Wow...it's been awhile since I posted on here. The last few months have been a whirlwind but I couldn't really tell you what we have been doing besides the normal busyness of life with 2 little kids. News on the thyroid cancer front is good! I have changed endocrinologists and absolutely love my new one! She is a super super doctor! Very knowledgeable and great personality. Her staff is excellent too! My levels are still not right but we are getting closer thankfully.
I do have a new venture to inform people of. I have signed up to do the Ragnar Relay on November 19-20th! Just 7 months after a cancer diagnosis, 2 surgeries, and medical drama I have joined a bunch of crazies (I mean this very lovelingly by the way) from my church family to run a 200 mile relay across the state of Florida! Yikes! What was I thinking you ask? Well...we are doing this to raise awareness for Love146 ministries. Love146 ministries is attacking child sex trafficking and exploitation in 2 areas...prevention (stopping it completely) and after care for those that are rescued. For some reason God has placed this ministry firmly on my heart. I do not have little girls but I do have 2 little boys and some of these kids that are sold into sex slavery are no more than Eric's age (4 years old). It just breaks my heart and when God breaks your heart about something you need to sit up and listen. I invite all of you to check out their website which is http://www.love146.org/. It will be a life changing visit for sure.
During this venture which just started about 2 weeks ago for me I have happened upon some obstacles. When doing anything to possibly glorify God isn't that always the case? After my surgery I have had pain in my hips regularly. With thyroid disorders your joints can be affected and they just aren't what they would be normally. I was finding that when I would start working out or ramping up my workouts that my right hip would have horrible pain in it for a few days and then go away. I'm talking hard to walk and get out of bed pain. I was very scared that it could be the onset of arthritis of the rheumatoid kind as happens with some thyroid patients. When you've had cancer of any kind you can get a little paranoid I think.
After starting my running adventure I developed the pain again and this time it wouldn't go away. Off to my new primary care doctor I went. On a side note...I love him too! Fabulous doctor! Anyways...he ordered blood tests and xrays. The possible scenarios were anything from stress fracture in my hip and rheumatoid arthritis to tendonitis or bursitis. The day after my xrays and blood work was done he called me to let me know everything was normal and that I had just been living with a bad case of tendonitis or bursitis for the past few months. My thyroid levels were off which could cause the increase in pain and length of it as well. This was a major relief because I was allowed to start training for Ragnar again. He put me on 4 days of steroids and gave me prescription motrin to ease the pain. I am feeling better but can tell it is still there. I am hopefully going to see a massage therapist soon to see if she can help as well. I was able to run 2 miles today in about 21 minutes which is huge for me! My legs in the relay are 3.5 miles, 3.7 miles and 6.5 miles. As of now I'm just freaking out about the 6.5 mile leg...pray for me please! LOL!
Anyways...that is the brief update to my follow up cancer journey. I go back in November for another whole body scan. Thankfully I will not be allowed off my thyroid meds (my new doctor was in shock that it took so long for them to get me on it after my surgery) and will just be receiving thyrogen injections and a very small dose of radioactive iodine to do the scan. I am not thinking they will find anything of concern. My last CT scan of my lungs came back stable so that is wonderful news as well! That means I still have the spot but it hasn't grown. This is probably a result of an old infection. So all in all a very good update for me! I'm sure there will be more ups and downs along the way but I am thankful that I have my family, friends and even more importantly my God who is never shaken on my side! I'm going to end this post with a couple of scriptures that have been on my heart lately.
"Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 (This passage was open in the Bible at that the hospital where my mom passed away about 2 years ago this November...it has always been special to me. My mom found new strength in being with her Lord and Savior...I am finding new strength in trusting in Him completely.)
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:3-5
