Elaine - surgery

[Guest guest]

snip>I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer on Friday.

Poor you - you'll be okay, don't panic! I had a hemithyroidectomy (half the

gland removed) in Dec 2000 for papillary carcinoma. I also now have

Hashimoto's (autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland). I am still cancer

free.

The surgery itself - I didn't find it to be too bad compared to abdo sugery.

The worst thing for me was pain in the back of my neck as they over-extend

your neck to open your throat right up, I think they had my head over the

edge of the table. I might be sensitive though because I get the same pain

when I have my hair washed in the basin at the hairdressers! Felt like I'd

been hit in the base of the skull with a cricket bat. As usual post-surgery

they make you drink gallons of water so you can get off the drip, and I

found water difficult to swallow for weeks afterwards, although anything

bubbly was easy to swallow - not painful, just difficult - probably from

swelling. I think my vocal chords were a bit disturbed as I couldn't yell

for many months afterwards, and my voice was a bit husky sometimes.

snip>I will have surgery on Feb. 16th. Any advice?

Have good support at home and get lots of sleep afterwards!!!! I was only

in hospital overnight, but it can be up to a week's stay depending on how

you are post-surgically.

snip>I'm more concerned about what to expect after surgery? How I will feel

after having my thyroids removed, how will the synthetic medications work?

Time will tell. You will need to be monitored by ultrasound for the next

few years to ensure no return of cancer. Also regular blood tests for your

hormone levels. They probably won't put you on hormone replacement until a

few weeks after surgery and RAI if you have that too. After you start

replacement they'll wait 6 weeks before blood testing as it takes 6 weeks to

be working noticeably - and you *could* feel like crap the whole time, but

you have to wait. The bottom line is that without replacement (synthetic or

natural) you will become hypothyroid. Then the trick is getting the correct

doseage of hormone that's right for you - which is a MAJOR topic of

conversation here for people who have had surgery and for people who have

other thyroid issues.

snip>I've struggled with sore throats, chronic ear aches, infections,

fatigue and more fatigue. I'm hoping that after the surgery and the

radiation treatment that I can be more energetic and stronger. Has anyone

have any success stories to share regarding Thyroid cancer.

Sounds to me like you have had some hypothyroid issues as well???????? Do

get yourself checked for the autoimmune conditions as it's another spanner

in the works! Will be thinking of you.

Donna in Oz.