Auntie's Hideaway

I just thought you should all like to know that yesterday was a very, very important day for me.

One of the hallmarks of hypo-thyroidism is... puffy fingers or swollen hands. Because of this latest bought of adventure on the Thyroid Seas, I have not been able to wear my wedding band for about three years or so. In fact, I've been wearing my paternal grandmother's ring for about a year now, so that I didn't feel "unmarried." However, yesterday, on a whim, I picked up my wedding band and slipped it on and you can see the result here...



I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am!! And I'm still wearing it! The Husbandly One congratulated me and said that perhaps the current dosage of thyroid hormone is working for me. I think he may be right! We'll see if the endocrinologist agrees in two weeks!

*dances off, ridiculously happy*

I have discovered yet another of the consequences of my "lost summer."

I spent a good twenty minutes hauling multiple plastic containers out of my fridge and seriously grossing out over their contents before tossing them into the garbage. YUCK!!! Several of them seemed to have burgeoning populations of possible intelligence, because I swear some of them waved at me just before I chucked them in the trash. And I'm not even sure what half of the food was (I'm not sure I want to know, to tell you the truth!), because most of it was unlabeled, though I was rather horrified to discover a few that did have names and dates written across the top, by me back in June!.

*shudders*

Poor THO, trying so hard to keep up with everything while I was incapacitated. Though even when I'm my usual bouncy self, he doesn't label the leftovers before they go into the fridge. And he teases me about my habit of doing that, though he refuses to eat anything in a container that isn't labeled. Which might explain the amount of containers with nasty science experiments in my fridge!

See, a couple of years ago, I got tired of pulling out plastic containers of food in the fridge and having to go to THO and say, "What is this? How old is this? I mean, when did it go in the fridge/we last have this, etc, etc." And I also got tired of say, heating up a container of what I thought was spaghetti sauce for lunch, dumping it over freshly cooked noodles, and then discovering that it was Slow Jalopy (Sloppy Joe) sauce. Not bad, but a pretty nasty shock when you're expecting spaghetti sauce!

I had discovered by accident (because of the kids) that dry erase marker on plastic containers rubs off easily. So, I started keeping a dry erase marker in the cabinet, and every time I put away leftovers from dinner (or lunch), I slap the top on, then write something like, "Slow Jalopy, 08-25-09" on it, then pop it in the fridge. No more mystery, no more sniffing dubious contents and trying to guess what it is and if it's still edible.

The few tummy troubles we've ever had greatly decreased after I started doing that!

And though THO teases me about it mercilessly sometimes, saying I'm being all anal about it, or very obsessive compulsive... he refuses to eat anything that isn't labeled. *rolls eyes* This drives me nuts, as he refuses to label anything!!

In other news, I saw the doctor yesterday for my face to face. The node in my lung? Turns out it's on the right side, not the left. It might be scarring from the bouts of pneumonia I've gone through over the last three years, but they're not sure. What bothered my doctor, and she showed me the lab sheet, was that the radiologist who read the CT recommended I get another scan... in one to two years!! She said she wasn't comfortable with that, and wanted me to go in six months. The nodule is only half a centimeter now. If it's still half a centimeter in six months, very likely it's scar tissue. If not, well, we'll deal with that when it comes.

However, when I asked the results of the rest of my lab work, she blinked and went through my file, then said, "What lab work?" Then, before I could say anything, she went back to the day she'd ordered the CT scan and frowned. "Wait... where's the paperwork for your bloodwork?"

She had to hunt down the flaky nurse who had called me and make her look for it, then came back muttering under her breath about "three strikes being fucking over," and "that's it, no more," before she sat down and started looking it over. And then she boggled and said, "When did you last see the endocrinologist?"

"May," I said.

So she went to look at his report, and her boggle got bigger, and she frowned, and said, "Your TSH(thyroid stimulating hormone) was at 3.0 in May, which was a little high, but you were doing so well that he decided to keep it there. However, two weeks ago, your TSH dropped. Dramatically." And she pointed at it.

And I boggled. Because it said, "0.1."

What does that mean? It means... too much thyroid hormone, meaning something wonky is going on with my thyroid... again.

So, she decreased the dosage of my medication, and I am going to call the endocrinologist to get in A.S.A.P. to see what needs to be done.

Because I'm telling you, I am so friggin' tired of this. I mean, Tuesday, I went grocery shopping, and it was a big shop because, well, I've been sick and unable to do it all summer, right? So, I was basically playing catch-up, and went fully intending to do my usual lightning fast grocery shop. I had my list, I know where everything is in the store, no kids with me to slow me down, it's very much veni, vidi, vici, grocery-style!

But Tuesday... not so much. Tuesday, what usually takes me an hour and a half, tops, took me... nearly three hours. I barely had enough time when I was done to run home, throw all the cold stuff in the fridge, and race to pick up the kids. As it was, I was ten minutes late to pick up the Impossible Son, which upset him greatly. Not because he didn't think I was coming, because he knows I will always come get him, but because I hadn't called the school to send him a message about it. Which I always do if I am running late for any reason.

At least I had him and Miss Priss to help me put the rest of the groceries away after!

The irony in all this is that the Asthma Monster has been abnormally quiet since the near pneumonia in June, knock on wood, and on that front... I'm doing great! And my heart's been behaving well, too, which is... unusual, but hey, I'll roll with it! Now if we can just get the rest of me to cooperate, things will be just peachy!!

As I excitedly mentioned to thanfiction last night...

I was putting my hair up in a ponytail the other day and suddenly noticed that the bald patches aren't so visible any more, and when I looked even closer... there's short HAIR...

MY HAIR IS COMING BACK!!!!

*squees with excitement and joy*

My hair is coming back, my hair is coming back, oh, joy, oh, frabjous day, glory and trumpets, y'all, MY HAIR IS GROWING AGAIN!!!!

And I almost don't mind that in less than an hour, my house will seem overly full of teenage girls. Okay, so there will only be two, but still, the Impossible Son and I will be outnumbered. But... I don't care at the moment because MY HAIR IS COMING BACK!!!

*skips off happily to do the dishes*

it's been a long, long day. And I haven't looked at LJ all day, and omg, I MISSED YOU ALL!!

*hugs her computer*

The Husbandly One took today off, so after we sent the kids to school, we took a little, er... personal time, and then headed to the post office to mail off some books, hit the pharmacy, our credit union, and then our vet to get some Advantage to tame the Flea Infestation of Doom. All in the name of getting some errands out of the way.

And then, I had an appointment with the endocrinologist, which was all good news. He kind of wanted to drop the dosage of my thyroid medication, but then he took a look at me and said, "Auntie, this is the most energetic and bouncy I've seen you since you started coming to see me. You know what? I like that. So... let's keep the dosage where it is now. It's not affecting your heart apparently, since you're not having any episodes, so let's just keep it here for now, and I'll see you in six months!!"

Have I mentioned how much I love this doctor?

*does cartwheels and terrifies the cats*

Even better, the Lump has not grown, so... YAY!!!!

*doesn't do more cartwheels because... the cats are traumatized enough*

And now, in celebration, I shall go outside and weed the tomatoes, which are coming along beautifully! WHEEEEE!!!!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, but I had to sort of absorb and process it all first, and I was also caught up in helping Mr. Manzie get his Valentines ready for today, especially for his three favorite girls.

*pauses to roll eyes*

That's right. My son doesn't have a girlfriend. He has a harem. Or maybe, it should be the harem has him, since I understand this involves a great deal of chasing Mr. Manzie around the playground with lots of giggling until he lets them catch him. He won't specify what happens when he gets caught, though!

Well, down to the gist of it, I guess!

First off, the Lump. Yes, I shall call it Lump, and it shall be mine, and it shall be my Lump... er... um... sorry, I was sort of channeling "Finding Nemo" there for a second. ANYWAY, right, the Lump. Well, it's benign, and may be waxing and waning along with my monthly cycle, since it gets uncomfortable for a few days, and then seems to ease off. Since my thyroid is basically dead, there is really nothing they can do medically for it... except remove it, and that requires surgery. And he doesn't want to do surgery on me unless its medically necessary, or it becomes painful, starts really growing, and doesn't stop, etc. And I'm okay with that. Besides, he wants to see me in three months to see if there are any changes and see if it needs to be scanned again, etc.

So, I feel better about that.

The blood tests. Well, aside from the thyroid, and another little problem which shall remain unmentioned, I am disgustingly healthy. Which was all kinds of happy making on my part. My cholesterol levels are insanely good, no signs of pre-diabetes (which was a concern), and though my thyroid levels are still a little off, it's a work in progress, so... it's all good!

There were some other concerns which could have been dealt with hormonally (which after some discussion about family history was nixed), with another change in diet, and more exercise, or with medication. Since he knows I hate taking medications, we're giving option number two a chance, and that will be evaluated in three months as well. Since spring soccer will be starting March 7, and practices are already underway, plus Miss Priss wants to really start training both for track and soccer, the exercise portion will not be a problem. And we're already doing another overhaul on our menus, so that will be changed, too.

I fell off going to the track just before Thanksgiving, thanks to the odd little virus I had then, and then our Christmas-From-Hell. I started back on Monday (oh, my aching muscles!), so we shall just see how it goes, ne?

And thanfiction, I am still working on my piece for you. My model keeps getting up and walking away, but I plan to tie him to a chair tonight so I can finish the damn thing up. I will hopefully post it sometime this weekend. Hopefully.

So... I went to get my hair cut today and ... *sigh*

Y'all know my hair has been falling out, right? I had counted myself most fortunate to have had very thick hair, so that it wasn't obvious my hair was falling out. And now that my medication dosage has been increased, it's not falling out in handfuls anymore.

However, my stylist was running her fingers through it and said, "Aw, all the curly, wavy hair that gave your hair such body is... gone."

O_O

"What???" I said, even though I had been staring at my hair gloomily the last few weeks, wondering why it was so... flat. Even my cowlick has been lacking in enthusiasm. It was awful to hear it.

"Yeah," she said, stepping back to look at it critically. "Even if I only cut off an inch, that's going to take what little curl you have left completely off."

You'd think that would have been the worst of the bad news.

After she'd cut about two, three inches off, she said, "Oh, dear."

I didn't want to know.

"You know, the hair on the sides of our head is normally thinner than what's on the back," she began cautiously.

"And?" I said, wincing.

"Well... yours is... very thin. I'm sorry. This cut I'm giving you? It's not going to lay right, and right now, no matter what I do, it isn't going to lay right." And I know she's right. She's the best stylist I've had in ages, and has given me a number of good cuts. But this time... "Tell you what, I'm going to layer it for movement, we'll wait a few weeks, and then I want you to come back and we'll see what we can do."

In all honesty, she did give me a great cut, it's just... the back is really full compared to the sides and... you know, I'm really, really tempted to get the buzz cutter and just... get rid of it all.

I can feel how thin it is now. Ugh, how depressing.

I know! I'll get a MOHAWK!!! NO MORE THIN SIDES!!! WOOT!!

Yeah, I know, I just... like to pretend.

You know what sucks worse than having cold flashes?

Having cold flashes when you're standing outside, it's 34, and the windchill is 25, and you couldn't find your thermal underwear, so you're bundled up as best you can , but you had to give your hat to your son because his ears are the only part of him that are cold, so you're in your jacket, your scarf wrapped around your neck, and your gloves are on your hands... and then you get a cold flash.

We went to see a lighted display in Wimberley, one of those ones you walk through, and it was pretty cool. But I was freezing my butt off, I tell you true! Thank heavens, I found the wool socks I was issued way back when in boot camp, and I think my feet were the warmest part of me!! Most of it was pretty sheltered from the wind, and I was okay, but then... a cold flash hit me.

You know, most women my age get HOT flashes. No, not Auntie. It starts on my back and I start shivering. Then my arms start crawling, and the next thing I know, I'm FREEZING!!

And this is even when I'm sitting in a warm room! So you can imagine what it was like for me last night!

My kids TAUNTED me, I swear. Miss Priss was wearing a light jacket (the same one she wore for Halloween) and a hooded sweater over that. And that's it. She wasn't even wearing socks under her boots!!

And the Impossible Son was wearing a jacket, but... the only real concession to cold that he made was that his ears were cold. So... in a fit of motherly sacrifice... I gave him my hat.

*sigh*

There was a really cool section where a series of pipes of different sizes had been set up for kids to bang on and make music. Mallets had been made with old golf balls on dowels, and the kids had a fine old time making music. There was also a group of different sizes of wooden planks strung up, marimba-style, that were surprisingly musical and in scale, too! And another wall of different sizes of tire rims that made a steel drum sort of sound. It reminded me of how my dad used to make wind chimes out of old bits of metal pipe and tubing he had around the garage and hang them in the back hard with ringers made of nuts, bolts, and bits of wood. They were unexpectedly sweet sounding, and his favorite way of recycling those bits from his projects that he couldn't otherwise use.

Right now, I'm contemplating what gifts I need to finish making (if the kids will let me), which I might take pictures of and show you later. Well... some of them at least. Sweets, I'm afraid you'll be getting your bracelets AFTER Christmas, but you will get them, I promise!

I am also thinking what I housecleaning I need to finish. My mother is coming to stay for a few days after Christmas, which I am looking forward to. It's lonely for her in that house alone, so my sisters and I are trying to be sure to have her come visit as much as possible. However, she's not ready to leave her house yet, and I do completely understand. It's where her memories are, and she and Dad spent most of their married lives in that house. They moved there in 1950 or 1951, I think. They were married for 61 years, which I find all kinds of amazing. So, you could say she's grieving, and she's dealing with it best by staying where her memories are.

I have to say this for my mom. She is not the sort to walk into your house and judge you because it's messy, especially if you have kids. She used to say, "No one ever died from having a messy house. As long as your kitchen and bathroom are clean, what's a few scattered books and toys?" She's also said, "You can have a clean house, or happy kids. You can't have both, unless you're lucky enough to have a maid. In which case, I want to come live with you."

*dimples* See why I love my mom?

She KNOWS... she's BEEN THERE!

Well, I'd better get busy. Soon as I get over my cold flash. Don't worry, the doctor assured me it's my thyroid, and it should improve as we get my dosage adjusted. I'm already doing a lot better energy wise!!

In case I don't get to post again, Merry Christmas, and for my fellow pagans, even though it's already past, Happy Solstice!

Okay, so I saw Dr. Endocrinologist yesterday, and got good news! *see, I spared you all the agony, didn't I? Aren't I nice like that?*

So, the nodule, at this time, is nothing to worry about. It's small, it's benign, it's... well, it's basically on a dead thyroid, and about the only way to really treat it is to do surgery on Auntie and take the entire thyroid gland out, and right now, that's not an option.

Most of the other problems, I'm having are caused by the dosage of my thyroid medication being (puts her hand to her ear to hear the LJ Chorus) TOO LOW!!

*laughs*

So, he has increased my dosage. And what he has said is, "Auntie, this is what we're going to do. I'm raising it this much, and we'll leave it there for a couple of months. If you don't feel better, then we'll raise it a tiny bit again. And if THAT doesn't work, well, Auntie, we'll just keep raising it until you feel like your normal self again!"

Well, he wasn't quite THAT free with it, but pretty close! I do have to have a lot of blood work done, because of another problem I may potentially have, that might be throwing a spanner into the works, so, we will just see what comes up!

All in all, I feel much more optimistic than I have in a long time! He is also going to be sending info and instructions to my regular doctor to explain why my dosage is being increased, and what it means for me, and what he wants to see happen on my next thyroid level check. *does a dance of joy*

Do you know, I had a moment of horror when he was explaining the results of some new studies to me, and what that meant for my thyroid dosage? I thought, because he was saying that my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level was TOO HIGH, and would need to be lowered, well, I thought he was saying my DOSAGE would need to be lowered, and I said, "Oh, geez, Doctor, when MY doctor lowered my dosage to .88, I was MISERABLE! PLEASE don't drop the dosage on me!!"

He looked mildly surprised and said, "Actually, Auntie, I was thinking of INCREASING your dosage, if that's okay!"

If that's okay??? HUZZAH!!!

I bet y'all can just SEE me doing cartwheels right there in the doctor's office, can't y'all? *laughs*

The Husbandly One took off his lunch hour to come hold my hand during the exam and all. It was a great relief to both of us, I must say!

So, I don't even mind that it's 29 outside right now, and I'm wearing 2 pairs of sweatpants (because I can't find my thermals), and a hat, and a scarf. I'm HAPPY!!

*skips off to tackle the Impossble Son's "Bedroom of Doom"*

So... the doctor's office calls.

"Yes, Mrs. J? Your labs are back and though overall, everything looks fine, Dr. R. thinks your levels are a little low so he decided in light of your fatigue, your dosage should be increased."

Talk about anticlimatic. And yes, I made sure it was being increased to the right dosage, and when I called the pharmacy to see if it had been called in, I checked again to see if it was at the right dosage. And I checked it ONE MORE TIME when I picked it up.

It'll be nice to be bouncy, energetic Auntie again, rather than the semi-slug, feeling-like-she's-wading-through-mud Auntie of the past year and a half. My garden misses me. And so do my kids.

Okay, so I decided to give Dr. R. one more chance, mainly because I really, REALLY didn't want to have to drive into Kyle to see a new doc. Besides, I'm cranky and feisty today, so if there's ever a time for me to challenge and snarl at my doctor, today is the day!

So, when I was asked how I was feeling, I nailed him with the Hairy Eyeball and said, "I'm tired. I'm exhausted, and quite frankly, I have Had Enough. It is hard enough keeping up with my two kids, and all the other things I have to do in my life without having to also deal with the fact that my thyroid is kaput, and the medication I'm getting for it is barely enough to keep me functional. You dropped my dosage as an 'experiment' over a year ago. Well, you know what? The experiment is officially over and I want my dosage increased. I want myself back, okay? I want my energy back, I want my metabolism back, and I want to feel normal again. Got that?"

He frowned at me and then shuffled through my chart. "Let's see, what's your dosage? Oh, here it is, 1.0 micrograms..."

"No," I said angrily. "It's .88."

"No, right here, it's 1.0, and here, 1.0..."

Yes, I was doing a slow burn at this point. "Dr. R."

He looked up. "Yes, Mrs. J?"

"Will you please look at the refill list? For the pharmacy?"

He blinked, then flipped pages and said, "Wait. It says 'approved for .88 micrograms'... that's not right."

"Do you mean to tell me," I said, very patiently (well, okay, there was probably a certain amount of huffiness in there, but it was sort of justified, don't you think??), "that you had increased my dosage to 1.0, but the pharmacy has been refilling it at .88 all this time? That you thought I was trying to get you to increase it to, like, 1.25 all this time???"

He had the grace to look sheepish when he said, "Yes."

Yes, I was very, VERY close to ripping all my hair out (which is starting to fall out again, by the way).

I went to have more blood work done this morning, and more to do tomorrow, but GEEZ!!! Yes, I want to have a screaming fit of bad temper right now, though it really wouldn't do much except exhaust me. More, I want to find the nurse who does the pharmacy calls for his office and, I don't know, slap her upside the head with a Clue Stick??

*has a screaming hissy-fit*

You know, this would be funny if it wasn't... MY LIFE!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*stomps off to sulk in corner*