My Thyroidectomy Post 1

“You have a prominent thyroid.”

I have been told this for years by every doctor I ever saw for an annual wellness visit since, goodness, I don’t know – I stopped seeing a pediatrician! This year was different, though.

I have not seen a physician for at least five years. I don’t get sick. I haven’t had injuries. I felt great, so I took a break from seeing doctors. No, it wasn’t a cost issue. DH is a physician & I’m a retired nurse. We have excellent health insurance.

Until last year when I lost quite a bit of weight, what I hated most about doctor visits was weighing in. I knew I was overweight but the doctor always reminded me of that fact & frankly I was sick of that. Reason? I don’t really know. Self-loathing. Depression. Shame. Disappointment with myself. Whatever it was I decided to stop putting myself through that since I was healthy (other than being overweight), I exercised regularly & I knew what to eat. Actually I ate a very healthy diet, just too much of it.

With 2011′s weight loss maintained for almost a year I decided it was time to see a physician. Get my “win” on the record & make sure I had not missed anything serious that might be hiding under the surface.

It took me a number of weeks to select my Internist. I wanted someone who would be willing to work with me since I’m not keen on the standard practice of medicine – pharmaceuticals & X-rays/tests treating symptoms rather than finding root causes.

I chose an Internal Medicine doctor because I am prejudiced – DH is an Internist & I know that in the event that something untoward happens: there is an illness or hospitalization, it will be an Internist who will have to manage the situation.

I chose a female doctor because being a woman, I happen to like seeing a woman physician who has more in common with me than a male doc. Common experiences include but are not limited to childbirth, breasts that must be kept healthy & understands the… how can I say this politely…fun & games of mammograms & menopause. (I am refraining from making a snarky remark about mammograms since I haven’t had one in years & will never willingly have another, but that’s another Post.)

After much research I selected my physician, scheduled the appointment & prepared myself mentally & emotionally for the visit with all that involves, including me sitting in a waiting room worrying that someone with perfume would arrive & I would lose my voice.

Continued tomorrow.

PS: I’m publishing this story in small snippets. I figure no one has time to sit down & read the whole, long story at one time, so you get it a bit at a time.

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