As the last week of 2009 starts, I am struggling with a few health matters I keep putting off.

I “fired” my endocrinologist in November.  I was supposed to have a follow-up apppointment 4 weeks after I started on Synthroid to make sure my dosage was correct, which means I should have been seen in September.  However, they couldn’t fit me in until November.  Fortunately, I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon in October, and he was able to order the test and confirm my dosage was correct. 

After the errors that the endocrinologist’s office made after my surgery in the summer, I lost a lot of confidence in them.  They did get my initial dosage correct though- the first time, which is almost unheard of.  I was told it could take almost a year for my dosage of Synthroid to be fined tuned.  Several thyroid cancer survivors I know have had their dosages adjusted no less than 6 times, and one person has told me her dosage has been adjusted 12 times in less than a year.

When I knew my dosage was correct in October, I called my endocrinologist’s office and canceled my appointment for November and told them I was going to find a different doctor closer to my home.  I told them I was disappointed with the errors they made, but thankful they were able to determine my correct dosage so accurately. 

So here I am- almost two months later and I haven’t started a search, or let alone been in to see a new endocrinologist.  My surgeon recommended two at the health clinic in town, who he said were trained at the facility of my former endocrinologist.  It would be very easy for me to call and get an appointment, and yet I find myself hesitating. 

Last week I received a reminder postcard from my doctor’s office for my annual exam.  I am due to see her in January.  This was the appointment where she first felt an abnormality in my thyroid last year.  I have put off scheduling that appointment too, because I’m nervous.  I know in reality, the chances of any other major health issue being discovered, is very slim, and I know early detection is the key to everything.  But again, I am hesitating.

I feel like I have just put all the cancer and health issues behind me, and these appointments are reminders that I have to start thinking about it again.  It also is like a  bright flashing light into a dark room, reminding me there are no guarantees, and anything can happen.  I might think I am in good health, and everything is fine, only to discover I have an illness that is out of my control.  The thought has entered my mind more than once- what if they find I have another type of cancer?

I have never been nervous or afraid doctor appointments- I used to like going, to hear everything was fine.  I am not sure  I will ever have that feeling again.  I’m not sure if I will always hear everything is fine anymore.  Not scheduling these appointments means I don’t  have to deal with these feelings right now.   

But yet, by not dealing with these feelings, and not making the appointments, the uncertainty stays with me, and my fears grow- not occupying my thoughts, but just below the surface.  It settles in my mind when I am falling asleep, or it is the first thing I think of when I wake up- am I really okay, or has it been a mistake?

The only way to find out for sure, and to get rid of this doubt is to just make and go the appointments.  I promised myself I would make the appointments before the end of the year, so I now have four days left.  Despite my fears, I know this is a promise I have to keep.     

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One of the first things I’ve been asked to do as a member of the American Cancer Society Blogger Advisory Council is to dedicate a blog post to someone I love with cancer.  The first “person” who came into my mind was all of my blog readers who have thyroid cancer and have written to me with their stories. 

I could write about Holly who is 37, and a mom of three, who after having a thyroidectomy in September, and radioactive iodine last month, is facing the possibility her cancer has spread into her lymph nodes.  Holly had been told her lymph nodes were fine, but they discovered an area of high iodine intake.  If this spot turns out to be lymph nodes, Holly could be facing another surgery to remove them. 

Or I could write about Patricia who is also 37, and a mom of two.  During the past year, Patricia had a huge lump in her neck and with the urging of her children’s father, she decided to follow up on it. It turned out to be a 6.5 inch goiter.  She had a biopsy done on October 15th, and found out early this month it is cancer.  Patricia is facing a thyroidectomy surgery within the next two months. 

There is Nicholas, who is a physician with three small children, who had a thyroidectomy and a neck dissection in June.  He is still having drainage and medication issues. 

These are just three people out of the many who write me about their experiences with thyroid cancer.  A common theme in many of their letters, is they are looking for support and someone who understands what they are going through.  Despite their cancer, and challenges, these cancer patients and survivors continue on in with their lives.  They are there for their children and spouses.  They are there for their parents who have medical issues themselves, and for the others that rely on them.  Most importantly, they continue on for themselves. 

I have never met Holly, Patricia, or Nicholas, or many of the other people who have written me.  But I admire and love their spirits of determination and knowledge that they will beat their cancer and will be healthy to be around for countless birthdays.  Just the fact that they are sharing their stories, shows that they have taken control of their cancer, so they can fight it. 

Anyone can join the American Cancer Society in the effort to celebrate More Birthdays.  Just dedicate a blog post to someone you love who has been affected by cancer and celebrate them.  You can check out other posts on the American Cancer Society’s Birthday Blog for inspiration. 

Birthdays are good!  Let’s have as many of them as we can!

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I am excited to announce that the American Cancer Society formed a new blogger advisory council in September.  Their purpose from the press release: 

The Council members will work with the Society to determine how best to use social media to galvanize the movement for more birthdays in the virtual world by encouraging women to take an active role in fighting cancer. The Society’s movement for more birthdays seeks to save lives from cancer by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back against the disease. 

I am very pleased to let my readers know I am the newest member of the Council!  I am beyond thrilled for this opportunity!  I am looking forward to working with the other Council members, and providing additional ways to help all cancer patients fight their cancers.

I obviously have a keen desire in raising awareness on some of the issues around thyroid cancer, many which I have written about on my blog.  I feel working with the American Cancer Society on this new council will maximize and build awareness for thyroid cancer.  

To all my blog readers with cancer who have shared your stories, your fears, your struggles, your triumphs, and comments with me, thank you.   Hearing your stories helped me understand I wasn’t the only one experiencing many of the feelings and issues I had when fighting thyroid cancer.  These stories, and my own experience has made me realize how much more support thyroid cancer patients need. 

I am honored to be able to serve on this new council, and I plan to make sure our experiences with thyroid cancer will raise awareness and provide help and support for all cancer patients and their loved ones. 

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I promised a few months ago, I would share the amazing scar reducing-healing product that was sent to me complimentary from Earth Mama Angel Baby, after my thyroid cancer, and neck dissection surgery.  I have mentioned in a few previous blog posts that I could not believe how wonderful this salve works, and I promised to write a blog post about it.  Since then, I have received a number of e-mails from people asking me what this product is- from other thyroid cancer patients to parents wanting something for their children who have had surgery, or scars. 

The product is  C-Mama Healing Salve.  Earth Mama Angel Baby describes the salve as:

Our amazing bodies are naturally designed to close wounds, soothe inflammations and rashes, staunch bleeding, resist infection and fade scars. Yet sometimes even nature’s perfection needs a helping hand!  So for you, this revolutionary, clinically tested healing salve was created with 100% natural ingredients rich in Vitamin C, essential fatty acids and amino acids – all nutrients necessary for proper cell regeneration and wound repair. Formulated especially for cesarean section and other surgical wounds, old c-section scars and stretch marks, and inflamed rashes and burns. Optimize your skin’s natural healing power with C-Mama Healing Salve™.

C-Mama Healing Salve was developed after a year of research.  It is also clinically tested, dermatologist tested, toxin-free, cruelty-free, and certified vegan.  It contains vitamin E, lavender oil, and organic calendula extract, among its ingredients. 

I have very sensitive skin, and so many cosmetics and products irritate it.  I have been using this salve every day since July, and have never had any sensitivity to it.  I have been astonished on how wonderful C-Mama Healing Salve has worked in reducing my scar on my neck.  I received the salve when I was recuperating at my dad’s house, a week after my surgery.  I didn’t mention anything to my dad about the salve.  I put the salve on at bedtime, and the next morning my dad asked me what had happened to my scar.  When I asked him what he meant, he said it didn’t look as red, and it looked like it had healed a lot over night!  He was right- it had!

I have posted pictures of my surgery scars, including some right after the surgery, in previous blog posts, so I am not going to post those again in this post.  But you can click on the links if you want to see them.  But since a picture speaks a thousand words, here is a picture of my scar that was taken on July 15, which was 33 days after my surgery.  I had been using the salve for about two weeks at this point:

I am happy to say that the scar is so faint now, taking a close-up of it, doesn’t really turn out.  Below is a picture of me on my birthday, just three weeks ago.  If you look closely at my neck, you might be able to see the faint line of a scar.   

I have only used the C-Mama Healing Salve on my scar.  The jar is 1 ounce, but a little goes a long way.  I still have the original jar that Earth Mama Angel Baby sent me!  Also, my surgeon (who is also a plastic surgeon) was surprised on how faint the incision had become.  He sells a professional line of scar reducing products.  He asked me if I had been using them, and I told him no, and told him I had been using this product.  He said it looked perfect, and couldn’t be healing any better!  I agree! I don’t do very many giveaways, but I am so impressed with this product, and I think it can help so many people- thyroid cancer patients included!

 I am thrilled to announce that the wonderful people at Earth Mama Angel Baby have offered one jar of their C-Mama Healing Salve for a very lucky reader!  All you have to do to enter for a chance to win it is go to Earth Mama Angel Baby’s site, and look around.  They have so many other natural and organic products that support the common discomforts of the entire process of birth, from pregnancy through labor, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and even the loss of a baby.

Then leave a comment here, on A Mama’s Blog, stating which product or products caught your eye, or which ones you would like to try.  The giveaway will run from November 3, to 10pm, Mountain Time, November 18th.  A winner will be selected by random.org.  I will announce the winner in a separate blog post.

When my surgeon told me I was going to be left with a U-shaped incision from the surgery, I was worried about the scar’s appearance.  No one wants a big, ugly, noticeable scar on their neck.  Fortunately my surgery ended up not being so extensive, but I still had a very large scar. C-Mama Healing Salve has helped reduce that in three months, to barely noticeable.  I am so happy with the results, and am thankful to Earth Mama Angel Baby for making such a great product- that actually works- to help with scar healing! 

Good luck!!

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Last month I ran in my first ever running race, The Denver Koman Race for the Cure, supporting breast cancer.  At the end of that post, I mentioned my running journey was going to be continued.  

On Saturday, I will run in my second race.  It is the Denver’s Veteran’s 5K race, before the Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown Denver.   One big difference in this race from the Race for the Cure, is this race will be timed.  I will have an official finishing time and ranking at the end of the race.  I’m curious to see where I end up for my age group.

I have been running three to four times a week, and doing some yoga stretches and breathing on the days I don’t run.  I have been reading up on some suggestions on how to improve speed, and after a few trial and errors, I think I found a method that works for me.  Part of what I have included in my training, is I have been trying to run up more hills once a week to strengthen my legs.  I have also been devoting one run to half the distance of a 5K (1.6 miles) but running at a faster pace.  After another run, I will sprint about 400 yards, and then walk 400 yards a few times.

This seems to be working.  Before the Race for the Cure, my time averaged around 38 minutes.  Last week I had my best 5K run time ever- exactly 30 minutes.  I’m pretty happy in less than a month, I’ve been able to drop eight minutes off my time.  On Friday I went on a run, and more than half the path was icy and snow packed.  I adjusted my running to run on the snow, and I ran 3.4 miles in 31 minutes. Running in the snow was a good work-out for my legs as well.  I’ll admit it though- I have a bit of a competitive streak in me.  Running seems to bring that out, in that I want to keep getting faster.  My goal for the race on Saturday is to finish under 30 minutes.

Part of what I enjoy about running are the challenges.  Obviously there is the physical aspect, but I also like the mental challenge.  I have learned (and am still learning) how to really zero in on what my body is doing, and it forces me to stay focused. I have never been a great breather- I am finding in order to do so, I really have to concentrate on it. For me, that is the key to a good run-proper breathing. 

The elements are another challenge.  The weather has been cold, and it is totally different running in 20 degree weather than 40 degree weather.  I went on a run today dressed warmly, but ten minutes into it, I was way too hot.  I didn’t want to stop, so I shed some layers, tying them around my waist while running and kept on. I don’t want to be shedding layers during the race and be carrying extra clothing, so every time something like this happens, I learn something from it and learn how to make the adjustment. 

I also have a “secret weapon” for this race, which I didn’t have in the last race.  I’m not quite ready to reveal it yet, but I think part of me getting faster can be attributed to these!  For the rest this week, I am going to do another 5K run on Tuesday, followed by some sprinting, a 1.6 mile run on Thursday, and I should be rested and ready for Saturday.  Like last month, I’m excited and so happy that I’m healthy enough to do this! 

The race last month was a good way to get back into an exercise program while taking it at a comfortable pace.  I’m going to push myself more in this race and see how far I can go- I’m ready to run!

If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now.  Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.  ~ Priscilla Welch 

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