Our Broken Bodies

"It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength."—1 Corinthians 15:42–43

Encouragement for Today

"It is a comfort and a hope—as Paul means it to be—to know that we will continue to have bodies in the next life. Those bodies will be very different from the frail, disappointing bodies we inhabit now. If you have health issues, remember that your struggles are only temporary. God does intend full health for your body—if not in this world, then in the one to come. Remember, God's intent and plan is always good. It just takes time for everything to work out."—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions

Like many other people in this world, I have a broken body. As some of you know, I have health problems, many of which related to thyroid cancer and the after effects. Though I am 'cured' I still struggle with a slew of problems. This past school year has been the hardest on me yet with daily migraines, kidney problems, and other issues. I went to the doctor yesterday to get the results of some bloodwork. For the most part, I expected some of the results, but not all. I knew that my synthroid dosage may be off, which is a synthetic hormone replacement since I haven't a thyroid. I knew that my estrogen and progesterone levels weren't good because of my complete hysterectomy last year. What I did't expect was just how bad the thyroid hormone panels were. This is scary to me because the synthroid not only provides the thyroid hormones my body can no longer produce, it also SUPPRESSES CANCER GROWTH of remnant thyroid cancer cells in my body. This is what concerns us. If the imbalance has been going on for a while, there's a chance that cancer cells could come back.

I had a huge scare back in 2005 when my thyroglobulin level indicated the cancer had returned. Praise the Lord, the body scan back then indicated I was clean. Yesterday, however, I found out that even in this case, 80% of thyroid cancer patients with elevated thyroglobulin levels will have a recurrence within 3 to 5 years of the first detection of thyroglobulin. As it was put to me, I shouldn't have thyroglobulin in my system at all because I have no thyroid. If I do, it it because there are thyroid cancer cells in my body that are producing it. I've known for a while things weren't right. Hypothyroid symptoms have been worse and worse for many months now. I'd been to the doctor many times this year and expressed this. I'm so frustrated with myself for not pushing the issue more. I'm always telling others to be their own advocate when it comes to their health and I didn't follow my own advice.

This news comes just days before the 10th anniversary of the surgery that removed my cancerous thyroid (Aug 5). So you can imagine, I was pretty bummed yesterday. However, my dovotion today reminded me that it's not this life I should be so concerned with. It's not my broken body that I should be so focused on, though it's very hard to think of much else when your body is in pain or can't function right. It's also hard to think of much else either, especially when the 'C' word raises it's nasty head again, reminding you that it's still there - that you aren't home free. But one day I will be FREE of this broken body and that is the day I anticipate with great joy!

I see my health as the perverbial thorn in my side. Like Paul, I've prayed for complete and total healing but continue to struggle with health issues. God reminded me in this passage that no matter what I suffer, He is all that I need - that when I am weak, HE is STRONG! Then the power of CHRIST can work through me!

"So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 1 Corinthians 12:6-10

Like Paul, I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, not for self pity nor attention, but for the glory of Jesus Christ! I tell my story so that others know that it is not my own power or strength they see, but God who working through me!

Though my health isn't all that great, it's not in a crisis. There are those who are enduring so much more, illnesses and health issues that effect their quality of life and even threaten their very lives. Please lift all you know who are suffering in this way in prayer. There are so many who need our help and prayers right now!

Blessings, friends!

In His Love, Cathy

Levothyroxine, Synthroid, & Me

I wanted to share something I learned about this week. Before I start, I must clarify that THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE so please check this out with your doctor. I am not a medical professional, just a patient who is sharing information about my own personal experience.

For many of us who have thyroid problems, we know that Synthroid is our lifeline. As for me, I had papillary thyroid cancer and had my thyroid removed. Those of us who are 'Synthroid Brothers & Sisters,' know how bad it gets if our dosage is off or we miss taking it. It is to this end that I share my personal experience in the taking of the generic Levothyroxine versus Synthroid.

I have been on Synthroid for the last ten years since my cancer. I've had dose adjustments between .125 mg to .150 mg. For the most part I've done well on Synthroid. Well, this past month or so, a new Florida law allowed Pharmacies to automatically fill all prescriptions with their generic equivalents without prior approval from the Insurance Company. So, as usual, I called in a refill for my Synthroid last month. My husband picked it up and brought it home for me. When I went to take my first pill from this new bottle I discovered that it looked quite different from my traditional Synthroid tablet. Upon further inspection, I saw that I was given the generic levothyroxine instead of the Synthroid that I requested. I also noticed it was more than half the price of Synthroid, so I went with it.

As the days progressed, I began to experience hypothyroid symptoms insomnia, migraines, lack of focus, stiff/sore muscles & cramps, the big D, well, you guys know what I'm talking about. I didn't think it was the new medication as I was told it was the equivalent to Synthroid. By the beginning of the 4th week of taking it, I was a MESS.

I began speaking with one of my Synthroid Sisters and we both shared with each other about how fatigued we were and how we needed to our TSH levels checked. Then, as a course of discussion, we discovered we both had been switched to generic levothyroxine at the same time. WHOA! So, we both looked up levothyroxine sodium on the web. Here's what we found out:

1. Generic and branded tablets of levothyroxine may differ:
- in the amount of levothyroxine they contain,
- the absorption of the levothyroxine into the body, and
- the distribution of levothyroxine throughout the body.
2. There are foods and other substances that can interfere with absorption.

• Avoid taking calcium and iron supplements within 4 hours of the medication.
• Avoid taking soy products within 3 hours of the medication as these can reduce absorption of the medication.
• Other substances that reduce absorption are aluminum and magnesium contained in antacids.
• Ketamine may cause hypertension and tachycardia and Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants increase its toxicity.
• Lithium causes hyperthyroidism by affecting iodine metabolism of the thyroid itself and thus inhibits Synthetic levothyroxine as well.

3. Synthetic levothyroxine may have adverse side effects like: palpitations, nervousness, headache, difficulty sleeping, insomnia, swelling of the legs and ankles, weight loss and/or increased appetite.

Thought I'd share. I am not implicating the generic as not being as good just that I experienced hypothyroid symptoms during the month I was on it. It may be as simple as an adjustment in dosage. There could have been other factors that influenced this as well. Again, please check with your doctor and pharmacist, especially if you have been switched to a different medication that you usually take and begin experiencing symptoms.

Information for levothyroxine sodium used in this blog was found on the following websites:
http://www.medicinenet.com/levothyroxine_sodium/article.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levothyroxine#Dosage.2C_precautions_and_side_effects