A Home Study Wake Up Call

For months we have had our India home study close to complete but because of the challenges we faced last year and the uncertainty that resulted both Mark and I had put off our medical appointments.Until now that is.

Neither of us have a primary care physician that we frequent as I have opted for a more holistic midwifery model approach to my health during the past six years of pregnancy and nursing and Mark tends to lean towards the 'if it isn't broke, don't fix it' type of healthcare.

Because, you know, we are part of the invincible generation.

So, in order to find a physician I googled Cigna-primary-care-provider-accepting-new-patients-in-Littleton. Low and behold a good ol' doctor was less than five minutes away and had available openings within the week.

Appointments were booked.

Now, let me offer up a piece of advice for those seeking a primary care physician: don't settle for the first name that comes up on a google search! Seriously. He was awful. His whole practice was awful. From the office staff, who very rudely refused to let a Medicaid patient see a doctor because he did not have a $2 copay (don't worry, we ended up giving him the $2).  To Dr. Grumpy himself who I am sure was born devoid of humor and told me I better be nicer to him because I was dependent on him signing my home study paperwork. After this we were then told to go downstairs where we would receive complete blood panels, HIV testing, and TB testing. Downstairs in that tiny room accompanied only by a sweet, timid phlebotomist is where I unexpectedly took my mid-day nap. Yup, right after that fifth vile was filled with my blood and that needle was slowly removed from my vein I passed out.

Overall it was an awful experience.

After this appointment we only had to take pictures of our TB test two days later and wait for the blood work results to return so the doc could sign off on our bill of health. On the following Saturday we took the pictures- no swelling meant no TB and on Monday I received a voicemail from the doctor's office. I picked up the phone and began to listen to the recording. The man on the message introduced himself and said that our results were in but...

But... My thyroid results were abnormal and vitamin D levels were extremely low. I had to call to make an appointment because the doc wanted to talk about how we went forward from here.

I was shocked. Speechless. And all I could think was "Do I have the C word?" 

Everyone I have known that had thyroid issues ended up having cancer, and I was terrified that I, too, would join them on that journey. Suddenly all I could think about was how young Henry was and how... if I died... he would not even remember me. Tears.

I know this sounds extreme but no one knows how they will react to such a possibility and that is where my mind went. I was not scared, I was just horribly sad.

I called Mark, who was in Breckenridge with his business partners on a retreat, and told him that he was as healthy as a horse but that I had abnormal result and would have to go back in for further treatment/discussion. He sensed the sadness in my voice and came home that evening (Boy, I have a great husband!).

For the next 48 hours I lived with the fear in the back of my mind that I would not get to watch my wee ones grow up.

For the next 48 hours Google became my best friend. I googled so much that I am pretty sure I now type 200+ words per minute. More importantly I learned that, unlike my friends who had more severe thyroid issues, my condition, hypothyroidism, was manageable with daily medication. One pill a day for the rest of my life.

I also learned that my vitamin D levels were EXTREMELY low (which could be causing some of the thyroid issues) and that I would be prescribed vitamin D pills that I would also have to take for my life's entirety.

I went from being an invincible twenty-something to a daily-pill-popping-thirty-something overnight.

I went into my follow up appointment informed and ready to accept this new normal. As expected I was prescribed two pills: one for my thyroid and one high level vitamin D pill that I would take for six weeks and then I would replaced it with a lower level over-the-counter vitamin D supplement.

Who knew a home study could be so exciting? That said, I am glad last week is over. I can now begin this next week knowing that we have a treatment plan in place and that both my blood abnormalities are manageable. I am very thankful for the fact that we caught everything before they had the chance to develop into more serious issues and turned into... the dreaded C word.

Here's to a less exciting week.