Wow, I haven't updated my health related blog in ages. So much has changed in my life since that last update.
Life is good! I came out of retirement to be the Interim Principal at the Catholic School that is a part of my local parish. It's a daily reminder of how much I've aged...the arthritis pain is still there and I'm still tired, but overall I keep up okay with those Kindergarteners through 6th graders. In a big way, they keep me young, and smiling! Every day is an adventure and I'm learning a ton of stuff - things I never really knew about in the world of education. My hat goes off to anyone who works with our youth. Teachers are truly amazing.
Back to my health. My hyperparathyroidism seems to be okay. I'm stable. Calcium is low normal and PTH has settled back into the normal range. I started a bisphosphonate. I'm not happy about that, but it was time. I had so much bone loss that I couldn't put it off any longer. I'm glad I stalled for two years. In that time, I needed a dental implant. The tooth that died in a car accident when I was a kid finally caught up with me. Jaw bone health is an issue with bisphosphonates, so I'm grateful that implant was completed before I started on the Alendronate (Fosamax).
So let's talk about thyroid cancer. Sigh. I went to Mayo summer 2024. It's the first ultrasound I've had since 2012 where the news was worrisome. And, I had to fight for that ultrasound!! My previous Endo retired. His notes said I was due for a neck ultrasound in 2024. Mayo tried to insist that I'm so far out from my last thyroid cancer recurrence that I didn't need anything done this year. So I advocated for myself and finally got that valued Mayo appointment - and lucky thing I did! The pesky lymph node that was treated with ethanol alcohol had been impossible to locate until last summer. It was peanut shaped in 2012 and it decided to grow some, and it's still peanut shaped. While my Tg (cancer marker) is still undetectable, this growth has my provider concerned and she wants to "hit it with another round of ethanol." If that wasn't enough, the ultrasound also found 5 or 6 worrisome lymph nodes, all without the fatty hilum. Of course, she had a plan. She wanted me back in 3-6 months for that plan to be completed. But, that would've interfered with school. I asked her if she was comfortable waiting until Spring Break which will be 8 months. She was okay with that. So, here's the plan:
Visit Mayo on Monday of Spring Break - Ultrasound. Same day, biopsies of the lymph nodes (oh yay, 7 or so pokes in the neck - or at least for the ones big enough to biopsy). Hopefully those lymph nodes don't look so suspicious this time around. Anyway, on the Tuesday, I see my provider and find out the results. On the Wednesday I am scheduled for ethanol ablation, if needed (probably needed for at least the 2012 lymph node). Oh yay...more pokes in the neck...3-4 per lymph node. Then on Thursday I am scheduled for day two of the ethanol ablation...so more pokes. It'll be painful, but I can handle pain. I'm more concerned about the risks to the local structures - in particular my laryngeal nerve. My ability to sing is pretty much gone - I have a small range and only the ability to sing a few notes before my voice pretty much cracks. My speaking voice is fine if I build in voice rest, and if I don't get sick. If I can come out of this round of treatment with the same voice, I'll be thrilled and grateful to the Lord!
It's worth mentioning that I'm no longer with ThyCa. I ended my service on their Board at the conference in Houston in September. It is important that I listen to my own heart and put my energy and time into educating future saints! It's amazing to be in the business of saving souls and helping grow the school. Frankly, there's just not time to support a secular non-profit when I'm working for a Catholic non-profit. As for my passion for the Low Iodine Diet, I like the ETC LID (Everyday Thyroid Cancer) - it's out of Canada and their philosophy on the LID is more aligned with mine. Find them on Facebook.
Let's talk about back health. My fusion of L4/L5 was in 2016. I do have some of the symptoms that started about 10 years before I caved in and did the fusion. The leg numbness comes back when I'm on my feet for a while (which is often at school). So I try to get to a chair or a bench often. Sitting is essential. With some field trips coming up, I do wonder how I'll get through those days...but some how it will work out (scooter rentals anyone??)
I'll try to log in again after Spring Break with an update. It's in God's hands. He is good and my prayer consistently is "Thy will be done." As always, I offer up my thyroid cancer woes for those with bigger battles like breast cancer, kidney cancer, etc.
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