7 days post op and feeling great !

Tvargas02
Tvargas02 Member Posts: 7
in Thyroid Cancer #1
HI everyone, I had a total thyroid (Papillary Carcinoma) on 12/13. I am only 7 days post op and I have to say I am feeling pretty good. I am currently taking cytomel and not feeling any weird side effects that I hear others speak about. I just want to let others know that there are a lot of negative posts all over the internet about how people feel post op and they really had me discouraged. I swore I wouldn't feel good for years. Everyone is different, so just remember that there are positive outcomes as well. It's not all doom and gloom !! I feel better than I have in years. I was not on thyroid meds before surgery, I'm wondering if maybe I did need them after all. I am so thankful for all the love and encouragement I have received through this website. Happy Holidays to all !!

Comments

  • sunnyaz
    sunnyaz Member Posts: 582
    #2
    Excellent News!
    So glad to hear you are doing well. I felt really crappy before my surgery due to symptoms of Thyroid cancer and being hypothyroid. I had not felt good for about a year. I no longer have the yuck feeling I used to have before my diagnosis. It's quite possible you had symptoms for a long time too and just didn't know what normal felt like. Hope you stay on the road to recovery.
    Blessings,
    Julie-SunnyAZ
  • lisaavellino
    lisaavellino Member Posts: 16
    #3
    Good News
    Hi Tvargas02,

    So good to hear someone positive info after your surgery. I am scheduled for surgery for end of January/early Feb and will also be having a TT. I have been worried about how you feel after surgery and with the meds and all so this is really good to hear. My Endo also prescribed cytomel to start taking after surgery. Did you have an ENT do your surgery? I'm trying to decide between and ENT or Endocrine Surgeon, both have come highly recommended. How was your papillary detected, do you know how big the nodule was? Good luck to you in your recovery. Happy Holidays
    Lisa
  • lisaavellino
    lisaavellino Member Posts: 16
    #4
    Good News
    Hi Tvargas02,

    So good to hear someone positive info after your surgery. I am scheduled for surgery for end of January/early Feb and will also be having a TT. I have been worried about how you feel after surgery and with the meds and all so this is really good to hear. My Endo also prescribed cytomel to start taking after surgery. Did you have an ENT do your surgery? I'm trying to decide between and ENT or Endocrine Surgeon, both have come highly recommended. How was your papillary detected, do you know how big the nodule was? Good luck to you in your recovery. Happy Holidays
    Lisa
  • Gomesm2
    Gomesm2 Member Posts: 3
    #5
    Great to hear your feeling
    Great to hear your feeling great. My daughter, which is 12 yrs old, had her surgery late August/ early September and was put on Cytomel. I hadn't heard anything negative regarding this (thank goodness). All I knew was that it was a short acting T4 med that would be easier to leave her system so she could have her RAI. She didn't complain of any side effects from it. Her thyroid level reached 348.00 when they had to check her TSH to see if it was at the level for them to give her the treatment. She had the treatment and test done. was a simple test for her. Good luck.
  • Tvargas02
    Tvargas02 Member Posts: 7
    #6
    lisaavellino said:

    Good News
    Hi Tvargas02,

    So good to hear someone positive info after your surgery. I am scheduled for surgery for end of January/early Feb and will also be having a TT. I have been worried about how you feel after surgery and with the meds and all so this is really good to hear. My Endo also prescribed cytomel to start taking after surgery. Did you have an ENT do your surgery? I'm trying to decide between and ENT or Endocrine Surgeon, both have come highly recommended. How was your papillary detected, do you know how big the nodule was? Good luck to you in your recovery. Happy Holidays
    Lisa

    Hi Lisa, what you need to
    Hi Lisa, what you need to remember is that everyone is different. Although I have to say it is easier to assume you will feel like everyone else, but that's just not the case. I think I am one of the lucky ones, maybe because I didn't have any problems before. As far as wondering how you will feel after surgery, you will just have to wait and see. My incision is small and other than a sore throat for a few days, I was doing well. I did feel tired and run down for about 4 days, but on the 5th day, it was like I never had surgery. I was shopping and cleaning and taking care of my kids. But again, that was me. I had an endocrine surgeon perform my surgery, She is absolutely phenomenal and is the chief of endocrinology at Yale. I know I'm in good hands. Her name is Sanziana Roman. You have to go with whoever your more comfortable with. My primary care doc found a small nodule 4 years ago. we watched and did ultrasounds, the nodule was always "normal" until this past August when it changed. The nodule was only 5mm. I also forgot to mention that I prepared my body for surgery and post op for a few weeks. I went to a naturapathic whom I adore and she helped me get as healthy as possible before. Good luck on your surgery and your road to recovery. One day at a time that's all we can do ! Trish
  • lisaavellino
    lisaavellino Member Posts: 16
    #7
    Tvargas02 said:

    Hi Lisa, what you need to
    Hi Lisa, what you need to remember is that everyone is different. Although I have to say it is easier to assume you will feel like everyone else, but that's just not the case. I think I am one of the lucky ones, maybe because I didn't have any problems before. As far as wondering how you will feel after surgery, you will just have to wait and see. My incision is small and other than a sore throat for a few days, I was doing well. I did feel tired and run down for about 4 days, but on the 5th day, it was like I never had surgery. I was shopping and cleaning and taking care of my kids. But again, that was me. I had an endocrine surgeon perform my surgery, She is absolutely phenomenal and is the chief of endocrinology at Yale. I know I'm in good hands. Her name is Sanziana Roman. You have to go with whoever your more comfortable with. My primary care doc found a small nodule 4 years ago. we watched and did ultrasounds, the nodule was always "normal" until this past August when it changed. The nodule was only 5mm. I also forgot to mention that I prepared my body for surgery and post op for a few weeks. I went to a naturapathic whom I adore and she helped me get as healthy as possible before. Good luck on your surgery and your road to recovery. One day at a time that's all we can do ! Trish

    Trish
    Hi Trish,

    I realize everyone is different, just good to hear not everyone has bad experiences and reassuring to know that some people bounce back quickly....prior to the ENT finding the nodule I have not had any thyroid issues and the nodule was found during a CT scan looking for salvary stones in my parotid gland...That's interesting you mentioned about preparing your body for surgery, something i considered doing by juicing and doing more yoga, will look into a naturapathic.

    Until the other day I didn't think twice about the ENT/Head/Neck Surgeon I was seeing but after he indicated only taking out part of my thyroid where the nodule is pending the pathology at the time of surgery that cautioned me. We have previously discussed taking it all out since the biopsy confirmed it as papillary. I didn't understand why he would only do a partial removal knowing I could go back in for a second surgery to remove the other lobe if the full pathology came back malignant. I then went for another opinion with an Endocrine Surgeon (making it my 5th opinion, 4 ENT's) and he agreed he would do a TT and just be on meds rather than run the risk of having a second surgery. i called the ENT office today to cancel my surgery (was scheduled for 12/29) and what I found interesting is the PA called me and said they received my message and the dr is on vacation but wanted to remind me the nodule is calcified...so if it was that big of an issue or concern when I originally saw him mid November why didn't we have the surgery scheduled sooner?

    Just out of curiosity did your surgeon use a drain tube? Seems to be some differences in opinon on using one pending on who you see for the surgery.

    Thanks again for the information. Lisa
  • Tvargas02
    Tvargas02 Member Posts: 7
    #8
    lisaavellino said:

    Trish
    Hi Trish,

    I realize everyone is different, just good to hear not everyone has bad experiences and reassuring to know that some people bounce back quickly....prior to the ENT finding the nodule I have not had any thyroid issues and the nodule was found during a CT scan looking for salvary stones in my parotid gland...That's interesting you mentioned about preparing your body for surgery, something i considered doing by juicing and doing more yoga, will look into a naturapathic.

    Until the other day I didn't think twice about the ENT/Head/Neck Surgeon I was seeing but after he indicated only taking out part of my thyroid where the nodule is pending the pathology at the time of surgery that cautioned me. We have previously discussed taking it all out since the biopsy confirmed it as papillary. I didn't understand why he would only do a partial removal knowing I could go back in for a second surgery to remove the other lobe if the full pathology came back malignant. I then went for another opinion with an Endocrine Surgeon (making it my 5th opinion, 4 ENT's) and he agreed he would do a TT and just be on meds rather than run the risk of having a second surgery. i called the ENT office today to cancel my surgery (was scheduled for 12/29) and what I found interesting is the PA called me and said they received my message and the dr is on vacation but wanted to remind me the nodule is calcified...so if it was that big of an issue or concern when I originally saw him mid November why didn't we have the surgery scheduled sooner?

    Just out of curiosity did your surgeon use a drain tube? Seems to be some differences in opinon on using one pending on who you see for the surgery.

    Thanks again for the information. Lisa

    Hi Lisa, I agree with you,
    Hi Lisa, I agree with you, I think taking the whole thyroid is the best and only option with cancer. No drain tube for me thank God. I go for my follow up on Thursday to get the official pathology and post op check. I don't want anymore surprises. I feel good right now physically and emotionally. As far as preparing your body for surgery, I think juicing and yoga is fantastic. I think all the TLC I gave my body before really helped. I'm feeling really well, I was starting to get really discouraged before surgery after hearing all about the horrible outcomes. I'm sure you will do fine ! No worries, you can and will get through this. Life is starting to get back to normal for me every day. I just don't worry about cancer, I can't let it control me. I look at it like this, if I live 50 more years and worry every day of those 50 years, I would have wasted my entire life worrying. This is treatable and it is very possible to continue a healthy long life. I wish the best for you ! Keep me posted and let me know when your big day is so I can send some extra prayers and good thoughts your way ! Have a great holiday ! What state are you in? Trish
  • Tvargas02
    Tvargas02 Member Posts: 7
    #9
    lisaavellino said:

    Trish
    Hi Trish,

    I realize everyone is different, just good to hear not everyone has bad experiences and reassuring to know that some people bounce back quickly....prior to the ENT finding the nodule I have not had any thyroid issues and the nodule was found during a CT scan looking for salvary stones in my parotid gland...That's interesting you mentioned about preparing your body for surgery, something i considered doing by juicing and doing more yoga, will look into a naturapathic.

    Until the other day I didn't think twice about the ENT/Head/Neck Surgeon I was seeing but after he indicated only taking out part of my thyroid where the nodule is pending the pathology at the time of surgery that cautioned me. We have previously discussed taking it all out since the biopsy confirmed it as papillary. I didn't understand why he would only do a partial removal knowing I could go back in for a second surgery to remove the other lobe if the full pathology came back malignant. I then went for another opinion with an Endocrine Surgeon (making it my 5th opinion, 4 ENT's) and he agreed he would do a TT and just be on meds rather than run the risk of having a second surgery. i called the ENT office today to cancel my surgery (was scheduled for 12/29) and what I found interesting is the PA called me and said they received my message and the dr is on vacation but wanted to remind me the nodule is calcified...so if it was that big of an issue or concern when I originally saw him mid November why didn't we have the surgery scheduled sooner?

    Just out of curiosity did your surgeon use a drain tube? Seems to be some differences in opinon on using one pending on who you see for the surgery.

    Thanks again for the information. Lisa

    Hi Lisa, I agree with you,
    Hi Lisa, I agree with you, I think taking the whole thyroid is the best and only option with cancer. No drain tube for me thank God. I go for my follow up on Thursday to get the official pathology and post op check. I don't want anymore surprises. I feel good right now physically and emotionally. As far as preparing your body for surgery, I think juicing and yoga is fantastic. I think all the TLC I gave my body before really helped. I'm feeling really well, I was starting to get really discouraged before surgery after hearing all about the horrible outcomes. I'm sure you will do fine ! No worries, you can and will get through this. Life is starting to get back to normal for me every day. I just don't worry about cancer, I can't let it control me. I look at it like this, if I live 50 more years and worry every day of those 50 years, I would have wasted my entire life worrying. This is treatable and it is very possible to continue a healthy long life. I wish the best for you ! Keep me posted and let me know when your big day is so I can send some extra prayers and good thoughts your way ! Have a great holiday ! What state are you in? Trish

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