“Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.” – Denis Waitley
When I read this quotation, it was already too late. It was way back in November 2018 when I felt something weird and different on my neck and I thought it was just nothing but I was very concerned because it just suddenly become bigger and I didn’t even notice it until one day I was teaching and I saw my neck looks like I have an adam apple.
I finally decided to visit our company doctor to know more about it and the doctor was also shocked because it could be something else and then he asked me to undergo a laboratory test to find out more. So I followed the doctor's advice and went on several laboratory tests until the company doctor decided to ask me to consult a surgeon in Cebu Doctor.
Just a little throwback, I was working as an office-based online English Teacher in IT Park, Cebu and my job schedule was Monday to Saturday from 5:30 am to 2:30 pm. Most of us, works 6 days a week and 1-day rest was very short but I was a very competitive teacher to the extent that I work overtime too for 4 hours. I don’t know what I was thinking at that time but I did enjoy working overtime though because of the salary. 😂
Since I work very early, I can’t prepare food for myself and I don’t eat breakfast. If I do, I always go to the fast food or the company cafeteria because of the very short break time. It was a very unhealthy lifestyle and I didn’t even realize it because I enjoy eating that food. I also eat street foods and junk foods whenever I went home and on my rest day, I sometimes went out and I was exposed to drinking and vaping.
Going back, when I already consulted my surgeon and did the last laboratory test. He told me that I have a thyroid nodule that forms a solid stone on my neck and he advised me to undergo surgery to prevent it from getting bigger and cancerous. He mentioned that aside from getting the lumps on my neck, he would also remove the right thyroid gland so that it won’t spread to my left thyroid gland.
I don't have any family history of this kind of matter but the doctor told me I developed this because of lack of iodine, stress, no green veggies on food, and so on.
I made a decision to prepare myself for this major surgery in my life and of course the money that I needed for this operation. My company didn’t have free insurance for all the employees but we could avail insurance and it will be deducted from our salary so I give it a shot and apply for insurance on the same month that I had found out about this weird lump on my neck.
Luckily my TL was very supportive to me and even help process SSS Assistance so that I could receive money after two months of Emergency Leave. This major surgery cost a lot since I needed four doctors; a Surgeon, an Anesthesiologist, etc. I was confined for four days but I only paid a little since my insurance covered almost everything which is ninety-five thousand and Philheath gave me eighteen thousand.
I am very thankful for everything after the surgery especially when my parents flew from Camiguin Island to Cebu. It was very successful though it was so nervous that my mom was panicking because I was in the Operating Room for a long time because the surgery started a bit late because I wasn’t able to fall asleep after one shot of anesthesia and I remember it clearly, I was still chitchatting to the nurse and the nurse realize that we are still talking and call the Anesthesiologist again. Hahaha
The healing process was the very toughest part. After one week of the surgery, I decided to rest in my hometown and heal there for about two months. It was a relief to be at home but my problem is that I could not eat properly because it is so painful to swallow and chew the food so I always eat porridge. I also need to maintain medicine and vitamins that makes me gain more weight.
After two months of resting in Camiguin Island, I needed to go back to Cebu on the day of my birthday which was really sad but I needed to because I enrolled in a Master's Degree Course. I am already okay and the pain is tolerable and I could properly eat at this time.
When I was already in Cebu, I need to visit my surgeon again after 6 months to check my post-surgery and also because I was concerned about my monthly period. I thought it was normal for six months since I had my surgery and I thought I lost a lot of blood for that. It’s funny right but it was until one year I didn’t still have it and my surgeon finally suggested I visit an obstetrician-gynecologist or for short “ob-gyn” but I was lazy and didn’t mind it because in my mind “No monthly period, no napkins” and I love it. 🤣
One day, I realized I need to visit an Ob-gyn so I decided after 2 years I went to an Ob-gyn clinic and had my TV Lab Test. The result was real and I already expected it. I had read a lot of things about it too but still, it’s hard when you already had it by yourself.
Living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not so good because it affects my mental health so much that I tend to sleep later and overthink a lot. My acne got worse too no matter how many skincare products I bought and used; it is still the same. There’s no cure for PCOS but it can be treated with a proper healthy lifestyle. It is very easy to say but it is very hard to do it.
It's really difficult to start again but I am determined this year to be healthy again. I decided to be more productive on myself and organize my schedule. Luckily my job gave me 6 weeks of recreational leave with pay and I love it so much because I could finally rest and start going back to the gym.
I am so very lucky because I have a partner who has always been there for me since the beginning even though we were apart during my surgery but now he is here with me, he will be my coach and my nutritionist. He spent so much time researching the things that are good and bad for me. We will fight this PCOS together. 💖
I could say that everything happens for a reason and that reason will be your lesson and guidance to improve yourself and take care of yourself. Be careful all the time and be healthy hivers. We only live once as they say. 😉
Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you learn and inspire to be healthy.
prettylongnose 🌸