he had not told me. He said he had and I assured him he had not. "That is not something I would forget!" So, I have another autoimmune disease.
I have never asked this before, but
WHY ME?
Never mind; don't answer that or give me some philosophical answer. Please!
That is why my tongue and cheeks are swollen and why I have other strange things happening, like I am cold. I almost cried just writing this so far. Why me?
Today, I went to my family doctor and he said that he, too, knew, saying yes, it is written right here. Of course, I expect he thought that I knew. I was afraid I had another uti coming on, but, thankfully, no.
These appointments have been scheduled for months, so it was not something that was caused by a recent development. I received results of tests.
Tuesday is a cold, bright day. I will take cold if I get sunshine.
Tonight, we still have chicken, so no cooking of meat/protein. The zucchini are waiting, so I can cook that for Tommy. I will find another vegetable or two.
When I sorted the blackeyed peas, there were no stones and few questionable peas. But, I did find a perfect kernel of corn. I was shocked as I had never found another vegetable in the blackeyed peas.
I got something from Publisher's Clearing House, so maybe I won $5000/week. I will share with Tommy.
That's it for today. I need to get off here and plan my new room.
oh wow! you certainly wouldn't have forgotten them telling you something like that! How long ago did they think they told you about it? A friends wife has this, but honestly I don't know anything about it. I'm sorry you have to deal with this.
ReplyDeleteOne,
DeleteI was so stunned and listening that I forgot to ask. I will! Thanks.
My goodness! That certainly isn't a diagnosis you want to hear about so casually and I am sure you'd remember being told if they had actually told you in the first place!! Are you supposed to be on any medications for this? If so, then why didn't they ask how the medications or treatments were working sooner? How frustrating! So sorry you got such bad news that way. I've heard of that before but don't know much about it. Hope it's something you can manage somehow. Sending love & light your way!!
ReplyDeleteBri,
DeleteI had the last word on whether he told me or not. I am taking medications. I do wonder why there was no discussion. I think managing it instead of curing it will be the only thing possible. Thanks!
It's TOTALLY weird that 2 doctors knew you had it but you did not. Did someone prescribe you thyroid meds today?
ReplyDeleteHashimoto's is, unfortunately, a very common disease, especially among women. Good treatment relies on a doctor who is willing to listen to how you FEEL, as well as what your lab numbers are.
Sue,
DeleteI have taken thyroid meds for over 20 years. My new primary doctor listens.
If you have taken thyroid meds for over 20 years, what did you think was going on? (Linda, I'm not buying that you "didn't know" by that statement.)
DeleteAll thyroid disease is not 'curable'..not the hypo nor the hyper. Once you start on thyroid meds... your thyroid ceases to function even more (because it doesn't need to produce). Meds prescribed "years ago" need adjustment over time.
What did you think the reason was that you were taking thyroid meds in the first place? So many women get "hashimotos" it's hardly an earth shaking, depressing diagnosis.
Sounds to me like you need to talk to the doc about changing the meds.. maybe noting on one that is made from a porcine source (Armour) instead of artificial one, or have a major adjustment in the amount.
You talk about being tired so much -- I really worry about you. Perhaps get a referral to an endocrinologist and get this all checked out really well, and then get some PT to increase your stamina.
I was prescribed a lower dose of meds because half my thyroid was removed. AND, NO ONE HAS EVER MENTIONED HASHIMOTOS NO MATTER WHAT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE BELIEVES! You think I am lying?
DeleteMeds have been adjusted over time!
If the diagnosis is earth shaking and depressing to me, then it is earth shaking and depressing. How can you refute my feelings?
I do go to an endocrinologist, and I do have a prescription for pt. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, so that is a large part of my fatigue.
PS: I actually know someone who won $5,000/week for life from PCH! He was the loser boyfriend of the mom of my daughter's friend! He won, dumped the mom, and headed for Key West where he now does nothing but fish all day, every day. Couldn't have happened to a bigger bum! More proof that there is no justice in this world...
ReplyDeleteSue,
DeleteSurely he pays child support commensurate with his newfound winnings. No justice!
He was her boyfriend after her first marriage (that produced the daughter) ended in divorce. No child support. But he dumped her immediately after he struck it rich!
DeleteBTW, if you have been taking thyroid meds for 20 years, then you have had Hashimoto's (one form of hypothyroidism) for that long. I don't understand why the docs telling you this was such a surprise. Was it just that word that threw you off?
I had half my thyroid removed about 20 years ago. It was a surprise because I was never told I had it.
DeleteSo you've been taking thyroid meds for 20 years but didn't know that you had hypothyroidism?
DeleteYou certainly would not have forgotten and they should have discussed what it means. "It's in your chart" is not proper communication. I'm sorry for your experience and yes, life kicks the same people over and over. You have virtual hugs from us if it helps.
ReplyDeleteSAM,
DeleteIf I had heard the words, I would have had questions. And, never heard any explanation. I need less criticism! Thanks.
Thyroid disease is something that affects our whole system. I hope your doctor will keep a close eye on it now.
ReplyDeleteWhen I developed Graves Disease, I lost a whole lot of weight. I thought I had finally found the right way to diet! By the time I went to the doctor for it, I was pretty bad off. I had gotten to where I couldn't swallow, or sleep, and it often felt like something was around my neck trying to choke me and I would wake up. It turned out that my very enlarged thyroid was causing that strangling feeling. The swelling didn't show from the outside. My heart rate was extremely high. After treating me with an oral medication to bring my thyroid levels down slowly,they treated my thyroid with radioactive iodine. I was in the lowest level of the hospital, when a technician brought a lead cup into the room. She was wearing a special radioactive protective apron from neck to ankles. She set the tray with the little metal cup with radioactive iodine with a straw in it on the counter and told me to drink. The counter was down so low I started to pick up the little cup and straw to drink, and the technician very, very loudly said No! Don't pick it up to drink! So I bent over the counter and drank the radioactive iodine. I was now radioactive and not supposed to go within 2 or 3 feet (I can't remember now) of any one else, including my pets for 2 or 3 days (can't remember which) now.
So they killed off part of my thyroid gland. As my thyroid levels normalized my weight loss stopped. It is very hard to keep weight off now, even when I diet severely. I am now not so sure I did the right thing with the doctor prescribed radioactive iodine.
Funny thing happened when I was taking the first medicine to lower my thyroid levels before they could give me the radioactive iodine. I was at the vet's with our dog and the vet noticed my big weight loss and was talking about it and asked me what medicine they were using, and when I told him the name of it, his eyebrows shot up, and he repeated the medicine name, and I said yes,that's the one. He said he couldn't believe they even still used that on humans. He said he didn't use it on cats anymore because it was too hard on them. He used a different medicine on cats now. Apparently cats sometimes have thyroid problems, too.
I hope they were able to prescribe something to make you feel better.
susie,
ReplyDeleteInteresting story, but a little horrifying. I have appointments in five months, not good since I still know nothing. Maybe I will get a telemed appointment.
Luckily this can be treated. I was not happy when I developed Sjogren's on top of my RA
ReplyDeleteKim,
DeleteI am wondering why he is waiting 4 months to do so, as that is my next appointment. I can imagine how and why you would be angry!
I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to worry you with my comment. Hopefully you can get your doctor to take time and explain their plan of treatment for your thyroid problem that you have now. I find my doctors spend more time with me on the telemed appointment and I am more relaxed and get all of my questions to him before he zooms out the door. I hope they will be able to help you by just adjusting your thyroid medicine. Do you take Synthroid, like I do? If you have underactive thyroid, I don't think they would surgically remove any more of your thyroid. But, I'm not a doctor so what do I know? Good luck with future doctor interactions and take care. I wish you well.
ReplyDeletesusie,
DeleteThe lead cup with radioactive iodine was the horrifying part. You did not worry me for me, as I was worried for you. I am going to try and get something out of him. No, I take levothryxin. The reason they took half my thyroid was because of nodules behind the right side. I have to get the ones behind the left side out now. I like the telemed calls, too, except for the one at 7:40 that never happened until 8:45. He has never done that before, so I am okay with it. I got back into bed with my cell phone in my hand and a paper of questions near my head. Thanks.
Levothyroxine is the generic form of Synthroid.
DeleteSo you are already on thyroid meds, you just didn't know what they were for. Unless you need an increase or reduction, nothing has really changed for you.
Susie,
DeleteYes, I did know the levo was for my thyroid and I was hypo. I just had never had anyone tell me it was Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Well, I guess the good news is that having your hypothyroidism identified as "Hashimoto's" means that absolutely nothing has changed! Your condition is exactly the same as it has always been You just have a formal name for it now. :^) :^)
DeleteThis is Susie. Commenter Sue was another person. I have to mention that the name Grave's Disease was only called out by name one time by my endocrinologist at the visit when I was diagnosed. And then much later by my Eye Doctor,because Graves can affect the eyes, and then once by a resident doctor who asked me if I had trouble losing weight since I had Graves. (Yes) He was young and going to specialize in endocrinology.
ReplyDeleteI can see how your doctor could have missed mentioning the name of it to you. They are often in such a hurry to get to the next patient, and they are explaining complicated treatments, which medicine they will prescribe to you,etc.
I took levothyroxin after my thyroid levels started being low, and my doctor didn't like the way my thyroid hormones were so variable at each exam, that he thought changing to Synthroid might help, so I switched. My levels did seem better regulated, but I think the Synthroid (since it is not a generic) is more expensive.
I never had any nodules (so far, knock on wood) on my thyroid.
Take care.
My endocrinologist is all about giving the least expensive option for everything. So, maybe I should ask him about the Synthroid. Maybe they thought I did not need the name because I would not understand!
Delete