katiekabob@...

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Since i am at the website, it is easier for me to jot a note to you

here than switch back to Outlook.

Today was not so good. The meeting with the surgeon has me really

scared (you'll see a post from me to group). Now i am wondering HOW

one determines to begin treatment with surgery or RAI ablation. i

know my saliva glands will probably be " fried " from RAI BUT after

hearing the results of the surgery i am not sure WHAT i think of the

tradeoff.

He says there are nodules on the right AND left neck, so he will open

the whole neck. There is a 50/50 chance there will be damage to the

nerve that gives shoulder movement (don't know its technical name)

physical therapy will follow to help that,there may be damage to a

facial nerve, ear and the voice box has risk,as well. Will be in

the hospital 3-5 days, when home someone needs to be with me 1 week,

at least. The rest he will go over after the results of the WBS.

He of course disagrees with the ENDO but said he won't fight him on

this as he is the " quarterback " . He does insist on a CT scan WITH

contrast, it is standard procedure for him.

If thyroid cancer is " killed " by the iodine that wouldn't that take

care of it? If so then why surgery? There are several in group that

have had disections, what determines the need for that surgery?

For the last few days i have aching and pain in the right side of my

neck under my ear and down to my shoulder, that is also scaring me.

When i asked him about it, he said it was because i am more aware of

it right now. I don't know it sure aches - what if this stuff is now

attached to that neck muscle or somewhere else. How does one know

that? And if it is does RAI " kill " it?

Sorry for this note , i am VERY ... (i don't even have a word :-

( IT is awful and to top it off it turns out my brother-in-law

doesn't think i know what i am doing and is causing my sister some

real anxiety with his rants about all this. He grilled me at lunch,

i tried to stay calm and just explain as concisely as possible. He

gave me THAT look that says i don't believe you.

This surgery makes the TT look like a walk in the park HOW i am going

to be able to go through with all this is a major mystery to me?

Also the sequence he wants me to follow is going to put my body in a

whirlwind but that's another " rant " . Thanks my friend, i need to stay

here and work but i'm not sure i can do that either.... i think i

have reached a breaking point.....(for a time at least....)i think i

need to just go home and cry!!!

Hugs to you and thank you for wading through all this.

xxxooo

Sharon the not so brave...