Total Thyroidectomy
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| Tue, 12-26-2006 - 11:24pm |
Hi I am new here and I have some advice and am in need of some also! I am 30 years old and 2 months ago I had a toal thyroidectomy. I was terrified before surgery, but it ended up being silly. I had no reason to worry! Everything went great!
Almost 2 years ago I had my son. After having him I went to a new Family Dr. and they had me do some blood work and my TSH numbers were off, so I went again and they were still off, that is when the nightmare began. I went for blood work every 6 weeks, annual uptake scans, numerous ultra sounds, visits with the endo, a biopsy (that was worse than surgery in my opinion), etc..... I had nodules on both sides, the right side (cold nodule) was a little over 1 cm and the left side (hot nodule) was 3.8cm. It had taken full control of the thyroid. I had 2 options, surgery or radiation. After doing tons of research I opted for the surgery. That is when the endo sent me to the surgeon and he suggested only taking the left side, but I insisted on taking the whole thing, which in the end was the right decision. The surgeons analogy was the left side was Arnold and the right side was Danny (from the movie Twins). The right side was shriveling up and was no longer functioning. When I first found out about the nodules it was Grave's Disease by August of this year it had progressed to Plummer's Disease. (I blame my family and my husband's family, 90% of the men are plumbers, LOL) So my advice is if you have to have the surgery don't stress. I stressed so much because I was going to have my throat slit, people die from slit throats, I have 2 young children, etc..... It was no big deal and the recovery was sooo easy. It took longer to recover from child birth than it did from this surgery.
Now my question is will I always be tired and emotional? My mood swings are horrid! I am taking levoxyl, but it has only been 6 weeks, please tell me it gets better!!!
Sorry this got so long, but I don't know anyone that understands how I am feeling about this! My husband is very supportive, but he just doesn't understand!
Thanks,
Nicole-moody in AZ!

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Hi Nicole, Glad your surgery went so well. I also had a Total T. in August, I also was terrified about my throat being cut open !
Nicole,
Welcome, My name is Dyan and I had a total in August. Let me fill you in on my story and then hopefully I can answer some of your questions. I had a nodule that was being watched for 7 years. I am 35 now. I found that nodule when I was 2 months pregnant with my son. I have an 8 year old daughter too:) In July, I went to my endo for my annual checkup and blood work. Levels were fine but he took one look at my throat and said, "Somethings not right here." Oh great I said....UGH... So I went for a FNA and no results, so I went again, no results so my dr recommended taking out the nodule. Well they did and yes the surgery was a piece of cake, thank god.. When they tested it in the hospital lab, it came back NO cancer but when they sent it to another opinion, it was Cancer. So I had to go back in less than 2 weeks to get the other half of the thyroid taken out...UGH...Had My RAI and scan in October and started my meds..I get my bloodwork done every 6 weeks and I am still not on the right meds. I am on levoxyl 125mg. Not enough, I know that for sure. My hair is still falling out and I gained 15 pounds since Oct. I am 5'5 and usually weigh 115pounds.. Now I can't even fit into my clothes..LOL...
I just had bloodwork done yesterday so hopefully I will start feeling better. Did you have RAI?? The worst part for me was not being on any meds and feeling so tired and no matter how much sleep I had, I never felt better.
Nicole, it does get better. Remember that everyday you will start felling better and everytime he changes your meds, you will start feeling better, I promise.. I have the worst mood swings. It is awful and I hate when it happens. My kids look at me like, who is that mommy?? Let's hang in there together and get through this but like Bea and linda will tell you, it does get better. Sounds like you caught it early like me! YEAH!! My surgeon said CURABLE!! Yeah!! Keep me up to date and I am so glad you joined this unique group!!
Positive vibes to you!!
Dyan :)
Thanks Bunny! You did help! I know that my symptoms are normal and I am not the only moody one! I am post op 2 months, but on my meds for 6 weeks. I am going crazy. I had mood swings when PMSing, but this is all the time, I feel so bad for my kiddos and hubby! My hubby and I joke about me being a psycho b*&#h now, LOL! The hard part for me is that my only side affect was high BP, I never had any other symptoms and we had my BP under control with meds, which I don't need anymore :) I did recover pretty fast, I was down about 5 days.
Thanks Again,
Nicole
Dyan,
Thank You! I am sorry that you had to go through it twice. Lucky for me I decided I wanted the whole thing gone since there was a cold nodule on the other side. I had done research and the cold nodules are the ones that have a higher chance of becoming cancerous, so I said take the whole thing I don't want to deal with this ever again. So they did, lucky for me. I did not have RAI, but I didn't start on my meds for 2 weeks after surgery. They had to wait for the biopsy results, which took forever! Luckily they came back clean. I know exactly what you mean when the kids look at you thinking Who's that Mommy! I had one of those moments on Christmas and it was stupid and I took myself out of the situation and took a couple of deep breaths brought myself back and was fine, but I caught it before I upset my whole family! Now if I could always catch myself! I am on 150 Levoxyl first time around, I need to go get my blood work done tomorrow morning.
This is just an observation, but it makes me curious. My Maternal Aunt has nodules and she has had them for over 25 years and everything is fine, but she found hers with her 2nd child which was her son, mine was my 2nd child which was my son (my daughter will be 8 in June and my son 2 in Feb.) and reading your post it looks like with your 2nd child which was your son. Is there something that our Boys do to us to cause this?
Thank You for all your help,
Nicole
Nicole,
Yeap, my son is the second born. Not sure if boys have anything to do with it but I will ask my dr. I am only on 125mg of levoxyl and ready for an increase that's for sure..It's not enough. Sometimes I get upset because some people don't understand that just because I didn't have chemo and radiation, doesn't mean I didn't feel as scared and have the same emotional stress as other cancers. Glad everything was good for you. You prevented a hard road. Tahnkfully, I found mine soooo early. It was only a few cells in the nodule. I never had an ultrasound so I don't know if they were cold or hot. We have to be very cautious with our daughters. Mine will be 9 in Feb and at her last check up, I made sure they put my diagnosis in the file and I make them check her throat everytime. Lack of thyroid hormone is like depression on steroids, meaning it is the highest level of depression. My dr warned me that it would take awhile.. I noticed some people on the board had voice problems and calcium problems but I never did..Did you?? The one thing that bothers me is no matter how much sleep I get, I never feel refreshed and my muscles are always achy. Yuck... I have set a goal for myself that in 1 year, I am going to run a marathon. Once my meds are right, back to the treadmill..
Crazy mom here in Florida too!! Haha
Dyan :)
Hi Dyan, I was reading your post to Nicole. You really hit the nailon the head- saying no matter how much I sleep- I NEVER feel refreshed- it is so annoying- is'nt it ! And muscles so achy- I feel better that you say that- since I can assume that you are younger than I ! lol
My Dr also said it will take up to 1 year- from the date of surgery- to feel like myself again- urghhhhh!
Bunny,
I think the weight gain is so bothersome to me also. 15 pounds in 2 months.. I don't even have to eat and I gain weight. The worse part is After surgery and RAI and the scan, I still had to work, take care of my kids and all the stuff that goes along with it. I have family close by be they have to take care of themselves as well. It is very frustrating to feel so miserable and to know all that can help is time, and time to get on the right meds. UGH!!!!!!
Dyan :)
Dyan and Bunny,
I too am so tired of being tired and having achy muscles. I feel like I should be much older than I am. I have been struggling with a weight prob for most of my adult life. Before surgery I had lost 32 pounds, since surgery I have put 15 back on. I haven't changed my eating, it is frustrating. I am going to do the 3 Day Breast Cancer walk in Oct/Nov 2007 so I will too be getting in shape. I can't wait for my meds to kick in, so I have told myslef that Monday, Jan. 1 I am back to the workout routine (too tired to get on the nordic track and to go to Curves) and a strict diet (change of eating style/habits). My Mom came and stayed with us for 2 weeks after surgery to help. I had good friends take my daughter to school and my mom took care of my son. She did all the cooking, cleaning, etc... Then back home to Wa. state she went and here I am at a loss, I can't sleep! Even when I do I feel like I was hit by a truck :) Now a little personal, will there ever be sex drive again? My poor husband. I feel bad for him, but there is no drive at all, is this normal?
~*~*Hugs*~*~
Nicole-Crazy Mama in AZ!
Nicole,
Sex Drive!!!! HAHAHA!! I know, I am in the same boat...None what so ever!! THis is normal and like everything else, once our meds are right, so will the sex drive. Not to mention that the extra weight gain makes us feel very self consious. Our poor men!! LOL! That is so funny you mentioned the Breast cancer walk. I was suppose to do it in Oct but had to cancel because of my surgery!! I was so bummed because I was training for it and raised a crap load of money but just couldnt do it!! Next year!! I have friends who have done it and love it! That was so nice your mom was there for you. I lost my mom 3 1/2 years ago due to lung cancer. She was only 52.. I know she would have been there for me. My surgeon reminds me every appt how rare it is for thyroid cancer to not come back so I just say a pray everynight that I will stay cancer free. Glad you dont have to worry about that.
Dyan :)
Dyan,
I will have to let my hubby know about the sex drive thing. He takes lots of cold showers! He is very supportive, he says, "Do you want Nookie?" I say, "No", He gives me a kiss and says, "Good Night, I Love You" and then he rolls over and goes to sleep!
I am sorry to hear about your Mom. I almost lost my Mom a few years back.
I had no idea that the cancer could come back especially if you have no thyroid. That is interesting. I am so glad that I don't have to worry about that, but I will pray for you that you stay cancer free.
Nicole-Crazy Mama in AZ!
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