Well I saw my new endocrinologist about my thyroid last Thursday. I was seeing her because two years ago I noticed that I had swelling on the lower right side of my throat, where my remaining thyroid is. I had the left portion of my thyroid removed in the early 90’s because a tumor grew in it and the cells were precancerous.
The growth on the right side is also a tumor, but the one biopsy that I had a year and a half ago had fairly normal cells in it.
So anyway … I went to see the new doctor because I haven’t had any real follow up on this tumor and it should be checked on regularly, and as I’ve mentioned in a few posts recently I’ve been extremely tired so I’ve been wondering if that’s been my thyroid acting up.
The new doctor examined me fairly thoroughly – rolling her computer over on her poc cart so she could type in her observations as she talked with me. I did have an ultrasound of my thyroid in June and when she compared the tumors growth it had only increased in size by a mm or so – nothing much at all. She examined my neck, checked my pulse and took my blood pressure (110/70 very good)). As she did that I realized that my family doctor (the newish one (pain doctor) hasn’t taken my blood pressure in five years!
Once the specialist was finished examining me she decided that I didn’t need to get another ultrasound or biopsy just yet. She thinks an ultrasound once a year is just fine and if there’s any substantial changes (or symptoms) then she’ll get a biopsy done.
As for blood work … she’s holding off on that too. I don’t know why. I told her about how I’ve been so tired, that I could even fall asleep in her office if we stopped talking for a few minutes, how I was feeling extremely cold since September and how I suddenly gained weight at the end of November and beginning of December for no apparent reason … yet she could see that I’d had my TSH done in early November and that it was within normal levels so she didn’t want to do any more tests.
If it’s not my thyroid that’s making me exhausted I don’t know what else it could be. The way things are going doctor wise though I think I’m either going to have to either just get better on my own or become so ill that they’ll finally figure out what’s going on.
Tomorrow I see my gynecologist about my endometriosis .. that should be fun too.
Sounds like a rough start to the new year – hang in there. Winter doesn’t help much with declining energy levels either. Have you tried any supplements or a change in diet? Sometimes this makes a big difference.
You have to look after yourself as no one else will. Get enough rest and eat well. You probably have heard all this before I know. Summer to me is when I feel tired from the heat and the humidity.
I would go back in a month or so to the drs and tell him to look again and don’t take no for an answer. Your health is everything. I must say though that I wish I had your excellent blood pressure.
I hope you feel better soon. Paulineh
Bad start of new year.
I hope you’ll get better soon.
Just want you to know I’m thinking of you.
I was also going through complete exhaustion this winter, and even found myself falling asleep in my computer chair–like a 90 year old! Changed my diet to high-protein and low/no sugar and I’m doing well. Wide awake in my chair! 🙂
Best wishes for a complete turnaround for you as well in your circumstances.
Very sorry to hear that. I can definitely relate though. For over 6 years, I’ve had chronic lower back pain. I basically went to sleep one night, woke up, and my back has hurt ever since. This makes it even more frustrating because I have no idea what caused it. It took about two years for a doctor to even realize it wasn’t my back, but rather a condition with my SI joint, the joint that connects the hip and the leg. And it took going to a specialist for them to actually do blood work as opposed to just X-rays, only to find that there is nothing they or I can do about it barring extreme methods of surgery. It’s upsetting to seek help and have them tell you nothing helpful. I feel your pain.