8 weeks. That's how long since my last appointment. Which feel more and more like a blur. As does the June 18th date of my surgery. And now, another date to mark, October 9th, nearly 4 months since my surgery.
Last Wednesday, before my 3:45 appointment with my Endocrinologist, I had ironically received a notification of my LabCorp blood-work to my phone just 15 minutes prior. Normally, I pop open the results ASAP as my curiosity usually gets the best of me in wanting to know where my levels are. I get more and more adept at reading my labs to understand the new number I have to check just as a Diabetic might of insulin levels. Gratefully, I don't have to check my numbers that frequently, but nevertheless, the monitoring game continues. But this time, I decided to just wait and let me doctor do their informing.
I left a couple conference calls right before my appointment and shot up to the 6th floor of the medical building at the hospital campus where my doctor's office is located. Very little wait time and was brought into the back office to hop on the scale, get my vitals checked and update the nurse on anything new. She had a new question too, "Any alcohol or tobacco use?" I chuckled thinking the recent vaping "epidemics" are causing a surge in redesigning of intake questionnaires. I answered, "None, except an occasional social beverage." Thought sometimes, should probably be ending my crazy days with a glass of bourbon. She left and I waited for the doctor.
Once he arrived, he jumped right in, "So, how are you feeling?" Generally speaking, sleep has remained about as challenging as before: insomnia, over-tiredness in the morning, lack of energy, and stiffness. He immediately correlated these symptoms back to my blood work which still showed my Thyroxine as "HIGH" around 1.90 ng/dL and likely causing the sleeplessness issues. So, down we go again. From 150 mcg to 137mcg. I find the dosing amounts comical...not 138, or 140...137mcg. But hey, if it's the way to normalize my Thyroid Hormones, it could be 111 for all I care. He gave me a sample so I didn't have to immediately refill my prescription even though I had just done so cause I was down to 3 pills.
Back into the cycle of experimentation I go, as it takes anywhere from 6-8 weeks before I can feel any changes and adjust. Another 6-8 weeks before blood work. Thankfully, I don't have to go for another Ultrasound which was also scheduled prior to this visit. Unfortunately, I couldn't get in for imaging before the appointment with my Endocrinologist, but he was quick to return the results.
The next day, on the 10th, I arrived at a different hospital in their Ultrasound department. Barely. This was the day Denver decided to break loose with a 5 inch snow storm. And everybody drove like it. Took me an hour from our house for a drive that should take half that time. Nevertheless, got there a little late and checked in. As I waited, I spoke to a older gentleman in the waiting room who I overheard had just had a birthday so I wished him well and got called back shortly thereafter. He was a funny guy, going on about his accent, an old flame, and sounding like being from the South, but living in Colorado for over 35 years. Older folks have little to lose and seem to share all with whomever, it's endearing.
As I walked back, one of the ladies was wearing a mask as she was sick and was evidently interning based on the introductions from the Sonographer. This was a longer appointment than usual as post-thyroidectomy, they do a very thorough scan of the area now referred to as "Zone 6" where I no longer have a thyroid. The tech scanned from my clavicle up to my mandible. Longitudinally and Transversely, ensuring documentation of all lymph nodes, any vascularity of any dark spot. With color and without, pictures, video, you name it, they scanned it and about 40 mins later, she was done. They asked me to wait as they sent it right back to the Radiologist to do a quick check and then I'd get results/report within the week. The next day! I had the results which were basically, nothing out of the norm! Phew!
The rise and fall of this journey has been an emotional drain. I try to stay positive and remind myself that it could always be worse and gratefully I have my wife and son to love and support me. Friends, coworkers, and other family who've all been encouraging, praying, and just listening if needed. Not that I talk much about all "this" outside of this blog frankly. I don't want to burden anyone with my situation for fear that it would be seen as "nothing" or as some have put it, "only Thyroid Cancer."
Well, thanks for reading, watching and supporting from near and far, whoever you are following along. See you in the New Year as that's my next check-in with blood and my doctor. Here's hoping this new dose does the trick...
Scar Progress Updated
Peace and health,
Chris
Last Wednesday, before my 3:45 appointment with my Endocrinologist, I had ironically received a notification of my LabCorp blood-work to my phone just 15 minutes prior. Normally, I pop open the results ASAP as my curiosity usually gets the best of me in wanting to know where my levels are. I get more and more adept at reading my labs to understand the new number I have to check just as a Diabetic might of insulin levels. Gratefully, I don't have to check my numbers that frequently, but nevertheless, the monitoring game continues. But this time, I decided to just wait and let me doctor do their informing.
I left a couple conference calls right before my appointment and shot up to the 6th floor of the medical building at the hospital campus where my doctor's office is located. Very little wait time and was brought into the back office to hop on the scale, get my vitals checked and update the nurse on anything new. She had a new question too, "Any alcohol or tobacco use?" I chuckled thinking the recent vaping "epidemics" are causing a surge in redesigning of intake questionnaires. I answered, "None, except an occasional social beverage." Thought sometimes, should probably be ending my crazy days with a glass of bourbon. She left and I waited for the doctor.
Once he arrived, he jumped right in, "So, how are you feeling?" Generally speaking, sleep has remained about as challenging as before: insomnia, over-tiredness in the morning, lack of energy, and stiffness. He immediately correlated these symptoms back to my blood work which still showed my Thyroxine as "HIGH" around 1.90 ng/dL and likely causing the sleeplessness issues. So, down we go again. From 150 mcg to 137mcg. I find the dosing amounts comical...not 138, or 140...137mcg. But hey, if it's the way to normalize my Thyroid Hormones, it could be 111 for all I care. He gave me a sample so I didn't have to immediately refill my prescription even though I had just done so cause I was down to 3 pills.Back into the cycle of experimentation I go, as it takes anywhere from 6-8 weeks before I can feel any changes and adjust. Another 6-8 weeks before blood work. Thankfully, I don't have to go for another Ultrasound which was also scheduled prior to this visit. Unfortunately, I couldn't get in for imaging before the appointment with my Endocrinologist, but he was quick to return the results.
The next day, on the 10th, I arrived at a different hospital in their Ultrasound department. Barely. This was the day Denver decided to break loose with a 5 inch snow storm. And everybody drove like it. Took me an hour from our house for a drive that should take half that time. Nevertheless, got there a little late and checked in. As I waited, I spoke to a older gentleman in the waiting room who I overheard had just had a birthday so I wished him well and got called back shortly thereafter. He was a funny guy, going on about his accent, an old flame, and sounding like being from the South, but living in Colorado for over 35 years. Older folks have little to lose and seem to share all with whomever, it's endearing.
As I walked back, one of the ladies was wearing a mask as she was sick and was evidently interning based on the introductions from the Sonographer. This was a longer appointment than usual as post-thyroidectomy, they do a very thorough scan of the area now referred to as "Zone 6" where I no longer have a thyroid. The tech scanned from my clavicle up to my mandible. Longitudinally and Transversely, ensuring documentation of all lymph nodes, any vascularity of any dark spot. With color and without, pictures, video, you name it, they scanned it and about 40 mins later, she was done. They asked me to wait as they sent it right back to the Radiologist to do a quick check and then I'd get results/report within the week. The next day! I had the results which were basically, nothing out of the norm! Phew!
The rise and fall of this journey has been an emotional drain. I try to stay positive and remind myself that it could always be worse and gratefully I have my wife and son to love and support me. Friends, coworkers, and other family who've all been encouraging, praying, and just listening if needed. Not that I talk much about all "this" outside of this blog frankly. I don't want to burden anyone with my situation for fear that it would be seen as "nothing" or as some have put it, "only Thyroid Cancer."
Well, thanks for reading, watching and supporting from near and far, whoever you are following along. See you in the New Year as that's my next check-in with blood and my doctor. Here's hoping this new dose does the trick...
Scar Progress Updated
Peace and health,
Chris