[Graves' Disease] October: Diabetes/Endocrinology/Metabolism Department (3rd visit) and Surgery Department (1st visit)
Two months have passed since my last visit to the internal medicine department. Finally, the day of my first visit to the surgery department arrived.
In the meantime, I have been busy focusing on fertility treatment. I go to the same clinic in Sagamiono, and while I feel like the fertility treatment is 'somehow moving forward,' I have to freeze my embryos and stop as long as I cannot have surgery. It is so frustrating...
For the October visit, the flow was blood draw → surgery department → internal medicine department.
The wait was long as usual, but I told myself it couldn't be helped. When I was called into the surgery room, I felt a little relieved because the doctor had a very gentle demeanor.
However, the first thing the doctor said was,
'At the moment, surgery will take half a year, or perhaps longer than half a year.'
Based on my last internal medicine visit, I had thought that 'if I visit the surgery department, a surgery date might be set around the beginning of the year,' so my mind went blank for a moment. I felt a complex mix of emotions—disappointment, or perhaps a sense of resignation...
Furthermore, there is a seven-month wait at Ito Hospital, where the doctor also performs surgeries.
'I can refer you to other hospitals if you are in a hurry,' the doctor said, offering a few candidates, but I didn't feel like I could decide right away, and I was also confused because I wanted to have this kind doctor perform the surgery.
Then the doctor made a proposal.
'For now, let's book your hospitalization at Kitasato University Hospital. If I can perform the surgery sooner at the hospital in Kamakura where I will be moving in the spring, I will make sure you can have it there. Let's also proceed with the tests in advance.'
I decided to go along with that plan and booked pre-operative tests, such as a CT scan, for January.
The policy is to maintain my condition with internal medicine medication for the time being.
In the internal medicine department, I received the results of my blood test, which showed that my thyroid hormones are rising again and my TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) has dropped even further.
I will continue taking potassium iodide pills as before, and since I have palpitations, a weaker dose of Inderal was added. I was also prescribed Yokukansan to help suppress irritability.
'My thyroid hormones are up...'
What if that inexplicable irritability comes back? The thickness of my thyroid is also bothering me more than before. But I just have to tell myself that I have no choice but to live with it...
I had been moving since the morning, and before I knew it, the consultation ended after 12:30 PM.
There was a long wait, but the doctors answered my questions carefully, and after it was over, I was able to recharge by eating a hearty gyoza set meal at the station✨