2nd surgery, thanks for all the positive posts

TodayIsAGoodDay

Thank you all for the positive information posted on these boards. It's 3a where I am, and since I can't sleep I've been reading like crazy and feel much more educated.

13 Days ago I had a Lobectomy to remove a nodule that had grown to be over 3 cm. It came back fine, but out of the smaller nodules on the right side- 1 is cancer. Of course it took 7 days to get these results from the surgeon, then I had to wait another 3 days for my Endo to return my call. 10 days of waiting! I have an appointment with the surgeon on WED to set the date to take the rest of my thyroid out.

At first I was very angry, because I had requested the whole thyroid to come out, and to wake up with 1/2 left was annoying. My Mom had thyroid cancer at 32, and I'm 31...I just felt like it might have been a sign.

Getting the call on Friday that there is a growth on my left side and I have to have surgery again was upsetting...so upsetting that I had to comfort myself with McDonalds. I figured last time I lost 5 lbs because I didn't want to eat much- I can afford the extra calories. I swear somehow the fries and shake made me feel good.

So I've decided that no one can complain about this to me. I don't want to hear how hard it is on my husband, and questions from my son as to why couldn't the doctor take it all out in the begining. I want my life back. The supportative behavior my family has shown me had reached it's limit on SAT...the stress is taking a toll on all of us. Any one have any advice as to be sensitive to your family's feelings during this time? Normally I'm unselfish- but I'm tired and just really trying to focus on getting well. I'm still recovering from the first surgery.

I'm feeling better about the 2nd surgery because I know how to prop myself up so I can sleep sitting up to reduce the swelling. I know now that water at room temp. with a straw- is the easiest thing to drink. Today is a good day! We all have problems, and since most of the people who are posting are women....let me remind you WE CAN DO ANYTHING. When I was 6 my mother put a poster of the girl smurf in my bedroom, she was at a desk similar to the white house and it said "Girls can do anything". Since it's the 2nd surgery, I know that I need to take off 10 days from work to recover. I'm almost out of sick time....but it is OK. I can get through this. I'm really feeling like I need to go into this surgery as stress free as possible.

I'm assuming I'll have to have radation after the 2nd surgery, but forgot to ask my doctor. I was in so much shock. Anyone have an opinion about this?

So in closing that you all for posting. Reading your advice and stories made me feel so much better. I feel like I just had a talk with all my girlfriends and they knew exactly what I'm talking about.

miladyx

hi, you mentioned...
... your mom had thyroid cancer as well. How is she doing? Was hers spread to her lymph nodes? Sorry for the many questions, I am just interested in hearing about people who have been dealing with it for a long time.

TodayIsAGoodDay

miladyx said:

hi, you mentioned...
... your mom had thyroid cancer as well. How is she doing? Was hers spread to her lymph nodes? Sorry for the many questions, I am just interested in hearing about people who have been dealing with it for a long time.

My mom had thyroid cancer 25
My mom had thyroid cancer 25 years ago and is fine. The cancer never came back, and did not spread to her lymph nodes. She did get hodgkin's lymphoma about 10 years ago had surgery and treatment and is fine.

I just called her today, to ask her to come up and help me with my 2nd surgery. 31 years old and still need my MOM! My son thought that was so funny.

LBelle

TodayIsAGoodDay said:

My mom had thyroid cancer 25
My mom had thyroid cancer 25 years ago and is fine. The cancer never came back, and did not spread to her lymph nodes. She did get hodgkin's lymphoma about 10 years ago had surgery and treatment and is fine.

I just called her today, to ask her to come up and help me with my 2nd surgery. 31 years old and still need my MOM! My son thought that was so funny.

My mother had thyroidectomy as well
but I don't know exactly why did she have it. I was told that she had thyroidectomy to keep her "sane" way back in the late 60's or early 70's. Yeah she is fine and alive- at the age of 81.

TodayIsAGoodDay

LBelle said:

My mother had thyroidectomy as well
but I don't know exactly why did she have it. I was told that she had thyroidectomy to keep her "sane" way back in the late 60's or early 70's. Yeah she is fine and alive- at the age of 81.

My hair is falling out.....
I was told that the kind of cancer my mother had and I have is not genetic.

How did the talk with your husband go last night? Are you going to find another surgeon?

I was so upset last night- I've realized that I'm losing hair on my right side. There is a huge bald spot, which can be covered as of now by my hair. Since it was 9p, and I couldn't call my doctor I took the search to the internet. It seems like it can be normal...and is from changing the synthroid.

This is by far the hardest. I'm going to call my Endo today. I didn't think I was that shallow, but I guess I am. I don't mind the 4 inch scar on my neck, and I don't try to cover it up....but losing hair? That really stinks.

LBelle

TodayIsAGoodDay said:

My hair is falling out.....
I was told that the kind of cancer my mother had and I have is not genetic.

How did the talk with your husband go last night? Are you going to find another surgeon?

I was so upset last night- I've realized that I'm losing hair on my right side. There is a huge bald spot, which can be covered as of now by my hair. Since it was 9p, and I couldn't call my doctor I took the search to the internet. It seems like it can be normal...and is from changing the synthroid.

This is by far the hardest. I'm going to call my Endo today. I didn't think I was that shallow, but I guess I am. I don't mind the 4 inch scar on my neck, and I don't try to cover it up....but losing hair? That really stinks.

Tomorrow Hub and I will see Endo/ENT
Now now now you're far from being shallow. I read about hair loss due to synthroid glitch (mis-adjustment/changes) and yes your hair will grow back. I'll talk to Endo tomorrow about having bad visual after RAI. I'm very protective of my eyes so one handicap is just damn enough. I'd rather to lose my hair than losing my sight.

As of surgery, Hub and I will try to squeeze me in the surgery schedule as soon as possible at JHop. If not, then I have to get back to the first one that we talked last week. He's a general surgeon and I'll have to ask my physican to refer me to a local endo. It sucks to get back to square one in "surgeon shopping".