Debbie's Corner

Pivotal Points

noreply@blogger.com (TipsByDebbie) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Why did I have to increase my ring size? After 35 years of marriage my rings had to be resized from 5 3/4 to 7, and now a 7 is snug. My shoe size is another issue. I used to wear a size 8. I now need a 9, and a 9.5 in athletic shoes. This is not right. What is going on...

The year 2010 was a turning point for learning more about me, how history was pivotal in defining what was happening to my health and a whole new world of opportunities.

January 2010 delivered two TIAs (trans ischemic attacks); one on a Monday, the next on Tuesday.

My primary physician immediately sent me for a CT scan which revealed a tumor that appeared to be non-malignant but required an MRI.

The MRI revealed a larger pituitary macroadenoma and a battery of tests followed which ultimately led to a transsphenoidal resection in May 2010.

Many things can happen with a pituitary macro adenoma and I developed Acromegaly.

Acromegaly is the same thing aa ‘gigantism’ in children; only it is the adult form. Let me share information about Acromegaly by supplying the link that describes it well. Please click on the link and view the symptoms, treatments and other comments about this rare disorder.

http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/acromegaly.aspx

If you took a moment to read about Acromegaly, then you recognize symptoms noted in previous post excerpts from the period 2008 – 2009. Hormone symptoms can be common across conditions. In this case, a missed diagnosis led to a rare -Acromegaly.

Symptoms and signs may include:

· Soft tissue thickening of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
· Enlargement of hands (ring size), feet (shoe size) and head (hat size)
· Enlargement of forehead (frontal bossing) and jaw (prognathism) with pronounced under- or overbite, spreading teeth, and enlarging tongue
· Carpal tunnel syndrome
· Arthritis
· Oily skin and excessive sweating
· Tiredness, fatigue, depression
· Impotence, loss of libido
· Interrupted menstrual cycle (amenorrhea)
· Lactation (galactorrhea)
· Heart disease and heart enlargement (cardiomegaly and left ventricular hypertrophy)
· Hypertension
· Diabetes mellitus
· Sleep apnea
· Loss of vision
· Headaches
· Colon polyps and colon cancer

Source: http://www.pituitary.org/disorders/acromegaly.aspx

I ‘bolded’ the symptoms that I personally experienced and now realize could have been related to Acromegaly, not hypothyroidism. This is where it is extremely important to report all your symptoms to your physician. So many conditions can be similar in nature but very distinct when you get to the root.

If you read the information link further, you found that 6 out of a 100,000 people are diagnosed with Acromegaly.

Health risks increase for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colon cancer, therefore, it is important to have your health assessed by an endocrinologist, cardiovascular specialist and your primary care physician. There are pivotal symptoms to recognize so be diligent in communicating with your primary care physician.

Watch for future posts as I will update details about the physical changes that I personally have experienced.

Recollection

noreply@blogger.com (TipsByDebbie) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000

“Dad – Mom, I am so
cold,” I would say.  

“How could you be cold,” they would remark.  “You have on a down coat, wool gloves and
snow boots.  I suppose you could put on
thermal underwear.”

This was a common experience for me when I was young.  I
always enjoyed being outdoors with dad, but after a few minutes I would be
freezing and miserable.  I would help
shovel snow (at least thought I was helping), and do whatever little tasks he
would ask of me.  Before too long
however, I would retreat to the house.

We had an oil heater and I would sit in front of it until I
got warm.  I would stand in front of the
oven if mom was baking.  I just remember
that when my hands and feet got cold, I hurt all over.  

Snow mobiles were popular when I was in my early teens.  One of my neighbors would come get me and we
would go riding.  I bundled
tightly but still, oh so cold.  He would
let me drive the snow mobile not because he trusted me but because I needed to
get near the engine and thaw out my feet.

I liked playing outside in the summer too.  I don’t remember to many heat issues
when I was younger but when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I
started having a few minor issues with heat. 
I had problems with not being
able to perspire thus could not cool down. As a result I would over heat
very quickly.  Once in the shade and a
drink of cold water, I would be fine.

The next significant experience was after I had my
second child.  One evening I was standing
over the sink rinsing dishes to put into the dishwasher.  The next thing I knew I did a face plant into
the sink.  Now one simply asks
themselves, “What in the world are you doing?” 
You feel very silly and question where your mind was, what were you
thinking, did you stumble.

I had a few more strange occurrences mostly when I was
walking.  I distinctly remember walking
down the hallway and feeling like someone picked me up and slammed me against
the wall.  Clearly I was dizzy, light headed and not in
control.  

Another development that occurred over time was my irritability meter.  I am sure that my husband questioned why he
married me.  The change was gradual and I
thought I was normal.  Now I ask, “What
is normal about someone who is constantly irritable?”

Irritability is different
from impatience.  I was a naturally
impatient person and over time had to learn how to manage my character
trait.  However, and in all fairness to
the ‘condition’, impatience will happen after long periods of discomfort.

I was twenty-eight when my doctor finally diagnosed me with
low thyroid.  He was an elderly
gentleman, kind but did not put much credit into thyroid issues.  I remember him telling me that too often
people ‘use thyroid as an excuse’ and refuse to address other more pressing
issues.

Nevertheless, he started me on a low dose thyroid which did
not help initially and gradually increased the dosage until we got it
right.  This was a process that occurred
over many weeks with regular blood tests to monitor the results.  I remained on thyroid for five years and then
we moved to another location.  

After a couple more years on thyroid my new doctor decided,
“Since, your thyroid is normal let’s cease the dosage.” 

I questioned his actions but as he put it, “I am the doctor
and I know what I am doing.”

Who am I to question. 
BIG mistake!

The symptoms gradually returned and once again I became moody,
irritable and otherwise a very miserable person to be around.  I didn’t like me so who else could.  

Have you noticed how we
tend to turn on a different switch when at work or at a social gathering, but
at home around the people we love we are or can be a horrible person.  

Life Point:  You
may not realize what you are doing.  
Pay attention.  Observe how your
family is responding to you.  How are
other people acting around you?  Are they
avoiding you, using a snappy tone back at you or do they seem at ease?    Be
alert.  Let this be a caution to anyone who finds they treat friends and acquaintances
one way and family another.

During the next twelve years, under the same medical care, I
encountered a couple more issues that ultimately involved the need to use
hormone replacement therapy.  Not once would the physician consider that
my thyroid was posing a problem.  

Taking HRT helped tremendously but it too had/has certain
side effects.  Nonetheless, I was a pleasant
person, felt great and was more like the person my spouse married. 

Fast forward, we moved to another city and being an independent sort of person, I took it upon
myself to stop taking HRT.  I made the
decision to stop the medication about two months before a study came out from
the University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center suggesting the
potentials for increase risk of cancer.  Whew! 
I was glad I stopped.  Until
one day one of my coworkers came up to me and said, “You need to visit the
doctor.  You are tearing into people and
not acting like yourself.”  I called my husband
and asked how I was acting at home.  “Not
bad,” he said.  I took that to mean, “not
good.”  I called my physician.

She ran a series of tests to determine that in fact my TSH,
T3 and T4 levels were out of balance. 
She started me on thyroid, Zoloft® and Ambien®.  I really opened up to her and did I mention that I had also dealt with what
she diagnosed as chronic insomnia?  

A short note about my insomnia;  I would fall asleep at night and then approximately
two hours later wake only to remain awake for four or five hours.  I had been this way since I was a
teenager.  Naturally once exhausted I
would fall asleep for many hours.  Again,
I thought this was normal for me.

I paid attention to my health, my physical health.  I exercised regularly.  I was an aerobics fanatic for many years, turned
to weight lifting then ultimately turned to yoga.  I studied to be a personal trainer and taught yoga
privately.  I found great peace and
strength from yoga.  (Today I have fallen
away from yoga but look forward to returning to the practice.  This is another story during another blog
post).

In
wrapping up this section I have shared excerpts from my life, the symptoms I
had and the medical advice I was given. 
Now, I think it is import for you to evaluate your situation.  

Consider, is what you are feeling coming from
physical or emotional health or is it environmental?  Maybe the answer is all three.  Sometimes we become blurred in our thinking
and analyzing.  Discuss your situation
with your health care provider.

To your health... 

Hypothyroid References

noreply@blogger.com (TipsByDebbie) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:47:00 +0000

I have chosen to begin this blog by providing reference sites for hypothyroidism, what I consider key sites to visit and a simple commentary.

There are many medical information sites including colleges and universities dedicated to medical studies, however, the links listed below will certainly provide enough information about the definition, symptoms and directives that can help guide an understanding into what I still believe is a confounding disorder.

What is hypothyroid? Simply, the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone enabling your body to function properly.

How do you know if you have a hypothyroid condition? Read the information provided in these links and then discuss with your health care provider.

I know people that do have a known thyroid disorder but do not take it to heart as to the side effects, the overall impact on one’s health and how it can impact the quality of life. They either don’t accept that the disorder is real and can be treated, or they don’t consider it serious. How do I know this?

I was one of these people. I have had a hypothyroid condition for twenty-eight plus years. I make reference in this context because it is believed that I likely had this condition as a child. Unfortunately it went undetected and thus undiagnosed. I will describe the now known symptoms I had as a child and young adult and what led to the discovery in a future blog.

In the meantime, I implore you to take responsibility for your own well-being and visit these sites. If you suspect a condition, thyroid or any other health issue, please consult your health care provider. Just remember that there is so much information available on the internet that it will be easy to get bogged down, overwhelmed and misinformed. Avoid diagnosing your condition and trying to self-treat when the condition could be quite serious. We are not discussing a common cold. We are focusing on a major gland that plays a key role on your ability to maintain good health.

http://health.nih.gov/topic/PituitaryDisorders

http://www.pituitary.org/intro.aspx

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pituitarydisorders.html

To your health...

Blog Site Changes

noreply@blogger.com (TipsByDebbie) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:28:00 +0000

Thanks to those of you who read my past blogs and my apologies for the long delay between posts.

However, TipsByDebbie is taking a new approach and focusing on the many issues surrounding Acromegaly.

Acromegaly is a rare, misunderstood and often undiagnosed condition. I want to create exposure, understanding and hopefully formulate more research toward this disease.

As time progresses, you will find information links, support groups, blogs, feedback and more.

In the meantime, thank you again.

To your good health...

Make Another Trip Around the Mountain and Find the Golden Gem

noreply@blogger.com (TipsByDebbie) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:03:00 +0000

Today it is time to revisit the ways in which we (you and me) choose to enjoy life. For many people this is a difficult assignment, and sometimes this includes yours truly.

We have so many things to do, places to go and people to see. There is the daily routine of getting up in the morning, going to work-school-or both and coming home at the end of a long day. There are chores to do, hobbies to pursue and the continual development of personal relationships. We make on-the-spot decisions, ponder for hours the impact of decisions, and make plans for future events.

In the end these activities, plus our actions and reactions to given situations, shape who we are, how we function and further defines our legacy and contribution to society.

So, what does all this aforementioned – well-intentioned ‘stuff’ mean? The answer begs another question:
• Are you doing what you love and do you love what you are doing?

After spending a fantastic weekend with family, observing their behavior and seeing firsthand what brings them joy, I realize how boring and dull I may have become.

On the drive home I asked myself, “Does my husband see me in the same light I see myself? Do my grandchildren see me as a grumpy old person? Have I become a product of mundane character by making boring choices?”

As a person who lives inside their head, it is easy to clutter the mind and not be able to see the beauty which lies before one’s very eyes.

I, like many ‘boomers’, am at the very age where introspection is common. Time is spent evaluating options, re-evaluating one’s values and searching for that ‘one-thing’ which will make the second half of life even more exciting! It is common to ponder where to live; what hobbies to undertake. These thoughts roll over and over in one’s mind – it’s another trip around the mountain. Frankly, I find it exhausting!

But, here we go. Because it became a topic of conversation I want to hone in on the subject of hobbies. I asked myself what hobbies do I have? A comparison and contrasting analysis follows:
•After my sister retired gardening became her passion and she has beautiful
gardens! Yes PLURAL! (I like to play in the dirt, but I don’t have her green
thumb).
•She and I were musicians, but rarely play the piano anymore. (I play once in a
while and only for my enjoyment - sort of a hobby)
•My husband is a collector and has some worthy items. (I collect dust).
•My daughters are very talented in art, sewing, writing and other creative works.
(Not my strong suits).

I think I have figured out my hobby and it is not the first time this thought has occurred to me. It’s just that I tend to forget. (It’s an age thing).

Here it is and it is simple: I like to work.

But there is more:
•I like to help other people.
•I like to have quiet time.
•I like to paint walls when it fits my mood.
•I like to write.
•I like to sit and stare at the ocean.
•I like to hear the birds singing.
•I like to read.
•I like to golf.
•I like to travel.
•I like to spend time with family.

Here’s the key: if you are stuck in a rut and can’t find a hobby…try listing out all the things that bring you pleasure.

You will soon realize that your hobby is the Golden Gem reflecting the ways in which you enjoy life.