Thyroid Disease Awareness Day, and my journey with "The Big C"

Today is National Thyroid Disease Day. So, I thought I'd share my story....
In the summer of 2007, I started having issues with fatigue, body aches, hair loss, scaly skin, problems breathing, swallowing issues, and worsening allergies. My primary doctor ran tests, and treated symptoms, but wasn't sure what was going on.  .  She sent me to an asthma and allergy specialist for the breathing and allergies. He did allergy testing, peak flow readings, and checked my neck.  He said
I had an enlarged thyroid, and it was "pretty lumpy". I went back to my doctor, to get the suggested ultrasound. It showed 2 fair sizes nodules, one on each lobe of the thyroid.  She sent me to a nuclear medicine specialist. He was the head of the department, so I thought I was in good hands... He checked my blood work, looked at me, and basically said that my thyroid is fine, I was just overweight. That my symptoms couldn't have come from that, and that he didn't see a need to biopsy for another year. He smugly said "I mean, I can biopsy if it makes you 'feel better,' and sort of rolled his eyes. I decided that what would make me feel better was a second opinion. I called an endocrinologist. They said they needed my records to set an appointment. After a battle that began in late July, I finally got an appointment in late August, for November!  I was losing so much hair that I was leaving a split end trail wherever I went. My skin was awful, and I was oh so tired. So, in November, I saw the new doctor. He was great. He listened. He sent me for a biopsy the next day, because one nodule had doubled in size. The doc doing the biopsy told me that it was growing into the laryngeal nerve, and a nerve to my eardrum. I walked out horse, with a fuzzy ringing ear.  They said I'd hear in about a week....my doctor called me personally that night.  Asked to see me the next day. He broke the news. I cried. We scheduled surgery for January, with a size check in between.
I had my surgery, then radiation. I went to the same nuclear medicine doc. He was offended that I went elsewhere. I told him I didn't feel comfortable being treated by a doctor who didn't believe me. Anyway, I was told that the radiation would not make me sick. And, admittedly, I wasn't chemo kind of sick, but I was sick for quite a few days. I was quarantined so that I didn't contaminate anyone. Maddie was 18 months, and didn't understand why she couldn't be near mommy. Heartbreaking. When I returned to work, 8 or 9 weeks later, I still felt awful. My next check up showed that I was still severely hypothyroid. My doc asked me how it was possible that I was working, or even functioning. I told him because I have to. But I was falling asleep in meetings, feeling spacey all day. It took a year to get my levels somewhat near where they should be. I still have issues with it. The stress of the cancer, radiation, and extended hypothyroidism triggered fibromyalgia.
It has been tough, but could have been so much worse. I am so glad that I knew something was wrong...that I listened to my body...that I didn't stay with that other doctor. I'm thankful for the unrelated allergy symptoms that led me to diagnosis (a total God thing). I have had permanent vocal changes, that I have tried for years to overcome. But I'm thankful for what God has taught me through it (now that I have finally listened). I'm so glad I am around to tell my story. I felt like I needed to, because people tend not to take thyroid issues seriously, because it's one of the most curable cancers out there. But it needs to be taken seriously. You can't cure it if you don't know you have it. Generally, there are few symptoms.  I was lucky that I got a nudge from God, telling me not to ignore it. As a mom, I put myself last sometimes. But I know that I I hadn't have taken control of it when I did, I might not be around to be a mom. I wouldn't have had the chance to meet Bree, my miracle number two :-)   I am finally making peace with it all.  I know that God wouldn't give me more than I could handle.  He never said that there wouldn't be struggles, but He promised he'd be there through them all.  At the time, I was still struggling with my faith.  Wondering "Why, God? Why?".  But now, I'm drawing strength from it all.  I am talking about it more, because I want people to know that our struggles aren't the end.  It's only a season.  There is hope.  I want everyone to know they're not alone.  And, I want everyone to really know me.  That was such a big turning point in my life, yet I didn't share it with people, because I was afraid what they might say. I was afraid that they'd think I wanted sympathy, or a pat on the back.  But I want none of that.  It's part of who I am, and if want people to really know me, I can't hide big parts of who I am.
I apologize for the rambling nature of this post, but "from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks"(Luke 6:45), and this has been on my heart to share.  Take care of yourselves, my friends. Know your body. Check your necks.Fight for your health. Thanks for reading. Love you all!
 Light of Life Foundation
Thyroid Cancer Survivors Assoc. Inc