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!
