World Thyroid Day

Today, May 25th is World Thyroid Day! It's purpose, is to raise awareness of all thyroid conditions around the globe. Tens of millions of people (roughly 1 in 20) are known to be affected by thyroid issues worldwide - myself being one of them. In an effort to spread the word about thyroid awareness, this post will touch upon different conditions but mostly, my own experience.  

credit - https://www.thyroid-fed.org/tfi-wp/history-wtd-itaw/

First things first, I think I should give you a bit of background. The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped structure that sits in the middle of the lower neck, and it produces hormones known as thyroxine. These hormones have a lot of influence in the way the body works; including regulating metabolism, energy levels and heart rate. The most common conditions of the thyroid include hyperthyroidism (increased thyroxine levels), hypothyroidism (decreased thyroxine levels), Graves disease, Hashimoto's disease, goiters and thyroid nodules. 

Below are some links to NHS information pages about the different conditions, detailing causes, symptoms and treatments as they can explain it all waaaaay better than I can and where I went to when I wanted to find out more about my condition. 

Hyperthyroidism NHS information - click here (includes Graves disease)

Hypothyroidism NHS information - click here (includes Hashimoto's disease)

Goitres and Nodules NHS information - click here

My story - it's a bit of a long'un

My experience and area of 'expertise' is from the latter, a dang thyroid nodule. At the end of June last year I noticed a lump on the right side of my neck; at this point it wasn't too big and I put it down to a swollen gland (I was getting over a slight cold) - so I went on holiday for a few days and told myself, if it's still there when I get back I'll go to the doctors. Guess what, it was still there. I took myself down to see the doctor where she had a feel of my neck and told me she wasn't sure what it was, but it definitely wasn't a swollen gland. Yikes. I was sent for blood tests which came back normal and as the doctors referral for a scan wasn't urgent, I had to wait until the end of August for a diagnostic ultrasound. Finally, I have my scan and though we could see there was something on the thyroid, we didn't know what and whether we should be worried. Fast forward just a few days; I get a phone call from the doctors asking me to go in as the doctor has looked at my scan and wants to see me that evening. From this point, I am referred to a consultant under the 2 week fast referral service - other wise known as the 'possible cancer referral'. My anxiety got a whole lot worse at this stage - I wasn't sleeping and I was so on edge. I saw my consultant who asked about my medical and family history and had a feel of my neck, and decided that it needed to be biopsied that he wanted it done that afternoon. About a week after the biopsy, I was back at the hospital to be told that the results were inconclusive and that I would need surgery - a partial thyroidectomy (half the gland removed) to get a diagnosis. After being told all of the risks and side effects, I signed all the forms and told to wait for a date for the operation. The date came through the next day, and the op was set for exactly a week after being told I needed it - it was all happening so quickly! Op day came, I was so anxious and didn't sleep - but I don't know what I was so worried about as it went super smoothly and everyone was so kind to me. Fast forward to just over 2 weeks since surgery, the results came back determining that the lump contained precancerous cells - so it was a jolly good job it was whipped out!

So that's that! This was such a scary and emotional time for both me and my family, but I am so grateful for what it has taught me.

MASSIVE shout out to my surgeon; Mr Q - u da best and also to the NHS, it is an incredible service that we in the UK are so lucky to have. 

Tash x 

*Warning - photos below show my journey but contain graphic images*