I just got back from the endo...

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2006
I just got back from the endo...
2
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 3:27pm
Hi everyone...I just got back from meeting with the endocrinologist. I now know that I have Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid. She said that this is the best kind to have. She believes that I have had it for about 2 years now, but that since it's so slow growing it's nothing to worry about. She also believes that it has spread to my lymph nodes. I have to have a near total thyroidectomy.
My next step is to meet with a surgeon and then have surgery about 2 to 3 weeks later. Then I have to wait at least a month to 6 weeks to become hypothyroid before I can have an uptake and scan of my whole body. I believe this is to check for any thyroid and/ or cancer that's still there. Then I will have radioactive treatment.
Could anyone share there storied of recovery with surgery. I've never had surgery before I don't know how I'm going to feel or how long I should take off of work.
Any advice and/or info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2006
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 6:04pm
Hi again - see your on track- the surgery for me personally was great - you will be overnight to check and make sure your calcium levels are good before they let you go home. I had surgery on a tuesday was out weds- pretty out of it and sore on wed- but the pain meds upset my stomach on weds- so on thursday didn't take any- had a small headach and my neck movement was limited but was working out on my stairmaster on Saturaday and scrubbing the tub, srubbing the kitchen floor and cleaning the house.
Hope yours goes as well as mine did let us know- I'm pulling for you. then you wait 6-12wks till your good and hypo- which for me again wasn't bad, face gets puffy, get slightly tired- but it isn't till after the iodine pill that I started feeling bad- adn 4 days after the iodine they start you on the replacement meds- but my doctor said it will get worse before it gets better and it has- lost my taste, about 3 weeks after the iodine pill my bones now ache and I sleep 12hrs a day (work has been good to me). just called and today found out there is something they can give to me tospeed up my absorption rate to get my levels back up faster- if I hadn't called to complain- I would have never known- so hang in there.
Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 10-12-2006 - 7:53pm

Hi Ann,


It looks as though you're getting answers to your questions and are on your way to getting the cancer treated.

 

Calley7