"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive." Anaïs Nin


Need to change text size? Click one of these:
Small Medium Large Larger Largest

Want to read this post later? Send it to your Kindle reader:

Send to Kindle

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Surgery and Recovery Update

As many of you know, I had major surgery done about four months ago. If you missed that post, you can read it here (I went to get tested and fitted for new  hearing aids and ended up having surgery instead.) 

The road to recovery has been an interesting one. 





I used to be hypothyroid, diagnosed decades ago with Hashimoto's Disease. 
I never did feel like my old self after I started the medication. It helped with a few of the symptoms, but only a few.

Since this surgery in October, my body has been going through a lot of changes. I actually went from having a low (hypo-underactive) thyroid is to having a hyperthyroid (over-active) thyroid. I went from one end of the thyroid spectrum to the other end in a matter of months. Neither is good, so we are striving to find the healthy balance between the two.





The wonderful thing about the surgery is that the night I came home I was not clearing my throat all night. Fabulous Husband noticed right away. Another plus - I got my balance back and I haven't been getting as dizzy or falling down. I'm also not dropping things as I was because the diseased thyroid was pressing against my nerve. I'm also swallowing better than I have in six years.  





Now, I am having difficulty sleeping and just being at rest. But because I am tired from lack of sleep, I've had brain fog and not feeling myself. I've had a few days where I "functioned" on only 2 hours of sleep within a 24 hour span. This is why I've not been blogging quite as much and I've been re-publishing some of my earlier posts on the blog. 



I saw an endocrinologist last Friday. We're going to try a new medication combined with the the thyroid medication I'm already on. We are also going to be lowering the Synthroid dosage. It will take four, possibly six weeks before the effects can be felt. I'm optimistic that I am going to feel better than I have in years once we get the medications adjusted. 





The recovery at first was rather brutal, but it was well worth the surgery. I'm looking toward to being at my most optimum health in the next few months. In the meantime, I've been taking things slow. I've been on sabbatical from school, and just enjoying the process of being home taking care of my body, being gentle with myself and allowing the healing process to do its thing.


8 comments:

  1. Take things easy. I hope you feel better and find your recovery coming along very soon. x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, Liz. Each week is a little better.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am glad you are doing better and that recovery is moving along! I wish you all the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I finally stopped to read the whole thing and was relieved to see that you weren't talking about an altogether new surgery! I'm glad you're being pro-active and doing what you need to do to feel as well as possible. Take care!

      Delete
  4. Get better fast. Summer will be here soon and looking forward to reading more about you, fabulous husband and the bear's wonderful summer travel adventures. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a nice thing to say! Thank you, Neil. I'm working on it. :-)

      Delete