start of a shitty year

The rest of 2009 was filled with tests. It started with blood tests and ultrasounds. The lump was not a simple cyst so I had to have a biopsy. Before the biopsy they stuck a long camera tube down my nose and into my throat to make sure the lump wasn't doing any damage to my vocal cords. That was incredibly uncomfortable.

Then had to come the biopsy. I had read about it on the internet so I knew what to expect. They would freeze the area and insert a needle into the lump and remove some cells for testing. However, the doctor told me I did not need freezing. He said it would feel just like a bee sting. I believed him.

I don't like things to be sugar coated. I like to know exactly what I should expect. It hurt like heck. After they took the sample, the left me in the room alone. The pain increased and I became scared. There was a of pressure and I started to cry. A nurse came in and found me. The doctor came in and took a look. He said it was fine and I was on my way.

Looking back on this, I did not speak up for myself once. Peter, my boyfriend was in the waiting room. I didn't even ask him to come with because no one told me I could. It would have been less scary to have him there. 

When we got to the car, I cried again. I was scared and stressed. He held me in the car. Later we went to the mall. I bought a colourful necklace from H&M. I think about that day every time I put it on.

Everything Happens for a Reason

It was the late summer of 2009. I went to donate blood at the local Knights of Columbus Centre. My iron was too low to give a donation. This had happened to me before but this time the nurse suggested that I see a doctor. For awhile I brushed it aside and figured I should just eat some more meat. (I dont really like meat a whole lot).

I finally decided to book an apt. with a doctor. I didn't have a family doctor so I went to the orphan patient clinic. I met with a Dr and his student doctor. Maybe because I knew his student from high school , or because I appeared young healthy, the doctor asked me if I would like to become his patient. This was great because many families in town did not have a doctor. He told me to take iron supplements and said his office would be in touch for a "meet and greet".

A few weeks later I had a meet and greet with a nurse practitioner.  I had actually known her most of my life since she went to my church. She asked me about my medical history. My dad has type 1 diabetes and my Mom has graves disease, which is a thyroid disease. She felt my thyroid area and noticed a small lump. I had no idea it was there. I likely wouldn't have found it for years. I cried that night when I told my boyfriend Peter. My brain kept saying it would be nothing, but I couldn't help but wonder what it was and what caused it.
My journey started with these questions.

I can't help but noticed how everything just happened and lead me to the discovery of the lump. That lump would soon totally change how I looked at life and most importantly, how I treated myself.