Re: Panic attacks hopefully over...

[Guest guest]

Pamela

I too, am just 7 days post op after TT. I was told I could drive when I felt up

to it, am hoping to attempt it tomorrow. My days have been up and down since

surgery, today I was really 'tired' but I don't know if I'm hypo yet. I go to

the endo in early Jan. but I should know this week if I will have the RAI,

dependent upon the path report. Like you, the whole reality of it all hit me

like a ton of bricks, about 3 days after surgery, and then really hit me the 5th

day. I'm grateful for the support group here also. It's almost overwhelming how

many posts there are, I'm very surprised. Good luck and know you're not alone.

p.s. I grew up in Miami :-)

From: Pamela perimaudaolcom

To: Thyca

Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 8:59 PM

Subject: Panic attacks hopefully over...

It's the 8th day after TT and I seem to be able to read these posts

without getting dizzy with panic! The information is so useful and

helps me on the whole to have more knowledge, but the reality of it

all hit me really hard a few days after the surgery, once I emerged

from the fog. I still haven't even been able to get an appointment

with my endo. so don't know when the RAI will take place, when to

start LID (has to be after Christmas, I hope) and that also makes me

nervous. Also was wondering if I should drive even though I feel

fine right now, almost like pre-surgery. I read some archived posts

about driving while hypo and realize that I probably should not brave

the mad traffic of Miami, but I did drive today for a while. After 8

days, would I be hypo yet? Hopefully I'll get to see my endo. soon

and will have a concrete answer. The reality of dealing with this

for the rest of my life is still sinking in but I'm very grateful for

this list.

Pamela in Miami

[Guest guest]

Pamela

I too, am just 7 days post op after TT. I was told I could drive when I felt up

to it, am hoping to attempt it tomorrow. My days have been up and down since

surgery, today I was really 'tired' but I don't know if I'm hypo yet. I go to

the endo in early Jan. but I should know this week if I will have the RAI,

dependent upon the path report. Like you, the whole reality of it all hit me

like a ton of bricks, about 3 days after surgery, and then really hit me the 5th

day. I'm grateful for the support group here also. It's almost overwhelming how

many posts there are, I'm very surprised. Good luck and know you're not alone.

p.s. I grew up in Miami :-)

From: Pamela perimaudaolcom

To: Thyca

Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 8:59 PM

Subject: Panic attacks hopefully over...

It's the 8th day after TT and I seem to be able to read these posts

without getting dizzy with panic! The information is so useful and

helps me on the whole to have more knowledge, but the reality of it

all hit me really hard a few days after the surgery, once I emerged

from the fog. I still haven't even been able to get an appointment

with my endo. so don't know when the RAI will take place, when to

start LID (has to be after Christmas, I hope) and that also makes me

nervous. Also was wondering if I should drive even though I feel

fine right now, almost like pre-surgery. I read some archived posts

about driving while hypo and realize that I probably should not brave

the mad traffic of Miami, but I did drive today for a while. After 8

days, would I be hypo yet? Hopefully I'll get to see my endo. soon

and will have a concrete answer. The reality of dealing with this

for the rest of my life is still sinking in but I'm very grateful for

this list.

Pamela in Miami

[Guest guest]

Pamela

I too, am just 7 days post op after TT. I was told I could drive when I felt up

to it, am hoping to attempt it tomorrow. My days have been up and down since

surgery, today I was really 'tired' but I don't know if I'm hypo yet. I go to

the endo in early Jan. but I should know this week if I will have the RAI,

dependent upon the path report. Like you, the whole reality of it all hit me

like a ton of bricks, about 3 days after surgery, and then really hit me the 5th

day. I'm grateful for the support group here also. It's almost overwhelming how

many posts there are, I'm very surprised. Good luck and know you're not alone.

p.s. I grew up in Miami :-)

From: Pamela perimaudaolcom

To: Thyca

Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 8:59 PM

Subject: Panic attacks hopefully over...

It's the 8th day after TT and I seem to be able to read these posts

without getting dizzy with panic! The information is so useful and

helps me on the whole to have more knowledge, but the reality of it

all hit me really hard a few days after the surgery, once I emerged

from the fog. I still haven't even been able to get an appointment

with my endo. so don't know when the RAI will take place, when to

start LID (has to be after Christmas, I hope) and that also makes me

nervous. Also was wondering if I should drive even though I feel

fine right now, almost like pre-surgery. I read some archived posts

about driving while hypo and realize that I probably should not brave

the mad traffic of Miami, but I did drive today for a while. After 8

days, would I be hypo yet? Hopefully I'll get to see my endo. soon

and will have a concrete answer. The reality of dealing with this

for the rest of my life is still sinking in but I'm very grateful for

this list.

Pamela in Miami

[Guest guest]

Hi, Pamela -

> It's the 8th day after TT and I seem to be able to read these posts

> without getting dizzy with panic!

Good!!

> The information is so useful and

> helps me on the whole to have more knowledge, but the reality of it

> all hit me really hard a few days after the surgery, once I emerged

> from the fog.

This makes perfect sense - it wasn't till after my TT that it all hit,

either. And it's an entire new world of new words and ideas - it's

pretty overwhelming at first.

> I still haven't even been able to get an appointment

> with my endo. so don't know when the RAI will take place, when to

> start LID (has to be after Christmas, I hope), and that also makes

> me nervous.

Yeah, not knowing what is going to happen when drives me nuts, too -

once I know, I can cope. Doutful you be hypo enough before at LEAST a

few weeks after Christmas, which is when you should do the LID. Just

make sure that when they give you your schedule it's at least 2 weeks

from the time you speak to them and you'll be fine. The timing is not

THAT critical.

> Also was wondering if I should drive even though I feel

> fine right now, almost like pre-surgery. I read some archived posts

> about driving while hypo and realize that I probably should not

> brave the mad traffic of Miami, but I did drive today for a while.

> After 8 days, would I be hypo yet?

Probably not hypo enough that you can't drive. I forget, are you on

cytomel or nothing? One of the reasons I use cytomel is that it lets

me stay pretty connected till the last 2 weeks, so I can plan better

the time I won't drive (the last few weeks and a week or 2 after I

re-start meds)

> Hopefully I'll get to see my endo. soon

> and will have a concrete answer.

Any chance of at least talking to him/her on the phone, and seeing who

will coordinate the RAI? My endo doesn't actually have anything to do

with my RAI, but has his nurse call the nuclear med dept, who sets the

specific timing for everything. They start at a scan date, then go

backward and tell me when to stop cytomel, start lid, get blood, stop

levoxyl. It's on a form my endo has. All planned out.

> The reality of dealing with this

> for the rest of my life is still sinking in but I'm very grateful

> for this list.

You're going through the time when it really all feels like this will

be a mess forever. It won't :-). Hang in there - you'll do fine!!

Cheers,

Alisa - LID day 17: NEED CHEESE!

Off meds for scan 12/16/02: TSH 44.13 on 12/10/02, 5 mCi scan dose

12/13/02

2/15/2002: Nodule found 2/27/2002: FNA

3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!!

4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, dx Hashimotos

5/28/2002: TBS and 100 mCi RAI 6/6/2002: TBS - No sign of mets

Age: 48 -- Location: near Seattle WA --- Check out my posts:

Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472

My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872

My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873

> Pamela in Miami

[Guest guest]

Hi, Pamela -

> It's the 8th day after TT and I seem to be able to read these posts

> without getting dizzy with panic!

Good!!

> The information is so useful and

> helps me on the whole to have more knowledge, but the reality of it

> all hit me really hard a few days after the surgery, once I emerged

> from the fog.

This makes perfect sense - it wasn't till after my TT that it all hit,

either. And it's an entire new world of new words and ideas - it's

pretty overwhelming at first.

> I still haven't even been able to get an appointment

> with my endo. so don't know when the RAI will take place, when to

> start LID (has to be after Christmas, I hope), and that also makes

> me nervous.

Yeah, not knowing what is going to happen when drives me nuts, too -

once I know, I can cope. Doutful you be hypo enough before at LEAST a

few weeks after Christmas, which is when you should do the LID. Just

make sure that when they give you your schedule it's at least 2 weeks

from the time you speak to them and you'll be fine. The timing is not

THAT critical.

> Also was wondering if I should drive even though I feel

> fine right now, almost like pre-surgery. I read some archived posts

> about driving while hypo and realize that I probably should not

> brave the mad traffic of Miami, but I did drive today for a while.

> After 8 days, would I be hypo yet?

Probably not hypo enough that you can't drive. I forget, are you on

cytomel or nothing? One of the reasons I use cytomel is that it lets

me stay pretty connected till the last 2 weeks, so I can plan better

the time I won't drive (the last few weeks and a week or 2 after I

re-start meds)

> Hopefully I'll get to see my endo. soon

> and will have a concrete answer.

Any chance of at least talking to him/her on the phone, and seeing who

will coordinate the RAI? My endo doesn't actually have anything to do

with my RAI, but has his nurse call the nuclear med dept, who sets the

specific timing for everything. They start at a scan date, then go

backward and tell me when to stop cytomel, start lid, get blood, stop

levoxyl. It's on a form my endo has. All planned out.

> The reality of dealing with this

> for the rest of my life is still sinking in but I'm very grateful

> for this list.

You're going through the time when it really all feels like this will

be a mess forever. It won't :-). Hang in there - you'll do fine!!

Cheers,

Alisa - LID day 17: NEED CHEESE!

Off meds for scan 12/16/02: TSH 44.13 on 12/10/02, 5 mCi scan dose

12/13/02

2/15/2002: Nodule found 2/27/2002: FNA

3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!!

4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, dx Hashimotos

5/28/2002: TBS and 100 mCi RAI 6/6/2002: TBS - No sign of mets

Age: 48 -- Location: near Seattle WA --- Check out my posts:

Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472

My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872

My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873

> Pamela in Miami

[Guest guest]

Hi, Pamela -

> It's the 8th day after TT and I seem to be able to read these posts

> without getting dizzy with panic!

Good!!

> The information is so useful and

> helps me on the whole to have more knowledge, but the reality of it

> all hit me really hard a few days after the surgery, once I emerged

> from the fog.

This makes perfect sense - it wasn't till after my TT that it all hit,

either. And it's an entire new world of new words and ideas - it's

pretty overwhelming at first.

> I still haven't even been able to get an appointment

> with my endo. so don't know when the RAI will take place, when to

> start LID (has to be after Christmas, I hope), and that also makes

> me nervous.

Yeah, not knowing what is going to happen when drives me nuts, too -

once I know, I can cope. Doutful you be hypo enough before at LEAST a

few weeks after Christmas, which is when you should do the LID. Just

make sure that when they give you your schedule it's at least 2 weeks

from the time you speak to them and you'll be fine. The timing is not

THAT critical.

> Also was wondering if I should drive even though I feel

> fine right now, almost like pre-surgery. I read some archived posts

> about driving while hypo and realize that I probably should not

> brave the mad traffic of Miami, but I did drive today for a while.

> After 8 days, would I be hypo yet?

Probably not hypo enough that you can't drive. I forget, are you on

cytomel or nothing? One of the reasons I use cytomel is that it lets

me stay pretty connected till the last 2 weeks, so I can plan better

the time I won't drive (the last few weeks and a week or 2 after I

re-start meds)

> Hopefully I'll get to see my endo. soon

> and will have a concrete answer.

Any chance of at least talking to him/her on the phone, and seeing who

will coordinate the RAI? My endo doesn't actually have anything to do

with my RAI, but has his nurse call the nuclear med dept, who sets the

specific timing for everything. They start at a scan date, then go

backward and tell me when to stop cytomel, start lid, get blood, stop

levoxyl. It's on a form my endo has. All planned out.

> The reality of dealing with this

> for the rest of my life is still sinking in but I'm very grateful

> for this list.

You're going through the time when it really all feels like this will

be a mess forever. It won't :-). Hang in there - you'll do fine!!

Cheers,

Alisa - LID day 17: NEED CHEESE!

Off meds for scan 12/16/02: TSH 44.13 on 12/10/02, 5 mCi scan dose

12/13/02

2/15/2002: Nodule found 2/27/2002: FNA

3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!!

4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, dx Hashimotos

5/28/2002: TBS and 100 mCi RAI 6/6/2002: TBS - No sign of mets

Age: 48 -- Location: near Seattle WA --- Check out my posts:

Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472

My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872

My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873

> Pamela in Miami

[Guest guest]

Thanks ...

> I too, am just 7 days post op after TT. <

So we're sort of on the same schedule - I am seeing my endo today.

Starting to feel dizzy, so I guess I'm feeling the effects.

> Like you, the whole reality of it all hit me like a ton of bricks,

about 3 days after surgery, and then really hit me the 5th day. <

Yeah, that is more or less when it hit me! I still get irritated

when people tell me how lucky I am. I know that I have the good

cancer, I was very aware of how lucky I am in the recovery room, with

a mastectomy patient and a patient with abdominal surgery to compare

with. Last night someone actually gave me a long lecture on my good

fortune. I asked her how many people told her how lucky she was when

she broke her arm that she hadn't broken a hip. That shut her up.

Pamela in Miami

[Guest guest]

> I still get irritated when people tell me how lucky I am. I know

> that I have the good cancer,

SNORT..please excuse me while I go gag myself

> I was very aware of how lucky I am in

> the recovery room, with a mastectomy patient and a patient with

> abdominal surgery to compare with.

Having had abdominal surgery 5 weeks prior to the TT, I can certainly

say that the SURGERY of the TT was a walk in the park in comparison,

but having thyroid cancer, and going through everything that goes

along with it...I'd take that abdominal surgery (ok, depending on what

it was for, of course) in a heartbeat. We're talking a whole

different mental/physical/emotional ball game with cancer thrown in

there.

> Last night someone actually gave

> me a long lecture on my good fortune. I asked her how many people

> told her how lucky she was when she broke her arm that she hadn't

> broken a hip.

Excellent point. There is ALWAY someone somewhere with something

worse. Appreciate that fact, use it for personal strength, but don't

minimize what your struggle is because of it.

Cheers,

Alisa - Hypo - Off the LID with a vengence

Currently - 140mcg/day Levoxyl average

2/15/2002: Nodule found 2/27/2002: FNA

3/4/2002: Hysterectomy/oopherectomy-possible ovarian cancer - BENIGN!!

4/9/2002: TT - Stage 2 pap 2.5 x 2 x 1.6 cm nodule, dx Hashimotos

5/28/2002: WBS (2 mCi) and 100 mCi RAI --- 6/6/2002: WBS - No mets

12/16/02: WBS (5 mCi): clean scan - no thyroid tissue in my body!!!

Age: 48 -- Location: near Seattle WA --- Check out my posts:

Radioactive Girl - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/19472

My LID - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15872

My RAI - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/message/15873