Ultrasound is in...

NJShore
NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Last weeks MRI, caused a few tests for me this week. The good news is I have one cyst on my kidney, it's small, something to watch, nothing I will worry about. However, my thyroid has a lot of nodules, not to uncommon.  Although one of mine is rather large 31x21x20 mm; this one and one other have their own blood flow. The others on the right are solid, the ones on the left are newer and normal sized and I think are more liquid. So I get to go see the ENT surgeon in two weeks.

The most frustrating part.. you can see it from the outside! Who knew!? Who had time is more like it.. ;)

Dan is doing great, although he's having trouble sleeping now. Just can't get tired enough. Still not enough calories to come off the TPN, but he's doing well with it and has gained 6 lbs overall. As a result he still has healing issues in his mouth, after 6 weeks I'd love to see them gone!! But we've waited this long!

Ok, about time to get to work,

Hugs, Kari

Comments

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #2
    ENT ?

    Kari,

    Hey there !  I'm curious on this.  Have they done the labs ?  I'm wondering why they're not sending you to an endocrinologist first.  I had multiple noduals years ago, and had graves.  Is thyroid problems in the family ?  My family had 4 out of 8 hit with it.  2 of us graves disease, 2 with hosimoto.  Just curious, things may be done way differently now compared to (omg) 30 yrs. ago already.  Keeping you in my pocket for an easy fix on this one.  (thyroid issues are not fun)    If you have questions along the way I'm here.    Katie

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    #3
    katenorwood said:

    ENT ?

    Kari,

    Hey there !  I'm curious on this.  Have they done the labs ?  I'm wondering why they're not sending you to an endocrinologist first.  I had multiple noduals years ago, and had graves.  Is thyroid problems in the family ?  My family had 4 out of 8 hit with it.  2 of us graves disease, 2 with hosimoto.  Just curious, things may be done way differently now compared to (omg) 30 yrs. ago already.  Keeping you in my pocket for an easy fix on this one.  (thyroid issues are not fun)    If you have questions along the way I'm here.    Katie

    ENT

    Katie,

    Thank you, I bet you will get lots of questions! :) at least from me!  No labs yet, not sure why our GP didn't order any, but I know the centers doctors will. The US said to get the needle aspiration, and when we took Dan the other day to the doctors, they said the right way and shorter route was to let the Surgeon who did Dan's neck disection do the biopsies, they had me cancel the endocrinologists appt and make one there. I have one sister with a perfect thyroid, one without a thyroid (similar to mine), and a mom with hoshimotos and my Dad had needle biopsies every six months for years. So we weren't surprised. A friend of ours is a doctor who said... so you'll soon be in the surigical unit... when he read my results. I'd rather get it out, and just get on with getting it behind us, rather than what my Dad went through for almost 20 years. Given the size and and doplar readings from what I understood, I might not be the only one thinking this way soon.

    But two weeks is a long time waiting.. I am going to check for cancelations every few days.. maybe it won't have to be two weeks.

    Kari

     

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #4
    NJShore said:

    ENT

    Katie,

    Thank you, I bet you will get lots of questions! :) at least from me!  No labs yet, not sure why our GP didn't order any, but I know the centers doctors will. The US said to get the needle aspiration, and when we took Dan the other day to the doctors, they said the right way and shorter route was to let the Surgeon who did Dan's neck disection do the biopsies, they had me cancel the endocrinologists appt and make one there. I have one sister with a perfect thyroid, one without a thyroid (similar to mine), and a mom with hoshimotos and my Dad had needle biopsies every six months for years. So we weren't surprised. A friend of ours is a doctor who said... so you'll soon be in the surigical unit... when he read my results. I'd rather get it out, and just get on with getting it behind us, rather than what my Dad went through for almost 20 years. Given the size and and doplar readings from what I understood, I might not be the only one thinking this way soon.

    But two weeks is a long time waiting.. I am going to check for cancelations every few days.. maybe it won't have to be two weeks.

    Kari

     

    Just a heads up

    Kari,

    Wow, we use to be told our family was rare.  Guess not !  If they do labs, and your in the hyper-stage, too much and not hypo stage....they can give you a pill to destroy that gland. (isotope)  Might be less invasive then surgery.  Either way, getting it out, and going on the synthetic hormone will get you feeling better !  Keep in touch.   Katie

  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #5
    now it's your turn...

    Wow, Kari

    that says a LOT about your caregiver skills that you took such good care of hubby that you didn't even notice that you were developing this issue.  So since Dan is doing so well (yippee), it's time to worry about Kari.

    Hopefully they can treat this like Katie says....and surgery is not required.  But either way, get rid of it as soon as you can and you will probably be amazed at how good you can feel on the synthetics.  You will get some energy back.

    wishing you the best...and congrats to Dan on the 6 pounds.

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    #6
    katenorwood said:

    Just a heads up

    Kari,

    Wow, we use to be told our family was rare.  Guess not !  If they do labs, and your in the hyper-stage, too much and not hypo stage....they can give you a pill to destroy that gland. (isotope)  Might be less invasive then surgery.  Either way, getting it out, and going on the synthetic hormone will get you feeling better !  Keep in touch.   Katie

    No Isotopes for me..

    Katie,

    The isotopes I can't handle. They pretreated me this week for a CT Scan with very little iodine in it. I reacted. My neck tightened, breathing wasn't fun and from the waist up I was bright red for two days, blotchy and itchy.. and nauseated some times. Being out of work for 9 weeks when Dan needed support, I didn't want to be out again, so I sat on conference calls, and tried to get work done while itching, and trying not to sleep in my bendryl red as a beet dazed looked. So never letting them do that again.. I'd rather let them remove it. I like feeling like I know I will wake up in the morning, when I sleep.

    Kari :)

  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    #7
    Ingrid K said:

    now it's your turn...

    Wow, Kari

    that says a LOT about your caregiver skills that you took such good care of hubby that you didn't even notice that you were developing this issue.  So since Dan is doing so well (yippee), it's time to worry about Kari.

    Hopefully they can treat this like Katie says....and surgery is not required.  But either way, get rid of it as soon as you can and you will probably be amazed at how good you can feel on the synthetics.  You will get some energy back.

    wishing you the best...and congrats to Dan on the 6 pounds.

    A Little Chuckle

    Kari,

    I had to laugh at "who's had the time". I remember when I actually put on makeup and checked my appearance in the mirror each day. I think the only time I see the mirror now is when brushing my teeth, using Eterna 27, and slapping on lipstick.

    Now really, is this the only way you can get some time for yourself! I'm kidding, of course. I just know everyone's advice is to take care of yourself, also.

    Hoping this will turn out to be a big "nothing" and can be resolved quickly.

    Luv,

    Wolfen 

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #8
    Take Care of Yourself...

    Kari,

    I read the posts of the caregivers here and it amazes me. You do so much without nary a complaint, sometimes at the expense of yourselves. We find out how your spouses are doing and peek into your world vicariously through your words. I watch my Marcia with love and awe as she handles what has to be a monumental task of having to deal with watching me get sick. She's been amazing the last 3+ months since my diagnosis (especially since this very difficult recoovery from surgery). She's very attentive and concerned that I get enough to eat. Who knew this little woman from Ecuador was in the same mold as a Jewish Mom :)  I worry about her and her health as she needs to be well in order to help me when I'll need it. The same goes for you. You've been the foundation that's kept Dan standing and moving forward. It's time to take care of yourself so that the two of you can walk out of the Valley together. 

    Positive thoughts and prayer that this situation will be resolved for the best and you will feel better very soon. Great to hear Dan is making progress and gaining weight. 

    "T"

Discussion Boards