Symptoms check

Well, I've been finished with my antibiotic for a week now and I still have that bitter taste. Also, I have some periodic tingling around my lips sometimes, mostly at night, as well as cramp/achy forearm and hand, and my left eye has been twitching on and off for about a week. I started taking calcium about 3 days ago. I'm hoping it will help if this is all a calcium issue. I started exercising on my WiiFit and noticed that after only a couple of days of doing just light/beginner exercises that it left me with extremely aching legs. Not the sore muscle sort of feeling....just the general all over ache in both of my legs and extremely fatigued. I took a day off and then yesterday started a few light exercises again.

Thinking about going back to work on Monday

I was told by my surgeon that I'd be an idiot to go back to work before 2 weeks (I had originally thought I might only be out one week.). He added that it would be wise to stay out for 4 weeks. That seems a bit much. I have felt fairly good this week. I'm still not 100%. But, I'm thinking of going back to work on Monday. I think that getting back into a somewhat normal routine again would also be beneficial. I think I just do better when I have something that I have to do and have somewhere I need to be. I talked with my boss yesterday and he said they were willing to just sort of let me leave when I feel like I need to. I can't ask for much more than that. He had already given away an upcoming call for me for next week, even if I was planning on coming back. I'm thinking that the worst that could happen is that I get there, decide it's too much and just sit out and try again the following week. And, yes....I'm just thinking out loud at this point.

Thyroid crimes and misdemeanors

Earlier, I posted about taking bad advice from those who claim to be thyroid experts. Wow, do those people have issues! It was an online group I had joined for people who had undergone a thyroidectomy. Basically, I asked a question in hopes of comparing post-thyroidectomy symptoms with others experiences. I didn't get a response answering my question. Instead, I got admonished for having 'let' someone take out my thyroid, and was giving unsolicited medical advice. They were telling me specifically that I "should not even think about RAI", and telling me trade names of medications I should be taking instead. Keep in mind, they didn't even know my specific situation. I let it go at first, but when the information kept coming, I posted that they were offering up medical advice and they were being irresponsible in doing so and that in fact, what they were doing was criminal and dangerous. I added that they shouldn't worry about me trying to cause trouble because I was leaving the group/list and I just wanted them to be careful about how they offer up the advice. I suggested that they say in clearer terms what worked for them, but keep in mind that treatment isn't a one size fits all situation.

My leaving didn't satisfy them. They, one of them apparently being the owner of the group, the other a moderator, decided to look up my personal email address after I had already left and began to email me off the list continuing to feed me advice I didn't ask for. I asked both of them to please stop contacting me and that what they did was wrong and that I do not want any more of their advice. I then blocked them from my email. This didn't stop the owner of the group who then decided to use another email address to get to me. At this point, I responded that this was really unethical and that perhaps she needed to get a life and leave me alone. I also informed her that I was going to have to take further action against her to see that she did.

I filled out a TOS abuse complaint to the internet service. They responded to me and informed me that I needed to contact the group owner. I couldn't believe it. I had already explained to them that it was the group owner and a moderator who had harassed me. Finally, today I got another letter back from the service provider asking me to give specific post numbers, etc. so that they could investigate things further. I don't know if I can retrieve the information or not....but, I'm going to do my best to respond to their request so that maybe these people will be a little better regulated.

I'm all for freedom of speech and for talking about what works and what doesn't and what products you might think are better than the next. But, there is a fine line when it comes to advising others on what they should be doing about their health, when you aren't a practitioner. It pains me to think there are some poor victims out there who will actually buy into everything these self proclaimed experts say and not treat their thyroid cancer. A cancer that is unbelievably curable if treated early. It is beyond criminal.

Must be the Lortab

I slept last night. I hadn't slept very much over the last few nights. I'm talking wide awake until like 4:00 or 4:30 am. So, last night I decided to not take my pain medicine and instead take a Lunesta. It worked. No crazy lying in bed eyes wide open. I had actually tried Lunesta after a couple of hours of taking my pain medicine in a desperate attempt to sleep, but with no luck. Therefore....I'm thinking maybe it's the Lortab. My pain at this point is nothing that a little Motrin or Tylenol can't fix. I'm just wishing at this point that I could trade in the Lortab for more Lunesta as I'm down to my last two! At any rate, I have less anxiety about going to bed now for fear of not sleeping.

Beware of bad advice

I first started researching hypothyroidism after a friend from work suggested a site to me. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ And, while I was convinced that I had a lot of those symptoms listed there, I wasn't convinced that all of it was related to my thyroid. So many symptoms are so vague and present in so many disorders such as fatigue and depression, etc. So, what was responsible for what? It's like the chicken and egg question. I was/am definitely impressed with the site. But, still...I can't buy into everything I read on there, especially when the information on some of their links are interpreted from people with no medical background. It's basically their opinions, based on their personal experiences. I mean, it's easy to draw conclusions from information we read, and from some of the things that we experience, but sometimes, those conclusions simply aren't correct. That's why we have schools to help us be equipped to practice medicine. It's a practice. It's not something that if you just read enough you are a doctor, or qualified to practice medicine.

I just posted a comment/question on one of the boards about the bitter taste in my mouth. I was referred to a blog of a thyroid cancer survivor. I was shocked that when I went to it, she advocates saying 'no' to a thyroidectomy, even if you have cancer, as well as RAI. That is irresponsible to me. That's practicing medicine without a degree. I mean...to suggest that there might be other options is one thing...but, to advertise that these things aren't good for you just because it may not have been a smooth course of treatment for you is just criminal.

I'm an open minded person. I believe in traditional medicine and holistic and alternative forms of medicine. I think they each have their place. Let's remember that we are all different. Medicine isn't as much of a science as everyone likes to think. It's a mix of art and science. It takes careful evaluation of each individuals situation to determine the best course of action. It's not a one size fits all world for anything, especially when it comes to our health.

It was a very good day...for thyroidless girls.

You have to sort of say that title to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "It was a very good year...". Anyway, it was. I woke up well, folded some clothes, did some laundry, talked to a couple of friends on the phone, then after a very long nap, helped to take down the Christmas tree. And, sort of kind of threw some dinner together for the fam.

I'm so appreciative of these good days when they occur. I'm trying to put a pattern to them, but so far I cannot. I thought, perhaps it's sleeping better at night that does it...but, that can't be true because last night I barely slept. I thought it was the time between my morning dose of Synthroid and when I eat. But, I've waited both 30 minutes, and 60 minutes. No difference. And, the only other medication I'm taking when I do eat, is/was my antibiotic, and sometimes Tylenol.

I'm thinking it might be mental. Just having someone else around in the mornings sort of gets me going. The simple and basic need of human interaction. I mean, after all...I'm used to being at work by 6:30am and not only interacting with people, but taking care of them. It's times like these, when I know that staying home is what I'm required to do at present, that I don't think I'll do well whenever I do retire. 'Purpose' is a basic need for my psyche. I just need to convince my mind that rest does not equal no purpose.

What is with this bitter taste??

Anyone? Bueller? Since my surgery, I have had this faint, but always present bitter taste in my mouth. I was in a scopolamine fog for a couple of days after surgery, but I'm pretty sure it started even before I was given my first dose of Synthroid. It's a taste that I used to notice when I would occasionally take Lunesta a year or so ago for some chronic insomnia after my mother's death. Only, it's not as strong as that bitter taste. The only other thing I can think that it might be is the antibiotic, clindamycin, that I just finished. I guess that will be my answer if this bitterness goes away in a few days, since I just finished the last dose. Anyway....I'll do a search on the web as well, but is there anyone out there who tastes this as well?