| Thyroid Success Stories |
from Mary Shomon
Sue: From A Wheelchair to Climbing 150 Foot Towers!
I'm 43, female, medical professional full time, have husband and 2 sons.
Thyroid enlargement growing over several years.
Doctor did thyroid function test and said it was OK so don't worry.
2 years later I went to new doctor (old one retired) and asked again
about it when I went for something else. Sent me for tests, needle biopsy
and ultrasound scan. Seemed OK but they recommended surgery to remove half
the thyroid - the bit with the lump. (November 1998). January 1999
histology results - the lump was a Hurthle's Tumour (benign) but in the
surrounding tissues they had found papillary cancer. (Coming to terms with
that is a story in itself!) April 1999 - second half of thyroid gland
removed twice as much cancer found in the second half (good job they got
it out). 4 weeks later....no replacement thyroxine medication allowed in
the meantime, very slowed up and tired but ready for radioiodine treatment
to kill off any remaining thyroid cells. In a wheelchair the last few
days - so tired I thought there was not enough energy to keep breathing,
even when lying flat.
After the radioiodine, took T3 until Sept 1999 -
reasonably OK but felt like running on the wrong petrol. Off T3 for two
weeks ready for scan late Sept to check everything had been "zapped".
Results all OK. Onto T4 after this, and gradually began to feel human
again, but not entirely. Two months later I felt settled on complete
replacement dose of the medication but something was missing. Higher dose
didn't help and made me feel worse Wondered about natural Thyroid
medication and combination therapy, but decided to try one other
experiment first....Perhaps my body had lost general fitness
(unsurprising) and I had (as expected) put on nearly 2 stone in weight.
So - went to a gym and enrolled. Told them on a scale of 1-10 fitness I
was minus 10! Walked 5 minutes on a slow treadmill, cycled gently 5
minutes exercised arms lightly - felt shattered but terrific!.....this
was the answer.
3 months later after visits 3 times a week I have lost a stone and still
going down. Feel better than I've felt for about 18 years (forgot to
mention diagnosed Hashimotos 18 years ago - so always a bit low on the
thyroxine before) I am a new person. Running 20 minutes outdoors,
cycling, using most machines in the gym and off the easier levels onto
intermediate. Joined an adventures club and last Saturday went indoor
rock climbing and abseiled down the highest indoor abseil in the South of
England (150 foot tower.) If you want to see it there is a picture on
www.castle-climbing.co.uk.
I THINK THIS IS SUCCESS!!!!
I know that when the medication isn't right then exercise is quite out of
the question...but when it IS right, don't forget you have to regain your
fitness. It is the last stage of recovery and something the doctors don't
tell you!
Sue
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