So tell me about Thyroid surgery? update # 61

[hrh_disney_queen]

The scars folks are mentioning...are they really bad? Is there any way for the surgeon to minimize scarring?

agnes!

In all honesty, the scar looks awful the first few weeks. (It's a large cut into your neck, you would expect that!) You just have to know that it will diminish over time and eventually should just disappear. The staples my DR. used were very odd looking, but I was not that bothered by them. They came out a lot easier than any stitches I have had. You have to use extra sunscreen on it and rub something daily like Vitamin E or Cocoa butter. They didn't have Mederma type products OTC when I had mine done.

My Dr. was an ENT surgeon. I don't know if he had plastic surgery background, but he did an excellent job.

 

[LuvOrlando]

thanks guys for the support

 

[LuvOrlando]

So I'm at day 4 on Z Pack antibiotics and seem to be getting sicker and sicker so I called off the surgery. At the moment I feel just awful and have a fever of 101.6. DH has been sick with me but was worse yesterday and is better today so I hope I follow his lead. I think we got something New Year's Eve when I broke my code of never eating anything uncooked that was prepared by someone else... darn that party! Either we got something else that showed up Sat or the original bug is in 2 stages because when I went to the Dr Thurs I had no fevre and was just bothered by fluid behind my ears. Congestion, wicked headache, back pain, cough, heavy chest congestion, trouble breathing (I think it's Asthma but will have RN MIL over to listen in a few hours) sneezing, fever 101.6... I am not thrilled I'm sick but I am grateful I got sick before the surgery, I can't even imagine the trouble I'd be in if I got this the day after surgery. I'm sure the hacking cough would rip out stitches. What a state I'm in

PS, DH has been on antibiotics too for almost 10 days too for a Sinus infection. I keep praying my kids don't get it...

 

[KAMLEM]

I had 2 thyroidectomies last year. The first time they took out half and they didn’t think it was cancerous but after further pathology they found out it was so they went in and took out the rest of it. Both surgeries were very easy. The surgery was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. and I was home by noon, no exaggeration. Maybe it’s because my surgeon does so many of them, but it was very easy and I really had hardly any pain. Even my throat was not very sore. I was working from home the same afternoon as my surgery.

I think the scar depends on the surgeon, because mine was not bad at all even after the second time. It was about three inches long, but it really just looked like I got scraped with a tree branch or something. My surgeon did a great job. A year and a half later and you cannot even see it unless you really look close up.

 

[LuvOrlando]

So guys, I have a quick question and you all seem to be a good place to get input. Tomorrow I will, no doubt, be getting a hostile call from the surgeon's office who are going to think I'm making this up because I'm fearful (I'm fearful but really sick). When on the phone they are probably going to try to get me to commit to a new date. Here is the thing though. I am supposed to be going to WDW with my family the last week of Feb. DH thinks I should wait until after the vacation to do the surgery, but I'm not sure about waiting. I'm in no rush but would like to get it over with, but on the other hand I'm not so sure I'll be able to put enough time between a reschedule and the trip to be fully healed. What do you guys think?

 

[4 Ears]

For those of you on "synthroid" are you really on that or levothyroxin? Have you been on both? Do you see (feel) any different, better, worse on one or the other?
I ask because I take levothyroxin due to insurance but seem to feel better on synthroid. Was told I could be on other but would have to pay the difference. Not a biggie if it makes me feel better, it is worth it.

Anyway, your experiences, the good, the bad, the ugly on either/or.

TIA

 

[AUdisfan]

Recovery is generally so easy that I would think you would have time to reschedule and be ready to go to WDW by the last week of Feb. Just be sure to take it easy as much as possible after the surgery. Your body needs the rest to get over what is major surgery even though it is a rather easy one.

Sorry you are so sick. I hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Had the surgery and DEFINETELY would NOT put off the surgery until after your vacation in February, but that is me.

 

[KAMLEM]

I would not put off the surgery if it were me. It would be hanging over me and I wouldn't enjoy my trip as much.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

For those of you on "synthroid" are you really on that or levothyroxin? Have you been on both? Do you see (feel) any different, better, worse on one or the other?
I ask because I take levothyroxin due to insurance but seem to feel better on synthroid. Was told I could be on other but would have to pay the difference. Not a biggie if it makes me feel better, it is worth it.

Anyway, your experiences, the good, the bad, the ugly on either/or.

TIA

I decided to take the name brand Synthroid. Mostly because of what I read on the boards about fillers etc, if you use the generic. Especially since I have thyroid cancer I dont want to fool around. My ins. wont cover it either, so I pay $25 a month for it, I could get the generic for like $10 I think but no thanks. Its just part of life and the budget now. I started off on 150 and my endo upped me to 200. I am fine with it. Dh thinks I am a little hyper but I dont care, as long as the cancer is staying away.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

So guys, I have a quick question and you all seem to be a good place to get input. Tomorrow I will, no doubt, be getting a hostile call from the surgeon's office who are going to think I'm making this up because I'm fearful (I'm fearful but really sick). When on the phone they are probably going to try to get me to commit to a new date. Here is the thing though. I am supposed to be going to WDW with my family the last week of Feb. DH thinks I should wait until after the vacation to do the surgery, but I'm not sure about waiting. I'm in no rush but would like to get it over with, but on the other hand I'm not so sure I'll be able to put enough time between a reschedule and the trip to be fully healed. What do you guys think?

I wouldnt put it off either. I know another poster had half of hers out and went back teaching in a week. So I am sure your recovery wouldnt be that bad if all goes well. I would mention it to the surgeon. Even if they have a date for you they could move you up if someone cancels etc. Best of luck today.

 

[LuvOrlando]

So I had to cancel the January Surgery date because of the Swine Flu. Then when I recovered it was too close to our Feb 27 trip to WDW so I figured I'd do it when I got back.

So in the meantime I started to get twinges of discomfort in my neck below the lump. Actually, they started right after the Flu. At first I thought they were just due to all the coughing, that I had sprained something. Then when they didn't stop I considered the possibility that I was imagining it out of guilt over postponing the surgery. Not unreasonable.

So While I'm on vacation I start to get un-nerved by what I am experiencing because in ll the 8 years I've had this nodule I never felt a single thing. Why feel something now? The best way I can descibe it is to say it feels like a rubber band is being stretched and released. it pulls then there is a weird sort of reverb going on in there... very strange, and it's going on directly under and near the right nodule.

So I called the Dr last week and had a sonogram on Monday. Not happy to report that the darn thing has grown since October. At the moment my right side measures 5 x 2.1 x 2.5. The nodule, which is cold and non functioning is 3.8 x 2.1 x 2.2. So there seems to be almost nothing left of healthy tissue over there now. My numbers are still good so I suppose the left side is doing all the work but still, sheesh... not good all around.

I am freaking out a bit. My DH is supposed to go away at the end of April but I won't wait for better timing, I want this thing out of my neck yesterday. I am waiting for Dr. Shaha's office from Memorial Sloan Kettering to call me back. He did one of my biopsies and I trust the guy 100%. I want to see him, schedule him to do my surgery and get it over with.

For the time being I am a bundle of nerves wondering how possible it can be that the Dr's who told me not to worry could have been wrong. They told me 3 negative biopsies, 2 at Uni of Penn & 1 at Sloan, mean 99% no cancer. But holy crow, what if I am that 1%... SOMEONE has to be that 1%.

 

[Christine]

For the time being I am a bundle of nerves wondering how possible it can be that the Dr's who told me not to worry could have been wrong. They told me 3 negative biopsies, 2 at Uni of Penn & 1 at Sloan, mean 99% no cancer. But holy crow, what if I am that 1%... SOMEONE has to be that 1%.

Yes, they do! I was that 1%.

Thyroid biopsies are only conclusive if they come back cancerous. If they don't, they are inconclusive. Heck, my biopsy came back negative on a frozen section biopsy where they cut a big chunk out and looked at it. Thyroid cancer is not like other tumors where the WHOLE nodule is cancerous. It is like "pepper" in your gland or within the nodule.

But I do agree that after three inconclusive biopsies, your chances are still pretty good for it not being cancer.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Sorry to hear you were that 1% Christine.... statistics are only useful if you are on the generous side of them.

 

[4nana]

Sorry to read your update and that you are still suffering. Being hypo myself and having 2 nodules being monitored, I truly feel your pain. Sending prayers drs at Memorial Sloan Kettering can do your surgery asap and you have a positive out come. I can imagine how nervous you must be, but know your Dis buddies are praying for you, so pls try to think postive and keep the faith.

 

[LuvOrlando]

So after I posted today I called Sloan and discovered that my Dr's office up here had not even bothered to send the info yet. I nearly bust into tears and was beside myself all day. DH kept me in good spirits as I sat on pins and needles and did his best to keep me occupied by sending funny e-mails ect. Then I got a call from the Dr's office at 4 and we set up an appointment for Friday. That's when I learned my DH had called for me. During lunch DH followed up to make sure my stuff was sent and asked that they be kind enough to call because I was so upset. When I asked him about it he said he called because he knew if it was him worrying I'd do it for him in a heartbeat. He's one in million... thank heaven for him, he makes every burden lighter

Thank you for your kind words 4nana

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Wishing you all the best. Your dh sounds like a keeper! That was so thoughtful of him.

I would be happy to have the surgery too if it was necessary. Then you dont have to worry about things etc.

When I had my surgery my dh was stuck on a delayed flight from california in Las Vegas and then he showed up home less than 2 hours before we were suppose to be at the hospital after not seeing him for a week etc. My surgery was an emergency and they were squeezing me in anyway.

If I need any more surgery in the future I think I am going to go to Sloan, at least for a 2nd opinion since I am rare.. Its probagly like 1: 45 mins. from us.

Update us when you can. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Patty3]

I have not read all of the posts, so disregard if this has been mentioned. I had half of my thyroid removed about 16 years ago by a general surgeon. They surgery was not bad. I had to stay two nights in the hospital waiting for the frozen section results. The best piece of advice I received was when you are lifting your head up to brace your hands behind your head at the base of your skull while lifting up as if you are doing a situp. It helped so much and I did not feel much discomfort if any. My scar has blended into a neck fold and it is not visible. I did apply cocoa butter for almost 6 months after I received the doctors ok to do so. There are probably many others products to use now that are better.

Best of luck and try not to worry. I was so sure that I was going to die and the doctor would cut something he shouldn't and all my worrying was for nothing. It really was not bad.

 

[LuvOrlando]

A couple of people have mentioned to me how hard it is to go from lying down to a n upright position. Thanks for the tip on using my hands as a brace, one of my DF's who had it done simply suggested sleeping in a recliner which doesn't sound too comfy at all. I don't think I could sleep that way. Then again I am a belly sleeper, I might not be able to get comfortable at all n matter what I try to do.

Also, I've been thinking about the scar a lot, thanks for mentioning the cocoa butter but the smell sets off my migraines. I am so close to the summer I worry that sun exposure will make everything worse as far as scarring. My C-section one healed nicely but that isn't out in the sun is it? I seem to remember hearing about special scar creams. Has anyone out there tried any of these special ones or is it all just a marketing scheme? If there is something prescription I'd be ok with asking about that too. Should I just cover it with an SPF as high as I can find?

Also, it seems my entire right side is now just a big cold nodule with only about 1 cm of functioning tissue left. I'm thinking my left and isthmus have been doing all the work for a while now. How reasonable do you think it is that I won't need the Synthroid?

 

[Patty3]

A few years back, I developed skin cancer on my face. It was basal cell and it was removed by a dermatologist. While cleaning out my linen closet about an hour ago, I came across am old tube of mederma. I used this religiously on my face and my scar is barely visible. To protect my scar from the sun, I wore cute little scarves around my neck to match my outfits, or turtlenecks.

Before my surgery, I had to have sonograms every three months to see if the nodule grew. When I had the surgery, I had two more that had grown in the last month. I did not have cancer. Since I am prone to cysts, the endocrinologist put me on synthroid to shut my thyroid down and let the med take over. I have been on synthroid for 16 years. He did tell me that you can function normally with one half of your thyroid.

Best of luck.