Organic Living and Lifestyle Blog

My Health Scare . . .

August 16th, 2007

Ok,  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to put any of my current personal story out there to be so public but pretty much all my loved ones know what’s going on for me at the moment and I hope by sharing what I’m experiencing now that it may help others.

After almost 4 years of experiencing phenomenally good health, I’ve been hit by another metaphoric brick. (Remember me talking about signs that progress from feather to brick to truck?)  Well, I’m determined not to have another truck mow me down (yes, metaphor again) and put me in hospital so when I started bleeding from a nipple last month I decided to get it checked out. Well, actually I did nothing for a week hoping it would just go away and then I had to find a doctor because I hadn’t even been to a doc in 3 years and wanted one who would balance western medicine with alternative treatments and use drugs only as a last resort.

Ok, the upshot is this. At 34 years of age, I really didn’t expect my doctor to be concerned, especially given that most of his patients have serious diseases that they are choosing to treat with a nutrition and environmental focus (his speciality). But the Doc convinced me that I needed to take it seriously so I went along and had a Mammogram and Ultrasound.  The tests weren’t as bad as I had heard and I seriously faint at the slightest bit of pain. The mammogram hurt for only a very short amount of time and for the next 2 days I was very aware of the muscles in my chest. If you’ve had a mammogram, you’ll know what I mean. The tests showed lots of cysts (apparently normal for a woman of child bearing age) and a 1cm ‘probable fibroadnoma’ which they said was 95% chance was nothing.  The ultrasound technician and doctor there put a lot of pressure on me to immediately book in for a biopsy or to go straight to a hospital ‘if I was too worried’. I thought they were overly zealous and it was clear they thought I was some misguided alternative lunatic. Anyway I promptly ignored their recommendation despite my Mother (who used to be a nurse) getting upset and telling me I must have the recommended biopsy.  To pacify her, I told her I’d wait until I spoke to my own doctor. 

Between the tests and seeing my doctor, I was talking to a wonderful friend of mine who has had brain cancer. He is a very educated man on health, the body and the mind. He and his wife regularly expand their knowledge with the lastest being Don Tolman’s bootcamp (Don Tolman is one of my favourite health teachers - he calls cancer and all health issues ”blocked tubes” and how natural whole foods can heal the body). My friend and his wife think similarly to me, that the body is amazing and given the right nutrition and support can heal itself.  They were the ones who recommended my doctor to me. So when I asked my friend what he’d do in hindsight of what he knows now, I was pretty shocked when he said he would still have the biopsy.

Soon after I had my followup with my Doc. I expected him to say the recommended biopsy was for litigation / insurance reasons only and that they were just being overly cautious. He stunned me when he insisted that even a 5% chance is too much of a risk to take and how he’s seen too many young women die unnecessarily of breast cancer. 

And there was more… The results of my blood tests and urine tests were back and it turns out that I have a problem with my thyroid - an underactive thyroid called Hypothyroidism, or Hashimoto’s.  (Yes the one that makes you fat, tired and depressed)  So another ultrasound, this time for my thyroid was strongly recommended.

So between the advice from my Doc and my friend I decided to go have the needle biopsy, a not so invasive procedure.  During the procedure, the staff were fantastic, explained everything and patiently answered my questions. I should have the results of this back tomorrow & I fully expect it to be good news.   

I also had the thyroid ultrasound. Turns out the indications from the blood tests were confirmed and I have ‘large’ nodules which my Doc said officially I should have biopsied. Given that he’s not reacting like he did with the breast cancer scare, it seems this isn’t as risky and we’re taking a very natural approach giving my body the support it needs.  Like many people, I am deficient in iodine which is vital for the thyroid. Seems this sushi addict isn’t getting enough iodine from seafood and nori. 

Guess what? Lack of iodine is directly related to cysts in the breasts too. Turns out my old mercury fillings also seem to be playing a part so I’ve got an appointment with a specialist dentist to get them assessed and then replaced.

Also, like many in Australia, I’m also deficient in selenium because our soils just don’t have the levels needed. Brazil nuts are a great source. And here’s the biggest irony - I’m deficient in Vitamin D too (yep, sunlight). I’ve been so cold lately (side effect of Hoshimoto’s) that I’ve been living in long pants and long sleeved shirts over winter. 

What have I learned from all of this?  Well, I should have been having annual blood tests from my doctor just to stay on top of things. At a health resort in January 2006 I learned I was deficient in Zinc and B vitamins and the good news is that these levels are all good now.  Hopefully in November when I go back to get my blood tests redone I’ll have completely restored my levels to their proper functioning.

For now my action plan is to take my iodine and selenium supplements (a few drops in water each day), get lots of great nutritious food into me, think good thoughts, get a bit of sun each day, remove the mercury fillings so I’ll have a bigger brighter smile and go spend 3 days on a gorgeous island in a few weeks at a yoga camp. 

It might seem weird but I’m strangely feeling almost excited about this. I just have a feeling of knowing that the breast cancer scare is all nothing. I’m grateful I found out about the iodine because if I’ve been feeling this good when I’m supposed to be fat, tired, depressed and cold then everyone better watch out because as I fix this, I’ll be unstoppable!

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Entry Filed under: Personal Stories