Thyroid Update

Well, we are back from camping and I am sooo exhausted. It takes a lot of energy to relax and have fun. But to quickly answer several comments- Mommy had fun just having everyone else occupied. I got to sit by the pool while the girls splashed in the baby pool, the boys were off playing video games and Chuck was fishing. I will post some pictures later but I wanted to get this posted for Miracle Monday-

I don't remember where I left off in my last post regarding my thyroid... I guess I could go back and re-read, but Nah... Hmmm, lets see. Oh yes. Dr Personality. I went to his office to follow up on the biopsy and CT scan. I already knew my results but I was curious as to what he would say. He felt around on my neck, then asked if I had photo copies of my CT scan. No, I didn't because he never told me I needed to ask for any... grrrrr... He basically ended the appointment there with- "Reschedule for next week and stop by radiology and ask for film of your CT scan"... well, ok. This was pointless and a waste of my time...

As irritated as I was, I figured picking up the pictures would be a positive thing. I could take them with me to my Endocrinologist appointment... not until Sept 2... I went ahead and made an appointment before I left his office, not sure if I was going to keep it or not. I called the hospital and they had the pictures ready in an hour. I thought about calling his office and demanding that he see me now since I had the results... but I didn't...

Since I can't get in to see the Endocrinologist until September, I have been really anxious about the process being delayed. I made a few calls to the Doctor's office checking to make sure they got all my information and if they had any earlier appointments open up. The scheduling nurse suggested I call the referring Dr and have them resend my information with a hand written message that this needs immediate attention. I thanked her for her help and did exactly what she suggested.

A few days later I heard a radio commercial about an Endocrinologist taking appointments at a more local hospital and considered calling them. I hem-hawed around, trying to make up my mind feeling like maybe I was pushing too hard and just going to make things more confusing for myself. I decided to step back and take a breath, keep my appointment with Dr Personality, and see where that led me.

Struggling over the past few weeks with trying to figure out the best and quickest way to resolve my thyroid problem, I remembered a sermon I heard when I was 10 or 11.

Monte preached on people standing still expecting God to do all the work. I remember him saying that it is very difficult to move a horse that is standing still. Once the horse starts walking, it is much easier to lead him in the direction you want to go.

Moving my feet and making sure things are progressing (being impatient) has never been a problem for me. It's the waiting for direction that I have trouble with. So standing at a cross roads... so to speak... I was becoming very frustrated because I didn't know which direction to take... Should I call every Endocrinologist in the book to see who I can get in to see the quickest? Do I call several Surgeons to see who has appointments available? Or should I just wait?... I decided to pause for a moment... sort of 'walk in place'... and see what opened up. I let go and let God. I let Him give me direction, and He did.

Last Thursday was my appointment with Dr Personality. I made sure I had the CT pictures with me... they are very cool, btw. Interesting to see ones insides from that point of view... In my previous visits with him I have learned that I have to make him talk to me. Which he does warm up a bit and carry on a small conversation... but we are talking warming up from an iceberg so it's still plenty cold (impersonable)...

The appointment was short, sweet... considering... and to the point. As he felt around on my neck and I asked if he could feel it (my large thyroid). Other than a small raised area in the lower part of my neck, NO. Which considering how large this thing is, it's a little surprising that there isn't more visible signs of it. There were several pictures of the scan and he showed me where it came down below my collar bone... its there on paper and if it hadn't been for the scan, I don't think anyone would believe how big this thing is...

His final decision was that yes, it needs to come out... I think I already knew that... It was too large and complex for him to deal with so he referred me on... whoo hoo! that's what I wanted... To a specialist at UC.

The Dr (ENT/ Surgeon) he referred me to is one that I found when I first started researching thyroid surgery. The one that I wanted to ask him to refer me to at my first appointment with him... See, being still (patient) can be a good thing. Letting go and letting God. He always works it out... The appointment with the Specialist is for Aug 13, which is much quicker than I had expected.

And to further prove His total concern and complete control of our lives, I got a call from the Endocrinologist office. They had an appointment come up but we were going to be on our camping trip. I was totally ok and relaxed that I turned this appointment down. I told the nurse that I had an appointment on the 13 with Dr Specialist. When I mentioned the Dr's names the nurse said that was perfect because the Endocrinologist and Dr Specialist work very well together and speak on a daily basis. She would let her Dr know and then she could discuss my case with Dr Specialist after my appointment with him- that way she would have all my info when I went in to see her... now how is that for orchestrating the perfect scenario...