New to the Forum and worried!

Sammie123
Sammie123 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Thyroid Cancer #1
Hi everyone. I'm new to this site and looking for others that have had their thyroid removed.
I am set to have surgery for mine to be completely removed on Feb 9th. I've struggled with many Dr's and different levels over the years, weight gain, feeling tired, depressed etc.
Recently I had biopsies on many of the larger nodules that I have-apparently I have famiies living on my thyroid...many nodules on both sides. They sent me back in for another biopsy with a pathologist present and still the results were inconclusive. My Dr had recommended that I have my thyroid and all the nodules removed as they are getting bigger over the years, and the one nodule is consided suspious, until they can fully remove and take a look at it. Of couse my mind has raced between having the surgery and bailing out. I've read so many things from people that feel worse now than they did before, gained substantial weight, feel lousy, hair loss etc voice changed....Then I have to reel myself back in and say those may be the extremes...I'm doing it for peace of mind to be sure I dont have cancer. Just alot of questions, nerves and anxiety about the whole post surgery days. Can someone tell me how it went for them. I'm scheduled to be off for 2 weeks from work, so I feel that's enogh time to get back into the swing of things. Is that correct? I have visions of the opposite happening! Looking for others that have this begind them, what I can expect, not expect, and help me calm my nerves before I call the whole thing off!
Thanking you in advance!

Comments

  • gailaj
    gailaj Member Posts: 36
    #2
    everyone's different, but
    Hi -- everyone's experience is different, but I wanted to reply to tell you I had a full thyroidectomy in March 08 and it was not too bad; I had some localized pain around the incision, but was able to go back to work in about a week. I had a very small nodule (papillary cancer), however, and did not require RAI afterwards, so I cannot speak to that. But I can also tell you that they checked the location of the larynx first to make sure that there would be no vocal problems, and I had none at all. Also, my scar is hardly noticeable now. My only immediate post-op issue was some tingling due to calcium levels dropping, but that was resolved with calcium supplements.

    My biggest challenge has been regulating my TSH, getting on the right dosage of synthroid, which takes a while....so I am still dealing with energy issues but not any more weight gain although I haven't been able to lose much either. Although my weight issues may not be typical - I did gain 10-15 lbs before the surgery due to hypothyroid/Hashi's issues, but not more than that since I am a long-distance runner (and having injury issues with my Achilles tendons, which may or may not be thyroid-related, has resulted in reduced running mileage, which of course has also made it harder to lose those extra pounds....)

    I think the best advice I can give you is to find a surgeon that specializes in thyroidectomy - I live in the NYC area, so went to NY Thyroid Center, and a surgeon who said he does over 200 of these surgeries a year. (My reply -- "okay, you've got the job!")
  • ptharp
    ptharp Member Posts: 190
    #3
    Sammie: What are your

    Sammie: What are your symptoms? Do you have a visable swelling?  I am worried because I have a swelling at the base of the front of my neck. When you push on it is soft. I cannot feel any thing hard. Today I had an ultrasound and blood work yesterday to check my TSH. I am so nervous. The doc said the swelling is probably a fatty tumor which are not cancer.

  • ptharp
    ptharp Member Posts: 190
    #4
    Sammie: What are your

    Sammie: What are your symptoms? Do you have a visable swelling?  I am worried because I have a swelling at the base of the front of my neck. When you push on it is soft. I cannot feel any thing hard. Today I had an ultrasound and blood work yesterday to check my TSH. I am so nervous. The doc said the swelling is probably a fatty tumor which are not cancer.

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