Monday, October 1, 2012

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I met with the endo on Thursday and he gave me the results of my scans and tests.....He confirmed I have Graves Disease - Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Sounds terrible but it just means my thyroid is over producing hormones. I had three options, 1) Take medication twice a day for almost 2 years (it takes a while for the medicine to kick in and it's not 100%) 2) have the thyroid removed by surgery. Of course there are the risks that come with any surgery. 3) Swallow a radioactive iodine pill that attacks the thyroid. (I would pretty much be quarantined for at least 3 days and the pill is not 100%, no thanks!!! So I opted for the meds! Of course I googled and SHOULDN'T have. I started taking them on Friday. So far I haven't had any side affects. I can tell that my heart rate is slower and I haven't noticed any palpitations. Which is a good thing because when your thyroid is HYPER, it means your whole body is running a marathon 24/7.Graves Disease is actually way more common than I thought. I have had a few people reach out to me saying they too, have Graves. CRAZY! GD is more common in females from age 20-40. I have a friend (who I had no idea was struggling with the same thing as me) who is having her thyroid surgically removed on Wednesday! If you get a chance, say a little prayer for her. She is going to get back with me and let me know how it goes. Surgery was just too drastic for me. I thought I'd at least start the meds and if I didn't have any issues on them, just continue with them. I go back in 6 weeks for a blood test. One of the side effects if the medication lowering your blood levels. SO if I'm good to go, we'll continue on the same dose. Hopefully I can continue taking these and they will ease all the symptoms I have from Graves' and in the long run they thyroid will cure itself and stop producing as much hormone. The endo did suggest we hold off on getting pregnant. We were just getting ready to start trying to have another child and all of this happened. And thank the Good Lord that it did. If I hadn't gone for my yearly, I would have never known about any of this and I could have gotten pregnant and had complications. So when the dust settles and I'm in the clear, IT'S BABY MAKING TIME :)

Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers. I don't know who all reads this stuff, its mainly just my way of venting and writing things down and a keepsake for Hudson when he is older. But thank you all, it means so much!

3 comments:

  1. Ashley, I hate to hear that but it sounds like your dr isn't too concerned and can be fixed so that's a huge PLUS. I have the opposite problem but have to take meds forever so you definitely aren't alone. I think you made the right choice..that iodine pill sounds awful!! God's timing is perfect so he just wanted you to wait a little bit for that perfect baby :)

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  2. Thanks so much sweet Jodi!! God sure knows what he's doing and I'm thankful for his plan, even if it isn't exactly like mine. I have faith this will all work itself out.

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  3. God is clearly watching over you! Hope you have no side effects from the meds, and will still continue to pray for you Ashely!

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