So I have been contemplating this blog post for the last month or so. But had been not ready to really put this out there. But after doing a lot of thinking about it decided I would. I have been pretty quiet about my health as I didn't want others to worry about me. I didn't want to hear judgments and I was trying to still wrap my head around this new development in my life.
If you have seen me between March and September, you may have noticed that I look like I've lost weight. I put the scale away in march and didn't pull it back out until July after we moved. So I was not really aware that I was losing weight. But in July/August when I weighed I realized I had lost 35 pounds. By September I had lost 55 pounds.
I didn't really worry about this. Afterall it was a good thing for me to lose the weight. The weird part was that I was fatigued all the time, thirsty, having hot flashes and a few other symptoms that finally drove me to the doctor. And I wasn't doing anything to lose the weight, it was coming off despite what and how much I ate and it was happening rapidly.
I was due to have some routine tests done as follow up from some concerns that came up while I was pregnant. Remember that I had gestational diabetes with both girls, and on insulin with Addison. Well the test showed that I was diabetic (type 2) and that my thyroid continues to work overtime.
First the diabetes. . . my A1C number was 13- which measures my blood sugars for about 3 months, instead of just the finger pricks that measure the blood sugars for that moment. An A1C of 13 suggested that my blood sugars were averaging around 350-400 for the last couple of months. This was a dangerously high number.
So my dr and I decided we would try some oral medications, I would watch my diet and I would be better about exercise. Within 1 week my numbers were closer to 200. And I started to have blurry vision, to the point where I couldn't drive, and I was off work for 7 full days and part time for 1 1/2 weeks due to the vision, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. It was a reaction to us dropping my blood sugars so drastically so quickly.
I have been on the medications and following all recommendations for the last month- my blood sugars now overall average b/n 135-175. To give you an idea a fasting (morning) blood sugar should be below 90, and before meals should be between 90 and 120. When I was pregnant I always had difficulties with my fasting numbers, and I continue to experience this.
So now my new best friends include:
Nutritional information- watching my carb intake and really being careful to have less carbs in my diet.
And my meter- This freaks the girls out just a bit. When Addison sees me grab my kit she sits with me and says "Owiee". I try to reassure her that this does not hurt mommy. Hannah doesn't like to see the blood, but is able to understand that mommy does this to help me know how my body is working and that I am working on keeping myself healthier.
I haven't had a hot flash in over 4 weeks. I have more energy and feel better. The diabetes is definitely a challenge and my whole family is relearning how to eat, what to eat, how much to eat. It's a learning curve that's for sure, but we are figuring it out.
As for the thyroid-
I have hyperthyroidism, my thyroid is making more hormone than it needs to- which could be part of the weight loss and hot flashes. At first there wasn't much concern about the thyroid. I had an ultrasound, and was asked to make an appointment to meet the endocrinologist. In my meeting with him, I was informed that I actually have multiple lumps on my thyroid. On the right side there is a larger nodule present. The plan for this side is to do a "nuclear scan" where I ingest a pill that will travel to the thyroid and then a few hours later I have a scan done to see what happens. The idea being if the nodule is a "hot nodule" that it is not something that I need to worry about, though it will continue to produce extra hormone, this has some long term effects, but it's less harmful to live with it that way, then to reverse it or have it removed and then have to take a medication daily for the remainder of my life. As for the left side, I have several lumps present. None very large. The plan for this is I need to decide if I want to have a biopsy done to evaluate if there is any need for concern or I can decide to not do the biopsy and I will see the endocrinologist on a yearly basis and he would keep an eye on the size of the thyroid and lumps and me make a plan as things change, if they change- there is no guarantee that things will change.
I have the nuclear scan actually in a few days. That will be the start of my decision making for future treatment and plan to address the thyroid condition. As of right now the symptoms that I have from the thyroidism are minor and liveable- the weight loss has slowed down which I believe is due to better control of the blood sugars, the only other symptom I'm having is shedding of my hair- thank goodness I have very thick hair and can thus live with a little extra shedding.
So for those that have made it this far- let it be known that I'm doing actually quite well. I am making some changes in my life that I know I should have made some time ago- but I hadn't had my awakening yet. But you better believe that I'm not going to let this get the best of me. Instead I'm fighting back and Im working on taking better care of myself and in turn teaching my family how to better take care of themselves also.
Please don't be concerned- please don't be worried. I'm actually dong really well. I have a great team that I am working with. I have a very supportive dr that I talk to on a weekly basis to check in about my numbers and medications, so that's been very positive. I'm thankful for the medical benefits I have through work, it makes it all manageable.
<3 Jessy
If you have seen me between March and September, you may have noticed that I look like I've lost weight. I put the scale away in march and didn't pull it back out until July after we moved. So I was not really aware that I was losing weight. But in July/August when I weighed I realized I had lost 35 pounds. By September I had lost 55 pounds.
I didn't really worry about this. Afterall it was a good thing for me to lose the weight. The weird part was that I was fatigued all the time, thirsty, having hot flashes and a few other symptoms that finally drove me to the doctor. And I wasn't doing anything to lose the weight, it was coming off despite what and how much I ate and it was happening rapidly.
I was due to have some routine tests done as follow up from some concerns that came up while I was pregnant. Remember that I had gestational diabetes with both girls, and on insulin with Addison. Well the test showed that I was diabetic (type 2) and that my thyroid continues to work overtime.
First the diabetes. . . my A1C number was 13- which measures my blood sugars for about 3 months, instead of just the finger pricks that measure the blood sugars for that moment. An A1C of 13 suggested that my blood sugars were averaging around 350-400 for the last couple of months. This was a dangerously high number.
So my dr and I decided we would try some oral medications, I would watch my diet and I would be better about exercise. Within 1 week my numbers were closer to 200. And I started to have blurry vision, to the point where I couldn't drive, and I was off work for 7 full days and part time for 1 1/2 weeks due to the vision, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. It was a reaction to us dropping my blood sugars so drastically so quickly.
I have been on the medications and following all recommendations for the last month- my blood sugars now overall average b/n 135-175. To give you an idea a fasting (morning) blood sugar should be below 90, and before meals should be between 90 and 120. When I was pregnant I always had difficulties with my fasting numbers, and I continue to experience this.
So now my new best friends include:
Nutritional information- watching my carb intake and really being careful to have less carbs in my diet.
And my meter- This freaks the girls out just a bit. When Addison sees me grab my kit she sits with me and says "Owiee". I try to reassure her that this does not hurt mommy. Hannah doesn't like to see the blood, but is able to understand that mommy does this to help me know how my body is working and that I am working on keeping myself healthier.
I haven't had a hot flash in over 4 weeks. I have more energy and feel better. The diabetes is definitely a challenge and my whole family is relearning how to eat, what to eat, how much to eat. It's a learning curve that's for sure, but we are figuring it out.
As for the thyroid-
I have hyperthyroidism, my thyroid is making more hormone than it needs to- which could be part of the weight loss and hot flashes. At first there wasn't much concern about the thyroid. I had an ultrasound, and was asked to make an appointment to meet the endocrinologist. In my meeting with him, I was informed that I actually have multiple lumps on my thyroid. On the right side there is a larger nodule present. The plan for this side is to do a "nuclear scan" where I ingest a pill that will travel to the thyroid and then a few hours later I have a scan done to see what happens. The idea being if the nodule is a "hot nodule" that it is not something that I need to worry about, though it will continue to produce extra hormone, this has some long term effects, but it's less harmful to live with it that way, then to reverse it or have it removed and then have to take a medication daily for the remainder of my life. As for the left side, I have several lumps present. None very large. The plan for this is I need to decide if I want to have a biopsy done to evaluate if there is any need for concern or I can decide to not do the biopsy and I will see the endocrinologist on a yearly basis and he would keep an eye on the size of the thyroid and lumps and me make a plan as things change, if they change- there is no guarantee that things will change.
I have the nuclear scan actually in a few days. That will be the start of my decision making for future treatment and plan to address the thyroid condition. As of right now the symptoms that I have from the thyroidism are minor and liveable- the weight loss has slowed down which I believe is due to better control of the blood sugars, the only other symptom I'm having is shedding of my hair- thank goodness I have very thick hair and can thus live with a little extra shedding.
So for those that have made it this far- let it be known that I'm doing actually quite well. I am making some changes in my life that I know I should have made some time ago- but I hadn't had my awakening yet. But you better believe that I'm not going to let this get the best of me. Instead I'm fighting back and Im working on taking better care of myself and in turn teaching my family how to better take care of themselves also.
Please don't be concerned- please don't be worried. I'm actually dong really well. I have a great team that I am working with. I have a very supportive dr that I talk to on a weekly basis to check in about my numbers and medications, so that's been very positive. I'm thankful for the medical benefits I have through work, it makes it all manageable.
<3 Jessy
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