Hyperthyroidism and Cardiac Dysrhythmia Fighter.

Sickness doesn't pick any age.

How It Began
This 2nd semester (starting October 2013), I started to feel strange things on my body. I was used to long walks, running after jeepneys, limited hours of sleep, and managing loads of stress. Whenever I cross the footbridge from UP CHK to UP AIT (which crosses the wide Commonwealth highway), my breath becomes shorter, my heart races fast even with just little exerted effort, and I found myself easier to get tired. My mom also started to notice my hand tremors. Those symptoms became alarming to us because my brother and my grandfather had Hyperthyroidism; they both got operated. It raised fear to me because who wants to get operated at the age of 19 or 20?

This was how big my goiter was when the doctor first saw it.

Early this January 2014, I visited my pediatrician after so many years. I was still 19 that time, okay? The nurses said that pediatricians entertain "kids" up to the age of 19. So there. Right on the moment I entered her clinic, she told me "ang laki ng leeg mo". How could my bulging neck not be obvious to me?? I came back to my Cardiologist (who didn't notice the lump on my throat as well when I consulted with him early December 2013), and he said "oo nga noh! How could I not notice that?" That was the start of it. He asked me to have a FT3 and FT4 test. But here's where things go wrong so fast:

Emergency Case
The Saturday morning before I was going to take my FT3 and FT4 test, I experienced palpitations. My heart was beating so fast as if I ran a 10k marathon, but all I did before that was to take a shower. I quickly went to my mom and told her that I'm having a hard time breathing. That time, I know I'm having a hard time, but I couldn't imagine it as a big deal. When I was at the ICU already, I still have managed to talk with the nurses as they were interviewing me on how I feel. You know you're in serious trouble when the nurses call your doctor. And they did.

My heart rate was at 185, the lowest at around 160 during my sleep. The doctor instantly ordered to admit me at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Philippine Heart Center. My mom refused, so my doctor compromised by implying that I stay on that hospital given that I'll still be admitted at the ICU. I was crying because what I know about the ICU is that dying people are their patients. The doctor was asking me why I was crying so I just told him I was thinking of my exam on Monday and that it was my 20th birthday on Sunday (that following day). I can not ask him if I'm gonna die. I was too scared.

From the Emergency Room, an X-Ray test was first conducted on me and then I was transferred to the ICU. I wasn't allowed to do almost anything. Literally. I wasn't allowed to text, to talk much, to eat, to sit down, to stand, and even to pee on my own! I had to use a bed pan when peeing and the nurses will clean it up for me. I don't like that. It's embarrassing for me. -___- Since I was under observation, the doctor did not allow me to eat. I did not eat anything for around 7 hours! Since I was hungry almost all the time (side effect of Hyperthyroidism), it was really hard not to eat for 7 hours!

I started to have visitors at around 4PM then I went to sleep, and then they allowed me to have visitors again by the time I was already allowed to eat. After satisfying my high metabolism problem, my next problems were difficulty in sleeping and irritation! I think it was already past 1AM when I fell asleep, and it wasn't continuous. I keep on waking up. I actually kept my phone hidden (because I use it as a music player, they allowed me to keep my phone), which I use to entertain myself when I'm so bummed.

The next day was my birthday at the ICU! I'll tell you this story on another post. I hoped for a memorable birthday, and I surely got a memorable 20th birthday for being in the ICU! For that day, I was like a normal kid on a normal room.

No, You're Not Yet Normal.
The day after my birthday, I got a late birthday gift from my doctor. He granted my wish to transfer me on a private room! :) I got to spend my whole day with my high school friend Camille, and watching Phineas and Ferb with her. Yes, I watch cartoons so it wouldn't be too stressful. That afternoon when Camille left, some of my other friends (Hi Nikki, Anri, KC, and Paula!) visited me. It was actually just a normal day. But that night was unexpected.

I thought I was okay already. I was just watching the drama Maria Mercedes, positioned myself to sleep, and palpitated. Out of nowhere. It seriously came out of nowhere. My heart rate shot up to 185 again. I wanted to sleep but I can't because I was so irritated - I kept on moving, my heart was still pounding like crazy despite the number of times I've drank medicine already, and I'm not sure if I was hallucinating or having a bad dream. I thought I was going to die. My fear this time was worse than the first attack.

The following day, the doctor insisted that we transfer to Philippine Heart Center. With the fear of having another palpitation, we agreed.

I felt like a princess at PHC because of their soft red comforter!

I don't look sick, huh?

My stay at PHC was better compared to my first hospital. There were no more occurrence of palpitations, and I wasn't fed lugaw three times a day anymore (I have a soft diet. My previous hospital took it seriously). :P All the side effects of my hyperthyroidism were still present; irritation, hand tremors, heart rate is still higher than normal, difficulty of sleeping, more frequent bowel movements, weight loss, and higher heat tolerance. My overall stay in the hospital was 7 days.

More Than My Neck, There's The Heart.
I have three doctors in PHC. A cardiologist, an endocrinologist, and an electrophysiologist. I thought the latter wasn't necessary, but contrary to my belief, he was important. My electrophysiologist diagnosed me to have two power distributors in my heart, whereas a normal heart only has one. He said this was an inborn decease, but wasn't occurring before because one overpowers the other. Hyperthyroidism makes every function of the body speed up - this is the reason why the irregularity in my heart's electric supply became a problem. The two power distributors are now both active, which causes shortness of electric supply in my heart. (Whew, that's a lot of science there!)

This is the reason why my (rare) case is important to know about and is deadly when not given medical attention. People who have Hyperthyroidism is quite normal - almost everyone I ask knows someone who have this. But people who have Cardiac Dysrhythmia is a special case because it can lead to heart attack, to stroke, and to sudden death. My doctor kept on telling me to read about this on the internet, but I didn't at first because I was scared. One night, I finally decided to read this. Now that I am aware of the dangers present in my body, I have to share my story. I started to love myself because of this. Before, I paid so much attention on things less important than my health. Now, I don't care what people say, as long as I do everything to cure myself.

Realizations
Sickness is part of one's life. Yes, it does slow you down in life. I remember a homily from one Sunday mass in December; there's something good in waiting and in slowing down... it makes you realize the things around you that you don't notice when you're in a hurry as always. 7 days in the hospital did give me realizations like who my real friends are, what should be my priorities, and a clearer vision of my life goals. I don't need to stress out if people don't understand me. I just need to be happy, slow down, and trust God.

I am a fighter. What's life without a little challenge, right? Hyperthyroidism and Cardiac Dysrhythmia, sakit ka lang. I have a God.

I was finally able to stand after 7 days! :)

Keep Smiling! -Po ☀