FlishFun.com

This isn’t going to be a huge post, but I have some good news (hooray!)…

First: All tests have finally come back and everything shows me as being cancer-free, so I can finally go back on my medicine! Today is my third day back on, and while I don’t feel that much better, I know that in the coming weeks I’ll go back to being normal! Such a relief… who’d think such a little pill was so important?

Second: They have finally fixed our roof! That’s right! No more drips, no more leaks! They’ve also begun patching the ceiling up as well:

It only took a couple years, but at least that is finally fixed! Whoo-hoo, indeed!

Third: I has a pepper… I has a pepper! My pepper plant has started fruiting! Take a look:

I’ll have a post later showing my garden, as for the most part all the plants have taken off. For those wanting to know, yes, you can transplant from an AeroGarden to normal soil quite well (again, I’ll save that for another post).

Fourth: Happy Birthday, Dad! Today marks the 25th Anniversary of your 21st Birthday! I hope you get what you want (although I already know about your new motorcycle, so you’re probably all good).

Okay… that’s all I got for today… I’m going to attempt to get Jessica tickets to the New Kids on the Block concert (what is this, 1988?) as they go on sale for the Omaha show in about 10 minutes. Man… people need to stop touring. I need a break! ha!

It’s day 34 of my “treatment” or “going Hypo” or whatever you want to call it. What was originally supposed to last 27 days has turned into a miracle of suffering as it turns out my blood work showed signs of Thyroid tissue somewhere in my body and I had to take a big dose of RAI 131.

So, for future reference (and anyone out there wanting to know what I’ve been dealing with), here’s a list of symptoms I can’t seem to shake:

Pre-Radioactive Iodine, no Levothyroxine (Synthroid/Levothroid) - Days 1 - 27

• Weight Gain (about 1/2 lb a day… as of today I’ve gone from 162 lbs to 178… joy)
• Weak muscles (1 hour of walking feels like 5 hours of running)
• Mood swings (I go from zero to upset in about 3 seconds)
• Depression (I feel miserable about everything)
• Cold (it’s been in the 80s and my Winter Coat is my best friend)
• Dry skin (no amount of lotion can seem to save my hands/elbows)
• No energy (it has taken me 2 days to write this one post)
• Severe boredom (nothing seems to be able to entertain me)
• No reaction time (I can’t drive, and even video games can’t be played unless I wanna lose)
• Jumbled thoughts/memories (I can’t remember anything or think straight)
• Double vision (reading or anything else up close causes double vision after about 30 min)
• Poor sleep (tossing, turning, vivid dreams, waking up constantly)
• Numbness (randomly, almost, my hands/feet tingle like they’re numb)
• Dry, poofy, red eyes and pale skin (apparently it looks like I have the plague, or so I’m treated by everyone)
• Hair thinning/loss (I used to have thick hair, it’s gotten pretty thin and wispy)

Post-Radioactive Iodine, no Levothyroxine (Synthroid/Levothroid) - Days 27 - 36 (or whenever it ends)

• Everything from above (just worse from the amount of time)
• Constant nausea (I have yet to figure out how to help this)
• Loss of taste (my tastebuds seem to pick up less each day)

I’m sure there’s more, I just can’t think of them at the moment. It all really sucks, and I guess I want people aware that if you have a co-worker or family member going through this, it is really awful. People seem to just act like “Well, you’re sick, get well soon” or tell you that it’s just like something they’ve gone through (then mention “quitting smoking” or that time they “sprained their ankle.” No, it’s not like that at all, thanks).

Just bugs me a lot, and I know a ton of it comes from my mood swings, but instead of being treated as if I’m a pain in the butt because I have to go to doc appointments, why don’t you treat me like the many pregnant women that have just as many to go to? RAI symptoms mimic a lot of pregnancy symptoms… let’s compare:

Pregnancy: Inability to lift heavy objects (don’t wanna hurt the baby)
Gone hypo: Inability to lift heavy objects (weak/sore muscles)

Pregnancy: Inability to think straight (Pregnancy Brain)
Gone hypo: Inability to think straight (Memory loss, confusion)

Pregnancy: Hot and cold flashes (Hormones)
Gone hypo: Constant cold (Lack of Hormones)

Pregnancy: Constant Doc appointments (check on bloodwork/baby)
Gone hypo: Constant Doc appointments (check on bloodwork/RAI Scan)

Pregnancy: Mood swings (Hormones)
Gone hypo: Mood swings (Lack of Hormones)

Pregnancy: Nausea (Hormones)
Gone hypo: Nausea (RAI)

Pregnancy: Changes is appearance (Body changing from the baby)
Gone hypo: Changes is appearance (Body changing from lack of hormones)

Pregnancy: Lasts about 9 months
Gone hypo: Lasts about 30 days

So, it’s 1/9 as long, and has many, many, many of the same “symptoms” as pregnancy (these are just some). So why, may I ask, do I get treated as if I am a burden on the company, when pregnant women are treated as if it’s the best thing ever? Some companies even organize baby showers on company property for their staff. Do they organize anything to help someone go through the cancer treatment? Based on 3 different companies I know of, no, they usually don’t… if anything the employee is almost penalized for it. My favorite part is that for the most part, women can choose when and if they want to have a baby (yes, I understand not everyone does, but many do), I never chose to have cancer or be treated for it. I don’t enjoy this at all and the only “benefit” I get from it is another clean bill of health for a couple of years until I have to do it again. I’ve actually had people ask me if I could alter the times my blood work was going to be taken or the RAI dose to be given to make it more convenient for the company… even if that meant I’d be off my meds for up to a week or more longer. Amazingly when going to find out the sex of the baby I’ve yet to hear someone say “Can you wait a week, it’d be more convenient for us,” if anything, I’ve heard other employees ask if they need someone to drive them to the hospital!

I know, I’m just angry and upset, but I need to rant about this to someone and also have it be known that anyone out there dealing with it, it’s not just you. I swear. If you’re dealing with a company that is acting similar to what I’ve posted, I’m sorry to say, it’s not just yours.

If anyone has anything they’d like to add, stories they’d like to share, or things they’ve dealt with like this in the work place, feel free to leave a comment! Until then, I’ll try and post on here when I can!

For those not “in the know,” I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer (papillary carcinoma) about 10 years ago, and about every 5 years I need to get a scan done to make sure it didn’t come back.

Long story short, I went completely off of the pills that deliver my thyroid hormones about 2 weeks ago (this is to prep me for the scan) and still have about 2 weeks left to go. Every day I feel a little worse and little less like sitting at my PC. It’s a total bummer. Once everything is said and done not only will my posting go back to “normal,” but I’ll make a post explaining about how this affects someone going through it.

Here’s a great website for you if you’d like to learn some, or have a family member about to go through it:

Canadian ThyroidCancer Support Group (Thry’vors)

I know I’m not from Canada, but they have some real good information. For example, a whole section on “going Hypo” which is what I’m doing:

“Going Hypo”

Our bodies require thyroid hormone; a hormone taken in synthetic form once the thyroid has been removed. Without thyroid hormone, the body produces an increasing amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). An elevated TSH of at least 30 mIU/L is needed for the RAI treatment to be effective. To achieve this rise in TSH, patients must stop taking their thyroid hormone replacement pills, or have their TSH stimulated by taking Thyrogen®, a medication given by injection (see section below). Going hypothyroid by hormone withdrawal, involves stopping levothyroxine, also known as T4 (brand names are Synthroid and Eltroxin) for approximately 4-6 weeks prior to RAI treatment. During the time that levothyroxine is stopped, Cytomel (T3) may be prescribed. Cytomel is a fast-acting (and fast dissipating) form of thyroid hormone used to minimize the symptoms of hypothyroidism during hormone withdrawal. Cytomel is stopped approximately 2 weeks prior to RAI treatment. ‘Going hypo’ is a gradual process with the thyroid hormone changes occurring slowly over the six week period. The longer the patient is off of thyroid hormone, especially during the last two weeks prior to RAI treatment when no thyroid hormone is taken, the more likely the patient will experience symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Some Symptoms Associated with Hypothyroidism:

• Tiredness, loss of energy, weakness
• Trouble sleeping, nightmares or excess sleep
• Puffiness and bloating especially in the face
• Loss of ability to concentrate, memory loss, absentmindedness
• Weight gain
• Anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, mood swings
• Depression
• Dry eyes, skin and hair; hair loss
• Change in menstrual cycle
• Joint pains and stiffness, muscle cramps
• Intolerance to cold
• Constipation
• Tingle or numbness in arms or legs
• Ringing in ears
• Slight changes in eyesight

Helpful Hints for “Going Hypo” and Preparing for RAI

1. Identify people you can count on for support and help before and after your treatment.
2. Obtain information from your Nuclear Medicine department or doctor regarding precautions and preparation for your return home from the hospital. Make sure your family and friends understand the necessary precautions.
3. Consult with your doctor about your daily activities including driving, and learn when you should restrict your activities. (Note that hypothyroidism is a form of physical impairment, thereby restricting you from driving in the final days or weeks before treatment.)
4. Prepare low iodine diet (LID) menus and have your pantry stocked with low iodine foods (see LID section).
5. Take naps as needed.
6. Watch alcohol consumption while hypo as the impact will be much greater than what you normally experience.
7. Keep your sense of humour.
8. Don’t expect immediate recovery right after your scan is complete. While patients feel much better in 2-3 weeks, it takes approximately 8 weeks for the thyroid hormone levels to normalize once thyroid hormone pills are resumed.

How great is that? They have much more advice on the website as well.

Okay, my fingers are freezing from all this typing (dunno, seems to be a side effect I personally get while off my meds) so I need to go try and warm ‘em up. Thanks for dealing with this and being patient with me!!