TH BIG DAY!!

Yes, this proves that beauty is only SKIN deep! HAHA!! Totally kidding! I think my innards are gorgeous! :-)

Above is one of the pictures of the scans that I had today. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the "state of the art" orange ones that are really clear and look super cool (probably a good thing cause you can see the outline of my body and my intestines were glowing and I don't think y'all want to see THAT much of me! HAHAHA!).

So, I arrived at 8:30am and I sat in the little waiting room and another lady was outside asking about where she was to have her thyroid scan. She came in and I said, "I am sorry but did I hear you say thyroid?" She went on and on about how her thyroid is overactive and she is trying to get it fixed. She was just your typical sweet Texas lady who instantly was one of your new friends. Then she left and a young girl in her 20's came in and she said, "I am so sorry if you heard that, I couldn't help but talk about you.... etc..." I told her I hadn't heard a thing but I get it everyday so don't worry, then we went on and on and ended up laughing SO hard about height and my plight (haha). She was adorable and I instantly loved her because when I told her I was 36 she fell over in her chair and said, "I could have sworn you were 25". I told her she was coming with me the REST of the day! This girl was just adorable!!! Then they called me back!

I walked in the scan room and they had a NEW scanner which the tech Michael was really excited about. He said it had sensors that knew exactly where your body was so it could get really close. I learned that each time I took a breath it would raise up and then come back down. It freaked me out at one point because it was literally 1/4 inch from my face and when it got past my nose it when down to my lips. As soon as it passed my head I turned to look at the screen which was about 6 feet away. I saw that my neck area was glowing but not drastically. It was kind of like when you take a pregnancy test and the pink line is just barely there... you don't know if it is POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. So for 25 minutes I sat there wondering what the verdict was then the machine started flashing WARNING WARNING - something about radioactivity. Well come on now... any one would freak out a little bit. Finally someone came in and she said the machine must have thought it hit me.

Then I had to do some more scans just on the neck. I asked Michael (who is always my tech) if my scan was glowing or not! He said you mean this area right here, yes that is glowing (my heart sank) but that is NOT your neck, that is your saliva glands". He then said the most beautiful words, "you are not glowing what so ever in the area of concern." I said, "are you sure, are you saying that it really is not glowing at all in the entire neck?" and he said, "NO GLOWING". He was really excited too and then he let me get up and he told me to come look at the other computer and he showed me some of my scans. He told me I could take a picture of it for my family up in Seattle (shout out). That is what you are seeing above... I know, don't be all jealous now!

The part that is bright is my intestines and my saliva glands. That is because if you remember that is how the radiation comes out. So I really have to be careful not to get the saliva stones again (that means I have to keep my saliva production really high with sour candies - oh and eating a lot!! Ok I added that part).

I then went across the street for my blood work and the lady taking it was even funnier than the previous two gals I had met! She really made my day with her comments and antidotes. I tell ya.... God made me laugh ALL day cause He knew I was nervous!!

I was walking through the hospital on my way back to work and I ran into my young little friend and I told her my test didn't glow and we both started screaming and jumping up and down - it was a hilarious scene!!

Now before we start dancing in the streets we must remember that I have not received official confirmation from my doctor. That should happen on Monday!

BUT IT IS LOOKING PRETTY DARN GOOD THAT MADGE

HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!

I told you I was going to be tougher on the ol' gal and kick her out!

NO MO MOMO?? I THINK SO

I will give you the "official" word when I get it!!

DAY THREE!!

( I just had to use my "official" picture again - HAHA!!)

I am going to make this quick because I am not feeling so hot. :-(

I went to nuclear medicine this morning and the guy told me I needed to take a pregnancy test because the radiation would harm the baby. I was having deja vu! I told him I had a test on Monday and the Monday before and they were negative. He said he would have to call my doctor. The good thing is the nurse wrote that I had a negative pregnancy test on my protocol so I whipped that out of my purse. Then he confessed that the doctor wasn't there yet so I waited almost an HOUR! Goodness.... and to think my patients used to wait up to 2 hours! SO SORRY!

So the doctor came in and I hadn't met this one before, he was very young and very nice (all the guys in nuclear medicine are so extremely nice I wrote a raving letter to their manager who was one of my neurosurgery patients). So, he gave me the usual spiel about everything and then they went to get the dose. This one was only 5 (I don't know what measuring unit they use) and when I took the dose to "kill" the cancer it was 220 so this one is SMALL but still packed a punch!!

They came in with the silver can and she had me take the container out from inside of it. You are not allowed to touch the pill so you take it like a shot and down a bunch of water. I wasn't allowed to eat or drink for 30 minutes (which was a real bummer because I was going to grab a HUGE breakfast right after that).

I did ask about being around Brenna and he said I was not allowed to kiss her (the radiation comes out the saliva and urine) and I couldn't hug or hold her until after my scan on Friday. I had already mentally prepared for that and that is a big part of why we all went to dinner last night. :-(

So no kissing and canoodling for me for 2 days. At least I am not quarantined for 7 days again! :-)

That is it. I have not had a good day physically but mentally I am happy as all get out!!! I got anxious today for the first time really about the test on Friday. I could find out I am cancer free! How cool would that be.... or I could find out that it is still there and we go for round 2! I am OK with that outcome, I know what to expect this time so it isn't scary. Don't get me wrong though... I am really ready to move on with my life!! I will see the screen after my test and I will see if it glows or not but I won't get that official call from my doctor until Monday. I will report if it glowed or not but I won't have a plan until next week if it does.

Ok... I am off to go rest. I will report on what I am going through physically tomorrow. I have NOTHING on the agenda tomorrow - YAY YAY YAY!!!! :-) Of course I wish I could just go have the scan and know one way or another!!! I have never been good with anticipation! :-)

JUST 2 MORE DAYS!!!

GO MOMO!!

DAY TWO DOWN!

Just a reminder that I started this blog for two reasons, one because I was getting calls every 5 minutes from my sweet loved ones & friends wanting to know how I was doing and I was in such shock and so tired that I decided to post updates here so everyone could know what was going on. Second, I told you all that I was going to tell the truth and let you peek inside the life of someone living with cancer and so when you meet someone going through it as well you would have a better understanding of what they were going through.

This is not my "pity party" and most of all I don't want to sound negative. It is just reality and sometimes it really sucks. Luckily for me most of the time everything is GREAT and I laugh and enjoy my days (well starting in December!!). :-)

I am a little sensitive today, I am sure it is these darn shots! :-)

I went in for the second shot today and she asked me how I was feeling. I told her about the sharp pains in my head and she apologized and told me that I needed to be thankful that I will only suffer for ONE week and not several like it used to be. I said, "amen sister, I was so excited when I learned about these shots!!". Then she asked me if there was anything else and I said, "yes, I am quite the b*itch today...... I called my husband a son of a b*itch this morning and I MEANT IT". HAHA! This is actually true! I know....... I don't know where it came from!! He ruined my coffee on accident and we were running late and it made me so mad! Now you all know I get mad about 3 times a year and it lasts for about 5 minutes. I guess this means you better not screw up my coffee! HAHAHA!!!! Oh you should have seen the look on his face - priceless! He didn't say a word - I don't think I have ever seen him so shocked!!!

She explained (oh yes I did apologize about 15 minutes later which is a lifetime for me... that is like our 5th "fight" in 18 years) that the shots have thrown me into HYPOthyroidism and so my body is completely out of whack (obviously hormones as well). I also mentioned to her that I cannot concentrate for the life of me and she said that was common (just like before my meds were leveled).

However, I wasn't grouchy at all after that and I have been forgiven!! :-) It is quite funny now. My hubby just looked at me and said, "I know you are going through a lot and I understand it is not easy, I am here for you". :-) What a trooper!

So later in the day I started feeling nauseous but we had plans to go out to eat with Bill, Ginger, & Brenna after not seeing them for DAYS and I wasn't going to miss it! I started feeling better and we had a GREAT time (as always).

One of the other things I have noticed is that I have DEFINITELY gained weight! I know it is only 2 days in but the way I eat it isn't a surprise (I seriously eat every 30 minutes). I am anxious to get on the scale - I will report on that tomorrow. You all know I went from 163lbs to 140lbs and have stayed at 143lbs for over a year now. This should be interesting to see how this affects it after ya'll know how hard it has been to gain weight! :-)

TOMORROW:

I check into admissions at the hospital at 7:30am and then go to nuclear medicine for the "radioactive iodine" pill. It is so cool... a guy in a "space suit" brings it to you and you cannot touch it. Tomorrow is a LOW dose so I can go back to work.

THURSDAY:

NOTHING - I get the day off!! YAY!!!

I am off to bed now... the lethargy has kicked in too! I have learned to REALLY appreciate my thyroid medication now! I WILL NEVER COMPLAIN AGAIN ABOUT TAKING IT EVERY DARN DAY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!! I love it and I appreciate it!!!!

GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE Y'ALL!!!

GO MOMO GO GO GO!!!

** HEY MARYJANE!! Thanks for the great comment! I will come see y'all soon & I PROMISE TO HIT A HOME RUN!!! :-)

ONE DAY DOWN!

Well I went over to the doctors office today (great because it is right across the street from where I work) to get my first shot of Thyrogen. I went back and she placed me in the "shot" room and then she came in and said she needed a pregnancy test. I gave her that "look" and laughed (they all know it would be the second coming of Christ if I were pregnant) and said if she gave me the shot and I was pregnant it would harm the baby so they HAD to make sure. Even though I had the test a week ago I had to do it again. Then they made me wait forever but I got to chit chat with all the girls in the office. Then it was time.....

She took me in another room and went over the protocol with me (basically just the schedule of tests, etc.. for this week). Then she told me that there are some side effects to the shot which include severe headache and/or nausea for the entire week. At first it bothered me because y'all know the nausea was my biggest issue before (I can live with just about anything but that). Then I realized that this shot was keeping me from being sick for weeks (5 or 6 minimum) so what is JUST ONE week??? I can do this!

I got the shot in the right "hip" (once again girls......) and then she told me I had to sit there for 30 minutes to make sure I didn't have any side effects.

About 15 minutes later I could tell it hit me but I didn't get nauseous. I was jut dizzy and I had that "cloudy" feeling that I had before where I cannot concentrate or speak clear sentences - I just keep calling blonde moments (gotta love those hormones).

I was cleared to leave and went back to work and then I started experiencing sharp shooting pains from my neck up to the top of my head. I haven't really shaken it since but I am just so happy that I don't have other side effect! YAY!!! :-)

So I go back tomorrow for the 2nd shot.

Oh yes... the endo called before my doc appt and said this (Iranian accent), "Ms. Chandler (sounds like ChandLAA) I spoke to your surgeon again and she looked at your surgery report and your ultrasound, she did leave a clip in there because she had to clip a vessel but she says it shouldn't be a problem. Just proceed with your tests this week and lets get this done". I said, "ok" and that was that.

I will call the surgeon's office tomorrow to ensure it is titanium and MRI compatible.

ONE DAY DOWN.... FOUR TO GO!

I just want to eat shrimp again! You don't realize how much you love something until you can't have it anymore!!

JUST THINK - IT COULD BE 4 MORE DAYS UNTIL WE FIND OUT

NO MORE MADGE!!!

GO MOMO GO!!

THE PLAN FOR NEXT WEEK

Yes I am still daydreaming about another vacation

(that was Sandy Spit Island, BVI)......

OFFICIAL PLAN FOR NEXT WEEK:

MONDAY 8:45am – Shot

TUESDAY 8:45am – Shot

WEDNESDAY 7:30am – Radioactive Iodine Pill

FRIDAY 8:30am – Full Body Scan

The shot is something new in the past few years, this will prevent me from having to stop my medication (they used to stop it 5 weeks prior to test) and so I won't get so sick! HURRAY FOR MODERN MEDICINE!! Before you would have to stop the medicine so there would be NO iodine processing what so ever in the body. That way when you take the radioactive iodine PILL it goes IMMEDIATELY to the thyroid which does all of your iodine processing and then the radiation goes directly to the cancer (the glow on the scan) and so it was more potent. Now, they give you a shot that does the same thing but you no longer have to get off the medication so I won't be a HUGE nauseous slug! YAY!!!

Here are updates on the other 2 issues:

METAL OBJECT: No new news! I get asked every 10 minutes what the latest is and I swear you will know when I do!! :-) I also keep getting asked if I am going to file a lawsuit. Some of you know when I was 17 years old I was very close to losing my leg (staph & gangrene) from a negligent doctor who decided to give me a 8 inch 3rd degree burn while cutting off a cast. That was a VERY difficult time and I ended up settling out of court a year after it started due to the stress. So, quite honestly unless it is threatening my life it doesn't really upset me or phase me that much. I have worked in surgery for 12 years and I have more compassion for the surgeon that most people I guess, it wasn't on purpose and it is so minor (well as far as I know) so at this point I really am not thinking about it. :-) If for some reason it does turn into me having another surgery and/or compromising my health then it will be considered, but it will be a very hard decision to make after what I have experienced in the past.

PNEUMONIA: I had about 3 hours of misery on Thursday and then I seemed to be doing very well with just he occasional bout of feeling feverish and heavy chested. Then I woke up this morning all congested. ICK! But I still feel it was caught so early that it will be over before it gets too bad. :-)

HERE IS SOME EXCITING NEWS!!!! Yesterday on my way home from work something REALLY big hit me. I think I didn't realize it before due to the news about the metal object & pneumonia..... THERE WERE NO NODULES REPORTED ON THE ULTRASOUND!! What that means is NO TUMORS!!! BUT..... all 9 of my tumors were between .7 to 1.5 mm (anything above 1mm is of concern) and there is a COMPLEX structure measuring 9.8mm on the right side of my throat. At this point my guess and after reading the report is that it is the calcium build up from my body rejecting the metal object (it is in the same area). So, this POTENTIALLY could mean that the radiation actually DID work and my tumors all shrank and went off into oblivion! COOL STUFF!!! Of course nothign is official unitl the doctor confirms it!! I will know more after all my testing is done. See... there is always a POSITIVE!!! :-)

I am really excited, I have decided on a name for the cancer research fund! STAY TUNED!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

I am so ready to get back on that boat and sail away to Anegada (heck I might not return this time)!! HAHA!

The doctor FINALLY called me back at around 6pm tonight and mind you this is the endo nazi that NEVER laughs at my jokes (maybe I am just not funny??), she is always just direct and to the point. When I answered the phone she said this:

"Ms. Chandler (read all of this in an Iranian accent) you have pneumonia, you cannot get sick, you need to be on medicine immediately, you cannot get sick, call Dr. Ersoy immediately and get medicine, if she can't help you right away then call me back in the morning and I will call some stuff in immediately, you cannot get sick. Tell her you have your scan next week and you cannot get sick. Now, as far as your ultrasound, you have a calcification, this is perplexing, you also have a metallic object in there and quite frankly I am really confused. I ran into your surgeon today and asked her if she uses metal clips in her thyroidectomy cases and she is going to look at the surgery report (I have the report and it does not mention clipping or leaving a clip in there). I have never seen this. I don't know what is going on at this point and I need to get the full picture from her. I cannot proceed until she tells me what is going on. The metal object and the calcification have to be addressed but I cannot move on until I have the whole picture, I just don't know what to do. We need to get your scan very quickly and move forward. First however you must stop the pneumonia. Do you understand?"

I think she was trying to say I cannot get sick! HAHA!!!

I said yes and she said to proceed with my treatment course for next week and she will call me when she knows more about why this metal object is in there and if it caused the calcification.

That is it. Hearing my "tough" doctor all frazzled gave me a moment of concern but she didn't send me to the ER so I am assuming I shall live! HAHA!!

NEXT STEPS:

1. I will get on MORE antibiotics tomorrow (I actually stopped my other course because - GOOD NEWS - my face is 90% back to normal!! WOO HOO!!!)

2. I will try my darndest NOT to let the pneumonia get me (caught it super early... I just have a little baby cough)

3. I start the shots on Monday if this clip/calcification/pneumonia ordeal doesn't stop things

So no worries.... we are just rolling with the punches and we shall see where this adventure takes us. You might want to buckle yourselves in for this one.... it could get a little bumpy! :)

DARN IT MOMO!!!

** GOOD NEWS I FORGOT TO MENTION- THE XRAY SHOWED NO BONE OR LUNG METASTASIS!!!!!

Medical Mistake or Alien Implant?? Hhhmmm???

Some of you know by now that I had a very interesting day! :-) Yesterday I took advantage of my day off and went to a few doctor appointments. One of those was to have a chest x-ray to see if the cancer had gone into my lungs and/or bones and also a neck ultrasound to see if those 2 new tumors have grown. Well..... we got more than we bargained for!

I had a new ultrasound tech who was really sweet and we chatted up a storm until she turned all serious and said she had to go talk to the radiologist. This typically happens just to ensure that the radiologist can tell the tech if they got all the pictures and measurements they need. She came back in and said, "the radiologist wants me to concentrate on something on the right side of your neck". Well she had done 3 measurements there so I already knew there was something of interest (usually they only measure one "tumor" on that side). She then left again and was gone for 15 MINUTES! I took advantage of my "alone time" and snapped the picture above on my cell phone (I felt so criminal... like the time that Ginger and I "smuggled" Cuban cigars in our bikini tops - only to find out we were in international waters and it didn't count! I make a terrible criminal!! - HAHA!!).

I thought some of you might want to see this scar tissue I am always talking about. There is no denying that it is there!!

So, 15 minutes later the tech comes in and a few doctors are trailing after her. My first thought was I must have this GIGANTIC tumor and they needed to come make sure before they gave me the grim news but right off the bat the doctor BLURTS, "we think they left a metal clip in your throat during surgery, I need to look at it". Of course I made some lame joke and he looked at me like I was insane (I don't understand why people think I am crazy for not getting upset all the time). :-)

He poked and prodded for a while and then the tech grabbed the wand and pushed my jugular to the side and said, "see, when you push and move the jugular it is right behind it". The main doctor (the others never said anything or looked me in the eyes) came to the foot of my bed and said (very sternly), "I am going to go make a report and send it to your doctor". All I could say was, "ok, thank you very much".

I laughed pretty much the rest of the day and night. What else can I really do? I am just so thankful it isn't a pair of scissors or a scalpel! Can you imagine that? Good golly! I just crack up at the thought that I am one of those people you see on the Discovery Chanel about surgeries gone bad - haha!

So, one of the doctors I work with pulled my report up this morning and sure enough it stated there is a metal object in there. There were some other very perplexing things that are new but until I talk to my "real" doctor I am not going to get into that yet. The x-ray stated I had pneumonia (I have been feeling funky but not congested) so I am MILKING it tonight (I think back rubs cure pneumonia right???). :-)

Seriously... I cannot stop laughing and I feel great so don't even worry one little bit. It actually explains a few things so I am relieved to know what is going on in there.

I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and see if I should be concerned at all. I shall update ya'll as soon as I know what we are going to do about my "alien implant".

ALSO... I am going to talk to our grants and contracts department this week because I have decided to start up a charity for thyroid cancer research (send me any name ideas). I work right down the hall from the endocrinology research department and I will talk to the chairman as well. Stay tuned! That means I get to do another fun website and finally have my non-profit! Of course I thought it would be for orphans and refugees (speaking of which Jacob is getting back from Sudan and day now) but this too is close to my heart.

Ok... I just had some caffeine so I could go on and on but I have to go "play sick"! HAHA!

GO MOMO!!

(she threw a nice little curve ball today)

OF COURSE!

You guys know me.... if it isn't one thing it is another. I enjoyed the last few days of things going well and feeling great that my blood work looked good. But, you know I am God's private joke!

The last couple of days I have experienced a couple of sharp pains in my wonderful parotid gland but they left as fast as they came (happened when I took my meds with juice). Well... today I ate a breakfast bar and wouldn't ya know it.... MY GLAND POPPED OUT! Just like before.

This just means that it is time for SOUR candies and maybe the steroids again. I am not even going to call the doctor until it starts happening every time I eat. I do NOT want him to do the procedure again unless I am desperate!!!

So, since I am getting the "radiation" pill (low dose for the scan) and that is what the docs feel caused this then I am a bit concerned. It really is painful and I feel so bad if any of you ever experience this!!!!

That is it.....

GO MOMO!!!!!!!!!!

(seriously..... so ready to MOVE ON!!!)

WE HAVE A DATE!!!

I just got a call that my whole body scan is scheduled for THURSDAY, January 26th! That is the day we will see if I GLOW or not! I cannot wait to get this over with and get on with it!

That is what the machine looks like, I just lay there for about 25 minutes and typically fall asleep.

Although I really enjoyed my month "off" in December I haven't enjoyed the delay in hearing YOU ARE CURED! :-) Coming soon I am sure!

I want that SURVIVOR T-SHIRT! We all have goals! :-)

GO MOMO!!

QUICK UPDATE - Good news!!

The endo nazi called me today (since I have readers from Beijing to Mexico I hope she doesn't read this too - "hi" Linda & San!! HAHA!!) to discuss a patient over in Iran and she said, "well since I have you on the phone I might as well tell you that I got your lab results back from the other day".

Here is what she said:

My blood work showed that my thyroid tissue or the cancer cells are STARTING TO BE SUPPRESSED!! That means the protein hormone that was being produced at a significant amount (causes the cancer) is slowing down!! She even stated she might start lowering my dose! WHAT!!! I have been giggling all afternoon!

Remember that the last test showed that I had residual thyroid tissue and so the blood work showed that it was producing a significant amount of the protein hormone (something like that) which meant my thyroid "stem" that they left in was working like a full thyroid OR the protein was being produced by the cancer cells meaning since there was a significant amount then they were sure the cancer was growing rapidly.

SO, what this means is that what ever way it is (I will know for sure in a few weeks) it is calming down!! Makes sense, I have been feeling SO great and maybe, just maybe the radiation worked slower than we anticipated (was supposed to stop working in Oct) and IT IS KILLING THE CANCER!!

Now... I don't know this, it is just a possibility. But it doesn't matter, just this tid bit of good news has me on cloud 9! I want to keep feeling this good and living my ol' full life! I REFUSE TO GET SICK AGAIN! I am too happy now and Madge has just got to move on!

Love ya'll!!

GO MOMO (she is scared now!!!)

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

HAPPY THYROID AWARENESS MONTH!!!

Take a moment and thank your darn thyroid because trust me, you don't want to be with out that little sucker!! HA!

First, thank you all for allowing me to "check out" during the month of December while I enjoyed a blissful month of NO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS (the 12/30 one didn't really count - HA).

I must say, I feel so great lately and I was dreading going to the doctor this morning and just having to hear the word CANCER again. It was so great to feel normal again in Dec that I just didn't want to hear anyone say I was "sick" again. But I had such a great day (thanks in big part to my best friend coming to see me for lunch) that I feel ready now!!!! Thanks Gingee for ALWAYS being there for me!!!

Ok... without further adieu here is what happened today:

• I went to my endo doctor at 8am and first was seen by the resident, they always just go over every little thing I have been through....


• The doctor came in and went over it again and then did a thorough exam (again, always wear your best ladies!!) of all the lymph nodes and my throat and she also said she could feel the scar tissue in my throat that has been giving me some issues here and there (feels like someone is pressing on my throat about 50% of my day).


• I had some blood test to check all my levels

She then gave me the game plan... she stated she needed 5 consecutive days that everyone will be available so we chose January 26th to start this:

MONDAY - Shot of Thygen (sp?) which means I DON'T HAVE TO GET OFF MY SYNTHROID - best possible news I could have heard! That was my BIGGEST fear because that would mean off my meds I would feel really horrible again! YEA!!!! BIG PRAYER ANSWERED!! THANKS!

TUESDAY - Shot of Thygen

WEDNESDAY - take the low dose of radiation - they will tell me to come in on Thurs or Fri

THURSDAY OR FRIDAY - will return to the nuclear medicine department to have the FULL BODY uptake I-131 scan to see if I am "glowing" in any areas (I can see the screen as soon as it is done). It will glow if where ever there is cancer.

Then we will know the NEXT step. Here is the deal, if it is glowing that means the cancer is still there and having a good ol' time. If I am not glowing it still means that since my last blood test showed a significant amount of protein being secreted by that "stem" they left in there that it is inevitable the cancer will return. So, either way she said it most likely means surgery but hey..... you just never know!!

I am just SO happy that I do not have to get off my medication! That is a HUGE relief!!!!

Here is some info on how the uptake scan is done (what I did before):

The person is asked to either drink a liquid or take a pill that contains radioactive iodine. The radioactive iodine goes into the thyroid gland over the next several hours. About four hours after taking the iodine, the person is asked to lie down on a table below a special camera that can detect the radioactive material. While the person lies very still, the camera takes pictures of the thyroid gland. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes to take all the required pictures. Usually, the person is asked to come back 24 hours later to have a second set of pictures taken, which only takes about 5 minutes.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:

And there you have it! No matter what happens I know it won't be last time since I am already used to my medication - SHE SAID SHE WAS INCREASING IT AGAIN TODAY!!!! I never did increase it like I was supposed to and she didn't yell at me! I was scared to tell the endo nazi!

I told my boss today what was happening and I was so touched by his response! He told me he had cancer 7 years ago and all he was concerned about was if I was ok. It was a nice bonding moment! He said to just do what ever I have to do to make sure I am ok. That was a big relief.

I have had a taste now of feeling good and not having to deal with this for a month that I want it again SO BAD!! PERMANENTLY!!! I am going to fight this time much harder! I have some great goals for 2009 and they are already in full force so that keeps me very motivated to get this OVER with and move on!

SO GO MOMO ONE LAST TIME!!!

Good news to report.... the antibiotics are WORKING! The bumps are almost GONE! YEA!

Love you all and thank you again for allowing me to be "free" in December!!