The THYROID Thread

[luvmarypoppins]

The whole thing is on page 54 of the thread

 

[luvmarypoppins]

macraven - have you checked this dr. out - Rachel Derr MD in Atlanta. She gets mixed reviews but saw she was rated a Castle Connolly top dr. and that is big around here. They extol the drs. award and virtues if they get that distinction at the university hospital and also the drs. that get that are the hardest to get into see too. A John Hopkins graduate too.

Hmm, we all need to help you find an endo!!

 

[macraven]

So very much!

If anyone can come up with other endo, would be very much appreciated

The ones I contacted in Atlanta/Emory were not taking new patients or had no openings until late March 2017

My issue is too much calcium in the body is quickly released and my last test will be the key how I will be treated
But it is a 14 hour drive from Ga to the endo up north and I can't continue flying up there

 

[luvmarypoppins]

alrighty as ds 2 would say...here's another
Dr. Jennifer Gilligan in the Atlanta area I think

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Macraven -Any luck with the endo quest?

I finally made the mammo appt. for sat. I also tried to make a blood test appt. at 2 places, one is actually in the bldg. where the mammo is, but there are no appts. So I tentatively made one for next. sat. at our usual place. I have never seen it this busy. The only thing I can come up with is that everyone is trying to use up their health care spending accts. before the end of the year maybe?? Or if they know their ins. plans are hanging to less coverage or higher costs for tests.

Still need to get dh ap and the mvmcp tickets and the fast passes. We only want them probably for soarin and buzz.

 

[macraven]

I agree
Many peeps do the doc appt, lab tests, etc by dec 31 each year

Lots of peeps out it off and then realize they still have finds I'm their health spending accounts

Nope, no luck yet on the endo

I had more lab requisition out in the mail last week and since I have not received them yet, called the Chicago endo

They said I should have received them by now and will resend another set

So another wait for me to get the last lab test done

I always fret about receiving important mail in December each year
The high volume of mail being sent then makes me know there can be some oops in getting it all delivered

 

[DreamFlightCpt.]

Diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer on Halloween this year. This was after having a nodule detected 4 years ago that grew into a cyst that was finally removed a week before haloween. Lobectomy was done on the right side of the thyroid since the cyst was so large it was pushing my trachea over. it was only after it was removed and biopsied that cancer was found. Left side of thyroid was removed and tiny carcinomas were found in there as well. Odds look good for them getting all the cancer out. Just need to wait until my first lab in January and see what results are. Of course, now that I'm sans thyroid, im instantly hypo and have been prescribed Synthroid.

Question is, what is the best way to take the Synthroid so it can do its job? I'm taking it on an empty stomach first thing when I wake up with plenty of water, waiting at least an hour, sometimes more to eat anything. I then take supplements (multivitamin, calcium) at least 4 hours after that with food. Just want to make sure I'm doing it right now. For a little while I was taking all supplements at once with Synthroid until my endochrinologist said to stop because it was negating the effects of the Synthroid. I was feeling tired and weak and gained weight, but was also on a lower dosage while I was doing this. My dosage has been upped and I've been taking everything as described earlier, been feeling better but still gaining weight even though diet has been improved and exercise upped.

 

[macraven]

Since my levels vary on draws, my endo has me take my synthroid at 10 pm
No food two hours prior and no food one hour after taking synthroid

This way of taking my snythroid has been beneficial

Been on synthroid for 28 years now

In the beginning I did take my meds in the morning and did not wait an hour before I ate
Also took other meds when I took the synthroid

Changed to the above schedule at request of endo which helped my levels be more effect

 

[luvmarypoppins]

DreamFlightcpt. - Welcome. It sounds like you a doing a good job with your med. I have been on it for almost 8 years. I dont like water so I probably don't take enough with the med and I always wait an hour to eat unless there are extenuating circumstances. Sorry you are dealing with the tired (hypo) issues. It does take a while to find the right dose. I am on 150 mg and my endo refuses to change it. I am constantly tired but I think at the higher doses I was getting hear palps and too edgey.

macraven - sorry for all you are going through. I hope you can get an endo to work with you closer to home. I did see another one in Atlanta who is highly rated - only problem is she is with the VA Hosp. Did I mention my friend is a social worker at the VA Hosp. in Atlanta? I dont know if the drs. they have there are just exclusively for the VA?

Christine - wow you sure have a lot put on you with that party. I hope it all turns out well. I am sure you will be exhausted by the time it is done and I hope everyone appreciates all the time and effort you put into it.

singing mom - How was your trip to see your dd? I hope you had a great time.

Well today I made the reservations for the towncar in FL and the wheelchair rental. I have to talk to dh about maybe changing some dining and then doing the fast passes. I am constantly watching the weather and of course it changes,but so far the current one looks pretty good. It is supposed to rain and snow here the morning we leave, perfect timing, but hope the roads will be o.k. The local airport is only 20 mins. from our house and the car service is coming at 5 am.

 

[Christine]

Diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer on Halloween this year. This was after having a nodule detected 4 years ago that grew into a cyst that was finally removed a week before haloween. Lobectomy was done on the right side of the thyroid since the cyst was so large it was pushing my trachea over. it was only after it was removed and biopsied that cancer was found. Left side of thyroid was removed and tiny carcinomas were found in there as well. Odds look good for them getting all the cancer out. Just need to wait until my first lab in January and see what results are. Of course, now that I'm sans thyroid, im instantly hypo and have been prescribed Synthroid.

Question is, what is the best way to take the Synthroid so it can do its job? I'm taking it on an empty stomach first thing when I wake up with plenty of water, waiting at least an hour, sometimes more to eat anything. I then take supplements (multivitamin, calcium) at least 4 hours after that with food. Just want to make sure I'm doing it right now. For a little while I was taking all supplements at once with Synthroid until my endochrinologist said to stop because it was negating the effects of the Synthroid. I was feeling tired and weak and gained weight, but was also on a lower dosage while I was doing this. My dosage has been upped and I've been taking everything as described earlier, been feeling better but still gaining weight even though diet has been improved and exercise upped.

DreamFlightCapt: sounds like you are now on the right track with your medication. I always take mine in the morning. Due to my commute, it might be almost 2 hours before I put any other food or drink in my stomach. Of course, on the weekend, I am *bad*. I usually take my Synthroid and then have hot tea about 30 minutes later. Been doing this for over 20 years and I'm pretty stable so it must be okay. Your thyroid diagnosis sounds a lot like mine. I had one lump on one side and had a lobectomy which was found to be cancerous. They had to go back in or a second surgery to remove the rest and small areas of cancer were found in the remaining lobe which gave me the "multifocal" diagnosis.

LMP: the party was a hit as was the punch recipe I got from the DIS. I can't believe how many people specifically came up to me to talk about the punch. I think punch is a little-done drink anymore and us old ladies miss it!!! I am glad it is over. My boss of 9 years has retired now so maybe things will start getting back to normal, although now we have to break in the new boss! This week we have our bowling Christmas party which should be fun and then all the hullaballoo is overwith. My son will be coming home on 12/17 for the break and we will spend it going to different doctors for all of his issues (pulmonologist, ENT, dermatologist) etc.

Otherwise, not much going on. Just trying to use up some vacation days so I have a lot of 3 and 4-day weekends up through the first week in January. I need it. Yesterday I spent the day wrapping gifts and today I spent hours returning things I bought on line that just weren't quite right. I love the convenience of online shopping but I just need to look and feel something and oftentimes, it just doesn't work out. Oh well.

I've been feeling a little heart palpy lately. I am down to about 100 mcg of Synthroid (used to be on 125 mcg). Menopause has caused a change for me in my dosage. On top of it all, I have lost about 15 lbs due to actually not pigging out all the time so I think I may actually be a little overmedicated. But I don't see the endo until early February. It's not too bad so I'll just deal with it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well we are back from Disney

First the medical stuff - mammo was good. I guess all the pain I have is still all the scar tissue wrapped around the nerve
Blood tests - Just noted the cholesterol is not great and pre diabetes as usual. hat has not changed in 3 years. The nurse called about the mammo and they sent a letter about the blood tests, Hmm, I guess this is what this new dr. means when she says I will call you with the results, one small step for non personal dr. with patients. Unfortunately this is the way with the drs . at the univ. hosp. Ds3 can now attest to that even in the hospital. I just wish these drs. would show a little compassion and try to relate or connect to their patients. Ds said the dr. even treat some of the nurses badly. He filed a complaint on one of them.

Disney Great weather. Unfortunately dh and I both got sick from 2 places - 1900 Park Faire and Rose and Crown. I will spare the details. I need to see the gastro. Taking away my protonix was not a good idea from the endo.

Small world moment - we were walking around at MVMCP around 11 pm and dh commented, oh look triplets. He saw a stroller, The guy said heah are you the S's. Yes thats us. It was a friend of ds1 who was on the basketball team with him in hs. He lives down in Fl now 35 mins from Disney and they had IVF triplet boys who are about months old I think,. Adorable. They all look like the mom. She seems sweet. I have seen pics of her before.

Loved the candlelight processional and Jim Cavezeil. I stayed in the wheelchair because the bench hurts my back. We lined up an hour before and it paid off. We were seated front aisle looking right up at the conductor. We didnt do all we wanted to. I liked the groups Joyful and the Holiday Voyageurs from Canada. Had good meals in Chefs de France, Cape May, although dh said the crab legs were not great this time and LTT was ok, not great. Breakfast at Captains Grill for the candlelight was crowded and we did breakfast at Garden Grove at the Swan too.

I even got 4 mosquito bites and then we came back to snow. sigh.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays if you celebrate something else.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well Happy New Year everyone

Unfortunately mine is not starting off well. My disney loving cousin called me today and said his son died new years eve. So sad. He was struggling with life for quite a while. He was around our ds age and he is the one who used to live in Hawaii that dh and the 2 ds went to visit. He just went with his family to disney in the fall. Ds3 is home today so he heard it, I will tell the others tonight. They arent having any kind of service. So hopefully we can go and visit them in the near future. I will send a fruit/plant basket I guess and I told ds to make up some kind of collage with pictures of them if he has them from their trip. My heart is breaking. I think he was about 27. Just so sad.

Also my bf from hs told me her husband was dx with prostate cancer so now they are on that journey. Maybe we can see them too. We need a long week end in NJ for sure because I want to see my aunt too.

Poor dh had a massive infection in his jaw/tooth. He was having problems before we left for Fl, in Fl he was complaining but not that bad. He went to the dentist when we got back. He said the infection was massive, in his ear canal and heading up to the brain in a short time, omg!! Did a little work, sent him to an endodontist who also commented on the massive infection. He had some of it drained out, was on antibiotics and has to go back this week for more work. They said if they save the tooth it will cost us something like $2500!! Wowsa.

Ds3 got an award for employee of the month on his floor. He works hard and deserves it. Some other nurse complained to him and said, I have been on this floor for 10 years and never got that award, oh well. Ds has had a lot of sick patients lately and some have passed away, so its been tough on him too. He is not interviewing for the pediatric position he really wanted because it turned back into a night position, oh well.

Just trying to keep healthy because if I get a cold the coughing is just horrid on the neck dissection.

Check in when you can.

 

[prprincess]

Diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer on Halloween this year. This was after having a nodule detected 4 years ago that grew into a cyst that was finally removed a week before haloween. Lobectomy was done on the right side of the thyroid since the cyst was so large it was pushing my trachea over. it was only after it was removed and biopsied that cancer was found. Left side of thyroid was removed and tiny carcinomas were found in there as well. Odds look good for them getting all the cancer out. Just need to wait until my first lab in January and see what results are. Of course, now that I'm sans thyroid, im instantly hypo and have been prescribed Synthroid.

Question is, what is the best way to take the Synthroid so it can do its job? I'm taking it on an empty stomach first thing when I wake up with plenty of water, waiting at least an hour, sometimes more to eat anything. I then take supplements (multivitamin, calcium) at least 4 hours after that with food. Just want to make sure I'm doing it right now. For a little while I was taking all supplements at once with Synthroid until my endochrinologist said to stop because it was negating the effects of the Synthroid. I was feeling tired and weak and gained weight, but was also on a lower dosage while I was doing this. My dosage has been upped and I've been taking everything as described earlier, been feeling better but still gaining weight even though diet has been improved and exercise upped.

Similar story...thyroid cancer as well, back in 2010. Full thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy administered three months later. I take my Levoxylthyrine first thing in the morning and wait about an hour to eat, as well--I was told that this was the recommended way to take the medication. Once you're on the meds for some time you will feel that your weight will stabilize. With me, it took about a year for my body's changes from being hypo to kick in, so I felt great. But after a year or so things normalized, and while I did gain weight even after watching what I ate and exercising, I'm happy to say that it was a short-lived change in my body. Now I'm not down to my pre-cancer weight, but at least I've been stable for a few years now. The one thing that has never improved is my fatigue, but six years out, I've just resigned myself to it.

luvmarypoppins - hang in there!! I have faith that things will get better.

Nothing major going on here...I have some annual medical testing coming up. Hope everything is clean! I've also been concentrating on finding a new job, as I've been so unhappy at my current job and it's really starting to affect my personal life.

 

[Christine]

Hello, everyone. Hope everyone is well!

Just got DS packed off and headed back to school for the next semester. Only three more to go until he graduates. He had an interview in Richmond for an internship for the summer. He really liked the company and the interview went well, but we are about 2 hours from Richmond so not an ideal situation.

Otherwise things are going along well enough. I've had a lot of time off over the last two weeks. I had "use or lose" leave that had to be used by this past Friday so I was hardly at work in December it feel like. Not sure that I can work a full 5 days in a row next week. It's going to be tough.

So far we've had a pretty mild winter here as usual, but the cold snap came in over the week end and we had a dusting of snow on Saturday. This is the time of year that I absolutely HATE. At least 3 months now of pretty biting cold weather. Depressing.

Thyroid-wise, I guess I'm doing okay. Had some labs done about 2 weeks ago because my heart rate seems very low. I'm in the normal range for thyroid and bordering on being a little hyper so it's not that. I guess it's the weight loss and exercise but, man, seems like a big difference. My endo seemed thrilled when I told him what my heart rates had been.

Now, I've got some rash. It's not hives and doesn't itch but I have lots of small bumps all over my back, chest, stomach and somewhat on my upper arms. I think it's because I bought some Gain detergent while my son was home to get the smell out of his stinky clothes, but I just really don't know. I always have these worries that all of a sudden I will become allergic to the dyes in my Synthroid or something. Yes, I know, I'm a hypochondriac!!! I can't help it.

Hope everyone stays warm!

 

[SingingMom]

Happy New Year to all. I haven't been getting updates for some reason, so I'm a bit behind. LMP - I'm so sorry your husband had such a terrible infection! Very scary! Sad about your relative. My heart breaks when people feel hopeless. I hope his family is doing better.

DD flew home for Christmas and it was terrific! She was so happy to see her puppy - 13 years old and going strong - and she hadn't seen my parents in 9 months, so that was good. We had everyone for Christmas at our house - then to one of my brother's for the day after (dad's birthday). She caught up with some friends; her college friend drove down from Connecticut to ask her to be a bridesmaid in her August wedding. We went to the theatre and saw the national tour of "The Bodyguard" starring Deborah Cox. Wonderful. I flew back with her and spent a week in Florida. I kept busy getting her some new furniture, having her car serviced, cooking and freezing some meals for her, visiting with some of our friends, and just enjoying a few park days. DH wasn't able to get away from work, but he was able to take some days off while she was home. I'm going back first week of Feb for the new Arts Festival in Epcot.

Hope all are feeling well. My endo and cardo appointments were all good. Have to make that dreaded gyno appt. soon! lol Also need to have an eye appointment, but I'm not ready for the needed cataract surgery, because I don't want to be on flight restrictions just yet. I have plans to see DD and then we are *hoping* to do an Adventures by Disney trip to Spain this spring/summer!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

singing mom - Would love to hear what you think of the new arts festival. That sound different for sure. Hope you enjoy it.

Macraven - how goes the endo search? I know you were mentioning Vanderbilt. Is that a possibility or too far away??

Christine - reading anything good. I signed up for 40 on the goodreads yearly challenge. I am on book # 3 so far I think. I only average 1 a week usually.

Hope everyone is doing well. Check in when you can.

 

[SingingMom]

Yep - Looking forward to the Arts Festival. Annual Passholders were able to reserve a limited available reserved seats. I like the idea of being under the overhang if the weather changes. We are going the night that Kevin Massey is performing -we've seen him in Memphis, A Gentleman's Guide, and several concerts. He's married to Kara Lindsay (Newsies, Wicked) and he played Tarzan in Germany & Broadway. Very sweet guy.

our friend will be in Disney while I'm there so that will be fun. Just wish DH could take some time off to join us. But... we are very excited about May - going to Spain with Adventures by Disney!

 

[macraven]

checking in !!

singingMom, i'll be there also for the Arts Festival.
have looked at some of the info and think it will be a nice thing to hit while in epcot.

LMP, have struck out finding an endo
the ones i tried to get have long waiting periods.
since i don't have an internist, i can't get a referral.
with a referral, it is much quicker.

did go to an urgent care walk in and got a referral for an orthopedics doc.
only took 2 days to get in to see him.

looks like i might need a total knee replacement. did the monovisc injection thursday and hope that will help or prolong having the surgery.
now to find an internist down here.

still using my endo up north and have an appointment to see her june 2.
we go back north once a year to see the kids and do my yearly check up with doctors then.

truly love the weather in Georgia!
can't believe i suffered all the years up north with cold weather, ice and snow.


hope all is going fine with everyone here!

 

[Christine]

Hey everyone, hope all is well. Not much going on here to report. Just *finally* trying to get back into a routine after all the time off on through Christmas, then the holidays, then we had an inauguration holiday and DC was in shut down mode. NOW, things get back to normal.

LMP: I haven't read anything interesting in awhile. I didn't sign up for any challenges this year because I can't ever meet them anymore. I'm also trying to do less sitting and more moving so....

Endo appointment is in 2 weeks but I don't expect anything new there as I'm not really due for anything.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

singing mom - I hope your trip went/is doing well. The weather is probably great

macraven - hope the inj. helps your knee and you have a good time at the festival too

Christine - hope your endo visit goes well

Well ds1 has the flu and is miserable. Ds3 took him to urgent care the other day. Of course he did not get a flu shot when he should have. Now dh is coughing like crazy and had a fever yest. He had a flu shot. I am trying to get him to go to urgent care too but so far no luck. I guess I will be in line to catch something from one of them sooner or later. I just dread coughing with the neck dissection.

We had 15 inches of snow yest. Ds3 made it to work yest before it started and said the roads were cleaned well enough when he came home but he drove really slow coming home.

Ds3 and I went to see ds1 coach the basketball tea the last week. They lost but it was fun to watch.

No tests for me till next month, yippee!!

Check in when you can everyone. Hope everyone is doing well.