Going nuts... Now!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2004
Going nuts... Now!
4
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 7:40pm

I've got to vent a little, lol.

Well, I went to have my scan done today because I was too "hot" when I left the hospital last week (radioactive). I measured a 3 on the Geiger from a yard away and, of course, the scan mechanism comes within six inches of your body. When I asked the people who were giving me the scan if I was too radioactive to go back to work, because I work with little ones, or if I was too radioactive to be around my son, they told me to ask my doctor. My doctor was off today, so I get a nurse who has no chart or anything and she tells me to stay out of work for another two weeks and to stay away from my son for another week. My poor son has not seen me in three weeks and has been shuttled around like you wouldn't believe, and it's really getting to him. Right now, he's at my dad's in tears with what I think is an ear infection... Try calling the doctor and telling him heresay when you're the child's mother!

This is killing me! My baby is sick and in pain and he wants to be home, in his own bed, with his Mommy and I can't be there!!

The nurse told me today that I could be with my son, just to keep him at arm's length - I can't do that! My husband works second shift normally and I am the primary caregiver. How do you keep a six year old who loves to cuddle with his Mommy at arm's length?! Especially a sick one?! I've been blessed to have friends and family that have helped with him through this entire process of scans and ablations, but it's getting old for all of us, namely my son and myself. I feel like I'm just being jerked around and I can't get a straight answer from anybody!! A week ago they told me a week away from my babies and from my son - Now they're saying two weeks! What do I believe? I just want something concrete. I want to know how radioactive I am! I don't want exacts, I just want to know if I'm okay or if I'm not. A Geiger reading would be nice. I don't even know how many millicuries they gave me! The doctor said that it was the smallest amount... What's that?

I'm sorry that I'm sounding so angry. I'm just very frustrated. This is the first time that I've ever had to go through anything health related and it's all so new. I was always the one to take care of my mother. When it comes to diabetes and the complications I know what to ask. When it just comes to general health I know what I'm doing. Cancer and cancer treatment is a whole new ballgame. And I would get a cancer that is not talked about a lot, that is, thank God, very curable, but very different from the common cancers out there. I'm so glad that I can come here and talk to you guys. You truly are a blessing to me :)

Thanks for letting me vent :)

Love,
Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2004
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 10:49pm

Amy,

I understand what you mean and how feel about being away from your son. I am a stay at home mom to a son. I have, besides thyroid problems, chronic pancreatitis and Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. This can keep me in the hospital for a long time. My longest stay is 10 days away from my son. It is depressing and horrible to not be with your baby, no matter how old your child may be.

I know that my health problem is not the same as yours, I just wanted to let you know that I totally understand how you feel and I will keep you in my prayers that you get to be with your kid very, very soon. At this point, budget or not, I would have gotten those new video phones or been having a meeting on the computer with my kid through the use of a camera and microphone. There is nothing that can help heal you faster than the love of your child. Keep him as near as you can right now and love him twice as much when you finally get to hold him again. My heart just aches for you for not being able to be with him when he isn't feeling well and when he just plain wants his mommy. Good health to you soon.

Sandy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 10:52pm

Hi Amy,

I don't frequent this site very often, but upon noticing your ? I wanted to reply.
I have worked in radiology for 15 years. What you need to do is call the hospital
where you had the scan and ask for the Nuclear Medicine Dept. Supervisor. They have doctors who specialize in these things, ie. pregnant women who get exposed to radiation, etc. and they can figure out how much radiation you have received etc. and are supposed to advise you. If you do not get satifaction after explaining your curcumstances, tell them you need to speak to the Radiology Manager and if no satisfaction, tell them you are filing a complaint. You have a right to know your circumstances.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2004
Wed, 12-15-2004 - 11:13pm

Everyone who was supposed to be in was in today at my doctor's office. My nurse whom I deal with was there and so was my doctor. After I boo-hooed on the phone about my baby (his daddy took him to the Dr. today and his ear infection was confirmed) and my nurse told me that they would call the guy who gave me my RAI in the hospital and did all of the Geiger-ing :) She assured me that she thought that I would be fine, but that they would call Jeff and have him shoot me just to see how radioactive I was. My nurse called me a bit later and told me that Jeff remembered me (I did a rare thing and was a 3 on the Geiger from a yard away the day after recieving my RAI dose - I'm kind of unforgettable, lol) and said that he didn't need to shoot me. He told my nurse to tell me to go and get my boy and love on him all that I wanted. So, after doing a thorough cleaning on his room, which I haven't had the energy to do in months, I went and got my baby. He wasn't as thrilled as I thought he would be when I picked him up at school, but when he went to bed tonight, he wouldn't let me out of his sight until he was asleep. He missed me, he was just too macho to really show it!

Thanks for letting me vent last night and, ros, thanks for your advice - I did just that! I don't know what I'd do without this message board. I would truly be going out of my mind right now if it weren't for you guys.

The best thing is that I'm free from this stuff! That is the best feeling in the world! I'll probably be doing TBS-s periodically over the next few years. My next one is in six months, roughly. And, I still have to get my Synthroid regulated. Right now, I'm on .112mg. That will probably be upped when I go back on January 20th. Thank you guys so much for everything! I'm not leaving the message board by any means, I'm too much of a newbie for that! I will stick around. Us girls with the wacked out thyroids (or those of us who are thyroidless) have got to stick together, lol :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Thu, 12-16-2004 - 4:48pm
I was reading all these posts from beginning to end just wondering how it would all turn out! I'm so glad you had a happy ending. And I'm glad that everyone here could be here for you. This is most definitely the place to come to vent when you need to. I'm so glad that it all worked out so well for you in the end. Cathy :)