Roid non-rage

Guess what these are? You're right...I've been visiting the doctor's office again. I'm a sucker for these models. Brains, ladyparts, sinuses. I like 'em all. Cuz they're plastic - not real guts!

This time I was visiting a new endocrinologist. You may recall that when I found out that my thyroid was wacky, I didn't wish to wait for the Des Moines group of doctors at Iowa Diabetes and Endocrinology Center (IDEC) to get around to phoning me for an appointment. They seemed to be way to busy for little old me - who was in the midst of angst and anxiety, the result of not knowing what was wrong with me and my illness.

So I was referred by my nurse practitioner, Sheryl Young ARNP, to an Endocrinologist at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Despite the fact that I'm a big Cyclone fan, they nicely got me in for an appointment fairly quickly. While I was on the way to Iowa City, IDEC finally called me to make an appointment. Right.

Dr. Doelle got me on the right track. We kept in contact using the secure online system. I needed periodic blood tests and that was a bit of a hassle for both his staff and me though. So I decided it was time to switch to a local doc. Thus the visit to Dr. Vanitha Singaram last week. She was nice and seems very thorough and plans to run a test to make sure that I have the Graves antibody, important as I go forward with this illness.

I'm down to 1 pill every other day. We'll see how that goes - aiming for remission. I hope the thyroid cooperates. Mine is shaped pretty normal - like the one on the left BTW. Don't look for me to get a butterfly tattoo like some people on the Graves Facebook page...

Mr. Salty in the Bedroom

Paul walked out of our room Sunday with a perplexed look on his face carrying a jar of nuts. He wanted to know just why those crunchy legumes, a jar of Mr. Salty Peanuts, were in the bedroom. He looked a little jealous - though the lid hadn't even been cracked open!

I had to explain to my dear husband that my physical therapist Christine has assigned me some exercises for my shoulder. I decided I was ready to add in a bit of weight and looked in the cupboard for a soup can...but then I spied Mr. Salty. He is a nicely weighted plastic container with a waist so he, um, I mean it is easily gripped. Not to worry Pablo - you've not been replaced by nuts.

The cleaning crew came to our home today. I put Mr. Salty away in a drawer, but I did leave out a few more of my workout tools. I hope they don't think I'm kinky....

a rubber thingy on the door knob - glad it wasn't on the ceiling fan...

There is also a pulley and ropes on my dresser. All such fun stuff! My arm is doing about 172 degrees - not too bad.

Other health news: Today I went to Methodist for a blood test to see what those T3 and T4 levels are doing after 3 weeks on the Methimizole. It takes about that long for the thyroid to give up the stored hormones...so this is when I should start feeling the effects of the drug which is a blocker. I hope it's more like the front line blocking like the Dallas Cowboys rather than the ISU Cyclones.