Kaitlin's Story

Hello my lovely thyroid haters..

So I did not post last week due to being extremely exhausted and just overwhelmed with this life with no thyroid. I still can not believe how much my life has been affected by this measly little gland called the thyroid. Pfft. Any ways, Im back at it and ready to kick lifes ass!

Today Im sharing with you the story of a dear friend I have known since I was a little girl. Shes a beautiful, talented, giving and all around amazing woman. Ladies and Gents, meet Kaitlin.

So at the ripe old age of 20, I had been working at my job as a 911 operator for two years, and we had just switched to night shift (we switch every 4 months).  I was working out trying to stay healthy because we all know what happens when your body gets its sleep pattern out of wack, you normally get sick!  Well I started gaining a good bit of weight, like 5 lbs every 3 weeks.... I kept saying it was "just muscle weight" I had no idea that there was something going on inside my body!  In my mind, "IM ONLY 20,  I'M INEVIDABLE".   It was about 5 months later that I started getting really sick, I was in and out of the doctor, missing work, couldnt get out of bed!  One doctor visit, I went because I couldnt break my fever, thad a paramedic check me (while at work) the paramedic told me I needed to go somewhere asap, my fever was spiking around 104.1.  I spent 4hrs at the local urgent care, and after blood work (they never checked my thyroid levels) , urine tests, flu tests, strep test, mono tests, the list goes on... They came to tell me "I am really sorry to tell you this, but we dont know what is wrong with you."   I left there with so many questions... at this point I knew there was something wrong but didnt know what!  I did a lot of research, but never had the guts to go to the doc and try to diagnose myself , and tell someone who has gone to scool for internal medicine, and has worked in the field longer then Ive been alove, how I think they should do their job!  So I waited it out, knowing our yearly health screaning was right around the corner, and they check all that!!  So I get my results back and low and behold , My TSH was really out of the norm (cant remember the numbers exactly) I also had very high white blood cell count, high glucose, high blood pressure, the list could go on.  At this point, I feel somewhat relieved... but scared all at the same time!  I didnt know what that all really meant, and I didnt know where to begin.  I knew I wasnt, as some people were calling me, 'crazy' or a 'hypocondriac' ... There was something medically wrong with me! 

I then started the process of finding the right doctor, ( which has taken me 4years ) I have now gone through 4 different doctors and sooo many different millagrams of medicines, but my symptoms are still there!  My first doctor, looked over my lab numbers and told me, "I think you may have leukemia, due to your white blood cell count, and your border line diabetic"   My heart sank, I went to this doctors appt alone, thinking 'I'm a big girl, I can do this alone'  at that moment, I was terrified.  We then began lots and lots of extensive blood work, and I DID NOT have leukemia, I WAS border line diabetic, and I had  a Hypothyroid.  Within a year of being undiagnosed, I had gained over 70lbs, once I was put onto Levothyroxine 125mg I dropped about 30lbs... but then my levels were showing hyper and the doctor reduced  my dosage and I gained about 10lbs back.  I have an everyday battle with myself, to just GET OUT OF BED!   My medicine has gone from 125mg to 100 mg to 125mg to 50mg and now I'm at 25mg, and at one point I, myself, changed my dosage... I knew my levels were out of wack, and I went to the doctor, they did my lab work, and they called me the next day to tell me that my levels were "fine".   I then went to a different doctor two weeks later for another opinion, my levels were far from fine, I was showing severely Hypo again, with all the symptoms! Obviously, my doctor at the time didnt have enough time to read the results right , or didnt care enough!  This was when I found my new doctor, that I see now, she really scared me though, which I think I needed to realise just how serious my disease is... she proceded to tell me that with  thyroid disease, you can become infertile, and not have children.. Im only 24 now, I WANT KIDS!  No one had told me that risk factor this whole time, and this was just a year ago... she has really put it into realistic terms with me, and I truly appreciate that with her! She has recently diagnosed me with Hypertension as well, after having severe migraines, and lots of testing... she believes it is due to the weight I have kept on for over the years.  I am, at this time, having another 'levels out of wack' time, and will be going to see the Doctor next week for more lab work and hopefully changing medications! :) It is a ongoing struggle, an ongoing battle, and if youre one of the 'lucky' people to have some sort of thryoid disease, cancer, disfunction.... YOU'RE NOT ALONE!! I tell myself this everyday.  I have been dealing with this invisible illness now for 4 years, and will be for the rest of my life.

My point is, YOU are the only one who knows YOUR body!  Dont put all your trust into a Doctor just because he or she has gone through a lot of school... NO one is perfect and NO ONE cares about YOU like YOU do!  Always demand answers,  always ask questions!  Always DO YOUR RESEARCH!!  If your Doctor acts like he or she doesnt have time for you , its time to find a new doctor!!

Thanks for taking the time to read my story!!

Seja's Journey Part 2

I have learned a lot of hard lessons this past year or so. When you go through something like this, there is no room for pride. I tried. I tried to be that island. The one who could do it on her own. I learned really fast that I needed a support system. I learned to ask for help no matter how hard it was to do so. I learned that the people you least expect to come through, do. The ones you thought would, don’t.

The weeks prior to my RAI (Radioactive Iodine), I was taken off my thyroid replacement medication. A lot of people who have never been through this level of hypothyroidism, think they know what this level of exhaustion feels like. I can guarantee that they don’t. I remember my first appointment with my Endocronologist after my surgery and she said to me, “How are you feeling?” I replied, “Ah, ok for just having surgery.” She shuffled some paper and said “Well, that was the easy part.” I laughed and kind of blew her off. I have to say that she was so right. My surgery was the easy part.

At this time, I had a 6 month old and a 23 month old. So, I knew what exhausted was. However, when I stopped the meds, reality soon set in. The days became progressively worse. It started small. Dishes and laundry didn’t get done. Dinners didn’t get made. Showering became work and I all but lost the ability to get out of bed. Literally. One day I got up, fed the girls and sat on my couch while the girls were playing in the living room and I could barely keep my eyes open. I was sitting there with my mouth hanging open. Literally. This is the lethargic that I speak of. It was the first of many times that I swallowed my pride and asked for help. I picked my phone up and called my Dad. I told him that I couldn’t go on. I needed him and his girlfriend to come and watch the girls while I took a nap. NOW. I was worried that I couldn’t take care of my children. My reaction time was so slow. I worried daily if I was capable of being alone with them. Naps became a necessity to get through the day. I’m not talking cat naps. Im talking 2-3 hour naps, waking up tired and forcing myself to make it through the rest of the day. If it wasn’t for my girls, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this year. They were the only reason to get out of bed. The only reason to keep going. I could have so easily pulled that blanket up over my head and stayed there.

The day came to take my RAI. I hugged my girls tight and kissed my husband goodbye and drove off. I sobbed all the way to the hospital to swallow my pill on January 10, 2012. It wasn’t because of the pill itself, it was the fact that I wouldn’t be able to touch my girls or my husband for a week. I went into radiology and signed my release. The radiologist oncologist was there with me to answer any questions that I might have. I didn’t have any. I swallowed and drove back to my neighbors house. They live kiddie corner from my house and the room that I would be staying in stared right at my home. My neighbors, who are now dear friends of mine, made me feel so at home. My digs were pretty sweet. I suffered from terrible brain fog and my memory has never fully recovered. I used to have a great memory, like a steel trap. Now, I am forgetful. I need to write things down. I ask the same question a couple of times. I sometimes forget where I am going while I am in the car. During isolation, I packed books to read. That was the one plus of this “vacation” as most think that it is. However, I couldn’t read anything. I would find myself rereading every sentence, unable to retain any of it. I couldn’t follow movies either. I ended up watching mindless television and not really paying attention to it. It was just background noise.

I spent the week crying, sleeping, having long and meaningful conversations with my Neighbors/friends, face timing with my girls and talking with my counselor via telephone. There were times that I didn’t want to speak with anyone for anything.

I got to leave isolation and go straight to the hospital for my full body scan before I could go home and see my girls. The radiologist saw alot of radioactive uptake in my bowels and wanted me to do a bowel prep, like you would for a Colonoscopy, to make sure that it wasn’t a malignancy. I went home and prepped my bowels in tears. I just wanted to be left alone. I went back in the morning and thankfully the uptake had passed. I came home to 2 little pairs of arms wrapped around my neck. The best feeling ever. My high was short lived.

I had some side effects from the RAI. I had a bit of nausea. I lost my sense of taste for about 3 months. The radiation had destroyed my taste buds. Some salivary gland swelling and soreness. I lost a lot of hair, not shaving my head type of loss. However, I could stand in the shower and feel clumps of my hair sliding down my legs. Thankfully, I was blessed with thick hair. None of those effects matched the struggle with exhaustion, weight gain, and debilitating depression that have consumed me this past year.

I was just starting my meds again and it was a slow build up. I still wasn’t at the level I should be and every 6-8 weeks was raised by 25mcg. January 2012 to September of 2012 was filled with doctors visits and a lot of blood draws. I was still gaining weight. I have gained a total of 50lbs. since my surgery. I needed to hire a babysitter to help me out. She came in and helped 2 days a week. It was money well spent and I could rest and know the girls were taken care of. The months seemed to pass in a blur. August came and the Oncologist wanted me to come in for my 6 month check. He wanted to do some blood work first and not go straight to the scan because I was still struggling without the proper level of thyroid replacement. He called the next day to inform me that my markers were elevated and that I would need to do the scan. I stopped my meds the next day. My journey back into lethargy had begun.

The day of my scan had come and off to the hospital I went. The tech had informed me that he didn’t see anything and I went home overjoyed. The next day I was standing in my kitchen talking with my friend when the Oncologist called. He called to tell me that the radiologist had seen some tissue in my neck and I would need to be dosed with RAI again. We scheduled it for a week out and I stayed on my low iodine diet. I made arrangements with my friends to come back and stay for another week and for people to come in and help Steven take care of the girls.

I was dosed again on October 2, 2012. This time around I was prepared for what to expect. I cried when I left my girls. I couldn’t stand to leave them AGAIN. My littlest one was aware of my absence this time and my oldest didn’t understand why Mommy was leaving. I drove off, sobbing. I went to the hospital and then back to my friends home. I was tired. I was horribly sad. I was overwhelmed with feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and I was tired of being a burden. I won’t know if the RAI worked until March 2013, when I go in for my check. I am hoping for an all clear.

There are some things that Cancer did in fact take from me. It took my ability to continue to breastfeed my daughter. I had a hard time dealing with that and the guilt that came along with having to stop. Cancer took the first year of my daughters life from me. I can’t remember when she got her teeth, crawled, walked, talked. I was in a fog. It kills me to even put that in writing and throw that out into the world. How horrible. How could I not remember? I just can’t. I love my children more than life itself and my baby grew up and I missed it. It took its toll on my marriage. It has tried our bond.  My husband has stood by my side when I couldn’t stand to be present emotionally. He held my hand when all I wanted to do was to run away. He continues to support me. He has helped me write this and put this out there for the world to see. Writing this is like baring your soul. I’m good at putting on the brave face as I am falling apart. I know most of my friends were aware of my illness but not really aware of the toll it took on me and my family.

I hope that I have shed some light on the harsh realities of Thyroid Cancer. It isn’t the “easy” Cancer. NO Cancer is easy. I have an invisible illness that effects me daily. Some days are good and some days are bad. Some days I can rearrange furniture and the next I can barely cook a meal. I am the heaviest that I have ever been in my life. The last week of my low iodine diet, I gained 5lbs. Anyone who knows what a low iodine diet consists of knows that it is a far cry from a feast and I managed to gain weight. I am a big girl but I have struggled with my new larger frame. However, this larger frame is here to tell you my story. It is the frame of a fighter and a survivor. I am learning to love myself again and to embrace these new curves. I am learning to be less critical of myself as a person and mostly, as a mother.

My name is Seja, and this is my story.

Seja's Journey Part 1

This week is the begining of a two part entry from someone I am so lucky to call my friend. When my day is rough, she is there to pick me up even if her day is just as bad. Her journey with thyroid cancer has been a rough one, but she came out swinging and is still here with us today to share her story. Make sure to come back next week for the second part of Seja's journey.

My name is Seja and this is my story...

I remember it like it was yesterday, it was July 10, 2011 to be exact. It was hot and I had just gotten out of the shower which was a lot of work considering that I was due to have my second daughter on the 17th of that month. I started to apply my makeup like I would any other day and..WHAT was that? I looked again and sure enough there was a large lump that moved with every swallow. Up and down like a deformed adams apple. I went on with my day and dealt with typical late stage pregnancy symptoms, exhaustion, swelling, leg pain, etc. 3 days later I was induced. I was in labor when I asked my OB to take a feel and tell me what he thought. He thought it was my thyroid or a lymph node. He told me to worry about having a baby right now. However, coming from a family that has been riddled with cancer of ever type, the most recent was that my dad had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and losing my mom suddenly to liver caner in '07, I was sure of my demise. I tried to forget about it and the contractions surely helped with that. My daughter was born healthy and no complications, I was blessed. So, my OB returned to check me out and I talked to him about it again. He assured me that it could be pregnancy related but if by the time of my 6 week check up it was still there that he would refer me to someone. I remember making a joke about when I returned to his office in 6 weeks I wouldnt care about my lady parts because I would have a huge goiter. We laughed and I took home my baby girl.

In the next couple of weeks, as most of you mothers know, I was in a fog of round the clock breastfeeding and diaper changing. I had a colicy one and spent my days and nights swayinng and bouncing and anything to catch a few minute of sleep. So, finally in a clear moment I scheduled an appointment with my regular doctor. He felt it and said the same thing. Lymphnode or thyroid. I was scheduled for an ultrasound. My husband went with me to that ultrasound appointment and sat in the room with me. The tech told me that I had an "ugly thyroid." They found 4 nodules all measuring over 3cm. The radiologist came in and assured me that nothing looked serious and that it was probably benign. I remember Steven making him tell me that again. The radiologist turned to me and said "benign." I left feeling relieved. My Dr. called me the next day with a name of an endocronologist.

I called and went in. The 1st thing out of her mouth was "Whats the deal with your weight?" I was in shock. Now, I'm a large girl but I was only about 6 weeks postpartum and I had dropped all my babyweight and then some and was feeling pretty good about myself. Anyway, she asks me if I have fatigue, hair loss, etc. I laughed and said "Hell yeah, I just had a baby." I wasnot her biggest fan and she didn't really seem interested in anything that I had to say. Although, I had chalked all my symptoms up to pregnancy. She tells me about the uptake scan and then a biopsy. I left feeling FAT and defeated. So, the hospital called to schedule and I found out that I would have to stop breastfeeding to do the scan so I opted to go straight to the biopsy. I just gave birth how bad could it be, right?!

I went in for my biopsy. They biopsied all 4 nodules. For some time previously, I had some trouble swallowing. Having to double swallow to get food down and in general. My throat never seemed clear. I had chalked it up to carrying a baby and everything being backed up. After the biopsy my thyroid was pretty pissed off and I realized that that was the very sensaton that I had been having. I called the endocronologist and they scheduled me for about 10 days out. I remember telling a good friend of mine that they scheduled me pretty far out and his exact response to me was, " You don't have to worry unless they call and move you up." About an hour later the phone rang and my Dr. had an opening the following Monday, could I come in. My heart stopped.

I was never really comfortable in my endos office. The secretaries were always eating and their cell phones were ringing and it was just not a very professional enviornment. I showed up to my appointment with my crew, my husband, my 18 month old and my newborn. The nurse took me into the room, did my vitals and walked out, leaving a sheet of paper face up and within reach. There it was, my biopsy results. I picked it up and read it. I set it down and turned to my husband and said, "I have cancer." I remember the look on his face. His deer in headlight eyes to be specific. He regained composure and calmly said "you read it wrong" So, I read it to him. My endo finally came into the room and told me that she got my results and I said "I have cancer" She proceeded to tell me, in her nonchalant way, what was going to happen. I needed surgery. Surgery? I have never had surgery. I live in a small town and I asked for a referral to a university in Chicago.

I went home. I dont remember much of the days that followed. It was surreal. I didn't know how to tell people. I didn't know how to wrap my brain around it myself. I remember having thoughts like... I don't have time for this. I have 2 little girls. I can't inconvenience people. I can put this off for awhile. I was in denial.

It sank in slowly. I didn't talk about it much. I didn't let it consume my thoughts. Except for one night. I was sitting in bed with Steven and it was brought up. This was the only time that I allowed some of those dark thoughts to creep in. I had been keeping them at bay for so long. I cried. I really sobbed, Why me? Why now? What will happen to the girls if I am not here? What about Steven? I cried myself to sleep.

I was referred to a surgeon out of Loyola in Chicago. He was a great surgeon, with a great reputation, and a thyroid master. People traveled across states to see him. He restored my faith in the medical community. From his receptionist to his nurses to him. They were all so wonderful. He was so gentle with examination and the way he answered my questions and the way he handled my husbands hard hitting questions when it came to his experience and plans. I went into surgery 3 weeks later on October 21, 2011. It was supposed to be 3 hours and ended up being 5. I woke up. I woke up sore with a drain coming out of my neck. I was groggy for a bit but came to fairly quickly. I saw my surgeon who told me that it was pretty messy in there. I had more than just the 4 nodules that were on the ultrasound. He took lymphnodes all the way down into my chest. They discoved that I also had Hashimotos. He rubbed my arm and told me that he would see my in a week. They took my stitches and drain out the following evening. I was a little nervous with them taking my stitches out that quickly. I went home and continued to sleep sitting up for a week. My husband was wonderful. I couldn't lift anything. So, I had to have people with me at all times to lift the girls. I lost my ability to project my voice or to sing. I couldn't make silly voices or anything. I slowly regained those abilities over the next 3-4 months. It was hard.

My follow up with the surgeon was 10 days later. The bright side was that I got released to sleep laying down, I could take all my steri strips off, and I could shower without my cling wrap scarf. However, the pathology was in. My lymph nodes were cancerous as well and I needed RAI (Radioactive Iodine) ablation. My first shower with nothing on my neck was a little nerve wracking. I remember thinking that when I lean my head back to wet my hair that my head was going to fall off. I couldn't help bringing the scene from Beetlejuice into my mind. The one with the lady who has a slit throat and when she smokes the smoke comes out of the slit in her neck. Anyway, I digress.

I made my appointment with the radiologist oncologist. Oncologist? It hit me, again. I have cancer.

His office was wonderful. His staff treated me with the same compassion as the patients with advanced stage cancers. They treated me no less. We scheduled my RAI for after the holidays. He warned me that I would be pretty miserable and that he didn't want to do that to me through the holidays. I agreed. I swallowed my pill on January 10, 2012.

I stayed with my neighbors who are very dear friends. They had the perfect set up for someone who is radiating. I didn't have to uproot the girls but I did have to leave them. This was the hardest part of my journey and the year that has followed.

Angels Journey

This week Im happy to introduce you to a very special woman whom Ive recently had the joy of getting to know..

                                                      Meet Angel
  
                                

I was happily working a part time job as a elementary school library assistant while becoming certified as a youth minister. Then I worked both jobs part-time. I left the library job and worked two youth ministry jobs for two different parish churches. That didn't work because the business managers were completely miserable about it and unfair to me.

This caused much stress on me, physically and emotionally. Add that to the fact that I was going through menopause (in one week I will be 52 and am post-menopausal since age 47). The stress and peri-menopause seemingly brought on aches, pains, tiredness, weight gain, anxiety, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My dr. started me on statins...that lowered my LDL but I then felt worse than ever so I came off them. My primary dr. ran some tests that showed elevated auto-immune numbers but they never quite could pinpoint the cause. My thyroid levels were always within normal range. A few drs. would manually check my thyroid and state that it felt a little enlarged. At one point I had a swollen lymph node that one dr. wrote off as "nothing". It did disappear.

Some years went by and last summer I felt a swollen area near my submandibular gland under my jaw, to the side. It didn't go away and actually increased in size. Six months later (last January) I called my doctors' office and was told to come right in so the lump could be checked. It was on a Saturday during the beginning of a snowstorm. I sensed that God led me to that point and didn't want to wait until my appointment with my regular dr. My husband drove me to the there and the PA told me it was probably nothing but gave me a scrip to get an ultrasound scan.

Then, the next Monday I was back in for my check-up. My dr. told me to get a CT scan before the U/S because it would show more so I went right down to radiology and did the CT scan. They gave me the cd and when I went home I put it in my laptop and saw the results before I received the written report. The radiologist recommended I get a U/S (after all that) to rule out thyca (suspicious nodule). Two days later my husband had his first appointment with my ENT (I could not get appointment with her but my husband could as a new patient-go figure!). I went with him and told her about my dilemma. She tried to reassure me that it was probably nothing/very rare...yada yada. She wanted me to get the U/S and gave me a new scrip for it.

I had the U/S which revealed a clear submandibular gland and no swollen lymphs, but a 1 cm nodule, goiter and cysts were on the thyroid. I was then set up to receive the FNA biopsy. A week later my ENT called to tell me that I was right...it was cancer on the thyroid. The strange thing was that the original lump does not show or test as cancer and is still felt on my neck! She said she would set me up for surgery and hook me up with an endocrinologist. I was not satisfied with her casual approach so I sought out a thyca endocrinologist and surgeon at a cancer center, both recommended to me by friends.

By Valentine's Day, (approximately two to three weeks from that first visit in January) I saw the surgeon and endocrinologist. Total thyroidectomy surgery was set for March 8th, 2012. They told me I might not have needed RAI but pathology revealed that my tumor was not encapsulated. There was extra-thyroidal extension into peri (not para) thyroidal tissue. I received RAI May 17.

The saga continues as the WBS for the RAI led to discovery of another "rare" cancer that I will tell you if you would like to know about it. That is where the neuroendocrine tumor story begins.

I hope my story helps you.

Angel

Lisa's Story

   This week on ThyroidThursday we have Lisa, a true fighter.. 

My name is Lisa McManes and I am 40 years old and have struggled with my weight all my life.  I was born with a genetic predisposition to obesity.

I was born with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, a type of autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. The sole function of the thyroid is to make the thyroid hormone which affects nearly all tissues of the body where it increases cellular activity. Therefore, regulating the body's metabolism, this is the rate at which the body creates and uses energy. Every day since diagnosed at age 6, I have taken a synthetic form of the hormone in order to have a metabolism.

This has caused many health issues and struggles in my life. My husband and I have been married since 1997 and had our daughter in 2006.  It was a high risk pregnancy with complications and constant blood checks of my TSH level to make sure it was ok so our baby would be born full term and healthy. When Piper was born I wanted to make sure that I instilled in her the values of good self-esteem, eating healthy and being active so she would live a healthy long life.

Three years ago at 288 pounds my friend and I joined Antonelli's PTS for personal training to lose weight and get fit.  I always struggled with my weight due to my condition and did not think a trainer would help but gave it a try. My trainer, Lisa Antonelli has been a godsend. I was learning how to eat right, logging my food, exercising, wearing my EXERSPY to monitor my steps and calories burned.  I also fell in LOVE with running and after some pounds came off I tried a beginner’s run club at the gym and have been hooked ever since.

I have lost 92 pounds so far. I stay within a certain calorie range each day while eating normal foods (no diet food or shakes or pills), train with my trainer 1 time a week and cross-train/cardio at least 2 times a week.  I also teach Eat To Lose classes and Beginners Run Club at the gym to help others with their weight loss journey. I have completed 5 half marathons and ran my first Marathon in October 2012. I want to be an example to others and inspire them to lose weight and get healthy.  My condition requires me to work hard then others and it is taking me a little longer to get the weight off.  However, IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I hope I share my story and inspire others.

You can also read about Lisa here, here and here.

Danielle's Story

This week we have a very courageous women on ThyroidThursday! Meet Danielle a very strong, and very inspiring woman. I am blessed to call her my friend.

One reads about misdiagnoses in the medical world but no one truly talks of the frustration, relief and anger that follows after a patient finds out they have been misdiagnosed for years. I, for one, understand that feeling and everything that comes with it –this is my story. 

I am 27 years old and have been sick for seven years. When I was 20 years-old I blamed my illness on the HPV Gardasil vaccine, which sent me to the hospital after two days of taking the shot.  Following that incident, I was in and out of hospitals for years as they tried to find out what I had. The doctors were baffled and didn't understand why I was having non-epileptic seizures; I experienced sensitivity to light, syncope, sudden loss of consciousness as many as 2 to 3 times an hour, followed by confusion, heart palpations, extreme fatigue and pain and weakness in my legs. Although doctors did every test in the book, none of them knew what was wrong with me. 

In 2008 I met with a neurologist at Winthrop University Hospital. He immediately admitted me for an MRI and CAT scan of my brain. After several weeks in the hospital the neurologist sent me to Long Island Jewish Hospital in New York, where I was admitted for two weeks for monitoring. After weeks spent in multiple hospitals, the doctors explained they couldn’t find the problem and had no concrete diagnosis. I was confused and frustrated; I knew there was something wrong.

The pain continued to increase; I felt pins and needles throughout my entire body and soon I couldn’t feel my feet or be able to stand. If I tried to stand for a few seconds, I would fall. I tried more doctors, but many of them didn’t feel comfortable treating me.  Needless to say, I started to give up. I quickly went from walking perfectly fine, to needing a walker, and then being confined to a motorized wheelchair. In such a short amount of time for a young woman, this experience was horrifying. I couldn’t hold a job or go to college since the pain in my legs and feet was excruciating. 

After more tests – EMG, CAT scans, MRI’s, and CTA’s – my lumbar puncture test showed I had fluid in my brain. How could this be I wondered.

In 2010 I went to a rheumatologist and he discovered that I had Fibromyalgia and Peripheral Neuropathy. To confirm the diagnosis several excruciating nerve tests were done. It turned out that this disease caused my immobility for many grueling months. The test results concluded I had nerve damage in my legs, which was preventing me to walk. 

After years of tests, scans, blood work, and thousands of dollars in hospital bills, this rheumatologist finally understood my diagnosis. Unfortunately, the seizure-like symptoms were still occurring. My entire family and I were ready to give up in the summer of 2010, when I decided to go to Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York to do Hyperbaric treatment. The doctors gave me Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which was a life changing therapy. The seizure activity lessened as the weeks passed and I finally returned to college. I was feeling better for the first time in many years.

In the summer of 2012 I began to have severe pain in my neck. At this time I didn't have a regular physician so I found one and discussed my entire health history with him. The physician was extremely concerned so he sent me to see an oncologist right away. The oncologist reviewed my blood work and sent me to an endocrinologist because of the results.  I waited several weeks to see the best chief endocrinologist in the area, when finally I felt some hope. I explained all my symptoms to the doctor including the pain in my neck, my weight gain, and my severe fatigue. He diagnosed me with Hypothyroidism. The doctor put me on a low dose of medication (Levothyroxine) and said, “see you in six months.” Hypothyroidism, I found out, is a thyroid disease in which your thyroid gland does not make enough of the thyroid hormone. Weeks later I found out not only did I have Hypothyroidism, I also have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disease that attacks your thyroid.

Weeks after this diagnosis, I began to have more pain in my neck and was starting to have problems swallowing food and water. At first I thought it was a cold coming on, but as weeks went by it didn’t subside.  I returned to the endocrinologist and expressed my concerns but I was told that nothing was wrong and that I was suffering from a cold. I knew that I didn’t have a cold because I had just seen my regular physician who claimed I was healthy. The endocrinologist wouldn't issue me a sonogram for my neck, so I called my oncologist who wrote me a script that same day.

In July 2012, I had a complete sonogram done of my neck at the Woman’s Breast Imaging Center located in Garden City, New York. That day turned into a four hour appointment, which was uncomfortable to say the least, especially since following my sonogram I had to be issued a biopsy. Hearing biopsy for the first time in my life was yet another horrifying experience. I remember sitting up on the examination table, crying as my cousin and mother tried to calm me down. 

Several days later I received a call from the doctor in the imaging center. I knew right then and there, something had to be wrong. The doctor said my name, then paused.  My heart skipped a beat as I waited for the news. “Danielle, you have Thyroid Cancer,” he said. “You need to be seen immediately at a cancer center to treat the two tumors in your body.”  Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t comprehend the words that were just said to me—I have cancer?  

I realized then that the endocrinologist not only misdiagnosed me but didn’t pay attention to me when I was in pain. He brushed my symptoms and my concerns off as if I didn’t matter.  Needless to say, I was livid. 

Two days later I got a formal apology from the endocrinologist. I was shocked and impressed that he called. He apologized for misdiagnosing me and told me that if there was anything he could do to let him know. “I assume you do not want to come back to our office, but if you need anything I will be happy to help," he said. I told him that the one thing he could learn from this is to listen to his patients. He took this advice with an embarrassed silence.  

It took me four days to figure out where I should be treated. I was overwhelmed by the words, ‘you have cancer” and understood these three words would change my life completely. After thorough research, I decided to get treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center located in New York City. I had an amazing surgeon who did a total thyroidectomy and removed several lymph nodes that were cancerous. In December 2012, I started my treatment, which included Radioactive Iodine because of the spread. I had to be put in isolation for a few days because I was radioactive. While the experience was scary and unnerving, I owe a big thank you to my amazing surgeon and to my wonderful doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering for saving my life. It was a relief knowing that my doctors had my best interest in mind. 

Knowing something was wrong with my body when the world kept telling me otherwise was a lonely and frustrating–especially for seven years. Although the time was tough, it also taught me that I had to become an advocate for myself. Not only did the diagnosis of Papillary Carcinoma Thyroid Cancer change my life, but the journey itself did as well. I learned to trust my instincts, and that I am stronger mentally, physically and psychologically than I ever thought possible.

PLEASE GET YOUR NECK CHECKED!!

Below are resources that help those suffering of Thyroid Cancer: 

    1. Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association- http://thyca.org

    2. Light of Life Foundation - http://www.checkyourneck.com

    3. Follow Danielle’s Journey:  http://findinghopewiththyca.blogspot.com

My Weight Loss Journey

180 lbs to 147 lbs. 

Since being diagnosed with Stage II Metastasized Papillary Thyroid Cancer at 36 weeks pregnant Feb 1st 2011 I have done nothing but struggle with my weight. I have been on every diet, killed myself in the gym everyday and still every time I lost weight it came right back. I lost 10 here, 20 there and a month later despite my best efforts the weight was back. I was so discouraged, and never felt good.

Until a couple of months ago when my very good friend Marlena starting talking to me about shakeology. I was skeptical at first but knew I could trust my friend. I ordered it right away and started drinking a shake every morning for breakfast and I could tell the difference in how I felt almost immediately. I also starting eating clean and using some of Marlenas awesome eat clean recipes and realized that eating healthy wasnt too bad if I took the time to really cook and pay attention. After a little over a month of morning shakes and eating clean I had gone from a size 16 to a 9/10 and felt the best I had ever felt.

Before I started using shakeology I almost always cheated on my diets, whether it be coke or the yummy dinners I made for my family. I mean what mom has time for dieting right? I could never get over the cravings.. But since starting shakeology my cravings have almost completely gone away and I have been caffeine free for almost two months. I have one cheat meal a week, and when I eat that cheat meal I almost ALWAYS feel gross afterwards and for the rest of the day.

I also want to point out that I have more energy than Ive had in over 2 years.

The results I got were not just from the shakeology, but it helped me tremendously. Shakeology has changed my life and I plan to drink it every day for the rest of my life. I recommend this to everyone with thyroid dysfunction. Im not promising that your results will be as fast and great as mine, but the way it makes you feel is enough in itself for me to say GO TRY IT!

Weight Loss with any thyroid disease is tremendously hard, and I know what its like to feel horrible about yourself and to think there is no hope. There is hope though, with hard work and dedication you can do it!!

To learn more about shakeology email Marlena Hedine at marlena_hedine@yahoo.com

Jerica, xo

THE YEARS ARE SHORT

This morning I watched a video I found on SometimesSweet and it really opened my eyes to how much I need to seize the day. Anyone with thyroid problems know that some days, we just want the day to end. Were tired, were overwhelmed, feel like total crap and no matter how great our life is outside of our thyroid disorder/cancer we just want to go to bed and not deal. 

What I did not realize is,] Im just throwing away time I could be enjoying life, and appreciating the small things, and NOT feeling sorry for myself. Things I find a chore, are really just MY LIFE, and I should be loving every minute of it, appreciating it, not dreading it.. One day my kids might not enjoy my stupid jokes, or my wanna be good cooking, my kids certainly will not think Im as cool as they do now, and mostly they will not be little forever. Going to bed and throwing away precious time with them.. What the hell was I thinking? How about a big F YOU to the thyroid and a high five to an awesome life! 

Its time I make a change, in 2013 I vow to appreciate every second of my life, and my little family whether I feel good or not. This amazing video opened my eyes to something. The days are long, but the years are short. I used to dread school days because I hate having to wake up early ( so groggy and tired ) making eggs and bacon with one eye closed in hopes that my body might be tricked into thinking Im getting more sleep and I hate having to stand in the freezing cold at the bus stop because my little angels demand to ride the school bus even after my greatest attempts of bribery. But the video is right, it says it all. This is the life, my amazing, beautiful, smart, caring, almost perfect children's best days, and I was not enjoying these special moments. Well its time that changes, Im going to embrace life and not let my thyroid or lack thereof control my mood, or my days anymore. 

The thyroid is a tricky SOB. Constantly controlling us, and our lives. t's estimated that as many as 59 million Americans have a thyroid problem, but the majority don't know it yet. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, is the master gland of metabolism. When your thyroid doesn't function, it can affect every aspect of your health, and in particular, weight, depression and energy levels.

Since undiagnosed thyroid problems can dramatically increase your risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, anxiety, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, infertility and a host of other symptoms and health problems, it's important that you don't go undiagnosed.

You don't need to have all of these symptoms in order to have a thyroid problem, but here are some of the most common signs that you may have a thyroid condition:

10. Muscle and Joint Pains, Carpal Tunnel/Tendonitis Problems.

Aches and pains in your muscles and joints, weakness in the arms and a tendency to develop carpal tunnel in the arms/hands, tarsal tunnel in the legs, and plantars fasciitis in the feet can all be symptoms of undiagnosed thyroid problems. (For more information)

9. Neck Discomfort/Enlargement.

A feeling of swelling in the neck, discomfort with turtlenecks or neckties, a hoarse voice or a visibly enlarged thyroid can all be signs of a "goiter" -- an enlarged thyroid gland that is a symptom of thyroid disease.

To help find out if your thyroid may be enlarged, try a simple "Thyroid Neck Check" test at home.

8. Hair/Skin Changes.

Hair and skin are particularly vulnerable to thyroid conditions, and in particular, hair loss is frequently associated with thyroid problems. With hypothyroidism, hair frequently becomes brittle, coarse and dry, while breaking off and falling out easily. Skin can become coarse, thick, dry,and scaly. In hypothyroidism, there is often an unusual loss of hair in the outer edge of the eyebrow. With hyperthyroidism, severe hair loss can also occur, and skin can become fragile and thin.

7. Bowel Problems.

Severe or long-term constipation is frequently associated with hypothyroidism, while diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with hyperthyroidism.

6. Menstrual Irregularities and Fertility Problems.

Heavier, more frequent and more painful periods are frequently associated with hypothyroidism, and shorter, lighter or infrequent menstruation can be associated with hyperthyroidism. Infertility can also be associated with undiagnosed thyroid conditions. (For More Information)

5. Family History.

If you have a family history of thyroid problems, you are at a higher risk of having a thyroid condition yourself. You may not always be aware of thyroid problems in your family, though, because among older people, it is often referred to as "gland trouble" or "goiter." So pay attention to any discussions of glandular conditions or goiter or weight gain due to "a glandular problem," as these may be indirect ways of referring to thyroid conditions.

4. Cholesterol Issues

High cholesterol, especially when it is not responsive to diet, exercise or cholesterol-lowering medication, can be a sign of undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Unusually low cholesterol levels may be a sign of hyperthyroidism. (For More Information).

3. Depression and Anxiety.

Depression or anxiety - including sudden onset of panic disorder - can be symptoms of thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism is most typically associated with depression, while hyperthyroidism is more commonly associated with anxiety or panic attacks. Depression that does not respond to antidepressants may also be a sign of an undiagnosed thyroid disorder. (For More Information)

2. Weight Changes.

You may be on a low-fat, low-calorie diet with a rigorous exercise program, but are failing to lose or gain any weight. Or you may have joined a diet program or support group, such as Weight Watchers, and you are the only one who isn't losing any weight. Difficulty losing weight can be a sign of hypothyroidism. You may be losing weight while eating the same amount of food as usual - or even losing while eating more than normal. Unexplained weight changes and issues can be signs of both hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. (For More Information)

1. Fatigue.

Feeling exhausted when you wake up, feeling as if 8 or 10 hours of sleep a night is insufficient or being unable to function all day without a nap can all be signs of thyroid problems. (With hyperthyroidism, you may also have nighttime insomnia that leaves you exhausted during the day.) (For More Information)

Get checked, and spread the word!!

Jerica, xo

Dana's Journey Through Hypothyroidism..

Let me introduce to you the ever so smart, and amazing Dana. Her story has inspired me, and only proved how important it is to get the word out! Check out her blog for lots of great information, and of course some good reading.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism following the birth of my first son in 2006. Low thyroid symptoms overtook my life. I was overwhelmed with fatigue. The pregnancy weight  was impossible to lose. My hair was falling out. The heels of my feet were cracked and my scalp itched. My legs were numb to the touch. Unusually heavy menstrual bleeding, chronic constipation, and constant infections plagued me. Kidney stones landed me in the emergency room. A healthy woman prior to pregnancy now I had blood levels indicating I was at high risk for a heart attack and pre-diabetic.

I trusted my doctors implicitly and followed their thyroid drug protocol to the letter never once thinking they might not know everything there was to know about hypothyroidism. I trusted them as the experts especially when I became pregnant again in late 2008. I assumed that in New York City, one of the greatest cities in the world, doctors would have all the answers.
I would later learn that my Ivy League medical school trained and top awarded doctors did not know enough about hypothyroidism, especially the dangers of hypothyroidism and pregnancy. Under their care my TSH, the gold standard for measuring thyroid function, reached levels far above the recommended range for pregnancy endangering the life of my fetus and I miscarried.

How could I have trusted my doctors unquestioningly and not taken my health into my own hands?

I graduated in 1993 with an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto with High Distinction receiving multiple scholarships and prestigious awards. I worked for several years as a high school science teacher for intellectually gifted students. At Columbia University in 2002, I obtained an M.A. in Organizational Psychology and an Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology. A distinguished Columbia University professor selected me as the team leader for his research team during the course of my studies. I was no stranger to scientific research. So why hadn’t I used my science background and research skills to learn everything I could about my thyroid disease?

After 3 years of intense research, endless hours of personal  experimentation, and a quest to find the top thyroid health  professionals, I am now in the best health ever. At the age of 40, I got pregnant naturally with my second son and gave birth to him in 2010. The time has come to share all that I have discovered.

The mission of Hypothyroid Mom is clear – to drive awareness. The Thyroid Federation International estimates there are up to 300 million people, mostly women, with thyroid dysfunction worldwide, yet over half are unaware of their condition. I have discovered scientific research that reveals the dangers of hypothyroidism and pregnancy including miscarriage, still birth, infertility, maternal anemia, pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage, premature delivery, low birth weight, and deficits in intellectual development in infants. The literature also links an underactive thyroid to heart disease, diabetes,  kidney disease, breast cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Despite the research connecting hypothyroidism to many of the deadliest diseases of our time, the lack of awareness is pervasive.


My blog HypothyroidMom.com launched October 2012, intentionally timed during Miscarriage Awareness Month in memory of the baby I lost to hypothyroidism and in dedication to my two boys who beat the odds and made it to the world.

HEY!!

Hey there!! Im Jerica, a wife, a momma, and a cancer survivor. Papillary Thyroid Cancer to be exact. I found out when I was 8 months pregnant, and two years later Im healthy and so is my son! It was a long and very hard journey and what Ive learned through all the blood, vomit, tears etc. is that there is not enough awareness happening. I feel like Ive been put here to help people, and now I know how. I have big plans for this blog, and I cant wait to get started.

This was originally going to be a weekly feature of a personal blog, but Ive decided to put all of my time and attention on ThyroidThursday because at the end of the day, this is whats important to me. I will be sharing amazing stories from all kids of people, with all kinds of thyroid cancers and disorders. Why all thyroid problems you ask? Well because the thyroid is a VERY important part of your body and SO many people are sick and have no clue why! 

Tomorrow will be my first post and I couldnt be more excited!! 

Jerica, xo.