Day 6 of Gratitude - health

I had an appointment with my endocrinologist today. My Graves' Disease is fighting hard to make a come back. This is both a surprise and not a surprise. I recognized some of the symptoms but I chalked them off to a stressful semester at school and lack of sleep. As things are now, I am actually closer to how I was when I was diagnosed almost two years ago than I was two months ago at my last appointment.

I am really really disappointed. I had been really hoping that today would be the day my endocrinologist says the Graves is in remission. Instead we talked about how long to continue treatment before it's time for thyroid surgery or radiation.

Yes, this is a huge set back and I'm upset. However, if I look on the bright side I can also see how lucky I am. Yes, I've got a couple of annoying diseases. But, thanks to modern medicine I don't see any of these diseases as getting in the way of doing anything that I want to do. I am very active, both mentally and physically. While Graves' may shorten my life in the long run, it's certainly not a death sentence. Smoking my crack pipe every morning so I can breathe (that's a joke - it's not actually a crack pipe, I just call my nebulizer a "crack pipe") is a pain in the neck but it's not an oxygen tank or iron lung and I don't have to live in a bubble. My food allergies are beyond frustrating but without them I would not have fallen in love with kale this week (Yes, kale. If our relationship progresses as I hope it does I swear I am going to ask it to marry me.) or the joy that is quinoa. I am very very grateful for my health. I am also very grateful that my family is also very healthy. Sure there are aches and pains and annoyances, but my parents and brother are in ridiculously good health. I can't ask for much more than that.