Appears to be my turn in the ''illness'' barrel ...

[winyan]

I''ve had a ''sluggish'' thyroid for years, which was originally dealt w/via synthyroid. I kept getting the requisite blood tests, and the pills were discontinued when it was discovered my own production of the horomones was up to par.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I started encountering an old problem, but since they were changing 70 year old windows in my office I attributed the malaise I was feeling to the mold, mildew, and dust flying around. I felt like I was having an asthma attack after about five years w/no symptoms.

I went to my G.P. who immediately declared me to be in ''A-fib''. I was told to go to the nearest hospital, and meet the cardiologist in the ER. Now mind, I''ve NO cloresterol problems, no chance of blockages and no family history of cardiac issues. They immediately started throwing beta-blockers and blood thinners at me.

Finally they called in an endocrynologist. Apparently my thyroid had reved up production far too well. The horomonal release was pushing my pulse up to over 200 beats a minute, which they had to get down.

Now I''m almost a week and a half out of the hospital, and being told I have to have the nodule on the left biopsied since it is ''suspicious''. Apparently they thought it the culprit, but it isn''t.

Anyone else have thyroid problems in a major way?

win

 

[justjulia]

I just wanted to say that my mother went through the same ordeal. She''s fine now, with some tweaking of meds. I''m glad they ruled out any heart trouble for you. Just hang in there and get through the biopsy. Take it one day at a time. It will be fine.

 

[winyan]

Thanks JustJulia.

I''m thinking I''m getting more and more nervous as the biopsy draws closer.

Thanks for responding, I truly mean that.

win

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 10/7/2006 10:30:17 PM
Author: winyan
Thanks JustJulia.

I''m thinking I''m getting more and more nervous as the biopsy draws closer.

Thanks for responding, I truly mean that.

win

Hang in there, will be saying prayers for you. Do you like the endocrynologist?? I''d be scared too, but bet all will be fine. Good luck!!!

 

[monarch64]

Winyan, so sorry to hear of your health probs, but hang in there! I hope your docs are able to find something that works for you and that you feel better soon! I hate to hear of anyone feeling under the weather...especially here on PS! Take Care!

 

[justjulia]

Date: 10/7/2006 10:30:17 PM
Author: winyan
Thanks JustJulia.

I''m thinking I''m getting more and more nervous as the biopsy draws closer.

Thanks for responding, I truly mean that.

win

I believe the hardest part of anything is the sheer unknowness of it. All of us need something we can wrap our minds around and get some control over. The medical profession has grown so diverse and specialized, it takes time to get down to the source-lots of tests to come back, results to be read, legal cya, it just seems to take longer than it should. But, you need to breathe through your nose, out your mouth, and have a mantra you say to yourself that goes something like, "every day and in every way, I''m getting better and better." Hey, my husband''s colleague''s wife grew up overseas with a military family and was exposed to some kind of chemical that they think lead to later life thyroid cancer. Any way, long story short, she had a mass and they ended up treating it SUCCESSFULLY with those little radioactive rods that they surgically implant. It is AMAZING what all can be done these days. That said, let''s just wait for the biopsy results and then think about the next step. No matter what, this is treatable. No kidding, this is going to be FINE.

 

[FireGoddess]

I haven''t had any thyroid experiences to speak from, but I did just want to give you *hugs* and tell you I''ll be thinking about you! The worst part really is the waiting and the not-knowing. I hope they can get things figured out asap!!

 

[Mara]

Good luck win...one of my acquaintance type girlfriends (i actually know her through one of my best friends) has thyroid problems and I am not privvy to what she has gone through to get them stabilized but she went from being a little chubby to WAY too skinny while they were working to figure things out. I think she has stabilized now...keep your spirits up!

 

[winyan]

Thanks so much, Mara, Kaileigh, Fire Goddess, and Monarch.

I really treasure your good wishes.

Yes, I like the endocrinologist, she''s a lot more upbeat (in addition to being female) than the cardiologist. He was like a wet dishrag, except when talking about cardiac catherization. Bleah, no reasons showing for catherization, except his need for a little ''look see''.

Well, it''s tomorrow at 6:00, so I''ll try to put aside my dread of needles, close my eyes and hang in there!

 

[sevens one]

Winyan- I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

You''re in my thoughts.

 

[winyan]

Thank You sevenones.

If I can just get through this biopsy tomorrow evening I think the worst might be over. I''m squimish about needles if they aren''t in MY hand.

win

 

[belle]

you are in my thoughts winyan, i hope all goes will for you.

 

[Kaleigh]

winyan, sending my prayers your way. I wish you good luck tomorrow!!!

 

[diane5006]

Win good luck with you biopsy...sounds like you have been on a bit of a rollercoaster...with your thyroid...even though it is no fun...the biopsy definately needs to be done...

As a general rule whenever you find someone with A-fib...you always want to check the thyroid...your GP should have checked it before sending you the the ER/cardiologist...

Glad you have found an Endocrinoligist you like...

 

[winyan]

Thanks so much for the good wishes and the input, Belle Kaileigh and Diane. It is much appreciated.

win

 

[winyan]

Had the biopsy this evening. Owie. Good thing I didn''t peek at the needles, I hear the first one was small but the second substantial.

Felt rather like someone was drilling into my throat. Thankfully it''s over, but I have to wait a week for results.

Thanks so much to everyone for being so kind and seeing me through this ordeal.

As soon as I hear anything more, I''ll let everyone know.

win

 

[belle]

i have been thinking about you winyan. i can''t imagine what that must have been like.
hang in there and keep us posted.

 

[Mara]

good to hear that everything worked out okay tonite win...hang in there!

 

[galeteia]

Yow. I''ve got significant thyroid troubles but they test up as sub-clinical most of the time so I''m not on any medication for it. It''s just as well-- I''ve got so many other health issues that chemical meds are playing with a house of cards. The insomnia and weight troubles are really draining, and it often feels like Sisyphus heaving that boulder up the hill.

I try to control it as much as possible with natural methods, but it more or less comes down to just working around it for me, which means working nights so I can make use of my ''natural'' sleep cycle, controlling my diet, and just accepting being a little chunky. (Luckily FF is a night owl who likes curvy women, so the burden of self image issues has been lifted for me!) My thyroid affects my endocrine system as well, so I have kidney issues out the wazoo.

It makes me envious of people who can take their sleep patterns and metabolism for granted.

Luckily, I have always had blood pressure readings that make doctors react in surprise and say things like "Wow, your blood pressure is fantastic/great/etc!", and as a result, I don''t even know what it is!

I''m crossing my fingers for good results from the tests, and I hear you on the needle phobia!

 

[justjulia]

Glad to hear the procedure is over. I''ve been moving this week and just got back online. Keep us posted...

 

[winyan]

Well, the biopsy is back, and, unfortunately, it was ''inconclusive''.

So the next step is surgery. Of course the surgeon is booked up till the end of November, and I''m naturally going crazy.

I just don''t know what to think.

win

 

[justjulia]

Date: 10/14/2006 8:46:10 PM
Author: winyan
Well, the biopsy is back, and, unfortunately, it was ''inconclusive''.

So the next step is surgery. Of course the surgeon is booked up till the end of November, and I''m naturally going crazy.

I just don''t know what to think.

win

Well, I think that if they thought that this needed immediate looking into, they would surely find a way to move up the surgery. So that is in a way, good news. Waiting is awful. Can you get another opinion? (Another dr who might be more compassionate and find a way to move this up? Or repeat the test? Or something?)

 

[winyan]

I have an appointment w/the current surgeon for next Monday at 2:30. Thanks so much to everyone for keeping me in their thoughts.

win

 

[belle]

wishing you great strength during this anxious time winyan. let us know how it goes on monday.

 

[winyan]

Well, things aren''t going too well.

The surgeon cannot do the surgery before 12/14.

Then I went for another echocardiogram today, to check out the A-fib, only to be told my heart is now *WEAKER* and I need to have a cardiac catherization before the surgery, because of the anesthesia.

The endocrinologist, in the meantime called, and wants to put me on a pill to ''shrink'' the thyroid it hopes of making it an easier surgery, however I was a work and couldn''t take the call, so I''ll have to call her back tomorrow.

My head is spinning.

win

 

[sevens one]

Oh Geez Win; I''m so sorry.
How have you been feeling? Are you still short of breath?

It''s easy for me to just say "hang in there"- I wish I could give better words of comfort.

I hope things go smoothly for you. When do they want to do the cath?

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Oh my...of course your head is spinning; how stressful! I feel for you and your current situation. Hope you have family close by for support during this trying time.

kind regards--Sharon

 

[KimberlyH]

winyan,

I just wanted to tell you my thoughts are with you. This must be a very difficult and stressful time. Sending positive thoguhts and vibes in your direction.

 

[FireGoddess]

Win I''m sorry. I wish I could just snap my fingers and make it better. I know it''s a lot to deal with for you. I''m thinking about you...

 

[diane5006]

Win sorry to hear this

I have a couple of thoughts...

1) the biopsy...see if you can have the specimen sent to a different pathology lab/pathologist...perhaps you can find one who specializes in thyroid...

2) The pill your endo may want to put you one might be PTU (propothyuracil ?sp)

3) get a second cardiology opinon if you can I am just not getting the need for a cardiac cath especially if you have had echos...for A-fib...also discuss with doctor(s) about repeating the echo after you have been on the ''pill'' for a while...

Best of luck