Hope

Inspirational song: Dr Feelgood (Mötley Crüe)

What gloriously good news came today! The results of the thyroid biopsy from Monday are in, and when I went for my regular checkup at my oncologist, I got to see the printout. The calcified nodule that was biopsied came back benign, which was a nice relief. (My GP's office had called yesterday with that much info.) There was more, though. There were lymphocytes present, and the report says there is evidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It seems counterintuitive, I imagine, but this is good news--really, really good news. I've been imploring doctors for years to dig deeper with my symptoms, because I knew something just had to be wrong with my thyroid. The typical response was to test TSH, see that it is mildly elevated, and then not care to investigate further. It has been frustrating, most especially when the answers to my questions about inexplicable weight gain were met with accusations of lying about my diet and exercise habits. And nobody batted an eye whenever I asked why I never sweat, no matter the circumstances. These were only the most prominent of the symptoms I begged them to evaluate.

Of all of my doctors, there are two specialists who make me ridiculously happy when I see them, and I'm starting to feel similarly comfortable with my new primary doc too. Visits to my rheumatologist and oncologist leave me feeling positive and well-cared for. Just the biopsy result was enough to provide euphoria. The rest of the visit today was as restorative as spending hours at a day spa. She paid attention and she communicated well. She gave good advice and instructed me to get some physical therapy for soreness in the arm on the mastectomy side. The only thing that left me scratching my head was realizing that she stole my pen when she wrote down the name of the endocrinologist she recommends. It was a pen I had conspicuously taken from the spine doc a week earlier, so I was more amused than mad.

I haven't gotten a diagnosis of Hashimoto's yet per se. I have this biopsy result. Oncologist took blood today to get a read on current TSH. I see rheumatologist next week. I have an appointment with an ENT in March. If I follow oncologist's advice, I'll switch that to an endocrinologist instead (or in addition to?) There are still many steps left in this dance. But man, for the first time in ages, I'm really looking forward to traipsing through them.