Thyroid Results Are In
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Yours Truly
Since Dr. A. Hole wouldn't talk to me and Dr. Fat Fingers wouldn't order the test I wanted, I scheduled an appointment with another endocrinologist for a second opinion and had the blood tests done myself at an independent lab. Of course, the blood tests came back normal but then the symptoms have calmed down considerably so in my mind, certain things can't be ruled out entirely.

I also had the endocrinologist appointment for a second opinion. First and foremost, it's good that there is more than one nodule as that makes the odds of it being cancer go way down. The doctor even did the hand swipe across the brow move to emphasize the point. She allayed our new fear, brought on by an article in the Wall Street Journal that indicated a 25% false negative rate for thyroid biopsies, by explaining that that rate is for biopsies not guided by ultrasound, which mine was. In my case the false negative rate goes down to 5%. Secondly, the symptoms I was feeling could have been caused by thyroid hormone leaking out of the nodule when they did the biopsy. Lastly, people live with nodules all the time - some shrink, some stay the same, and some grow bigger. If it gets up to 4cm, then it comes out for sure. So, unless it causes a problem with breathing, swallowing, or unbearable discomfort, it can stay in and they will check it out every six months.

So, for now anyway, all's well that ends well as far as my thyroid is concerned. Only four more days until the dreaded endoscopy.

Sometimes It's Not About Race
Mood:  silly
Topic: Lauren
Lauren came to visit me at work one day while Tony went to the dentist. As we walked down the hall behind a man from a different office, Lauren asked quite loudly and clear as a bell, "Who is that man?". I said I didn't know and then she said, "Well, whoever he is, I just love his hair. It's so black and curly". My first thought was OMG! (he's African American). My mind immediately went into overdrive trying to come up with something to say when he burst out laughing, turned around, and said "She just made my day!". I've seen him since then and he always asks about Lauren. He said he told everyone he knows - his parents, his siblings, his friends. Here I was in a panic and he thought it was great :-)

Upon Further Reflection
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Lauren
Thankfully through the whole thing, Lauren was watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon. One the one hand, it may have been a good thing for her to hear me stand up for her. I was firm but not angry or upset which would be a good thing for her to witness. I didn't say everything I could have - you know, I could have gone on about how everyone has something different about them and that's what makes each person an individual and special. Of course, this little girl was probably barely four years old so it may have been lost on her. Then again, maybe it was enough for her and she'll be better at watching what she's says. I'll never know.

On the other hand, I want to protect her for as long as I can (which I'm sure isn't much longer what with kindergarten next year) and I don't want her to hear or pay attention to such comments.

And on the third hand (there usually seems to be one of those, doesn't there?) she's going to have learn to handle these types of comments on her own. We need to either give her some ideas for replies or make sure that she truly doesn't pay any attention to the remarks.

Hey - wait a minute! I guess it takes writing it down to see that I have to do all three and, in fact, am doing all three. By saying something on her behalf, I'm standing up for her and giving her comments that she will be able to use in the future. And both of those things are protecting her, in the present and in the future.

I'm A Mommy Tiger, Hear Me Roar
Mood:  loud
Topic: Lauren
It happened once before but back then it wasn't clear if the looks were due to the bleph. This time, however, there was no mistaking it.

During our trip to the pediatric opthamologist yesterday, while Lauren's eyes dilated, she and I were sitting in the children's area of the office watching a Tom and Jerry video. In the area with us was another little girl whose mother was out in the main waiting area. The little girl asked, "Why are her eyes like that?". I gave what I thought was an appropriate answer given the girl was probably only 3, if not just barely 4 years old. I simply explained that the lids didn't open all the way. I was expecting her to go about her business but instead I heard, "I don't like that girl because of her eyes". I was shocked and immediately told her, not angrily but firmly, that that was not a nice thing to say. She repeated it. I again told her that wasn't very nice. She repeated it again! Then I said, "You don't even know her. You can't say that if you don't even know her. Besides, it's not a very nice thing to say and you shouldn't say it." Again she started, "But I don't like..." so I shook my head and interrupted saying, "It doesn't matter. It's not a nice thing to say and you shouldn't say it." and then I turned away.

I was tempted to go out in the main area and have a little talk with her mother, but I wasn't sure exactly what to say. How do you go tell someone you've never met before that her daughter needs to be taught not to make such comments? What would I say? "I just wanted you to know that your daughter made a hurtful comment regarding my child"? That feels a bit too much like tattling or even whining. "I think it would be a good opportunity for you to teach her to consider other people's feeling before speaking"? That feels like I'm telling her she's not doing a good job parenting her child. Or maybe these comments would be fine...fine as long as they could be delivered in the right tone. While I was close, I don't think I was quite up to that task.

She Is Sooo Ready!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Lauren
My baby girl is ready for Kindergarten!!

Over the past couple of weeks the school where Lauren will attend kindergarten has held various events to help prepare the little ones for school in the fall. The first event was the Kindergarten roundup where parents and their kindergartener-in-training gathered at the school, watched a video, and then the kids went off with the kindergarten teachers for a "pretend" day at school while the parents stayed to talk with the principal. There were two neighbor girls and a girl from Lauren's dance class there as well so Lauren went off with nary a look back. Tony and I were concerned about all we'd been hearing regarding Lauren not quite being up to snuff on her social skills because she was the youngest in her class and from what we gleaned talking with the kids, it seemed many kids were already five or even would be turning six that summer. If the trend is as prevalent as we're led to believe, that would mean there could be quite a few kids in her class who would be a whole year older than Lauren - what would that mean for her? So, we approached the teacher about the trend. She said it doesn't really exist and if it does happen, it's usually for sports reasons (red shirting). From the small amount of time the teacher spent with Lauren she thought Lauren was very sweet and definitely ready for kindergarten. Yeah!

The next event was an evening visit to the school where the kids played in the kindergarten room while the parents met with an Early Childhood Learning rep to discuss easing the transition to kindergarten. Imagine our surprise when we walked into the classroom and Lauren asked when we were going to leave? She didn't ask once, either. She asked three times and each time became more insistent that we leave! Yeah!!

Finally, there was a school carnival. Lots of kids, lots of noise, lots of wandering the school grounds. As we walked down the hall, we noticed the principal and I mentioned to Lauren that he was there. She looked up at him and gave him a warm, cheery "Hi Mr. V!". Later we saw a girl who had been at the evening visit and Lauren insisted we go over to say hello. You know, I think her social skills are just fine. Yeah!!!

I think she is definitely ready for kindergarten :-)

Oh My!
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Lauren
As I was putting Lauren to bed last night, she mentioned that she was hungry. When I asked her what she wanted, she said a cucumber. Then added "I was speaking metaphorically". Ha Ha Ha, but yikes!

I don't know where she heard the phrase, or if she really understands the meaning, but I can only hope she doesn't learn of the innuendo for a long, long time.

Doctor Or Me: The Return To The Endocrinologist
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Yours Truly
I had my follow-up visit with the endocrinologist this morning. Please answer me this...What is it with doctors and their inability to listen? It's not like he was behind in his schedule - I was the first appointment of the day!(Grrr!) And I had come prepared too (whine).

I'm not normally a direct person. I tend to take the long way around, you know, hint and hope the other person catches my drift, and I don't usually stand up for myself unless I'm really pushed. This time was different though. I already knew the results from the FNA were benign, so I wasn't too worried on that front, but after the last few weeks of awful, worrisome symptoms, I was prepared to go in to my appointment and make myself be heard...relay the sypmtoms I've been having and ask for the tests I read I should have done (I think I'm hyperthyroid). I was bound and determined to speak up on my own behalf!

The doctor began by reading aloud the results of the ultrasound/FNA (it seems that not only do I have the nodule that was found on the CT scan, but it is actually twice as big. And, AND, I have two more on the other half of my thyroid!) and ended by stating so begins our "formal relationship" - the endocrinologist and me. The nodules will be watched by doing another ultrasound in 5 months.

While I was shocked at the unexpected results, I had come prepared to speak my piece and speak my piece I was going to do. I had waited calmly for the right moment to begin, through the results review and the dictation to my primary care physician, but when I did speak up, I found myself...being...dismissed! I was able to mention two symptoms and was told, as he rose and started toward the door, "Yes, you mentioned that to Dr M. It could be thyroid related, but your level is smack dab in the middle." Good bye, Ta Ta, So Long, Farewell.

Asshole.

Ok. I didn't really mean that, but geez, can't he just listen?!

Here, Have Some Radiation
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Yours Truly
I just have to get this out because I simply cannot believe it. I was actually dumbstruck when I heard. It seems that little old CT scan that my primary care physician ordered wasn't the test he had meant to order. No no no. He meant to order an abdominal ultrasound, but he had a "case of the fat fingers". Granted, they found nodules, but not only was I subjected to 1000 xrays worth of radiation for this incorrect test, now I have to have another scan done in the next year to make sure the lung nodule isn't growing. On top of that, he didn't even realize it had been the wrong test and call me to have me get the correct one!

Thankfully, I caught the error and have had the abdominal ultrasound, but from this day forward this particular doctor will be referred to as "Dr. Fat Fingers".

I Loved Gyros
Mood:  sad
Topic: Yours Truly
Did you notice that? Loved. Past tense. I will probably never eat gyros again. Why? Because I have become immersed in the world of "We don't know what's wrong with you, but we'll start by ruling out the serious stuff and work our way down the list." and it all started after a wonderful gyros salad. Not so wonderful in retrospect and that salad will forever more be linked to my current ordeal.

Let's just say that later that evening I was not feeling well at all. After a few days of upper abdominal/chest pain I went in the doctor to rule out heart problems. One stress test and one fasting cholesterol test later, I was, thankfully, pronounced heart and cholesterol healthy. The pain continued, so on down the list we went. Lungs - they sounded clear. Stomach - I started Prevacid for possible acid reflux, but after no relief had a chest CT. Talk about the worries only starting...the scan showed a 3mm nodule in my lung and a 10mm x 15mm nodule on my thyroid. The lung nodule they said was likely of no concern but a recheck in 6-12 months is in the picture and I was given a referral to an endocrinologist for the thyroid nodule. Three weeks and a lot of panic later, I was scheduled for a thyroid ultrasound and FNA. The results from that showed the nodule was benign - Thank God! I have a follow-up visit next week. Cancer worries abated for the time being, it was back to the upper abdominal pain and on down the list, but not without first taking a little trip to the ER for a jittery, lightheaded feeling. Of course nothing was found. Next came an abdominal ultrasound where the tech, after the standard "we'll read this and send the results on to your doctor", casually mentioned there wasn't anything too exciting going on in there.

I have been poked and prodded so much in the last three months and there is more to come. I now have a referral to a gastroenterologist but not without what is becoming a standard 3 week wait. In the meantime, I get to experience abdominal pain pretty much on a daily basis with some not so lovely lightheadedness and heart palpitations thrown in on top every couple of days.

The search continues...

And It Came To Pass
Mood:  down
Topic: Lauren
Why do the things that you fear the most and expect the least always seem to happen so suddenly? Remember this? I was so sure it wouldn't happen in our household for another couple years that I was totally taken aback and didn't have a single comment prepared when Lauren described her first interactions with one of her new best friends from class.

"When M first came to class I followed her around and she ignored me. Then later she started to follow me around and I ignored her. Do you know why? Because that's what she did to me."

Lauren was very matter-of-fact about it, but the fact that there wasn't really any malice in her tone didn't give me the slightest bit of comfort. You'd think for all of our talk about other people's feelings and begin nice that this one would blow right by us, but no, we're not that lucky. Of course, I was not prepared and the only thing I could come up with was "Oh Lauren, that's not a very nice thing to say or do". How lame is that? Tony, on the other hand, immediately came up with additional comments regarding being the bigger person and not doing something just because someone else does it - especially if it's mean-spirited. I told him right then that either he gets to handle everything or I have to get busy and prepare for all of those things I know are coming - even if I don't want them to or don't expect them for a few years. Geesh...you just can't let your guard down for one minute, can you?!

One thing I am happy about, one silver lining that makes it not quite as bad as the linked post situation...she made the comment to me and not to her new friend.