Thank God I found out why I had gained all that weight!

Okay, I am not losing my mind.....yet!

I really was freaking out and could not understand why had I gained 25 lbs in like a month, really 15 days.

I had some blood tests, and they came back really off the charts in the Thyroid department.

So, if you are gaining weight at an alarming rate, and feeling sluggish, sleepy like mono.....get your thyroid checked.

My case is a little different, and there is a possibility that I have Thyroid Cancer, but I am not scared.  I know the chances of it being malignant (they found 3 masses on my thyroid gland, which is like 3x the normal size) all this happened since the 2nd half of January.

At least I told myself that I wasn't losing my mind!!  I was diligently eating, walking etc...(no one believed me, the dr's all thought...."sure this lady is eating wrong or lying")  I know they thought I was lying...they didn't say that, but I could see it in their eyes/facial expressions, and I even went to the ER last summer when I had gained 10 pounds overnight, literally, and was having a hard time breathing...well, my thyroid was probably growing at the time, and pressing in on my trachea.

Anyway, yes, I am now face to face with something I prayed I would never face, Cancer, but like I have told other patients, if you have to have (and no one does) a cancer, this is the one you want.   Its so cureable and has huge success rates, and not spreading like other cancers.

Hopefully the Endocrinologist will get me in there next week for the Ultrasound, and then they are going to do biopsies based on what he sees in the US.  This has only been since Wednesday, so I didn't expect them to submit the paperwork and get it back in 2 days, and they just moved offices, so no equipment, and they are closed this Monday, but you bet I was wanting to get in there today!!!

I have now been on Levothyroxine for 3 days, and already have lost 5 lbs.  I just feel so vindicated in that I was eating low carb, and no more than 1000 calories a day and walking about 1 mile a day when it wasn't raining, and knew people were thinking....yeah right you are sister!

I obviously do not want cancer, but please everyone, pray.

Also, make sure you regularly get your Thyroid levels checked, and the one test they usually do is basic, and without the following, its worthless.

TSH  Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Free T3
Free T4

and Full Thyroid Panel (other sensitivity tests are included, but don't ask me the names, I can't remember)   The most important thing is to make sure the Free T3 and T4's are checked as well as the TSH which is included in the panel.

I was getting a school physical and had my lab slip in my car for 3 weeks (fasting) and so finally one day when I could get there fasting, I added on myself the Free T3/T4, and TSH separately, as my doctor did not request the other tests, and low and behold.....3 days later the call that lifted 100 pounds of weight off my shoulders and made me feel like I was not losing my mind, however the nurse told me my TSH was so high, it was consistant with cancer.   Who cares, it is not because I was being a slug!!

Also, good news......only 5% of Thyroid "cancer scares" are cancer  so 95% are NOT cancer...

and of that 5%, 3% are deadly, so the odds for me are great, and if it is cancer, the cure rate is 97% or better, because it is so slow growing, or in my case, fast, and it doesn't spread, it is self contained due to the fact it stays in the thyroid, they love each other, and don't move out....

So, Jesus is my Doctor, and I am not worried....the weight will come off.

:)

Just wanted to update everyone and make sure you guys check your gland!!

You can feel it as well, in your throat sometimes, so just look at your neck....its skinny now anyway, you should be able to visualize it, I can see my whole gland...yuck, but hey....it will go down :)


Hugs
Thanks,

Deb

I don't know how you knew what tests to add to your lab slip. But, thank goodness you did it. Did your doctor ever wonder how the tests were ordered? It doesn't really matter if he wondered or not because its good the problem was caught. I'm glad you got medication and are losing some of the extra weight now. Take Care!

Hi,

I have a really good friend who had a goider on her thyroid.  She went the opposite direction and lost so much weight, she had to sit on a pillow because her butt bones were making it difficult for her to sit. She ended up having the goider removed and is doing well.  Another friend had Graves disease.  She says God healed her and she has been off medicine for about a year.  I guess I said all this to say, miracles do happen and I pray one for you.  I know mentally you feel so much better.  I know what it's like to get so frustrated you want to scream when people just don't get it.  Take care and keep us posted.

Deb,
Wow, thankfully you knew the questions to ask.  You will definitely be in my prayers.  Take care.
Deb

Deb
  Gald to hear you found out what was causing the wt. gain.  Hope everything turns out okay for you and that you have a full recovery!  Susan T.

Thanks for this post Deb....it's sharing information like this that helps us Sooooooooooo much.

Gald you are back on track and we are here for you 

Take care,
Kathy

Hugsss, I know what you are going through almost.  It is really de ja vu or however it is spelled.
My thyroid functions are a low normal which is nothing new, but they did an cat scan on my lungs after my hernia repair, checking for a blood clot, there wasn't one, thank goodness.

But the mass they had found and drained 2 years ago was back on my Rt Thryroid and pressing into my Trachea.  They scheduled both an ultra sound and then a needle biopsy.

The week between the 2, the Dr called and wanted my Ok to go ahead and set up with surgeon.
The mass is much larger then previously and asymetrical.

They did the Biopsy Thurs and I see surgeon on Tues.  I too am trying not to stress,  I didn't have this surgery and almost die to have cancer!

Yes I know the odds but, I also know that odds don't mean a thing in our family.  And other then 1 aunt, I have outlived the majority of my aunts and uncles and even my mother at the tender age of 57. 

I am sorry if I highjacked this thread....but I did want to let you know that you are not alone.

Hugss

Deb,

Thanks for your post. I am sorry to hear you have to deal with Cancer.

I will be praying for you!!  Please do keep us posted on your progress.


Hugs,
Cathy