how long off work after surgery and awaiting radioactive iodine trx????

bribeauty25
bribeauty25 Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Thyroid Cancer #1
Just wondering how long people take off work after TT and awaiting radioactive iodine treatment???????? I had two surgeries to remove my thyroid last one being Jan. 4 and now the docs are dragging my scans and treatment out while I am miserable being hypo. I have two young children who take all my energy. I'm not back to work bc the treatment next week will just mean being off again. I just didn't expect to be off work this long and don't really feel like going back either....

Comments

  • Leeland51
    Leeland51 Member Posts: 7
    #2
    My Treatment Plan
    I had 1st surgery Feb 22nd, 2010. Did not found out it was Papillary Thy Ca until ENT post-op appt. Monday, March 1. Met for 2nd opinion with 2nd Endo on March 2nd. I'm going back to work Monday March 7th. Will wait until April 12 for 2nd surgery to remove remaining lobe. They will give me thyroid medication during this recuperation period. Will recuperate at home for 2 weeks; return to work for four weeks. Start hypo stage sometime in late May early June. He said that takes abt 2 or 3 weeks and then I get RAI. One week later he starts trying to regulate me on thyroid meds. I don't know if that timeline helps anyone else.
  • sandykr
    sandykr Member Posts: 57
    #3
    I had my completion
    I had my completion thyroidectomy and took about 2 weeks off afterwards. I too took cynomel post op until the told me to go off before the RAI. I went back to work in between for about 10 days.......because I felt good. I was hypo, but I felt that being active, I really didn't think about it.
    With the RAI, I was off another 2 weeks. I work in a hospital, so they recommended 2 weeks.
    Now, 2 months after RAI, I can say that I feel totally back to myself except for my voice that is still deep and annoying!!

    Good luch
  • rzemach
    rzemach Member Posts: 33
    #4
    Time off
    Hi
    I took off 2 weeks for the TT in October and then only 1 week for the RAI on February 7. I worked the whole time I was hypo before RAI. It was very hard but it is doable.

    I should have taken more time AFTER the RAI - my body is taking a very long time to get used to the medication again and I have been having terrible anxiety and have a hard time sleeping - plus the after effects of the RAI itself are not great.

    Work does help me keep my mind off of what is happening to me but I hope you can take off all the time you need!!

    Robin
  • weberdns
    weberdns Member Posts: 154
    #5
    Thank you!
    I had my first surgery on March 4'th 2010, and my second surgery March 12'th, 2010 and 6 days after my second surgery I am still exhausted! Glad to know that others have said that it is taking them a couple of weeks to bounce back. I only planned on taking 1 week of of work after the second surgery, but this may have to be extended. Physically I feel good, no pain. But do a little bit and I'm totally exhausted! Will reevaluate my work after next Monday when I see my surgeon. I see the endocrinologist on the 26'th and the Radioactive iodine is supposed to be done 6 weeks after March 12'th.
  • sandykr
    sandykr Member Posts: 57
    #6
    weberdns said:

    Thank you!
    I had my first surgery on March 4'th 2010, and my second surgery March 12'th, 2010 and 6 days after my second surgery I am still exhausted! Glad to know that others have said that it is taking them a couple of weeks to bounce back. I only planned on taking 1 week of of work after the second surgery, but this may have to be extended. Physically I feel good, no pain. But do a little bit and I'm totally exhausted! Will reevaluate my work after next Monday when I see my surgeon. I see the endocrinologist on the 26'th and the Radioactive iodine is supposed to be done 6 weeks after March 12'th.

    Remember that having 2 surgeries in one week will also be more difficult! Take your time.

    good luck
  • ibeatcanser
    ibeatcanser Member Posts: 47
    #7
    weberdns said:

    Thank you!
    I had my first surgery on March 4'th 2010, and my second surgery March 12'th, 2010 and 6 days after my second surgery I am still exhausted! Glad to know that others have said that it is taking them a couple of weeks to bounce back. I only planned on taking 1 week of of work after the second surgery, but this may have to be extended. Physically I feel good, no pain. But do a little bit and I'm totally exhausted! Will reevaluate my work after next Monday when I see my surgeon. I see the endocrinologist on the 26'th and the Radioactive iodine is supposed to be done 6 weeks after March 12'th.

    time off
    wow,
    I had my TT in Aug 09 and my doc gave me one month off. While on the LID, I was also at home. Then had my RAI in Oct and was home for another 2.5 weeks. As soon as I returned to work, the same day I got sick, was home for another 10 days and another 5 after the 2nd try back to work. Altogether, I was home for 4 months. I didn't receive any meds until after the RAI.
  • weberdns
    weberdns Member Posts: 154
    #8
    sandykr said:

    Remember that having 2 surgeries in one week will also be more difficult! Take your time.

    good luck

    You are right
    I'm just not one to sit around and rest, and I felt so good after the first one. Haven't made plans to go back to work yet....will take it one day at a time. You are so right!
  • Survivor73
    Survivor73 Member Posts: 135
    #9
    ibeatcanser said:

    time off
    wow,
    I had my TT in Aug 09 and my doc gave me one month off. While on the LID, I was also at home. Then had my RAI in Oct and was home for another 2.5 weeks. As soon as I returned to work, the same day I got sick, was home for another 10 days and another 5 after the 2nd try back to work. Altogether, I was home for 4 months. I didn't receive any meds until after the RAI.

    time off
    When I had surgery, I was off for 3 weeks. The surgeon suggested 2 weeks, but my fam Dr said 3 weeks, so I used her letter for work LOL.

    When you have two surgeries in a row, it can take even longer...they say it takes up to 6 months to get the anestetic out of your system. Don't rush back...if you don't have to.

    Take care, LG
  • weberdns
    weberdns Member Posts: 154
    #10
    Survivor73 said:

    time off
    When I had surgery, I was off for 3 weeks. The surgeon suggested 2 weeks, but my fam Dr said 3 weeks, so I used her letter for work LOL.

    When you have two surgeries in a row, it can take even longer...they say it takes up to 6 months to get the anestetic out of your system. Don't rush back...if you don't have to.

    Take care, LG

    I agree!
    I went back for a day of work yesterday. Was supposed to be a half day that turned into a whole day....just 12 days after my second surgery (the first one was 8 days before that). Then went to a Girl Scout meeting last night. Had one episode during the day where I had some passing dizziness, but kept working. Woke up last night with some dizziness, and today have felt dizzy and have no energy. I see the endocrinologist tomorrow so no work for me tomorrow....not sure when I will schedule again....will have to see how it goes!

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