For the past few weeks if anyone asked how I was after surgery, I would give the generic reply, "fine." But I was telling straight lies. The surgery itself was a flawless procedure. It took a few hours and after a short period in the recovery room, I was back in my room talking to my friends. There was minimal pain (I am sure the fluids flowing in that IV had something to do with this), the doctor showed me pics of everything he had removed, and all was well. The only problem was a low BMI and low calcium levels, nothing that couldn't be easily resolved. However, days after the surgery I begin to break out in hives and my lips began to swell. I was having an allergic reaction to the meds. I was on so many meds for calcium, thyroid hormones, and pain that it was hard to determine which meds were causing the reaction. Therefore, the doctor took me off of every med except the thyroid hormones as these are necessary for someone who no longer has a functioning thyroid. I then saw a dermatologist that gave me two shots in the buttocks and allergy medication. Unfortunately, the reaction didn't stop and only got worse. I turned out to be a rare case of being allergic to the thyroid medicine. This made me uneasy. No thyroid causes me to have a condition called hypothyroid. This condition can lead to fluctuating weight, depression, hair loss, and more. The only way to regulate the condition is through the thyroid medication. But leave it to me to be allergic to the one medicine I needed most. The solution was to stop taking the meds for three days to get it completely out of my system. On the third day, I was to start a new brand of medication that my system hopefully would not reject. I am now on day four of the new meds and all seems to be going well. The rashes have cleared up and my lip is no longer swollen. I totally lied though. Throughout this process I was not "fine." I was itching and uncomfortable, and a bit worried about what would happen if we couldn't find a proper thyroid medicine for me to take. The good thing about the whole situation is that in this country, I don't need referrals or appointments or even ER visits. Every time I had a problem, I texted my doctor on Whatsapp and he would tell me what to do, or would allow me to come straight to his office. If he wanted me to see another doctor, he would send me to that doctor in the same hospital. Here, it is so much easier to deal with health care situations. And want to know another secret? My surgery was totally free except for the copays I paid (50 AED or $13) to see each of the doctors or the small fees I paid for the meds.
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| I can't believe I am sharing this |
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| Swollen lips and not the Kylie Jenner style |
Now, I can actually say and mean it......"I am fine." I am ready to go back to work. That doctor recommended two weeks off and I thought for sure I would be back sooner. Boy was I wrong. I needed two weeks just to stop itching. SMH. But, Alhamdulillah all is well now and I am ready to return to my children.
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| I haven't seen that "hole" in my neck in years. Scarring isn't all that bad either. |
Before I make that return though, we are on holiday here and I am headed to India. I will be traveling the "Golden Triangle" (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur) for the remainder of this week. The children are out for Eid and school will resume next week.
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I also have to take the time out to acknowledge Pedro, a high school friend who sent me my first care package this year. I didn't even have to ask. He told me he knew what it was like to live overseas and to make a list of things I needed. Wow! I swear God is showing out with all of the love I have been receiving lately.
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