Update on My Health!!!

Sorry I've gotten so bad at blogging this summer, its been the craziest summer!  I had another mountaintop summer at Lake Junaluska and while I was super sad to leave, I was also very excited to spend some time at home!  

I saw the orthopedist again for my ankle 2 weeks ago.  I was hoping he'd let me leave the boot and downgrade to a brace.  Unfortunately, my ankle wasn't doing well enough for the downgrade.  He told me my ankle was still too swollen for him to know if it was anything more serious than the sprain and torn ligaments.  He's thinking due to how its healed so far, I probably have a high ankle sprain for sure which can take 3-6 months to heal all the way...yikes!  I would like to say my ankle is all better but it still hurts a lot.  I'm kind of worried when I get back to school that walking so much is going to set me back.  Prayers for continued healing, por favor!!

On to my thyroid...or not.  I went to the endocrinologist this morning.  She's from Iran and kind of hilarious.  

She doesn't have the best English so when she walked in she said,
"Hey Miss Rachel...I can't pronounce your last name."
I said, "Fogle! And its okay because I can't pronounce yours either!"  

We agreed she can just call me Rachel and she's just Dr. K.  Well Dr. K couldn't understand why I was there since my tests came back normal so I explained to her everything leading up to today and good thing she's the doctor because the wheels in her brain were just turning thinking of what it could be.  Dr. K doesn't think my thyroid is the problem right now.  There's no denying all the symptoms I'm having and yes, they go along with thyroid stuff but they also could be pointing to other health conditions.  Dr. K's number one idea is that I'm insulin resistant.  She kept warning me not to freak out because some people confuse this as "You have Diabetes!" but she said that wasn't what she was trying to say.  Pretty much from what I understood, there's too much sugar in my body and my body doesn't really know what to do with it.  Her other ideas were polycystic ovarian syndrome or something could be going on with my pituitary gland.  All of these control hormones which is where the problem is at for sure.  

So the next step is to get a bunch of tests done...11 to be exact.  She told me I could come in whenever I want, they'll take 3-4 hours to complete, and I just have to fast before showing up.  Most of them are just blood tests but one of the insulin tests takes 3 hours itself.  I'll be at the office first thing Monday morning to get these tests out of the way before moving back to PC Monday afternoon.  What a day that'll be!  She said she'll have the results in about a week's time, possibly even by the end of next week and depending on the results, she'll go ahead and write me a prescription.  The good thing is she's having tests done on my metabolism, pituitary gland, thyroid, and lots of other things.  She hasn't ruled out the thyroid stuff and she'll continue to watch it.  Dr. K did tell us something new we weren't told before.  She said not to be alarmed by the right side of my thyroid being larger than the left because anything we have two of, one is always a little bigger.  Also there were some nodules on my thyroid.  My aunt and great aunt both have/had nodules on their thyroids so this is genetic.  Also, she realizes I have a goiter and isn't denying that.  The goiter is the swelling of my thyroid (the puffiness around my neck which is obvious).  I will go back for a check up at the end of October (the same week as Recruitment, of course) and she will do another ultrasound of my thyroid at the beginning of November to check the nodules, see if there are any more or if there's any new concerns with my thyroid.  

Needless to say, I didn't have the doctor's visit I was expecting but Dr. K sounds very hopeful that she's narrowed down what's going on.  I just pray that all the tests will show her exactly why my body is doing the crazy things it is.  I pray for answers and the right treatment.  She told me some hopeful stories of girls she's seen just like me and they come back in for their check up much happier and feeling 100% better!  I forgot to tell the saddest part of this whole insulin resistance thing.  I have to cut back major on sugar...which if you know me you know I love sugar in all forms (this could be where my problem comes from haha!)  This is going to be very very difficult!  But Anna, one of my roommates this year, has already promised to stick by my side and help me out with this. It will make things interesting to say the least.  Dr. K also said I could go see the nutritionist in their practice to help me put a new diet together!  Whoo hoo!!!  All hopeful news right now.

Keep me in your prayers as Monday approaches....and as I try to get sugar and sweets out of my diet.  All prayers are appreciated!  Thank you and I love you all :)