Long story...

Hello friends! I know, it's been a while since I wrote anything...

We've had quite a bit going on recently including my baby turning 3 years old!!! I put a lot of pics on FB and will add some more when I get the time so I won't be posting the pics here.Here's a little of what's going on. The beginning of August Jakob had his last visit from "Miss Carmen" our therapist with Early Steps. I think Carmen has helped Jakob in many ways. The biggest way is just getting him used to interacting and dealing with people that are unfamiliar to him. She has also been a blessing to me. I don't see many people throughout the week and I came to enjoy her bi-monthly visits. We would talk about Jakob (which is what every mother does anyways right?) and health food, vitamins and supplements and infertility. One time Carmen mentioned that she had endomitriosis and had had surgery for it once and did not get pregnant in the 6 months or so they say is your best chance for a pregnancy after surgery. Even though we are about 5 years removed from all our fertility treatments and tests I still remember quite well the pain and heartache that comes with wanting a child and not being able to conceive. I just cannot help sharing my story with others partly because I don't want them to feel alone and partly because I want them to know that a pregnancy is possible and I want them to have hope. I could tell once I shared our story that Carmen was encouraged and after that we talked about IF a few times. God has also been laying it on my heart to pray for Carmen. I wanted to be able to be a witness to her and maybe be able to talk to her about the Lord. Unfortunately our time came to an end and I really didn't get that opportunity that I was hoping for. On her last visit she shared with me that she would have to have the surgery for endometriosis again because the doctor who did it before did it incorrectly. They do the surgery laparoscopically and my IF friends and I know exactly what that feels like, yet another issue I could identify with her about. She also told me that after the surgery they were going to pursue IVF. I cannot tell you how happy and excited I was to hear that! Long story short I told her that any time she had any questions or just wanted to talk about the process or what she was feeling she should give me a call. There's so many emotions that go on when you go through this process it really helps to have people you can talk to that know what you're feeling. I'm hoping that she will call me and that maybe I'll get the chance to be a help and a testimony of God's grace.

On the 17th I had an appointment with a cardiologist. We talked about my racing heart and the chest pain I've had off and on (more off than on lately, ptl) and he said he wants me to have a stress test done and also wear a heart monitor for 20 something days. Since the heart palpitations and pains are so intermittent wearing the monitor for a long time is the best way to try to figure out what's going on. He did say that it may just be my thyroid causing all this but it's better to be safe than sorry, and I totally agree.

After my appointment we left and drove to Lake City, Fl and stayed the night in a hotel. On Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to my parents house. We arrived in N'ville around 11 o'clock in the morning. We had a great week. We were pretty busy the whole time we were there. There weren't too many times to sit around at all. We got to take Jakob to the water park at the N'vill children's park for the first time and we took him to the beach (he's been in the past but I'm sure didn't remember) Jeremy and his dad went to our house and cleaned it all up. They chopped down a dead tree and cleared away tree limbs and stuff just in time for the hurricane. Jakob's birthday party was so much fun. One thing that I really miss being down here is the big parties or bonfires or holiday cookouts with lots of friends. We kept Jakob's party to just a few friends but we had a great time. It's always fun to be at a child's birthday party. Every present no matter how big or small is appreciated. Jakob wanted to open every single gift that night! :)  I got to cut Jillian's hair which was a big blessing. When she asked me to do it I got a little teary eyed remembering when she called me and asked me to shave her head for the first time. I am so thankful that she's doing better and able to get any hair cut she wants now, and the crazy woman even wanted me to cut it short! That's what shaving your head will do for you. No more fear of short haircuts ;) I also cut Abi's hair, my mom's and Jeremy's moms. I actually really enjoyed playing hair stylist for women because all I do down here is cut my boys hair every 3 weeks or so. Much more fun to cut women's hair :) I saw a new doctor while I was home. His name is Dr. Caputo. I had heard his name numerous times through the years. I know a few people who had him as ob/gyn and loved him. He has started a weight loss clinic in his practice and deals a lot with hormone issues affecting both women and men (he also has his ob/gyn practice going, he's a busy guy!). I had my blood drawn for this appointment about 3 or 4 weeks ago so Dr. Caputo already had my test results. He said my adrenal hormones were low. One of which is testosterone. He pulled out a medical journal which stated that restoring the correct balance to your testosterone levels will help with heart health and may even lower cholesterol. I'm hoping maybe once I'm on the medication he prescribed for a few months I'll be able to get off my cholesterol medication. I talked quite in depth with him about my thyroid issues. He told me the tests said I have thyroid antibodies in my blood. What that basically means is that I have an autoimmune disease. My body is attacking my thyroid for whatever reason. This explains why my thyroid numbers can be perfectly fine and I'm still dealing with symptoms. He gave me a list of supplements that support thyroid function and said wait 3 months before I decide if it's helping or not. He was so knowledgeable about thyroid and is the first doctor to recommend anything to help me besides the medication to slow down my thyroid. The adrenal hormones Dr. Caputo prescribed to me have to be made in a compounding pharmacy so he sent my rx to Crestview Pharmacy and told me to expect a call from them later in the day. 

This is where I received the biggest blessing of the week...

That afternoon I got a call from the pharmacist at Crestview Pharmacy. He told me that he just received my information from Dr. Caputo and that he noticed I was taking methimazole for my thyroid. We talked a little about when and how I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid. He told me the reason he called is because his wife is hyperthyroid also and he then explained to me the best way they've found to take the medication (which includes taking half of the morning dose first thing and half 6 hours later) I have been doing this since I talked to him and my medication lasts much longer. I still get some symptoms about 30 mins to an hour before I need to take the next pill but it's much better than before. I talked to the pharmacist about symptoms and everything I'm experiencing his wife is experiencing also. This may sound odd but it was such a blessing to know I'm not crazy! I cannot tell you how much these doctors have made me feel like maybe I'm a mental patient. It is maddening because I know what I feel like. I know my symptoms are not in my head but in my body. Just to hear someone else say "what you are feeling is real" made all the difference to me. If there's anything I'm learning throughout this whole experience it is don't accept not feeling good. Search for a doctor until you find one who is willing to help you. I don't know if I'll ever feel "normal" again. -In fact when reading about autoimmune thyroid issues the odds are that eventually my thyroid will burn out and then I'll have to deal with issues from a slow thyroid.- but I now have people in my corner who will try everything they can to help me feel the best I can. The visit to the doctor and the call from the pharmacist gave me so much hope. I am so thankful for the way God directs our paths. I'm thankful that he brought my mom to this doctor and that he is willing to work with me also. In three months I will go for blood work again and then me and Dr. Caputo will have a consult via skype. I feel like I'm finally on the road to figuring this sickness out. Praise the Lord. 

We left for home on Sunday. I was very sad to leave everyone. Sad to leave the familiarity of our surroundings. Sad to leave the pretty part of Florida for the strange swampy part that we call home right now. I was very tired too though. We'd had such a busy week. We got home and unpacked the car...then we had to open every single birthday gift :) We're back to life as usual. TS Isaac brought us a little rain and a whole lot of wind but today (besides the very full ponds and overflowing canals) you can't even tell there was any weather. 

There's a couple exciting things on the horizon as well as a couple nerve wracking, stressful things. When Jeremy and his dad went to our house the other day it was in a state of disarray. Jeremy thinks the guy may have moved out. It's either that or they've just quit caring for the house, I don't know which is worse. I'm nervous but I know God's in control and I need to leave the details to him. I will try to be a better blogger from now on. Hope you're all having a great week and all my NW Florida friends stay safe.

Love,

          -Me