Current inventory in Pharma de Kelly:
Synthroid- 112 mg
Calcitriol- 25mcg
Hydrochlorothiazide- 25mg
Wellbutrin
Celexa
Calcium 1200mg a day
Vitamin D 2000mg a day
DHEA 25mg every other day
Vitamin B Complex (I like to get the injections too)
Potassium
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Stupid Hypoparathyroid Disorder
I can't believe I haven't wrote about this!
This is the thing, that I hate the most. It has screwed me up in so many ways it's ridiculous!
During my surgery, my super cool enlarged thyroid had swallowed up my four parathyroid glands and they decided they liked it there, so boom, they're gone.
These glands support your calcium absorption in the blood. You have to constantly replenish or your nervous system will fail and you could have a freaking heart attack.
I've had to go to the Emergency Room TWO times, for low blood calcium.
I have found that alcohol drains me of calcium. It's literally like it's sucking it out of my system as I'm snorkeling the booze down.
I now have a low calcium emergency kit!
Here it is:
Gaterade
Xanax
Calcium Pills with Vitamin-D
Potassium
Tums
I think that's it.
When I go into an 'attack', I start to completely freak out and panic. This panic makes my symptoms crawl up and down my back, down to my hands (I call them Barbie Hands) and my whole body starts to freeze up. It is the scariest thing I can imagine.
For those who don't know the symptoms, it's a feeling of tingling, intense tingling and numbness to where your mouth won't even move when you talk. Then my legs can barely move. Arms etc... Once it hits my chest I'm convinced my heart will stop beating.
The one thing I can do to avoid ever going to the ER again? Not drink and don't forget my calcium. Like, Ever!
This is the thing, that I hate the most. It has screwed me up in so many ways it's ridiculous!
During my surgery, my super cool enlarged thyroid had swallowed up my four parathyroid glands and they decided they liked it there, so boom, they're gone.
These glands support your calcium absorption in the blood. You have to constantly replenish or your nervous system will fail and you could have a freaking heart attack.
I've had to go to the Emergency Room TWO times, for low blood calcium.
I have found that alcohol drains me of calcium. It's literally like it's sucking it out of my system as I'm snorkeling the booze down.
I now have a low calcium emergency kit!
Here it is:
Gaterade
Xanax
Calcium Pills with Vitamin-D
Potassium
Tums
I think that's it.
When I go into an 'attack', I start to completely freak out and panic. This panic makes my symptoms crawl up and down my back, down to my hands (I call them Barbie Hands) and my whole body starts to freeze up. It is the scariest thing I can imagine.
For those who don't know the symptoms, it's a feeling of tingling, intense tingling and numbness to where your mouth won't even move when you talk. Then my legs can barely move. Arms etc... Once it hits my chest I'm convinced my heart will stop beating.
The one thing I can do to avoid ever going to the ER again? Not drink and don't forget my calcium. Like, Ever!
5 years gone by...
Wow, it's been five years since my first treatment and I'm cancer free! Woohoo!
I can't believe how many people have viewed my blog, I kind of forgot about it and happened to check it out today, over 600 views!
I hope I have helped a few peeps out there figure this shit out.
So, as I said, I am now 5 years thyroid cancer free. It's a relief for my mind and my wallet.
Last year my tests cost me $2,500, and that was with insurance. It's not cheap to be sick.
I don't know how people can afford to pay their hospital bills. I am still trying to negotiate mine down since I become unemployed in the last month.
Speaking of being unemployed, I had to find new health insurance, and COBRA wasn't an option due to the size of the company (under 20 people).
I was very worried because I know that they can reject me due to "Pre-existing Conditions".
Well, let me tell you. January 2014, no one will be denied, but of course, this is 2013.
I talked to several companies who said I couldn't be covered.
So I called an Insurance Broker locally. He had just set another woman up with insurance who had thyroid cancer and voila, I'm insured.
I do have to pay a little extra due to all the meds I'm on, but for $400 a month, I'm just happy to have it right now. I highly recommend going to someone who knows the companies, can shop around and take the pressure off of you.
Enough about that, I am happy to say that after five years you only have to do the 'stupid diet' like every 3 years or something. Yes, I still hate it!
More to come since I'm unemployed, why not start blogging again!
I can't believe how many people have viewed my blog, I kind of forgot about it and happened to check it out today, over 600 views!
I hope I have helped a few peeps out there figure this shit out.
So, as I said, I am now 5 years thyroid cancer free. It's a relief for my mind and my wallet.
Last year my tests cost me $2,500, and that was with insurance. It's not cheap to be sick.
I don't know how people can afford to pay their hospital bills. I am still trying to negotiate mine down since I become unemployed in the last month.
Speaking of being unemployed, I had to find new health insurance, and COBRA wasn't an option due to the size of the company (under 20 people).
I was very worried because I know that they can reject me due to "Pre-existing Conditions".
Well, let me tell you. January 2014, no one will be denied, but of course, this is 2013.
I talked to several companies who said I couldn't be covered.
So I called an Insurance Broker locally. He had just set another woman up with insurance who had thyroid cancer and voila, I'm insured.
I do have to pay a little extra due to all the meds I'm on, but for $400 a month, I'm just happy to have it right now. I highly recommend going to someone who knows the companies, can shop around and take the pressure off of you.
Enough about that, I am happy to say that after five years you only have to do the 'stupid diet' like every 3 years or something. Yes, I still hate it!
More to come since I'm unemployed, why not start blogging again!
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