I left my house in Indiana to head to my doctor's appointment at 12:29 p.m., I arrived in Chicago 31 minutes later.
It took me 31 minutes to see this:
I love it when there is no traffic. and oh how I love this city.
My appointment went well. I ended up taking the kids with me, I met Brian, who works downtown, and
he took the kids to the park while I was with the doctor. The kids loooove Chicago and The Bean. Who doesn't enjoy the bean?
After much discussion with my new endocrinologist, she feels that my current doctor has done a really good job of diagnosing and medicating me. which is really great news.
Unfortunately, we do not have a solid answer as to why my body is going crazy. Both my doctors feel I have thyroiditis. The thyroiditis is what is causing the very high pulse, the high blood pressure, fevers, extreme hair loss and a host of other symptoms.
I have to have a radioactive scan done on my thyroid, which will tell us if I do, in fact, have thyroiditis. If I do have thyroiditis, there is nothing that can be done, aside from taking large doses of ibuprofen to keep the swelling of my thyroid down, I could have it for many months. If I do not have thyroiditis, there is a possibility that there are some some nodules on my thyroid or in the vicinity that is causing the choking sensation and increased levels.
My current doctor faxed over my blood test results from two weeks ago to my new thyroid doctor. My T3 levels were extremely high and my TSH levels were "severely depressed." "No wonder you don't feel well," my doctor said. Thank you doctor for the validation, I thought. If the scan shows nothing, which is my fear, then my current thyroid dose will be dropped.
My scan isn't until November 5th!! But that's okay, if the ibuprofen doesn't bring down the swelling of my thyroid then my doctor has already written me a prescription for steroids, in case I need it.
I'm very glad I went. I'm glad to have the second opinion and I'm glad both doctors agreed on my current situation. I really love my current doctor and would have been heart broken if he had things all wrong. But he didn't.
However, I will continue to see my endocrinologist because I feel my G.P. has done everything he can and it's time to go to someone who has more expertise.
So, there you have it. We wait. and wait. Which just means another 4,329 blogs posts about my thyroid over the next few weeks.
Hey. I hear you groaning, you better watch out, there will be a pop quiz.
Okay, fine. Here's another picture of the kids at the bean.
ALRIGHT! ONE MORE. pushy readers.
In all seriousness, thank you ALL for you kind words, advice, thoughts & prayers. Truly, thank you.
Glad the specialist validated and has more ideas. Oh and really glad the other doctor was doing the right things. Good luck and we'll be praying!
Posted by: Angela | October 24, 2007 at 11:00 PM
I'd say that's an answer to prayer - I hope the ibuprofin works for the time being and you feel better soon. Man, that tricky thyroid.
Posted by: Sincerely Anna | October 24, 2007 at 11:14 PM
So glad that your feelings were validated. I have to ask ... what's the bean????
Jacquie
Posted by: skrpndiva/Jacquie | October 24, 2007 at 11:53 PM
Happy to read that you were validated, and got some sort of answers! Still praying.
Posted by: Chrissy Witt | October 25, 2007 at 04:16 AM
happy to read you have some answers - and a good second opinion.
i love taking my kids into the city -- especially when for some strange reason there isn't traffic. "see, we really do live 20 minutes from Philly, not 2 hours!" ;-)
Posted by: girlymama | October 25, 2007 at 06:35 AM
Hi! I haven't commented here before and I especially always hate when people play dr. but I just wanted to say that I have had thyroid issues as well. I had gone to several dr.s to try to figure it out and it wasn't until I had a saliva test that checks your hormone levels that they got it figured out. Apparently your thyroid and hormones go hand in hand. When I started treating the hormones AND the thyroid things finally got better.
Hope you start feeling better soon. :)
Posted by: Jen | October 25, 2007 at 08:37 AM
I'm so glad that you were validated, if nothing else--and that there was no traffic, and you got a glimpse of the skyline. I always feel better when I see the skyline.
I'm also glad you got a script for the 'roids--they can do things that ibruprofen can't.
Hang in there!
Posted by: Michelle | October 25, 2007 at 08:42 AM
Sounds like it was a pretty good day...I'm glad!
Posted by: Lisa@Take90West | October 25, 2007 at 08:58 AM
oh my goodness!!! bless your heart. I read your blog and yet had no idea you had those symptoms... The scariest time of my life was being incredibly ill and the dr's being able to pinpoint NOTHING!!! That is so great that your dr. validated you! sometimes they just don't and that makes it worse!!!
Posted by: misty | October 25, 2007 at 08:59 AM
Well, you got some validation, got to go into the city and have "bean-photo" fun with some of the cutest kids ever.
Sounds like a good day.
But I just hope you *feel* okay until your scan.
Posted by: crookedeyebrow | October 25, 2007 at 10:44 AM
My goodness, what an ordeal. Hope you have something solid on the 5th!
Great Pics.
31 minutes! I can't even make it downtown in 31 minutes and I live in Illinois!
Posted by: New Diva on the Blog | October 25, 2007 at 10:54 AM
I'm so sorry you're still waiting to see if anything can alleviate your symptoms, but I am glad your GP has been giving you the best possible care and that your second opinion confirmed that. Still praying that you'll be back to feeling better soon! Love ya - J
p.s. You have the cutest kids! And that bean is awesome!
Posted by: Jenn | October 25, 2007 at 11:43 AM
So happy to hear that they agree. Sorry to hear that it's just more waiting. That stinks. Praying for you to have answers soon! Hang in there!
Posted by: Sara | October 25, 2007 at 04:01 PM
So happy to hear it went well!
Posted by: Dana | October 25, 2007 at 04:30 PM
I pray the best for you.
I have heard a lot of women mention thyroid problems over the past year or so, you would think that the Doctors would be a little more knowledgeable since it is becoming more and more common.
Posted by: Regina | October 25, 2007 at 05:08 PM
Seriously? 31 minutes? How fast were you driving?
So what is involved with a radioactive scan? Sounds dangerous.
Love the pictures of the kids.
Posted by: Lynette | October 25, 2007 at 08:59 PM
Oh I love our dear city. Can't believe you made it so fast! Woohoo for no traffic.
Posted by: To Think is to Create | October 25, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I can't get over the 31 minutes...it just doesn't seem fathomable to me, "Fast and Furious Fletcher!" As much as I love the Chicago experience and all it has to offer, I have NEVER had a good experience driving there, I hate it! So, good for you. And wow, we will have to check out this bean of which you speak and take pictures of...it looks awesome!! Will you be our chauffeur?
Glad you got some validation at this appt. and that there is a plan for a scan.
Posted by: Amy F. | October 25, 2007 at 10:41 PM