First post - rough year

I'm typically a lurker on discussion boards, but thought if I take, I should contribute, so here goes.

I was diagnosed a little over two weeks ago with thyroid cancer after going to my gp for a sinus infection.  I have those, and bronchitis, frequently since I also have a primary immune disease.  A primary immune disease is caused by a genetic mutation you're born with (as opposed to an acquired immune deficiency that you catch, like HIV/AIDS)and affects either your ability to make one or more antibodies completely, or in my case, you make all of them in the appropriate amount, but one, in my case IgG, doesn't work.  As a result, I have no natural immunity to most forms of pneumonia, meningitis or strep.  (Probably not a good idea for me to work in a hospital, even though I don't have direct patient contact.)

So I get my immunity to those diseases from weekly infusions of human immunoglobulin.  It takes the antibodies from approximately 2000 (yes, 2000) to make one batch of "juice" as we call it; it's rare and expensive stuff.  SO PLEASE DONATE BLOOD IF YOU CAN!  I used to get IV infusions in the hospital every 3 weeks, but my veins gave out after a year, so I now infuse at home every week.  At my current dosage of 69 ml, I infuse into the fatty layer on my abdomen with 5 needles via an infusion pump.  Total time for set up and infusion is 2 1/2 hours.  It's not comfortable but it beats the constant infections.  (The 8 months before my diagnosis, I had a total of 10 sinus/chest infections.)  I've still been coming to terms with having a chronic disease and now, thyroid cancer.

I've had three different doctors tell me that if I had to have cancer, this is the one to have.  Of course, I asked them if they've had this, or any other cancer.  Nope.  I told each that they should really reconsider saying that to someone; it just doesn't play the same way to someone with as someone without.  One doctor told me this was just a "bump in the road" - he's walking without a limp, but it took all my self-control.  

My husband and I are still recovering from a miscarriage at the end of September and were ready to try to conceive again the week before I got sick with the sinus infection - when my gp found the nodules.  So conception has been put on hold.  My gp told me that the surgery and RAI shouldn't interfere with a subsequent pregnancy, but I'll soon be 38.  My ob/gyn has been vocal about the rise in miscarriage risk with each month that passes, so the baby we want has been very present in all of my tears and anxiety about the cancer.  

It's all been a lot to process, and most days I don't do a very good job of it.  I go through the motions as much as I have to, but I think this is the limit.  I now belong to the "cancer club", the "miscarriage club" and the "chronic disease club".  I've never been such a joiner before!  

Thanks for letting me blather.  If anyone from one of the above mentioned clubs wants to chat, drop me a line.  Here's to (what has to be) a better year.