The Importance of Listening To Your Body

Recently I’ve been reminded about the importance of listening to your body. When you sense that something doesn’t feel right, trust that prompting.
 
Over the summer, I was able to go on a few trips. I had a lot of fun and posted pictures of my adventures. However, even though I was smiling in the pictures, only a few people knew that I wasn’t feeling great.
 
Here’s another reminder: Social media doesn’t always show you the full picture of what’s really going on in a person’s life.
 
Behind the scenes, I was dealing with these symptoms: pain in the front of my neck, discomfort when swallowing, having trouble sleeping, heat sensitivity, and an elevated heart rate. 
 
At first, I thought maybe I pulled a muscle in my neck or that these were normal symptoms for a woman my age to be experiencing.
 
After about a week, the pain increased, and I began to sense that something wasn’t right. A few days later, my Apple Watch gave me a high heart rate notification when I was just sitting still.
 
I opened up the Health App on my phone, and I was surprised to see that for the past several weeks, my heart rate was drastically higher than normal. That was when I decided it was time to call my doctor.
 
Within a 2-week period, I met with my primary care doctor and my endocrinologist, had multiple blood tests, a thyroid ultrasound, and a thyroid biopsy. 
 
I was diagnosed with thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid) and hyperthyroidism. I felt some relief having a diagnosis, and I began taking medications to help manage my symptoms.
 
My endocrinologist explained what to expect over the coming weeks and months, as there are several phases to this thyroid condition.
 
The ultrasound revealed 2 thyroid nodules, and I was sent to get a thyroid biopsy at a local hospital. The biopsy results showed some abnormal cells, but not enough to make a diagnosis. Because of this, the tissues/cells were sent to a lab in California for molecular testing.
 
Up until this point, all of my test results posted in MyChart within 24 or 48 hours. Things were moving quickly...and then I had to wait 6 weeks for the results of the molecular testing.
 
6 weeks of wondering if today would be the day I find out my results. Surprisingly, I wasn’t worried...I just wanted an answer.
 
In those 6 weeks of waiting, God gave me peace in the midst of the unknown.
 
He reminded me that He already knew the results, and because of that, I didn’t have to fear them.
 
He reminded me that no matter what happens, He will be with me to help me through it.
 
Oh, the kindness of God.
 
The molecular testing showed that I have a 50% chance of having thyroid cancer.
 
I honestly laughed when I got the results because I thought, “After such an expensive test, the best they can tell me is that I have 50/50 odds?”
 
Without a clear answer, I did the only thing I knew to do: I prayed. 
 
I prayed for wisdom and discernment for my endocrinologist...that God would guide him on what my next steps should be and if surgery is needed.
 
Right now, the recommendation is to wait a few more months, continue to monitor my bloodwork, and then do a follow-up ultrasound. The results of that will determine if I need to have a thyroidectomy.
 
In the past, I’ve shared parts of my story when a chapter has ended, but I’m learning it’s also important to share when we’re in the middle of a chapter....when we don’t know how many pages it will be, or how it’s going to end.
 
Here’s what I do know: I trust the Author.
 
Nothing catches God by surprise. Because of this, I can wait with confidence that no matter what happens on the next page of this chapter, He will be with me.
 
Oh, the kindness of God.