Return to Profile page Friends |  Journals |  Notes |  Photos |  Posts |  Trackers
All Journal Entries Journals
 |  Del.icio.usYahoo BookmarksFacebookGoogle Bookmarks

home from surgery

Aug 30, 2008 12:09AM - 3 comments

Well I made it thru surgery.  I tried to be calm as I could but still had some bumps the days of surgery.  Oh well.  After surgery I was out of it well past the recovery room and only remember things after being moved to my room upstairs in the hospital.  The doc said they took the thyroid out of course and also some lymph nodes that did not look bad or good.  They said they would tell me what the pathology on both were probably next week and that if there was cancer in the lymph nodes they already took, then the radioactive iodine treatment was recommended in 1 1/2 months along with a full body scan to see where the cancer had spread to.  I am somewhat alarmed and mad at this last bit of news, as this wasn't told to me before.  No one ever mentioned the possibility of a full body scan, nor did they say it would be another 6 weeks to know whether it has spread or not.  I had been told for months now they would know if it spread or not when they did they surgery a few days ago...so I expected to know if had spread now, not in 6 weeks.  I guess all I can do is hope the nodes come back clean.  Otherwise, I go slow, move slow, eat slow...you get the picture.  The nurses, especially at night, in the hospital were lifesavers and the kindest, best people.  They have been the most sensitive, caring, and helpful, other than the people I found here on this site, since this thing started.  Thank you for your wishes and thoughts.  I still feel we should educate women more about thyroid problems as I had never even heard of it nor been told to check my thyroid ever in my whole life, and I am quite on top of things like that.  I hope everyone here is doing good and holding up.   Hugs and best wishes to all.  More in a few days.

Comments
Post a Comment
by Ranaesheart, Aug 30, 2008 12:39AM
Am so very glad you are home from surgery and that all went relatively well.  Sure wish you could have had some answers sooner or that you would have at least been told so what to expect in the way of a timeline.  

Am so very proud of you for your courage and your positive attitude!  It will serve you well as you move forward in the days and weeks ahead.  I will pray the pathology reports are benign and that you heal quickly and without pain.

Those nurses are like angels, aren't they?  Mine were gentle and caring and am so happy you had a similar experience.  Nice to have you back on MedHelp and truly appreciate your note and keeping in touch.  This is a wonderful place to build friendships and stay in touch with people who have had a similar experience.

Take care of you ... and rest.  You need to heal now and regain your strength.  

Warm snuggly hugggsssss ... Ranae

by kipland, Aug 30, 2008 04:40AM
Glad to see you post.  I was wondering how you were doing.  Sounds like things went quite well in regards to your surgery!  I was like you - don't remember a bit of recovery.  I woke up in the room they had moved me to for overnight.

I know that you're really scared about this whole thing, but rest assured that the process that you're going through is normal.  Waiting is hard, especially when you're waiting for pathology reports!

In regards to the RAI, that's normal too.  Did they give you any thyroid meds yet?  If not, prepare to start feeling some symptoms of your body missing the thyroid hormone right around week 4 after TT.  Where I had my RAI done, they wanted my tsh to be at least 30 to have it.  

When you have the body scan, they're also looking for any remaining thyroid tissue.  The intent for having RAI is to get rid of that.  There is a lot of info at thyca.org that I think you would benefit from.  I know how scared you are, because I was there too.  Keep researching and asking questions, as knowledge is power!

As far as afterwards, they will put you on meds and will keep you slightly hyper for cancer suppression.  You will most likely be going in once a year for the body scans for the next 5 years or so.  Be happy that they're keeping such a close eye on us!!

You're well on your way to putting the worse part of this behind you.  Prepping for and having the RAI isn't fun, but it's just one of the hurdles that you have to get over to get to feeling better.  Then you can get on your meds and be on your way to a somewhat normal life again!!

Hope you continue to feel better and improve.  

by skybetonme, Oct 27, 2008 10:45AM
read your question on MedHelp Member's Question
Thyroid surgery or not?
and would like to know if you had total thyroid surgery or still FNA.
iam same age and had radation for hodkins as kid and now thyroid has nodules big right side 3.5 and left side smaller
any information on what direction you took would be very helpful or if you know of anybody who had total surgery?


thank you
skybetonme

Post a Comment
Post