I forgot I created this blog when I did I-131 in December 2010! How sad that I didn't finish recounting every minute of every day of that adventure.
Catching up, it's now a year and a half later and lucky me, I get to do I-131 again! A scan in April revealed "remnant tissue" that we need to nuke to heck and back. So I'm scheduled to swallow another big blue pill on 7/19.
The big difference this time, is with remnant or recurrent disease, I am not able to take thyrogen injections to adjust my TSH levels so the iodine will target the cells we want to target. I have to go off my thyroid supplement (Synthroid) from 6/25 through 7/19 to prepare my body for the treatment. This is called levothyroxine deprivation, but if you try to use voice search on your iphone, it will come up "rock scene deprivation," hence the title of this post. Ironically, I'm probably going to have to sit out a gig with my band on 7/21 because of the treatment, so it is LITERALLY rock scene deprivation!!
It's day three without synthroid and I'm feeling the effects - I approached lifting the office coffee pot with the same resolve as if I were going to bench press 250 pounds. My dear dear co-workers, both registered dietitians, have armed me with an eating plan to maximize energy, minimize potential for insulin resistance and hopefully thwart some of the weight gain many experience. I slept 12.5 hours last night and still feel like I've been up for 72 straight.
I'm writing this blog so I can share it with my scar siblings who have similar experiences and want to know when the different symptoms of hypothyroidism start appearing. We'll see!
This experience is so minor compared to the months of chemo and radiation that some cancer patients have to endure, but it is still an unwanted bump in the road. It's an unfortunate reminder that cancer is always a shadow in the background. And it's a great catalyst for me to continue to grow and serve and love and hope.
