Post-Crash Diagnoses
By Yalul
@yalul070 (1712)
Manila, Philippines
November 12, 2015 9:37am CST
In a previous post, I narrated how a car accident has changed my routine. Now I have to endure the challenges of daily commute in order to get to work and back home, alongside some humbling, or rather, eye-opening realizations.
The crash also led to something else that may actually be seen positively, but perhaps later after I learn how to cope with my new medical condition.
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 2011. I treated it for two years, after which I gradually stopped the medication since I was no longer feeling the symptoms (excessive sweating, tremors, palpitations, fatigue, weight loss). When I consulted a doctor to check if I had nose fracture due to the accident, what he noticed was my throat. So I had to undergo a series of tests to check my thyroid. When we met again he also performed nasal endoscopy on me to check if the inside of my nose was fine.
The tests did not yield favorable results. Apparently, i still have toxic goiter so I have to return to my medication. The other diagnosis was something new. The doc found a mass at the back of my nose, an adenoid. He showed me the video of my endoscopy and he showed me a clip of nasapharyngeal cancer case. After scaring the hell out of me, he told me that the mass was probably not cancerous. And it's probably because of my allergic rhinitis. But yeah, we can never be sure so he prescribed me with loads of medicines plus a nasal spray because we need to dissolve the mass.
I hate taking medicines. I know someday these synthetic drugs will ruin my liver. That's why after feeling okay, I stopped the anti-thyroid meds. Now I need to cooperate to rule out cancer for good. But what's making everything difficult for me are the steroids. I need to take them three times a day, plus the steroid in the nasal spray. So I'm on a steroid boost program.
The effect: I have gained a lot of weight in just one week. The steroids are making me hungry all the time and I have problems with fluid retention. I have also stopped my fitness program due to extreme exhaustion from work and commute. And vice-versa: my heaviness is also making it very hard for me to walk, take the stairs and basically, move around. That's why I wake up with leg cramps. Worse, because I feel miserable about what is happening to me, I have also been stress-eating. Worst, whenever I see my moon-face in the mirror and whenever my dresses won't zip, I feel ugly and fat. Ergo, more stress.
I know it only needs a change of attitude. For days, I have been summoning my will power but to no avail. I know acceptance is the key. But right now I'm still in denial, or maybe in a state of anger. So I guess I still need to hurdle two stages to fully accept my new realities.
6 people like this
6 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
12 Nov 15
This would be hard to accept. I wonder if having a positive attitude will help the medicine work quicker so you can get off of them quicker. I am sorry you are having to do all of this, but glad that you got these diagnosis because of the car crash.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
16 Nov 15
Can you not withdraw on that medication with steroid . Is there nothing that can be given to replace it ?
I was so skinny before i graduated in College . My cousin told me to take steroid . It did made me eat voraciously and gained weight . However , face was like a moon as you have described .
My father had me checked by a doctor and there after my confession , i was told to withdraw on steroid . My moon face eventually was gone . But i retained some of the flesh i gained . 

1 person likes this

@yalul070 (1712)
• Manila, Philippines
16 Nov 15
i am withdrawing now. you can't just stop taking it drastically because you will feel body pains and fatigue. i learned about this after attempting to do this when i couldn't take it anymore. anyway, i'm just taking one a day, and the nasal spray with steroid. but i'm feeling better now. looks like i will be back to my old shape, physically and emotionally, in no time. 

1 person likes this

@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
13 Mar 16
wow htat is a lot to accet I grant y o b ut the m ore y u can the less y ou will fll the need to o vereat. Im diabetic and was ut onsterioids to ure a rash on my legs but the sterods almost killed me myblod sugar went up up and my blood pressure too high the er had to lower it fast to prevent a stroke the worst part of steroids is y ou j ust cannot up and stop the yu have to gtake all f them or have horrble reacto so I had to overdose on y diabees and hgh blodd pressure meds whletaking the other three pills.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
18 Nov 15
if you didn't stop taking your hyperthyroid meds without telling your doctor, would your toxic goiter have been cured by now?
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
22 Mar 16
@yalul070 Have you quit drinking? If not, please do. You had excessive sweating and tremors?! Don't be angry. Think positive and keep smiling/laughing. In fact, I also posted a narrative about a classmate suffering from sweating and tremors. If you have time go read it (Title - - Tremor Boy) . . . It surely helps you kick your stress away.

1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
12 Nov 15
It is tough to be positive when you have been through all of that, not only the accident but the diagnosis as well. The good thing is that it revealed something that you can now deal with. It will get better in time
1 person likes this









