Funny how we spend many of our early to middle years accepting changes in our lives when they really did not appear as "change". Sometimes, in glancing backward I know there were constant changes, and I know there were huge changes........they just seemed like part of my life to accept at that time. You know what I mean: Career, Career changes, Career moves, financial acquisitions, ( home, cars, major purchases and debts) pregnancies, babies, rearing the children........and the list goes on. Aware, but unaware!
At this stage of my life, the changes seem more profound and significant. The adjustments to the changes are intense and require major perseverence. Those adjustments are not only mentally challenging, but physically challenging. Maybe that is the difference......the physical challenge is there, and the results can be temporary, only to return again.
By now you are wondering why this particular blog and what in the world am I trying to say! I suppose this is the direct result of my having to adjust to the thyroid medication! Let me explain:
After I had been on the synthroid two weeks, I began experiencing all the symptoms of overdose. I had it all............night sweats, no tolerance to heat or cold, heart palpatations, ringing in the ears (amplified), enormous sensations of anxiety, extreme sensations of "feeling faint", nausea, etc. Textbook picture of someone on too much synthroid. Recognizing that, I stopped the meds, called the doctor on Monday, had labs that afternoon to check hormone level. Could not believe the lab tests came back with level EXACTLY where it should be!
Fortunately for me, my doctor believed my story and lowered the dose. ( That was after I had emphasized to him that I had become a "Lizzie Bordon", and if the medication were not lowered, I would have my husband deliver me to his house and let him deal with me in that state!) So now I am on a very low dose that I will gradually increase over the next 3 weeks until more labs.
Lee is dealing with a very bad cold, and as I write, he is en route to his family physician to make sure his lung is o.k. We will also notify Duke and pay close attention to how this progresses. We are both disappointed that this has happened because we were looking forward to a few days at the beach over Memorial Day with some of the family.
He also has another problem. The biopsy that was removed two weeks ago on his face in front of his ear is squamous cell ca. We are waiting for a call for him to have the Moe's technique for removal. That will be done in Gastonia.
His tendonitis in the achilles tendon is much better. He has been faithful to wearing the brace and with the elevation of leg and exercises to strengthen the tendon, is walking without a noticeable limp. Unfortunately he has had to cancel his PT this week because of the cold.
We continue to stay in touch with all our other transplant friends we met at Duke. Two very close friends have both been in rejection these past few months and have had to have the RATG. We have two other friends we recently met last month who are now @ Duke waiting to hear if he will be a candidate for a transplant. His Pulmonary Fibrosis is progressing rapidly. He is only 62, and she is 50. ( To us, that is young for a transplant.) We are praying his young age and good physical fitness will move him through the procedure swiftly. I gave his wife one of my books to read, all the while advising that she would be reading about Lee and not to think her husband would be the same. Lee had many immediate complications!
Lately we have been blessed to be able to spend some quality time with many of our grandchildren and great grandchildren. We had a good visit last Saturday to Radford, Va. and saw the boys play baseball. Several weeks prior to that, we were in Charlotte for a LaCross game. Lee was able to see grandson, John's Confirmation on Sunday. We wanted to see Lillie's dance last night, but neither of us could attend. There are so many activities we want to attend, just can't get around to all of them. We cherish those we do see and hope our children understand.
A long blog......................so will close for now and catch-up with you another time.
More Later.....................................Brenda
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