The THYROID Thread

[KAMLEM]

Pembo-

Everyone's case is different so I wouldn't say she should definitely cancel her trip. I have had 2 thyroidectomy's and a radical neck dissection and I would have been fine to go on vacation 3 weeks later each time. As far as the RAI, she may not even be having that so that may not be a factor. If she can wait to see how she feels after her surgery I would definitely suggest that.

I wish her luck!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I am so miserably sick with a cold,cough and respiratory thing.

What tricks do you have to make it more comfortable with coughing etc. and having a neck dissection?

 

[mrsklamc]

I hate congestion ...I don't have any complications from my surgery though when it comes to coughing. Typically I don't notice my incision at all.

I usually take lots of showers, CVS has little vapor tablets I put in there too to help clear out some of the congestion for a little while.

 

[Christine]

Coughing is the worst but, fortunately, doesn't bother my incision area.

Many years ago, I got whooping cough. That was awful. I coughed so hard I lost consciousness once and almost blacked out a few other times. Finally my doctor did give me some Flonase nasal spray because the drainage was affecting the obliterated bronchial area. That did cut my cough down in half, which was better than nothing.

If you can get the drainage to slow down, the coughing will decrease if it is caused by mucous. Have you have tried the Neti Pot? That is great when you have a cold.

 

[Haimia]

Hi, new to this thread and looking for help. Endo is on vacation and I don't see him until May 8. I got my ultrasound and bloodwork reports from hospital. Bloodwork is all normal except for T3 free was 1.88 (normal is 2.2 - 4.0). So, I am slightly hypo?

Ultrasound showed multi-nodular right lobe, left lobe has nodule 2.5 cm with soft tissue and fluid with internal color flow and isthmus has nodule 1.7 cm with soft tissue and fluid. Not great from what I have seen on internet but also not definite of anything. I do not like waiting for another three weeks!

Endo was slightly hesitant to consider needle biopsy as I am on blood thinners; however, other doctor said they can help with the meds to make biopsy happen. I have my DD#2 wedding in early June and have a trip to Germany planned in July. What are my chances!!! Just looking for some ideas and guidance!

 

[Christine]

You T3 is below normal but, given the entire panel, you aren't necessarily hypothyroid. An endo needs to interpret the whole thyroid panel. What did your TSH and T4 levels look like.

Statistically, the odds are in your favor. Multinodular is a good sign, liquidity is a good sign, and in general, thyroid cancer is rare. All in your favor.

However, as soon as I say they, there is someone that beats those odds and you're left scratching your head. At this point, I think it's wise to be evaluated but I don't think you need to worry. A solitary, hard, non-functioning nodule is the one to worry most about.

 

[Haimia]

T4 was 0.99 (normal 0.89 - 1.76); TSH was 3.151 (normal 0.400 - 4.200); thyroid peroxidase 0.3 (normal 0.0 - 9.0)

As far as the nodules go, the right contained nodules (subcentimeter) and the left contained only one as well as the isthmus contained only one or at least that is what report mentioned. Perhaps more subcentimeter nodules but not listed.

I need to stay off the internet search sites!! Only a little over two weeks to wait. Guess I need to be more patient!

 

[KAMLEM]

T4 was 0.99 (normal 0.89 - 1.76); TSH was 3.151 (normal 0.400 - 4.200); thyroid peroxidase 0.3 (normal 0.0 - 9.0)

My doctor would consider that TSH high, she says that normal is anything between .3 and 3. When mine gets in the range of 3 I really start to drag. She likes to keep me right around .3.

 

[Christine]

T4 was 0.99 (normal 0.89 - 1.76); TSH was 3.151 (normal 0.400 - 4.200); thyroid peroxidase 0.3 (normal 0.0 - 9.0)

As far as the nodules go, the right contained nodules (subcentimeter) and the left contained only one as well as the isthmus contained only one or at least that is what report mentioned. Perhaps more subcentimeter nodules but not listed.

I need to stay off the internet search sites!! Only a little over two weeks to wait. Guess I need to be more patient!

Yes, these days the lab limit is 3.0. You are borderline so, while I wouldn't call you hypothyroid, you're certainly not functioning optimally.

My male coworker has a 4.25 TSH and they won't treat him due to the fact that he feels good and is over 60 years old so there are complications there with cardiac issues. Each case is different.

 

[Haimia]

Okay, this is good to know. I have the symptoms of hypo - fatique, weight I can't lose, rough/dry skin, irritable - so it would make sense. I wonder why the hospital has listed that normal is 4.2 or below, when new norm is 3. It is not a small band-aid station hospital.

Will have multiple questions in hand when I see the endo in May!

 

[Christine]

Okay, this is good to know. I have the symptoms of hypo - fatique, weight I can't lose, rough/dry skin, irritable - so it would make sense. I wonder why the hospital has listed that normal is 4.2 or below, when new norm is 3. It is not a small band-aid station hospital.

Will have multiple questions in hand when I see the endo in May!

All the labs are still mostly listing the 0.4-4. It's the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologist who have changed the "normal" range to 0.3 - 3.0. And endocrinologist will usually look at your numbers and decide what to do based on what endos think. They also take into account your whole situation so some may treat and some may not.

 

[Pembo]

My niece is scheduled for her thyroidectomy on Friday. She was told the surgery would last 4 hours, is that normal? We also learned today that she has stage 2, not sure what type. I know she will be having lymph nodes taken out as well. I've read the difference between stages on thyca but what does that mean in real life?

Also, anything you really needed or had that you would suggest to a new surgery patient? I want to give her a bag of things and am looking for suggestions. (ie. after my surgery for a brain tumor, I needed chapstik).

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Pembo - wishing your niece all the best on Friday.

I would say make sure she has button down pjs and shirts on hand. Its not fun trying to "slip" a shirt over your head post op.

If she is going to have a drain, then a shirt or pjs with a front pocket could help.

Maybe a pen and paper to write things down if she is too tired to talk

I liked playing cards with my 3ds when I was feeling better post op. I had to stay in for a week

Maybe some lifesavers or jolly ranchers as I am sure she will be having saliva issues.

If you are under 45 I think you are a 1 or 2 stage.

I was a stage 3B I think, but really the oncologist said I am a stage 4?? I dont want to question her. She said, she doesnt care about stages anyway.

If she needs to have RAI, then I would definetly have her start seeking out thyrogen etc. There was a lengthy post on how to get it on thyca. I honestly was blessed as my onc. is the 4th largest user in the US she said, so she has a great supply. Some drs. do not use it however. I have never had a problem with it except the nausea.

 

[Christine]

My niece is scheduled for her thyroidectomy on Friday. She was told the surgery would last 4 hours, is that normal? We also learned today that she has stage 2, not sure what type. I know she will be having lymph nodes taken out as well. I've read the difference between stages on thyca but what does that mean in real life?

Also, anything you really needed or had that you would suggest to a new surgery patient? I want to give her a bag of things and am looking for suggestions. (ie. after my surgery for a brain tumor, I needed chapstik).

My first surgery was about an hour (partial) and my second surgery to get the rest along with a lymph node and "clean up" was closer to 2 hours. Four hours seems a bit long to me; however, maybe he is just giving you worst case scenario.

I was only in the hospital overnight and didn't really feel like I needed much. I'm a reader so books, magazines would have been good.

There is no difference in prognosis from stage 1 to stage 2. Stage 2 usually means you have lymph node involvement. Not sure how the doctor knows this unless they had done some pre-scanning. Or maybe it is the size of the nodule. Anyway, same prognosis. After-surgery treatment with RAI will usually take care of it!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Pembo - I forgot to add that my surgery was 6 hours originally, just as the surgeon said. 4 hours for the thyroidectomy and 2 hours for the neck dissection and lymph node removal. I think I had almost 50 lymph nodes out. They wanted to take all mine out as the surgeon told my dh the cancer was more extensive than the testing showed and worse when he got in there etc.



Haimia - Just wanted to say Welcome too. I am clueless as far as numbers go and sometimes my endo does not even tell me the numbers. I always ask Christine.

 

[mrsklamc]

My cancer was in my lymph nodes and it took 5 hours. The surgeon said she dug from my jawbone down to my collarbone trying to get as many out as she could, and I could feel it the day after. They were swollen to the size of quarters when they should have been about the size of peas.

Anyway Pembo, in terms of what she will need; My MIL bought me a nice new pair of sweatpants and a zip up sweatshirt, and that did nicely. Anything would have worked that didn't have to be pulled over my head but it was nice to have something new.

My surgeon recommended a bottle of vitamin e capsules, break one a couple of times a day and massage the scar once it is healed...I've read that it's the massage that breaks down the tissue and minimizes the scar more than the oil itself.

I didn't really have any trouble eating whatever I wanted, that I remember.

What are her instructions post op? I had to go hypothyroid (no thyrogen for my radioactive idodine treatment) and that was far worse than the surgery - being hypo and the radioactive iodine diet were horrible. Do you know when she is doing all that?

Another thing that really helped post surgery- My MIL is a nurse and the made sure I got up and walked - just the hallway in our house; to get the anesthesia out of my lungs. I came home and slept for a few hours, then she washed my hair. After that she said, "Now you're going to rest for awhile and then your husband's going to give you a bath." And she started weaning me off my pain meds.

Left to our own devices, I had two weeks of pain meds, and my DH would have let me lay on the couch popping pills for two weeks. I really think that made a huge difference in my recovery.

 

[Haimia]

Haimia - Just wanted to say Welcome too. I am clueless as far as numbers go and sometimes my endo does not even tell me the numbers. I always ask Christine.

Thanks for the welcome. This is all new to me and Christine's notes are great! My mom had issues and thyroid removed, but I was only 12 and it was not a subject that was discussed. She lived over 30 more years after surgery. I think (but don't know for sure) that her thyroid was pre-cancerous. How I wish, now, that it was discussed!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well today I called the emdo to reschedule my visit. It was for the end of July. Got a letter in Feb. that they cancelled it.

Of course I got an earful about what took me so long to call back. I told them I go through this all the time when they cancel on me (the other time it was like 3 times). I told them the endo said just talk to her and double book me. She says, oh..ok..October.

I said..no way, I have cancer and I am every 6 months and I am doing sono and blood work too etc. So they said they will call me back. Um, yeah alright.

I was just looking at our hosp. cancer stats. 2010 is the latest I could find. They have 177 new thyroid cancer pts. 43 are male. Does that seem like a little high male wise, just that they were commenting that there could be an increase if there were 911 responders from here etc. (article once in the paper)

I just think that they might have to get another endo to join the practice just to keep up with the patients etc. The last staff they added was my endo and that was like 3 years ago.

And thats my thyroid news for the day.

Oh and I am going to Disney 3 weeks from today. I need a vacation for sure.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Pembo - have you had any updates on your niece. Hope all went well for her.

 

[left210]

I am hypothyroid. I am looking for a new endo as my current dr. only tests tsh and t3/4. I am currently on Synthroid and still having lots of symptoms. What tests should I have done and what questions should I ask when looking for a new endo?