Good morning... How is everyone this morning? It looks like it's going to be another hot day, here - I'm SO looking forward to cooler weather but it's beginning to look like it's going to be a while before we get any even though fall is in the air, with leaves turning colors, falling off some of the trees, etc... At least, we're down to only one storm in the Atlantic and the track has it going off to the east, towards, UK, I think so we're out of that one.
This week has been pretty quiet, which was nice for a change. I'm just waiting for time to pass so I can get to some of my doctor's appointments. I have a dermatology appointment coming up tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll find out what's causing my itchy skin and the red blotch on my leg. My dermatologist has removed spots on my back in an effort to resolve my itching, but it hasn't worked. He's prescribed a steroid cream for the blotch on my leg; that didn't work either, nor have the variety of OTC products I've tried, ranging from hydrocortisones to lotions and/or antibiotics.
My nails have also begun to split, crack and peel so maybe the dermatologist will take a look at those as well... *I* believe that whatever is going on with my skin is associated with what's going on with my nails and I also believe that those are associated with what's going on with my stomach. I mentioned this to the assistant at the gastro's office and she said "well, that might be, but each doctor tends to deal with their own thing, so the gastroenterologist isn't going to worry about your skin/nail or weight problems and the dermatologist isn't going to be concerned about your digestive problems." Whoa - there... I know she's right to a certain extent, but don't they connect symptoms anymore to come up with a condition that affects the whole body? No, I guess not. That's left to the primary care doctor who isn't trained in gastroenterology, dermatology or endocrinology... that's why s/he sends us to specialists.
Anyway, we'll see what the dermatologist has to say tomorrow and my gastroenterology appointment is coming up on the 9th. I know that one is going to end with an appointment for a colonoscopy because I'm overdue and even I know it's important to stay current because my brother that just passed away was a colon cancer survivor and I've had polyps removed during prior colonoscopies. Add all the other cancers in my family and I'm a prime candidate for colon cancer.
I've been trying to get back out to my shop and start working on some things. I have an order for 3 of the ink pens I make, plus a couple I need to make for gifts of my own and a request to bring some to a meeting next month. I don't know if I mentioned that I've also joined a calligraphy guild and took one class a couple of weeks ago. I've been practicing on that in preparation to help man a booth at the local Art Walk next Friday evening, so I'm starting to get a bit busy, which is good.
Weight-wise, I'm up by 0.4 lbs - wow; I wasn't really expecting that. I've been back at going for a short walk many evenings, even if not every one and I'm really trying to cut back on what I'm eating. I guess I'm not cutting back enough. I do have to keep in mind that it was early this morning when I weighed so if I follow true to form, I'll be down by about a pound later on, so I'll post that later if it happens...
I do believe a lot of these symptoms - the itchy, blotchy skin, nail issues, weight gain, and of course, the never ending fatigue, are all thyroid-related. My thyroid hormone levels have been declining steadily the last 3 times I've been tested, but my doctor keeps telling me they're "fine" because they're within the reference ranges. This is what so many people run up against with thyroid issues and it's so hard to fight against, because if the doctor won't prescribe an increased dosage, one is stuck. Trying a different doctor isn't as easy as it might sound since many doctors think the same way "in range is fine", without considering that each body has its own preferred level - what we call our "sweet spot".
We'll see how these next doctor's appointments pan out - perhaps one of them will get the right diagnosis. We can only hope.
So - how about you? I hope whatever you undertook turned out exactly the way you intended.
~~Wishing everyone a wonderful successful week~~