In this video, Michele Adams is quick to say, “I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus,” but it took her being hit by a car for her thyroid disease to finally be diagnosed.
Adams has always been an active person, but for a few years, she had felt tired and had a constant tightness in her throat. She was diagnosed with post-nasal drip but did not feel relief after a year of treatment.
“I thought this exhaustion, hoarse voice and lump in my throat were just my new normal,” Adams said. “I’d accepted it, and I shouldn’t have.”
During this time, Adams went on a bike ride in northeastern New Jersey — something she still does frequently. However, on this day, Adams was struck by a car as she was biking.
The incident resulted in an MRI scan. Adams was not seriously injured, but doctors noticed something unexpected. The scan revealed nodules in her lower neck, which suggested thyroid disease.
Thyroid disease is more common than diabetes and heart disease, but more than half of Americans with thyroid disease are unaware.
“I now realize I had symptoms of a thyroid condition for years,” Adams said. “I’d had it up to here with not feeling like myself. Once I had the MRI results, I knew to seek out a thyroid expert, and I found an endocrinologist.”
An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor who is qualified to diagnose and treat hormone-related diseases and conditions, including thyroid cancer and all other diseases related to the thyroid gland.
Cheryl Rosenfeld, DO, FACE, FACP, ECNU, is the endocrinologist who treated Adams’ thyroid disease.
“Thyroid hormone impacts almost every organ of the body and can affect every possible aspect of a person’s life,” said Rosenfeld. “Most thyroid diseases can affect abilities to perform daily tasks, such as concentrating at work or interacting with loved ones.”
The first step to ensure your thyroid gland functions properly is to speak with a health care provider about your symptoms and whether a thyroid test is needed.
“Once I was diagnosed and placed on treatment for Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, my life changed completely,” Adams said. “My throat is no longer sore, and I’m able to go out with my family or spend time at the gym without feeling completely drained of energy.”
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