Thyroid problem? Add it to the list!

A thyroid problem? Sure, why not! Add it to the list of health problems that I have to deal with at age 29.

For the past year or so I've been feeling extremely fatigued, cold ALL the time (today it was 80 degrees and I had on a wool sweater and a space heater on in my office!), and been getting heart palpitations. Given my attitude towards doctors, I didn't really feel like seeing someone, but it got to the point where I just couldn't take it anymore.

So, I got some bloodwork done and it turns out I'm hypothyroid (underactive). Apparently a lot of people with endo have thyroid problems, for some reason. So I'm going to start taking Synthroid and hope I start to feel better!

May Have Found a Specialist in My Area!

So in one of my hundreds of Google searches I may have found an endometriosis specialist in my city. He does excision surgery and actually knows what adenomyosis is. I talked to a few women about him who have had surgery with him and they have all good things to say; one had endo excision surgery and she is still pain free 2 years later, and one unfortunately had to have a hysto for adenomyosis. She is now pain free as well. So, I made an appointment for June 5. One of the women I spoke with did say he will be reluctant to do a hysto if I have not yet had kids, which I haven't. That worries me a little, but I need to stop putting the cart before the horse and just see what happens at the appointment.

The pain has been unbearable lately; I just took my first sick day last week which I was so mad about! I was doing okay since Christmas, but I guess it's coming back in full force for some reason. With summer coming and the beginning of my planning everything we do around my period starting up, I just decided it was time to do something about this once and for all.

I Knew That Would Happen...

Yup, I decide to start a blog, am really good with keeping up with posts and then I drop the ball. It's pretty much how I run my life actually! So I'm back and I'm going to try to keep up with this again, since I might have some more updates coming soon...

Osteopoenia

So I've had ostepoenia for the past 5 years, since my last round of Lupron. It doesn't affect me, I feel fine. I had a DEXA scan the other day to see how my bones were doing, and since the last idiot doctor I saw for endo thinks I should go on Lupron a THIRD TIME. I'm obviously not doing that, but I thought since I had the script for the scan I may as well get it done and have the results sent to me, since by now I may as well be a freaking doctor. (Let me add that I was the youngest person in the waiting room by say, 30 years). Anywho, I was happy to see that everything stayed the same. My spine is fine, and my hips were in the 78% percentile for my age range, which isn't great, but I think with exercise and being more religious about taking my calcium, I can get that a little higher.

I'm a little concerned because my mom was just diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 52, so I definitely need to watch and be careful. Even though I've never felt better on it, there is no more Lupron in my future. Certainly is crazy though how doctors will dole that stuff (well, anything really) out like candy.

How Romantic...

You know what's romantic? GETTING YOUR PERIOD ON VALENTINE'S DAY. Not that I had any big plans, but seriously? So I spent all weekend in bed. I was in a lot more pain than last month's strangely pain free period, but it wasn't horrible. It was a week early, like it has been for awhile now, which sucks. I hope other people had a better weekend than I did!

On hold, for now.

Well, barring any unforeseen circumstances, my plan to go to the CEC is on hold for now. I feel bad that I wasted their time, but I just don't feel right about it and I can't put my finger on it. The fact that I also had NO cramps last month (which brought me great fear and confusion, not joy like you would think) I think is clouding my judgement. It's been almost 60 days since I've been in horrible pain (Christmas Day to be exact, fun!), so it's almost in the back of my mind.

I think in the next few months my husband and I are going to make a decision about having kids. If we decide no, then I think that's when I'll make the decision to go to the CEC. If it's yes, then I need to think about how much fun being in pain with a baby will be, and how once I have said baby, I will be even more reluctant to travel 700 miles and pay out of pocket for surgery.

So, the saga continues.

Can't Decide

I can't decide what to do about going to the CEC for treatment. I spoke to Muriel from there today, and she seemed very anxious to schedule me, and I'm just not ready to make the decision. One major factor in all of this is money. I really need to get at least an estimate on the cost of the procedure, then figure out what I will ultimately be responsible for, plus the airfare and hotel, meals etc. I know my health is more important than money, my husband will be the first to say that, but for me personally it's something I need to know up front.

Also, she said since they do surgeries on Tuesdays, I'll be there for about 5 days, since I will spend one night in the hospital. I've never had to spend the night in the hospital after any of my laps, and how does this qualify as outpatient surgery if I will indeed be an inpatient? Looks like I'll be giving Muriel a call back.

Then there's the whole work issue, although I found out today that I am earning about 2 sick days per 2 months I am there, so if I can get about 6 days in the hopper before we go down, I might be good. My job is not physically demanding and they might even let me do some work from home once we would get back from Atlanta, so I wouldn't have to tap into my vacation days. Of course, this is all dependent on the fact I just have endo excised, and don't need (or want) a hysterectomy.