#plummers

About two years ago, I went to the doctor to get a prescription for migraines. During that visit, the doctor took a blood panel and let me know that my thyroid levels were overactive. I honestly didn’t even know where my thyroid was. The thyroid is located on the front of your neck. I noticed that one side of my thyroid was a little larger than the other side, and after looking up the symptoms, I had quite a few of them. Such as: excessive sweating, tremors, irregular heartbeat, anxiety, etc.

I didn’t think these symptoms could all be related and had attributed them to living in Southern Louisiana, working a lot, being super involved at my University, and being a full time student. So, I called the doctor back and spoke to a nurse who told me not to worry about the lump and that my levels weren’t too elevated so it wasn’t anything to worry about.

Lesson #1: Don’t let anyone minimize your legitimate concerns. Especially if it is a lump.

I let almost a year pass before I went back to the doctor and he was shocked that the nurse had told me not to worry about it.

I definitely had a mass on my thyroid (4cm). From September 2014 to January 2015, I had many thyroid tests. Blood work, ultrasound, blood work, thyroid uptake scan, blood work. All of which led to my diagnosis: plummers disease. I had a toxic nodule that was acting like my thyroid and producing too much of the thyroid hormone.

In January, I received a dose of radiation treatment to destroy the nodule.

From January 2015-May 2015, I went back to the doctor every 6 weeks for blood work. My levels went from completely unmoved, to slightly under-active, to normal. So, it was decided that the radiation worked and I would be checked on in 3 months. Something didn’t feel right about declaring my thyroid normal when it had just fluctuated quite a bit. 

Lesson #2: speak up if it doesn’t seem right.

I let a month pass before asking for another round of blood work. I could tell that my thyroid wasn’t working correctly.

I called the doctor about a week ago and had my levels checked again. I didn’t want to leave for Ireland without having them checked again. I was right. My levels were more under-active than they had even been overactive. The good news is that I am finally taking thyroid hormones to get my levels up. 

Lesson #3: be patient and advocate for yourself. No one can do that for you. Listen to your body and note changes. 

1 in 7 women will experience some sort of thyroid condition in their lifetime. It doesn’t hurt to have your thyroid levels checked.

not yet. I was gonna buy the Vita TV thing sometime next year tho

I WANT TO DANCE WITH RISE SO MUCH it’s awful we will get it together and dance till the shadows drop

i know how u feel