Well, I wasn't going to say anything until I knew with certainty, but the reason for my tiredness. . . NO! I'm not pregnant (I know that's what you were thinking!) There is something going on with my thyroid. All I know at this point is that my thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is out of whack. I have to go for an ultrasound of my thyroid, but because of my school schedule, I won't be able to go until spring break- which is in April.
I am part of the Veterans Healthcare System through the VA. They cover everything except maternity, so I have a local, private-practice OB/GYN. I also have a private-practice family doctor because the local VA out-patient clinics are so full, making it difficult to be seen when ill. The only other option is to drive to the Veterans hospital in Columbia, and I'd pay more in gas and drive time than to pay a $10 co-pay and prescription cost if seen locally at my private doctor. Anyway, I go see my VA provider twice a year simply for a routine check-up. Once a year she does a full blood panel, which coincidentally was scheduled for last Friday. I went, and the nurse called me at 8:30am Monday to inform me that I had to go back for more testing. So Teagan and I headed over there about 9:15am Monday morning to wait for more than an hour just to have 2 vials of blood drawn. The nurse called again early Tuesday morning and said I now need to have an ultrasound done at the VA hospital in Columbia because this last lab was still not right. The problem with having to go to Columbia: the clinic there closes at 4:30pm and they are closed on all federal holidays, meaning I can't go until spring break because I am not allowed to miss school since I'm the teacher.
So, until then, I am waiting. I am hoping it's not a big deal and hopefully I'll get some energy back. I am also glad it was found through the VA because I don't have to pay for any of the office visits (I'm not sure about the medication yet), and with TJ having to take a mandatory $2,800 pay cut to off-set the university's budget, we need all the extra money we can get!
I am part of the Veterans Healthcare System through the VA. They cover everything except maternity, so I have a local, private-practice OB/GYN. I also have a private-practice family doctor because the local VA out-patient clinics are so full, making it difficult to be seen when ill. The only other option is to drive to the Veterans hospital in Columbia, and I'd pay more in gas and drive time than to pay a $10 co-pay and prescription cost if seen locally at my private doctor. Anyway, I go see my VA provider twice a year simply for a routine check-up. Once a year she does a full blood panel, which coincidentally was scheduled for last Friday. I went, and the nurse called me at 8:30am Monday to inform me that I had to go back for more testing. So Teagan and I headed over there about 9:15am Monday morning to wait for more than an hour just to have 2 vials of blood drawn. The nurse called again early Tuesday morning and said I now need to have an ultrasound done at the VA hospital in Columbia because this last lab was still not right. The problem with having to go to Columbia: the clinic there closes at 4:30pm and they are closed on all federal holidays, meaning I can't go until spring break because I am not allowed to miss school since I'm the teacher.
So, until then, I am waiting. I am hoping it's not a big deal and hopefully I'll get some energy back. I am also glad it was found through the VA because I don't have to pay for any of the office visits (I'm not sure about the medication yet), and with TJ having to take a mandatory $2,800 pay cut to off-set the university's budget, we need all the extra money we can get!
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