January 27, 2005
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About Me:
[Addenda:] Click here to read
This entry has been sitting in private status for several weeks and even longer in my head…..
There are probably things about me you probably don’t know. Hopefully after reading this you will get some insight on why I am the person I am today
Right around the time I was entering Jr High and already dealing w/ the awkwardness of puberty, I began to exhibit several symptoms that began to worry both my parents & me.
I was beginning to shows signs of
*insomnia (which has carried over to this day),
*weight loss (over the course of 1 month I lost 30 pounds),
*eyes swelling (about a 1/3 of their normal size)
At first my parents didn’t know what I had but after some investigation on my own I found out my dad had been diagnosed with something while he was living in Vietnam and asked if I could be tested…..
The day I returned to the doctor he asked me to hold out my hands……I then saw them tremble for the first time and realized I couldn’t hold them still. The doctor then told me that my results came back positive…..I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. Now hearing my doctor tell me I had something called Graves Disease scared the shit out of me. He went on to tell me that Graves Disease is
not contagious
and that it’s a genetic disease that I inherited from my father.
Graves Disease also goes by the medical term Hyperthyroidism. Basically the Thyroid gland in my throat produces to much of a hormone which in turn makes my body go haywire. The doctor was telling me all this and I was doing fine until…..
He gave me three options for treatment:
1) Pop Pills (30% effective)
2) Radioactive iodine syringed into my throat (90% effective)
3) Surgery that removes most of the thyroid gland (90% effective)
After hearing my options I decided I would go w/ Option #1. At the time, I didn’t tell many of my friends what was going on in my personal life. They all just figured I had lost a lot of weight and had the flu or some other minor ailment. But there were some of my friends along with my family that knew I was taking 4-7 pills a day and going in for bi-monthly blood exams.
Times were very tough for me the first year after I was diagnosed. I felt like I had done something wrong and that this was my punishment.
After several years my body began to stabilize itself and I started consuming less pills and eventually switched to injections of my medication…..
I’m extremely lucky to have made it through this tumultuous time of my life and have learened to be thankful for it Sometimes when my friends ask me how I have such a great outlook on life or how I’m so upbeat almost all the time, I’m never sure what I should tell them.
What I can say now is that after everything happened…I came out much stronger than before and with a greater appreciation for my own life.
[Addenda:] I just wanted to add this little note – For the past day I’ve been afraid to read peoples coments out of fear of how everyone would react.
I assumed the worst and thought 1 of 2 things would happen:
1) People would over compensate for my disease and coddle me because I was “handicapped” in some sort of way
2) People would be scared to hang out with me and just concentrate on the fact I had a disease
After reading through all the comments I was able to let out a sigh of relief that has been inside me for over 10 years. Thank you to everyone who really read and understood what I was trying to share.
[Disclaimer:] I didn’t write this for people to pity me…..I wrote this out of the hope people would understand….
Comments (140)
wow, it takes a lot of guts to put this up. thanks for sharing. and thanks for last night *wink*
life is all dandy until you hit a roadblock–then you start to appreciate it more. Sometimes, it’s too late.
hi guy! your blog will serve as a reminder to those who read it that we need the courage like yours to live our lives. Thanks for sharing such an intimate detail about yourself.
hey…props to you dude!!! but ew…what did you do with eklipse126 last night? ew.
So that’s why you have such a great outlook on life… :smile:
thanks for sharing that with us Lan. As everybody else has said, it takes a lot of courage to go public to such a large audience about something as personal as that.
props for sharing such a personal problem with the rest of us.
=)
=)
Sorry to hear this. Be grateful for those 90% effective options though. Sure it is hard.
Thanks for the script. Peace.
well done sir – well done.
yay!! i got my sony fixed.
for free
HEY 007 R U A LADIES MAN THANKS FOR THE PROPS AND DELIVERING BABIES IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY JOB SEE YA.
:hug: wow what a personal entry. . . i hope u overcome ur troubles with ur health problem
yes! happy lan = happy areum!
which really means….
see ya lata.
only taking up 4 classes. but i need alot of time in it in order to pass the class.
:cry: wow… that was insightful, and personal
I appreciate the share.. glad to see you are taking care of yourself, and sharing the message of CHOOSE LIFE and a survival with success.
Keep pushin’ on! :boxing:
Yea i heard about that ,., but hopefully he gets alot of rest and get better .. but anyway thanks for drop by… come back soon…
:hug:
didn’t know… but now know…
hope
pray
have faith…
Always (keeping you in my prayers),
Angie
great post!
Yea that pix is cute :laugh:
I like your profile pix, look like one of mine, except i’m not in the middle :tongue:
ahh shoot u just change it, :tongue:
*hugs*
youre a strong guy, lan..thanks for giving all that extra strength and courage to your friends that need it
good informative entry..thankx for sharing….
have a good night and be good ok
We always appreciate life more after it seems that our idea of being young and viable seems to disappear. Thanks for sharing this snippet of your life. :unsure:
glad you’re better! i agree with Areum. Happy Lan = Happy…the rest of us :biggrin:
sorry to hear that. hope you are doing well. smile a lot, that might just help =) -J
Happy Lan = My penis is happy
hm yeaa,.. I jsus took my Government final.. i swear that i didnt learn anything that was ont he test in the class… i hope i did oki tho.. ahh..
yeayea the movie was good U should see it.! fo sho … <3jUles
Can’t say I know how you feel but I can relate. I have something only two people and my immediate family know about, but I don’t feel like I can openly talk about it or tell my friends. They wouldn’t understand.
Things like this are a real downer on the worst of days, disrupting daily life and such, but “what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger” in the end. Glad you’ve recovered/recovering. I’m gonna keep battling mine. Thanks for sharing you hope-filled story, Lan.
never heard of that disease before..what causes it?
I am sorry, I really am I know that being diagnosed.. with something is very life changing, ahh, tell me about it. I really want you to vent to me or yah know.
it all comes down to how you deal with what you’re given & take it for a positive thing somehow… well smiilee & thanks for sharing information about yourself <3 people realize you should cherish everything they have & nothing should be taken for granted.
yeah i you’re right a lot of guys think they have to shape themselves to a girls likes or dislikes and that doesnt do it for me — i’d rather like/love someone who is true to himself then someone who fits my description but isn’t
take caare
kimiie
you’re riiggght! -J
I have a friend with Graves. I’m told it can be controlled through diet.
hope all is well. Take care
-amy
Just popped in and I read your post. I empathize with your situation. Thank you for helping me put my life in perspective.
aw thanks for the comment a friend of mine says they won’t pick me because i’m not fat…i was like “shit!” but yea kinda thinking i won’t do it because i don’t want to look like a big loser on national tv…well take care!
Of course I was, I am a master of BSing!! Sorry to hear that, hope things are alright.
take care
Superb.
We’re too cool for HATERS. ;]
And omg buddy… I look at your pictures on the 24th entry of your’s again and looked at the pictures MORE carefully and I noticed you have MEGHAN (sp?) on there… I USE TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH HER! I don’t think she knows me or remembers me though but we used to go to HIGHSCHOOL together. OMG — What a small world after all. o_O!
yea, bleh
hey..i don’t know u but u commented on my xanga. Not to sound like a complete nerd, but I just learned about that in school last semester! Glad to hear that you’re better and keep up the positive attitude
personally, i believe its one thing to get your hands dirty with the community and help out with volunteer work; however, more importantly, i believe its imperative that we educate one another about the world around us. thanks for doing just that. POWER TO YOU LAN! Even though we’ve never properly met, you (and Kim) are by far one of the most genuine and unique individuals i’ve come across in a long time. cant wait to see you guys at DCON. till then, viva la XANGA!
hope u feel better n take care of ur self
really puts things in perspective. but option 2 really scares me.
I know how you feel man. I have demons of my own that I hide pretty well. Hang in there.
one of my clients battled graves disease…she actually just had the radiactive iodine treatment done a couple of months ago. at first the thyroid medication that they put her on made her gain a lot of weight…but after the treatment she’s gaining control and is looking great now.
so, are you at a stage where you would have to go through any other treatments?
well, i just wanted to give you an online hug…. :hug:
Lan….you are my role model. You’re one of a kind. I’ve come to appreciate you more and more each and every day, just from reading your entries. =) Keep it up and take good care of yourself homie.
<3 Kait
=) go lan!
ur a very strong individual. keep ur head up. :biggrin:
Hey Lan.. It is Lan, right?
How’s it going? Haha I do hope I can still get an A- in AP Cal haha thanks though. :]
Haha my layouts, everywhere? Haha I only saw two people with them.. that was it =X ;x
:flowers: Thank you for your comment. I read your entry and I hope things will get better for you. I learned something new today! And can you make a South Park character out of me please? Preferably with a halo above my head and holding a beer in my hand. hehe
Damn dude… You got some grande cojones man… Comin out like that. For that, I commend you.
i’m sure it took a lot for you to decide to make this post public. thank you for sharing and educating. i know someone with a similar condition, and i never knew the extent to which he had to go to keep himself well. you’ve overcome, both physically and emotionally, a very challenging life obstacle, and as a result, you seem to be more positive and stronger person.
My sister in law has Hirshimoto’s disease (sp?) but basically her thyroid goes from hyper to hypo so she has to get blood tested regularly to have her medication changed.
I’m glad you’re okay and it takes a lot for people to share something personal like that though. Thryoids can totally mess with the way you feel along with its phsyical implications.
aw thanks for sharing :]
i’m happy to see you positive all the time and i’m glad i know why now. but most of all, i’m just glad you’re alive :smile:.
on another note, i feel kinda lost in this vast pool of comments… i wonder if you’ll get to read this.
Thats the first entry I’ve ever read on Puberty. You should write an autobiography. You’d make millions.
Wow, . = / Here I am complaining about possibly getting a blood transfusion cause of my anemia and thinking “why me” when yours is far more painful. I’m glad you got through it and it made you become a stronger person… Thanks for sharing and thanks for your comment on my friend.
sup lan! how YOU doing
2 eprops and an infinity more.
thank you for sharing yourself with us. i feel so blessed that you trust us enough to share. *hug* we are all one in this world. when you show us you’re human we began to feel human too. thank you. also, did you know we are all superheroes… including you! your superpower is strength, endurance, and happiness. what a beautiful combination *muah*
Just one word: Wow! What an inspiring story. Even though I’ve only recently started reading your xanga, I have profound respect for you based on this entry along. Thanks for sharing!
as someone who is now in the field of public health, i’m really glad to hear that you’re better now… and even more glad that you’ve chosen to share your story with a lot of people via xanga. i realize it must’ve taken a lot for you to open this aspect of your life up to us so thank you. i further appreciate the fact that you’re sharing this info period… it’s not one of those diseases that many people know about and from a public health perspective, it’s always a good idea to disseminate as much information as possible. it makes for a more informed public and helps people understand each other and things around them better.
a couple of responses to your comments on my xanga:
how nerdy do you think i am??? =)
hmmm i dunno what kind of intelligence i would have… maybe what i got is most like me… but yeah, there’s some aspects of it i don’t agree with/don’t think they apply to me.
if i had cancer i think i would appreciate my life too and go out and play more.. but i dont so i’m sitting at home playing ps2 and watching tv. bummer = (
ur thing looks painful…. ur strong.. keep it up. dont let yourself go down.
Dude, you rock. I swear. You have a great attitude considering the disorder you suffer. My hat’s off to you.
Now if you could tell me: How do you get all these beautiful young ladies to leave you comments? I swear, I’m jealous. Heheheeh, just kidding… NOT!
Actually Kim/Shi has been visiting and I think its thanks to you, no?
whoa.. wish i had the strength… encouraging story mang…. life is what happened to answer your question. like mistakes, wishing that i could take back. or its prolly mad stressing. ne way im likin them before and after pics. aite lates
Hey.. I saw the hate comment you got. I post all mine too especially when they have nothing to do with me. Thanks for your comments though
That’s a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.
omg…i’m sorry to hear that your another victim, like my friend is, he got most of his gland thingy removed, and is trying to recover from it this past week, it’s kinda sad…well i’m just sorry to hear that…
::hug::…anyways, i’ll b at Shampoo…so if ya not doinm anythin..swing bah :group:
Im just curious at, if you would have chosen option #3, what would the outcome be? Life is short, we all need to appreciate it more than we do. You are one tough cookie… :boxing: bc if it was me…. i would be like this :cry: Take now…
O yea…umm…ur entry on the blowjob…LOL.
it’s good to see that u’re living wit something like that and have a healthy outlook on life. i think most ppl would freak out and think their lives are over, never lettin themselves live
thanks!
stop changing the date and give us an update… :biggrin:
I wanted to thank you for your kind comments concerning my photos…if they really found a special place in your heart then it really does mean something, what we do…..muchas respect your way
Thankks! i didnt realyl think it looked all that grreat. i’m thinking of beginning my moods banners soon! =]
If i was to hear i inherited something from one of my parents i think i would freak out too. at least your ok.. :ohmy:
i’m okay that was just another drunken post.. =) take care
read your entry.
carry on buddy.
your entries are very interesting.
HELLO! wow thanks for subscribing me=)
wow…. give you props for holding it in for soooo long…. glad that you are doing better cuz you know you’re a lot stronger than you think!!!!!
Yeah you can see my PSA but I have to get it from my friend first because she has it. When I get it, I’ll IM you or whatever and you can see it. Later days!
Oh yeah, if you have time, can you make me a tag like the one on the top of your screen that says Big Will on it? If you don’t have time then don’t worry about it. Thanks man. i appreciate it. Later days!
lannie!!
i’m proud of y0o for puttin this up 
i noe it take a lotta gutz ‘ta have diz up here :showoff: y’r wun hella guyz sweetiie :hehe:
o yea.. how’z da bLow jobz cumin’ along? :dry: hehe
hope everythin’z bettur now -n- take kare sexii!! :smile:
luv ya! mUahz!~
~ Evie
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=275000
I’m such a nerd, I researched it =) Maybe I’ll become a genetics counselor one day and map out your pedigree and see how high the probability is that your kid has it… or I could just find a way to cure it =)
Good news is that it’s more likely recessive and as long as you don’t marry a cousin, you most likely won’t pass it on to your kid =)
Ok enough nerd talk. Lan, you rock my socks. I’m glad you’re alive and kickin’
all should love david hasselhoff
i thought that overactive thyroid glands caused weight -gain- ? i guess i was wrong. hmmmm
oh wow… i never knew anything about this condition. from reading this, you seem like a cool person to deal w/ tough things and enjoy life.
all the best. cheers!
Ey cutie pie..just wanted to drop by…and say “ROCK ON” :throb:
wow! that’s impressive.
I was referring to the quality of the chicas that comment to your entry. but your story of living through the hyperthyroidism is alright too…
just kidding.
seriously though, that’s awesome.
Hmm on my back
wow, you’ve been through so much, and i really admire your strength. about 2 years ago, i nearly died from an accident, and i think that experience definitely made me open my eyes and be appreciative and grateful for my life and everything in it.
thanks for sharing :throb:
:wub: Very impressive. I’m glad you shared your story with us. I’m glad you handle it so well. :throb:
uh huh man, I know some people with that. It isnt so bad hmmm? You certainly do not look the worse for it, if that means anything to you. I like your site and I am going to subscribe.
you chose life, and that’s all that mattered. thanks for sharing lan! holding it down for the vietnamese people! =D
sup lan! im fineee and yourself ? where u from sir
Awws, I think you’re great Lan!
Thank you for sharing that. Aww I want to take care of you now. *dresses up in her nurse outfit* :tongue: Wouldn’t you like that? :rolleyes:
aww… its okay. i’m genetically deformed too.
…there’s no secret. I just take a LOT of pics. Usually over 100 a week. I figure some of them are bound to turn out better than the others, so those are the ones I post.
I ADMIRE you.
Robert
wahhh…well if i dont put on a window scroll., then it wont go with my page!! hehe…anywayzzz, your smiley’s are going crazy lolz
…..
wow….your entry is long..but i read the whole thing…i’m glad you overcame it..i hope it doesnt get worse though… even though i dont really understand what it is…
thanks i’m feeling a lot better now. =]
yay for you and your ability to share something that means so much to you with so many people. =] definitely not something everyone can do.
I was waiting for 100, but 99 is as good a number as any… Regardless, I’ve just been postponing myself from writing a comment.
It’s really hard for me to say anything to this because I feel as if 1. Everything I want to say has been said, and 2. I don’t feel as if I can adequately portray my feelings through even my favorite method of communication.
I feel as if I’ve watched this post grow from the beginning infantile stages of your mind to where it is now seen by so many, read by so many, felt by so many.
There are so many things I want to say, and yet the words don’t come to me. I want to tell you that I think you’re one of the strongest people I know. I want to tell you that I’ll be there for you the next time you get tested. I want to tell you that you’re an amazing person with or without this disease.
I want to tell you that you have a cork in your butt.
And that you’ve touched my life in more ways than you know.
Love,
Kim
P.S – I’m sorry to hear about your disease, truly I am. Get well soon and take care buddy. :throb:
one personal entry u got goin there buddie…take kare of urself yea?… check ya later… :showoff:
awww i totally understand hehe
wow. you wanna know what’s funny? it’s usually the shitty things that happen to us in life that make us a better person. more grateful at least.
there’s always the feeling in the pit of your stomach that something’s wrong or you’re sick. but now that you know, just be grateful that it’s treatable. :console: or wait..maybe you don’t want to be consoled..maybe you need a :hug: or …
just a :boxing: in the face. you choose
thanks for your comment. i did go protected
omg; your entry will bring inspiration to many others. this just makes you the all more unique. hehe. =] :throb:
:ohmy: dang dude. here’s to commeny 110 haha.
now i have no idea what your talking about, your blogs are very interesting. & you’ve got a hundred comments as valid proof. anways danx for tagging up my site. just when i thought nobody reads my mess anymore & moved to livejournal.. you come along. again.. danx!
<3 mimichan
Yep, everyone has their secret life that they have to go through, sometimes alone….but because of that it makes them such a better person in the end? I mean…can you imagine what would of happened if you didn’t have this challenge in your life? What would you be doing? Would it be better? Would it be detrimental?
v-day…. NOTHING!!!! probably just hang and chill with my HOMIES!!! you know my POSSY!!! hahahaha
damn lan you get alotta comments! LOL =D
thanks!!!
dang……. look at all your eprops……….. =P ………… anyways… you and me both need sleep I see……….. :sleeping: never knew orca’s were that big hungh??? *nudge *nudge Hey hope things are on the pos. side and not the neg. side for ya ………. :worthy:
thanks for caring… thats nice of you.. =D welll i hope your doing better….
-SSS
Heyy :biggrin:
wow look at your comments. anyway, i know i almost never leave you comments, but at least i read your entries. i was definitely unaware of your medical condition, and that i am extremely proud of you; not only for living through what has become your biggest fear, but for learning to appreciate life much more.
elaine XX
have a great weekend my friend..
thanks for sharing your story and be strong. as i am too. i sometimes worry about having cancer but i go on no matter what.
Lan is still a sexy bitch… medical condition or not.
BIG HUUUUUUG TO YOU
people like you inspire me
Sure I will add you. Wow. Your posts are so powerful. I think it’s great you aren’t afraid to express yourself completely on here. I must admit that I am scared to write certain things in my xanga because it seems like a lot of people are extremely judgemental. That is partially why I went protected.
It’s wonderful that you have such a postive outlook on life after all you’ve been through. I wish you the best of luck in everything. Always stay happy and confident.
wow.. taht was a great entry.. :X Yea life is precious..i guess u dont really appreciate how precious iit is til somethign traumatizing happened…
Keepp ya head up boy
:throb:
aww thanks =) and your friend’s site is nice. yours is interesting too. will subscribe. take care! :thumbsup:
the transformer movie woudl be so tiite.
that is so true. thanks
I’ve done a run before. I think now I do it for fun. Before I used to hate running but now I look forward to it esp. when I’m stressed out. I think I’ll be okay when the marathon comes up in May but thanks! Hope all is well.
im extremely happy for you that you got through that obstacle and I admired that quality very very much. and Just so you know, I wouldnt treat you better beacuse I pity you or stay away from you because you’re handicapped or anything like that…well that’s if i was to know you in person and whatnot. But I admired your courage and that story did make me realized how lucky i am and how i much i value my like. Thank you for open my eyes again…=)
oh yeah, Nhu Loan is GORGEOUS! When I look at her…i wish I had her body…her face…her hair…and her everything but then again why live a fantasy when i have a life right under my nose to live.
wow that was quite personal.. thank you for sharing your insight..
RYC: hes a yorkie…
Thanks for sharing this beautiful part of you.
My life will never be the same with this knowledge of you, my strange acqauintance.
Great entry, and really well put together…It’s totally understandable why you’d worried about people “coddling” you. Nowadays, it seems to be what many of us are taught to do in society. Luckily, as you’ve pretty much said, most people are smarter than that. You have a positive attitude…snaps for that too!
*huggs*
i love the banner
woah. 200+ eprops.
yoo are da man. (=
thanks for sharing the story.
thats prolly why yoo have such a positive outlook on life &everything.
i hope everything goes well for yoo.
takecare<333
&thanks for the comments (=
hey im the girl that used to have the -youngkadail- site, i just thought i would let you know that i have a new one…which is this one
hope everything goes well for you man…
good luck
wow.. i finally found someone that has the same disease as me… i know it sucks and stuff and you have no energy but ihave been coping for a few years, did the radioactive iodine didnt work so im popping synthroid 350mgz and i hate the blood tests every month… if you need any advice holla…
hey Lan! this was my first chance to read this. I can’t imagine why ppl would alienate you b/c of this? we all have our illnesses…some are more obvious w/ names…some are subconscious w/o names…etc etc. but i’m glad u wrote about this b/c it reminds all of us that we’re human and not impurvious (is that right word choice) and to appreciate what life throws to us =] i’m sure u’re stronger from this!
thanks for mustering up the courage to share, I’m sure people have and will continue to benefit from your candidness. One of my dear friends was diagnosed with Graves disease in college, and she too chose option #1. Currently she is still on the pills and blood works regimen, but life has resumed as much normalcy as possible. Our group of friends are there for her, and it appears that you’re around caring people as well. May God bless you!
i learned about Grave’s disease in pathophys.. glad you’re doing fine!
Oh wow, that’s rough but it’s good to hear it’s gotten better for you. And when I first heard GRAVES disease, I instantly thought DEATH! Hahaha.. what a name for an illness.. scarying the crap out of people…. Anyways, nice entry