I posted two weeks ago that hubby had a surgery. A few hours before he was discharged, I went to see the very same doctor who performed his surgery. He requested for a Thyroid Ultrasound which I did the following day. I waited a few minutes for the results and had to take a seat to brace myself and read it.
Photo: RightHealth.com
8 nodules were found! 4 on the left lobe and 4 on the right. I felt my face burning and my heart pounding. I wasn’t expecting anything, or maybe just 1 or 2 nodules..but 8 made me cry. I couldn’t help it even though people were looking at me. I just had to let it out!
When the doctor saw the result, he was kinda speechless too and the look on his face made me wanna die right then and there. This is too much! but knowing ME, I composed myself and listened to what he had to say. I can’t cry in there too..
I have Hyperthyroidism. It means there’s over activity in my Thyroid gland. Below are excerpts from different sites to give you more details on what it means.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by the effects of too much thyroid hormone on tissues of the body. In healthy people, the thyroid makes just the right amounts of two hormones, T4 and T3, which have important actions throughout the body. These hormones regulate many aspects of our metabolism, eventually affecting how many calories we burn, how warm we feel, and how much we weigh. In short, the thyroid “runs” our metabolism. – endocrineweb.com
Hyperthyroidism is the medical term applied to an over-active thyroid gland with consequent excess secretion of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), causing the body to “speed up.” Hyperthyroidism with an enlarged thyroid gland is more popularly known as toxic goiter.- healthypinoy.com
Here are the signs and symptoms: ( source: endocrineweb.com)
* Palpitations
* Heat intolerance
* Nervousness
* Insomnia
* Breathlessness
* Increased bowel movements
* Light or absent menstrual periods
* Fatigue
* Fast heart rate
* Trembling hands
* Weight loss
* Muscle weakness
* Warm moist skin
* Hair loss
* Staring gaze
I wasn’t aware that I have it. But since my aunt, dad and sister had goiter and they had it surgically removed, that’s one reason which prompted me to visit the doc. He then asked me to visit an Endocrinologist. The endo requested for a Thyroid Scan.
Photo:Healthline.com
I was given a shot of Radioactive Iodine and after waiting for 15 minutes, the scan was performed. Gosh! It was a torture! Nah, it didn’t hurt just very uncomfortable. I was asked not to swallow for 5 minutes or else we’ll keep on repeating the scan. And to think there were 4 parts to scan! If you think it’s easy, with your saliva building up, then take the test.
When we’re done, I was sent home with the warning not to be near people or stay away at an arm’s length, to avoid “sharing” the radiation in my body. Hubby and kids went to Grandpa’s house for 2 days until the radiation wears off. I used disposable plates etc and the clothes I wore was placed in a plastic bag. The technician said that it was only a small amount of radiation and usually wears off after 6 hours, but to be sure, count 12 hours from the time the radioactive iodine was injected.
So, after waiting for many days for the result and also for the doctor’s clinic schedule, the verdict is in! I do have Hyperthyroidism but can be treated with oral medicines and not surgery and all 8 nodules are benign!
I need to be checked again after 6months, to see if the nodules are shrinking. Actually, I’m not talking about big nodules here, the largest is 0.5cm in size, so the doctor said that I don’t need any surgery. With continued medication and prayers, I hope it’ll be gone forever.
At least now, I can breathe and jump for joy because once again God heard my prayers…
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Sorry so hear about that sis. At least, they are benign and can be treated with just oral medicines. Here’s for a fast recovery! Godspeed!
Aww.. Thanks sis 🙂
Good to know that you don’t have to undergo surgery. I actually have hypothyroidism and I had surgery a couple of weeks back. Like you, I also had Radioactive iodine treatment and I was made to stay at the hospital for 3 days (in isolation).
Hope you’re doing well now and I’ll pray for your complete healing.
Regards,
Winchester
Yaikks!! 3 days? You must have been so bored all alone.. Glad you’re on your way to recovery 🙂 Thanks and will pray for your fast healing too 🙂
@EihdraG,
Yes, 3 days! Even if there’s TV, you can’t help but feel lonely. I even kept the TV on during my 1st night there… and on my 2nd night, there was Typhoon Basyang….so there’s no TV , just the lights and aircon…it was really creepy; i kept remembering all those scary horror movies i’ve seen…heheh =)…
Yaiks! I know I wouldn’t last a night, alone, in a hospital! Unless I’ve been drugged,LOL.. 🙂
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Awww sana mawala na iyan sis.
naku sis di na sya mawala 🙁 But thanks for the concern 🙂