Health Update

We have been anticipating my July 17th appointment with the endocrinologist. This was to be a semi-annual check-up to monitor the thyroid replacement hormone and an ultrasound to check on the neck and all the organs and glands that reside in the throat area. I certainly wasn't expecting any bad news, but then I wasn't expecting thyroid cancer last September.

But we had a little hiccup on July 2nd. As we were returning from our geocaching road trip from Iowa on July 1st, Hubby was tugging on the seat belt strap that went across his chest. When I asked if there was a problem, he said he was feeling some "discomfort in his chest." We had a discussion of how long, how often, how severe, etc. He agreed to call his cardiologist the following morning if the discomfort made another appearance Thursday morning. It did and he did. He had an appointment within 30 minutes. After some discussion,  the cardiologist decided to do an angiogram procedure that afternoon. Doc wanted to check what was going on in Hubby's heart that was different from the angiogram procedure he did last October when everything looked pretty good. Curt now has two heart stents and is feeling better. He was hospitalized for 24 hours and was able to enjoy the Fourth of July with family and friends.

But on the evening of Sunday July 5th, I experienced an itch in both legs, from the ankle to the knee, that was so intense, I scratched and rubbed until my legs were red and nearly raw. I was unable to sleep more than a few hours. I tried oils, lotions and Benadryl. I tried pain relievers. Nothing helped. The following day, during the day, it wasn't an issue. Monday night...same thing. Nothing relieved the itch. Again very little sleep. It went on for four days. FOUR NIGHTS. I did some online research, called some friends...it must be Restless Leg Syndrome, although none of the three had the symptoms I had. Because we were leaving town for nine days and nights and living in the camper where there was no place to go when I could not sleep, I called the clinic and bared my soul. I got RLS drugs for two weeks and something to relieve the stress and anxiety. I slept well Wednesday night and Thursday night. We left town on Friday. I discontinued the drugs on Saturday because the itch was gone. Just like that it appeared and disappeared. Hmmmmm...

When I called the clinic I was not able to see my GP but was able to see a PA that day. By Wednesday I did not care WHO I saw. I wanted to and desperately needed to sleep. The PA was a former student who listened to my saga, saw my tears and heard my desperation. She gave me drugs. At the time, I also made an appointment with my GP for today, Monday.

I totally trust my GP after she ordered the tests that found the cancer last fall. She knows my story. I knew I would have had the appointment with the endocrinologist and I often have more questions after meeting with him. Besides, I had asked to see her the end of May when I had such severe aches in my arms and shoulders, I almost cried when using them for everyday chores. She ordered blood tests that found a below normal autoimmune issue. That appointment with a specialist is in September. Unexplainable aching muscles... Hmmmmm...

At Friday's appointment, the endocrinologist asked how I was feeling. I replied, "Great!" I mentioned the restless legs episode and the thought I might have fibromyalgia and had an appointment in September. He asked another question which led to Hubby and me sharing the recent two episodes when I TOTALLY lost it. I mean uncontrollable anger, frustration, tears, and unable to understand why or unable to control the feelings. They erupted instantaneously like a volcano spewing hot lava. It takes several hours to subside to the point where I can actually talk without falling to pieces. Was I this way before the thyroid cancer? No. How often does this occur? Lately, about once a month. Hmmmmm...

Doc talked about the dosage of hormone replacement. He shared it is best to be on the high side, hyperthyroid, rather than on the low side, hypothyroid. He ordered a blood panel to check my levels. I had one the end of April. Unfortunately, the results of Friday's blood panel and the ultrasound would not be available until Monday, today. The office would call me with the results of both. OKAY.

We enjoyed the rest of the weekend with family celebrating McBe's 3rd Birthday. When we got home Sunday night and after the camper was unloaded and back in storage, I did some online research on hyperthyroid symptoms. Oh, my...I have recently (in the last two months) experienced more than half of the listed issues. AH HA!

I shared the recent issues with my GP this morning and what I had learned about Hyperthyroid. She agreed with my findings and was quite certain the endocrinologist would adjust the hormone dosage. She also explained it is a very fine line and could take years to find the right number. YEARS????

So the good news is the hormone dosage has been adjusted. There will be a blood work follow-up in six to eight weeks. The ultrasound did not revel any issues in the throat area, but I will have an low-dosage iodine treatment in December to continue to monitor the missing thyroid and all it's neighboring throat vitals. That means a 10 day low iodine diet followed by two shots for two days, a low dosage of iodine on day 3, and a body scan on day 4. This is standard procedure following a diagnosis of Papillary Cancer.

The itching legs, the aching muscles, the emotional outbursts (and other issues) now have an explanation. It may be a month or two until some of them subside, but at least there is a reason for the unusual symptoms. I can deal with them if I know the why and know they will go away. Most of the time I really do feel "Great!"