REALLY LONG!
at the beginning of high school, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (or graves disease). It was probably one of the worst things to happen to me. I've never really been honest about it or like really told anyone how I've felt about it, but I can't not anymore.
It's a really hard thing for some people to understand. I don't even understand it, really. I know it all started in November, when I started feeling tired all the time, getting migraines, getting brittle easily bruisable bones, dropping things all the time, becoming dizzy, irritable, and moody (like... they could change at any second). I figured it was just because I was in high school and everything around me was changing. At night, I wasn't able to sleep and I could only function if I took naps after school. My whole sleeping pattern was thrown off. I was pissing off everyone around me.
My doctor sent me for blood tests, and then told my mom and I that I had to see a specialist in Hamilton (which is like an hour or so away). Anyways, we went to see him and he was really nice and cute and Irish. He talked a lot and was very smart. He decided to put me on these pills to make everything better, and then I would have to go for blood tests every month and then see him every 4 months.
By the time the pills started working, I had failed math. I couldn't focus in class anymore, all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed and sleep, I always felt like puking and by the end of the day i was so dizzy and shaky. It was the worst. It was so frustrating for me to be bad at something, since I always excelled in school. After the third or fourth visit to the specialist which was around June, he told me that everything was okay and I wouldn't have to take the pills any longer. This made me happy.
I went along my life normally again, feeling great about pretty much everything. I was focussing in school again and rah rah sis boom ba. And then, in September I made an appointment with my doctor about my eyes and my nose, as I was getting nosebleeds every morning from the heat change from upstairs to downstairs. He made me go for another blood test and it turned out my thyroid was at a really high level. He put me back on pills. I hated the pills. The last time I had taken them, I gained a lot of weight and wasn't very happy with myself. They made me less bitchy and made my sleeping pattern normal, but they made me feel really sad on the inside. These pills gave me a rash. My family physician told me it wasnt the pills and it was just my imagination. I refused to take them after that. I threw a huge fit, cried for about 3 days and flushed my pills down the toilet. My thyroid doesnt bother me,perse, but it does bother and affect everyone around me. I decided that since it wasn't botherine me physically, like I wasn't getting headaches or being tired and all, it was okay. When I went to go get my birth control pills repercribed in July, the doctor ordered me another blood test. My thyroid was up. He sent me back to the specialist.
I went to the specialist on Tuesday. He told me that I have recurring graves disease and I have three options. 1.) the pills (which he doesn't suggest anymore, because they're not working). 2.) go for surgery, where they'll cut open my throat and remove half of my thyroid. He says that I'll have a scar across my neck, which would be very harry potter-esque i guess, but there's a chance they might tickle my voicebox the wrong way and I won't be able to talk anymore. or 3.) drink radioactive iodine. He says that George Bush senior and Barbara Bush both had to drink radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroid. and I quote here "If the first man and the first lady can drink the radioactive iodine, then it's safe for you to drink in Port Colborne". The downsides... I'll have to flush the toilet 3 times before anyone else goes to make sure they dont get radioactive juices on them, my pee will glow, I will glow a little bit for a few weeks, I won't be able to come in contact with young children for a while and uhh that's it really I guess.
I don't like any of the options, to be honest. I told him I didn't want to do anything about it. He told me I needed 3 more blood tests and then I would have to see him with a decision in November.
I really hate the fact thatone little gland can do all this stuff to me. I just want to be normal and better without taking meds. And now I know, until November, I will be stressed about it.
fuck.
xoxox
kelly.
It's a really hard thing for some people to understand. I don't even understand it, really. I know it all started in November, when I started feeling tired all the time, getting migraines, getting brittle easily bruisable bones, dropping things all the time, becoming dizzy, irritable, and moody (like... they could change at any second). I figured it was just because I was in high school and everything around me was changing. At night, I wasn't able to sleep and I could only function if I took naps after school. My whole sleeping pattern was thrown off. I was pissing off everyone around me.
My doctor sent me for blood tests, and then told my mom and I that I had to see a specialist in Hamilton (which is like an hour or so away). Anyways, we went to see him and he was really nice and cute and Irish. He talked a lot and was very smart. He decided to put me on these pills to make everything better, and then I would have to go for blood tests every month and then see him every 4 months.
By the time the pills started working, I had failed math. I couldn't focus in class anymore, all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed and sleep, I always felt like puking and by the end of the day i was so dizzy and shaky. It was the worst. It was so frustrating for me to be bad at something, since I always excelled in school. After the third or fourth visit to the specialist which was around June, he told me that everything was okay and I wouldn't have to take the pills any longer. This made me happy.
I went along my life normally again, feeling great about pretty much everything. I was focussing in school again and rah rah sis boom ba. And then, in September I made an appointment with my doctor about my eyes and my nose, as I was getting nosebleeds every morning from the heat change from upstairs to downstairs. He made me go for another blood test and it turned out my thyroid was at a really high level. He put me back on pills. I hated the pills. The last time I had taken them, I gained a lot of weight and wasn't very happy with myself. They made me less bitchy and made my sleeping pattern normal, but they made me feel really sad on the inside. These pills gave me a rash. My family physician told me it wasnt the pills and it was just my imagination. I refused to take them after that. I threw a huge fit, cried for about 3 days and flushed my pills down the toilet. My thyroid doesnt bother me,perse, but it does bother and affect everyone around me. I decided that since it wasn't botherine me physically, like I wasn't getting headaches or being tired and all, it was okay. When I went to go get my birth control pills repercribed in July, the doctor ordered me another blood test. My thyroid was up. He sent me back to the specialist.
I went to the specialist on Tuesday. He told me that I have recurring graves disease and I have three options. 1.) the pills (which he doesn't suggest anymore, because they're not working). 2.) go for surgery, where they'll cut open my throat and remove half of my thyroid. He says that I'll have a scar across my neck, which would be very harry potter-esque i guess, but there's a chance they might tickle my voicebox the wrong way and I won't be able to talk anymore. or 3.) drink radioactive iodine. He says that George Bush senior and Barbara Bush both had to drink radioactive iodine for their hyperthyroid. and I quote here "If the first man and the first lady can drink the radioactive iodine, then it's safe for you to drink in Port Colborne". The downsides... I'll have to flush the toilet 3 times before anyone else goes to make sure they dont get radioactive juices on them, my pee will glow, I will glow a little bit for a few weeks, I won't be able to come in contact with young children for a while and uhh that's it really I guess.
I don't like any of the options, to be honest. I told him I didn't want to do anything about it. He told me I needed 3 more blood tests and then I would have to see him with a decision in November.
I really hate the fact thatone little gland can do all this stuff to me. I just want to be normal and better without taking meds. And now I know, until November, I will be stressed about it.
fuck.
xoxox
kelly.