TT Post Op Surgery Complications - Shortness of Breath/Parathyroid damage Concerns

623711
623711 Member Posts: 9
in Thyroid Cancer #1

Diagnoised with Papillary Carcinoma (3wks ago). TT on May 28th along w/removal of some lymph nodes. One of my vocal nerves was damaged (can only talk a lil above a whisper), can this cause shortness of breath (out of breath if I do too much talking or walking)? I was told it was repaired during surgery. I am on 3000mg of Calcium (a day) and was given a Calcium IV before I was discharged along w/calciums pills. Does this mean my Parathyroids was damaged during surgery as well? I am experiencing shortness of breath and my talk is pretty much only above a whisper (family strains to hear me @ times). I also had some Lymph nodes removed, but the surgeon stated that he couldn't get the remaining lymph nodes behind the nerve in the back because it would've complicated the surgery? I go and see my Surgeon tomorrow (Mon. Jun 3 for f/u). Is this normal from a TT surgery, will this go away in time? Should I ask specific questions when I go to see my Surgeon for the f/u (will ask about the Parathyroids)? Thank you... This all so new and agreesive. Have not even started the RAI treatment yet? Has anyone went through these complications and were they fixed? Any insight would be greatly appreaciated.

 

Grateful,

623711

Comments

  • aasshhlleeyykk
    aasshhlleeyykk Member Posts: 4
    #2
    I don't much about the

    I don't much about the shortness of breath but from the sound of all the calcium they gave you one or more of your parathyroids most have came out from surgery and your surgeon will probably tell you that since it tells you that on the pathology report though. No worries it happens and you won't have to take all the calcium you're taking now later down the road. If you ever feel tingly in your limbs its the cause of low calcium I got that after surgery. Eat some tums! 

    Good luck with the rest of your journey :)

  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #3
    aasshhlleeyykk said:

    I don't much about the

    I don't much about the shortness of breath but from the sound of all the calcium they gave you one or more of your parathyroids most have came out from surgery and your surgeon will probably tell you that since it tells you that on the pathology report though. No worries it happens and you won't have to take all the calcium you're taking now later down the road. If you ever feel tingly in your limbs its the cause of low calcium I got that after surgery. Eat some tums! 

    Good luck with the rest of your journey :)

    Parathyroids

    The parathyroids are immeadiately adjacent to the thyroid, so when the thyroid is removed, they are likely to be .... ah .... traumatized (for lack of a better word) during the surgery.  Probably it's no more than post operative swelling interfering with how the parathyroids do their thing.

    I was on 600 mg of calcium (Tums as Ashley points out) daily for two weeks following my surgery.  They then did a blood calcium level test which was normal so I no longer needed the calcium.  As long as you don't have any hypocalcimia (low calcium) symptoms, tingling in the lips etc., I wouldn't worry about it.

    Be sure to take your calcium either four hours before or after you take your Thyroid Replacement Hormone (TRH) (Levothyroxine, Synthroid or whatever) since the calcium may interfere with your body absorbing the TRH.

    Alan

  • 623711
    623711 Member Posts: 9
    #4
    aasshhlleeyykk said:

    I don't much about the

    I don't much about the shortness of breath but from the sound of all the calcium they gave you one or more of your parathyroids most have came out from surgery and your surgeon will probably tell you that since it tells you that on the pathology report though. No worries it happens and you won't have to take all the calcium you're taking now later down the road. If you ever feel tingly in your limbs its the cause of low calcium I got that after surgery. Eat some tums! 

    Good luck with the rest of your journey :)

    I don't know much about the

    Thank you aasshhleeyykk, I appreaciate the feed back. I will have my husband to pick up some Turnips tomorrow. Good to have a worry cross off your plate. HIP HIP HOORAY!! Thank you again.

  • 623711
    623711 Member Posts: 9
    #5
    Baldy said:

    Parathyroids

    The parathyroids are immeadiately adjacent to the thyroid, so when the thyroid is removed, they are likely to be .... ah .... traumatized (for lack of a better word) during the surgery.  Probably it's no more than post operative swelling interfering with how the parathyroids do their thing.

    I was on 600 mg of calcium (Tums as Ashley points out) daily for two weeks following my surgery.  They then did a blood calcium level test which was normal so I no longer needed the calcium.  As long as you don't have any hypocalcimia (low calcium) symptoms, tingling in the lips etc., I wouldn't worry about it.

    Be sure to take your calcium either four hours before or after you take your Thyroid Replacement Hormone (TRH) (Levothyroxine, Synthroid or whatever) since the calcium may interfere with your body absorbing the TRH.

    Alan

    Parathyroids

    GREAT NEWS  TO HEAR ALAN, SOMETHING ELSE I CAN CHECK OFF MY WORRY LISTLaughing. THANK YOUAGAIN.  Now I just need to find out about the rapid breathing, which I'll inquire about at the f/u appt. tomorrow. Thank you.

  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #6
    623711 said:

    Parathyroids

    GREAT NEWS  TO HEAR ALAN, SOMETHING ELSE I CAN CHECK OFF MY WORRY LISTLaughing. THANK YOUAGAIN.  Now I just need to find out about the rapid breathing, which I'll inquire about at the f/u appt. tomorrow. Thank you.

    Parathyroids

    You're welcome.

    You should still discuss ALL your symptoms at tomorrow's follow-up appointment.  I'm no doctor and I'm just guessing.  You might want to ask if they've done a calcium blood level test and what the results were.  You may also want to ask if they intend to do another calcium blood level test to determine if your calcium levels are back to normal (let's hope they are).

    Alan

  • 623711
    623711 Member Posts: 9
    #7
    Baldy said:

    Parathyroids

    You're welcome.

    You should still discuss ALL your symptoms at tomorrow's follow-up appointment.  I'm no doctor and I'm just guessing.  You might want to ask if they've done a calcium blood level test and what the results were.  You may also want to ask if they intend to do another calcium blood level test to determine if your calcium levels are back to normal (let's hope they are).

    Alan

    Parathyroids

    I am still experiencing muscle cramp like feeling in my arms and legs (Muscle like meaning it feels like cramping is coming on but doesn't cramp up all the way cuz I keep rubbing my legs and arms?) This is very scary and NUTS!!! Because this is happening I popped 2 calcium pills (tums), to get some relief. I am exper. tingling in the hands and feet periodically, this can't be normal right? My surgery was on May 28, 2013, should I still be going through this? My surgeon stated that he didn't believe my parathyroids were distrub, but I am now having some doubt. Last week I had my calcium levels checked (Endo), yet the levels were fine, however, I don't feel fine. When I look up the definations of Hypoparathyroids--I have the basic symptoms. I go to my surgeon tomorrow (Mon.6-17-13)  for my 2nd follow-up, I will ask him again about my parathyroids??? I called my Endo this past Friday about my symptoms and he suggested that I start taking the calicum pills (500mg) twice a day again, I did but something is still wrong, I feel awful/crampy along with some twitching in my neck every once in a while. Geeish, I am sitting up typing now @ 1:16am because I started feeling bad @ 12midnight (took 2 calcium pills 1000mg), which gave me an inch of relief, but some crampiness feeling is still here along w/an uneasy jittery feeling/Itchy feeling. I guess I'm asking if anyone else every went through this? Thanks, sorry just needed to vent and find out what is is all about...this surgery complication is driving me nuts (still can't talk above a whisper, and now this) smh.

  • Joana
    Joana Member Posts: 1
    #8
    623711 said:

    I don't know much about the

    Thank you aasshhleeyykk, I appreaciate the feed back. I will have my husband to pick up some Turnips tomorrow. Good to have a worry cross off your plate. HIP HIP HOORAY!! Thank you again.

    also check

    I experienced the same thing after my surgery.  I was real short of breath and it was scary.  Also my calciums dropped real bad and my legs got stiff.  I went to the ER and got calcium through Iv. I still had months later tingling of hands and falling asleep.  Besides the calcium you should check vitamin D because it helps to absorb the calcium and to really check if the thyroids were damaged they should do a PTH (parathyroid hormone test). My calcium got better but the breathing problems are still bad.  Did yours get better?

  • 623711
    623711 Member Posts: 9
    #9
    Joana said:

    also check

    I experienced the same thing after my surgery.  I was real short of breath and it was scary.  Also my calciums dropped real bad and my legs got stiff.  I went to the ER and got calcium through Iv. I still had months later tingling of hands and falling asleep.  Besides the calcium you should check vitamin D because it helps to absorb the calcium and to really check if the thyroids were damaged they should do a PTH (parathyroid hormone test). My calcium got better but the breathing problems are still bad.  Did yours get better?

    Also Check

    Hi Joana,

    Come to find it out it's not my parathyroids after all, my calcium levels were check 4 different times and was fine. I am now seeing a neurologist because the numbness and tingles (legs and hands mostly will get numb if anything is pressed against it for a period of time) are throughout my body (hands, fingers, legs & feet). I also experience really bad vibrations throughout my body expecially when I am still or laying down. I am schedule to have an EMG test w/the Neurologist October 1st. These vibrations that I feel has a tendency to increase when I am lying down, it bothers me very much. Only thing I can do is try to drift off to sleep.Wonder has anyone else experience this. Thanks for checking on me. It's been a real rolla coaster ride since the surgery.

  • 623711
    623711 Member Posts: 9
    #10
    Joana said:

    also check

    I experienced the same thing after my surgery.  I was real short of breath and it was scary.  Also my calciums dropped real bad and my legs got stiff.  I went to the ER and got calcium through Iv. I still had months later tingling of hands and falling asleep.  Besides the calcium you should check vitamin D because it helps to absorb the calcium and to really check if the thyroids were damaged they should do a PTH (parathyroid hormone test). My calcium got better but the breathing problems are still bad.  Did yours get better?

    Also Check

    Hi Joana,

    Come to find it out it's not my parathyroids after all, my calcium levels were check 4 different times and was fine. I am now seeing a neurologist because the numbness and tingles (legs and hands mostly will get numb if anything is pressed against it for a period of time) are throughout my body (hands, fingers, legs & feet). I also experience really bad vibrations throughout my body expecially when I am still or laying down. I am schedule to have an EMG test w/the Neurologist October 1st. These vibrations that I feel has a tendency to increase when I am lying down, it bothers me very much. Only thing I can do is try to drift off to sleep.Wonder has anyone else experience this. Thanks for checking on me. It's been a real rolla coaster ride since the surgery.

  • swtcinful
    swtcinful Member Posts: 1
    #11
    623711 said:

    Also Check

    Hi Joana,

    Come to find it out it's not my parathyroids after all, my calcium levels were check 4 different times and was fine. I am now seeing a neurologist because the numbness and tingles (legs and hands mostly will get numb if anything is pressed against it for a period of time) are throughout my body (hands, fingers, legs & feet). I also experience really bad vibrations throughout my body expecially when I am still or laying down. I am schedule to have an EMG test w/the Neurologist October 1st. These vibrations that I feel has a tendency to increase when I am lying down, it bothers me very much. Only thing I can do is try to drift off to sleep.Wonder has anyone else experience this. Thanks for checking on me. It's been a real rolla coaster ride since the surgery.

    voice

    I had TT 2/2006 due to papillary thyroid cancer.  I can speak normal but I can't sing anymore or raise my voice.  I had a bleed right after surgery that had to be reopened to repair.  The pressure from the bleed left me bruised all the way down to my belly button.  I also has trauma to my parathyroid and still take calcium daily.

    Good luck with everything.  I hope all gets resolved for you.

    Cindÿ

     

Discussion Boards