Searching For An Answer...is it Thyroid Cancer?

Getting my diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer took unneeded time, and valuable years of my life.  Looking back, there was evidence from a CT scan done in 2011 that certainly should have been utilized.  I was not diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer until 2014.   

That scan is referenced here, in a post titled: A Jawdropping CT Scan.   This was a thoracic spine study which incidentally showed a mass on my thyroid-- which was ignored by the ordering physician; ignored like many other issues he should have acted on.  I didn't know about the mass until I got a copy of the scan much later.  That doctor made some big mistakes in my care.  That scan should have had him immediately send me to two specialists: an Endocrinologist and a Pain Management doctor, as he was prescribing my medication, which was ineffective.  I was pleading with him to refer me to a pain doctor, as he knew I would not have anymore spine surgeries, and I was also very interested in the intrathecal pain pump.  That all starts with seeing a pain management physician.  His office was not known for timely referrals, or in my case, a referral at all.  

Those 3-4 years between a mass first seen on my thyroid, and getting a cancer diagnosis, were very tough times.  I had severe insomnia, unable to sleep for three months, after staring at the ceiling all night, sleeping on the couch because my boyfriend snored something horrible (and was abusive) I sometimes caught a quick nap as it neared early morning, then being awoken by his alarm, it was impossible to go back to sleep.  I was absolutely dragging through each day.  

I had a rapid heart rate which presented itself on my shirt-- moving with each beat, it was so strong.  That heart rate contributed to feeling extremely anxious during those 3 months of no sleep.  That kind of insomnia is akin to what is done during prisoner torture--keeping a person from sleeping for weeks, months at a time.  It makes you feel like you are going crazy; it causes psychosis.  

Brain fog followed right along.  Mix all of those symptoms up and I was a candidate for the psychiatric department like so many misdiagnosed thyroid patients.  Untreated thyroid disorders can mimic mental health symptoms.

I showed as 'euthyroid' in thyroid blood work, which is normal levels.  So anytime I was tested for thyroid disease, it was all normal, yet I had cancer growing in 2 of the 4 masses on my thyroid.  I came to learn that doctors can not rely on blood tests alone for finding disease in the thyroid.  I was a perfect example of that.  

I fought for my own health.  I took the initiative to press on about how I felt, my symptoms, the need to find out what was wrong with me.  Then my angel showed up.  God made sure I  wasn't alone in my fight, in finding out what was happening to me.

Next: Asking for help....An Angel showed up..

   

Gentle Hugs....and a tolerable pain day