Hashimoto's Disease

Kyla, Why-Ya Sick?

Hashimoto's Disease

When I was in fourth grade I was sick all of the time. I had headaches and stomaches all of the time. Fifth grade wasn't much different. This is the first time in my life being sick felt normal.I went to my pediatrician every week for a few months and I was told I either had the flu, a cold, an ear infection or that I didn't want to go to school.
First of all, taking antibiotics did not help me. They may have masked my symptoms but now when I get an ear infection (Which happens often) it is hard to find a medicine that works.
Second, I wanted to go to school. I loved my teacher, I loved my friends, I liked being on top of my class, I was in every club, and on top of it all, I was embarrassed to be absent.
Third, I was scared! I knew I was sick, I lost so much hair and I was abnormally small.
Because I had visited the doctor so many times that year, she decided I did not need my ten years old physical.

The summer before sixth grade, when I turned eleven years old and I went for my physical. A month into sixth grade my parents pulled me out of school early and we drove to a building I had never seen before. A hospital that I had never been in before. A hospital I know way too well now. My parents and I got lost in the parking lot, then in the hospital until we found the correct clinic. We met the doctor, his team, and he began telling us about my thyroid and how it was confusing.

I did not know anything walking into the appointment. All my parents knew walking in was that I had signs of Grave's disease.
The doctor started the appointment with the disclaimer that hypothyroidism is only called "Grave's Disease" because the person who discovered its name was Robert Grave. He made the joke that he should have called it "Robert's Disease".  He then explained that the second round of blood work I had done showed that the disease had reversed itself and I now had hyperthyroidism.

I have hyperthyroidism is also known as Hashimoto's disease. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease that occurs when you have an overactive thyroid meaning it produces an excess amount of hormones. Hormones that regulate your mood and temperature. Causing you to be more tired or "hangry".
I remember feeling completely lost in the conversation. The doctor was nice and he explained it was an easy fix; one pill a day. For me, this was a BIG deal. This idea that I had to take a pill every day for potentially the rest of my life freaked me out. The only time I had ever taken pills before was when I was sick. The only person I knew who took pills every day was my grandma.

He proceeded with a physical exam where he listened to my heart and TOLD ME he thought it sounded "weird". Then he proceeded to tell the rest of his team to find me an EKG machine. He struggled to find one and was embarrassed that it was so hard, but finally was able to give me an EKG. It showed that I had what looked like PVC's or Premature ventricular contractions. Now I was completely freaked out. I had never had anything like an EKG before and I left completely stressed.

This doctor is my Endocrinologist today, he is my favorite doctor hands down, and I am so amazed at how he handled the situation.

My PVC's are under control, have gotten better as I get older, and I do not need to take any medicine for them. Through several stress tests, heart monitors, and ultrasounds; my cardiologist has ruled out anything serious.

When I think back to the craziness of my first Endocrinology Appointment I can not believe how far I have come, and what I have gone through.