Hi all of my DIY friends!
I haven't been on here in a while because we started working on our   house remodel. Then I got sick. Dizzy, short of breath, so very tired,   palpitations, losing weight fast, couldn't sleep, and other symptoms. I   couldn't walk to the restroom without being out of breath and  exhausted,  & would have to sit down & rest 1/2 way thru doing  dishes,  & taking me all day long to cook one meal because I had no  energy or  stamina...none, ALL not at all like me.  
I am not one to go to a doctor if I can avoid it and take care of   whatever with over the counter meds. But I couldn't take it anymore. I   finally gave up and went to my PCP. First test she did was a blood   oxygen level, it was 74. She ordered me on oxygen 24/7, and several   inhalers. She did blood tests of course to check other things. 
Results of initial blood tests revealed I am Hyperthyroid, & my   Calcium is also high. The blood test thyroid levels were very high so   that became priority. She then ordered a thyroid scan with uptake and a   heart echo. The thyroid scan test my uptake was 92.5% (normal is 30%). 
Confirmed...I have dangerously high thyroid levels, my heart rate is going nuts, hand tremors, hair falling out. 
I have been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism Graves Disease. Graves   disease is a autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid. I am now under   the care of a Endocrinologist, Cardiologist, and Ophthalmologist. Endo   for the thyroid, Cardo because my heart rate spiked at 248 one day and   this disease can damage the heart, Optho because the Graves Disease  part  of it can attack the eyes with whats commonly termed as Thyroid  Eye  Disease. 
I am also seeing a Pulmonary doctor because they found thru the Heart   Echo test that I also have Moderate Pulmonary Hypertension. I have COPD   and Thyroid Disease which they seem to think caused the PH. I'll have to have more tests done for the PH later.
I am on bed rest, no strenuous activity, avoid heat (real funny doc... I   live in Texas! thank goodness it is wintertime right now), avoid   stress, home oxygen 24/7, and bunch of meds including a beta blocker to   help control my high heart rate and hand tremors. Before the beta   blocker my resting heart rate was going up to 140, with the one spike of   200+.
The immediate goal is to get my thyroid levels down as fast as possible   and try to avoid a Thyroid Storm. There are three treatment options;   antithyroid meds & beta blockers, Radioactive Iodine (RAI) to kill   the thyroid gland, or surgery to remove it. The RAI my Endo says she   can't think about right now because my levels are dangerously high and   must come down before she can attempt that. If she did it now it could   cause the high amt of thyroid hormones to "dump" into my body and could   throw me into a Thyroid Storm, which can be fatal. I agree, lets not do   that right now then. 
My thyroid gland is enlarged and affecting my vocal cords, I sound like I    have a bad case of laryngitis. They won't say if my vocal cords will   be  permanently like this & damaged or not, too early to determine.   The third option of surgery to remove the thyroid gland isn't an  option  right now because it is too enlarged. 
The house remodel has been stopped (for now). I can't do anything to   help Chris (my hubby), and I don't need the construction dust agitating  my lungs,  nor the noise.  And too, we are scared to use the money right  now  worried about what might come next with my health.  I haven't  cooked a  thing in weeks. 

   Chris is very supportive & taking very good care of me & doing  everything on top of  his demanding job. He brings something home to  eat for dinner, or cooks  us up something quick. I soooo miss cooking,  so ready to sling some  flour up in here again! I go back to see my  Cardiologist for 24hr holter monitor tests results tomorrow. 
2012 isn't looking like a good year so far. 

  The year is still early though, I'm trying to keep a positive attitude  that my medical team will get all of this licked and I will be back to  my old self again soon. 
Sorry for the long post. I miss everyone, and wanted to stop in to say hello. I'll try to stop by as often as I can. 
ps: I will most likely have a boat load of DIY supplies I'll need to part with soon. As soon as I am able to do anything besides go to doctors apptmts. I will post here when I can do it. It is a LOT of flavorings, and other diy supplies.