The THYROID Thread

[Christine]

Wow, Micayla. I feel the same way as you. Once I found out it was cancer I wanted it out asap, of course as you all know that took a while with all the complications pre surgery no less.

Hmm, maybe christine can coment as to ... is this the new way of drs. thinking?

No, I can't really. The *only* time I've heard that they are leaving it be is if you have a microcancer, but the only know that if you've had surgery the first time, so some of it has been removed.

Personally, I would not be comfortable with that treatment either. I realize the odds are in your favor, but there have been some noteworthy studies that suggest that the microcancers have actually managed to spread to lymph nodes while still remaining in the microcancer stage. And by microcancer, I mean that the cancer's size is less than 10mm (1cm).

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I start the LID on the 27th of this month and will be on it through my scan date of August 13.

I am planning some things to eat but I am fortunate that my DH is very up for cooking things out of the the cookbook. He hates seeing me so miserable and he feels like it gives him a way to help.

They haven't told me yet what next time will be like.

Micayla, suppose you will be pigging out this week pre lid? Wishing you all the best. Last time on the lid I lost 20 lbs, this time I lost 10. And I made sure to pig out before the diet this time too.

I think the rad. onc. told me what was for next time since she knows how difficult the diet is. Need some incentive to get through it I guess. She just told me, I didnt ask. So of course I am tickled to pieces that I only have to go to the hospital 3 times next year for that. They have such a strict routine there. It will be Mon. shot, Tues shot and friday blood test.

Keep us updated when you can.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I had my 6 week follow-up ultrasound today and now I have to go back for another biopsy on Tuesday I thought I was done with that when I had my thyroid removed! I had some lymph nodes that didn't look great or were inflamed or something. Bleh.

Cassie, just wondering how things were going? Wishing you all the best.

 

[dischick4778]

Hi, I'm new to this thread, just found it. Read a bunch of posts and can't believe how many people are dealing with thyroid issues. I just had my thyroid out back on June 25th, I had cancer and it was in the lymph nodes as well. I am currently on the LID which really sucks. I have the cookbook, but much of the food tastes awful. I am making do and eating what does taste ok. This week I am having a scan to find any diseased tissue that may be left and then I will have the radiation pill and spend a week in isolation. I am hoping to have the pill as soon as possible. I cannot wait to get back to normal. This all happened so quickly for me as I never knew I had a thyroid problem. I went to the Dr for a sore throat and came out with thyroid cancer. I hate the fact that I've been out of work and that I don't have the energy to take care of my new baby (5 months old). Also, we had to cancel our Disney trip. So I am not happy about this situation for many reasons.

But I can't believe there are so many others going through this as well. I can't believe I have had moments of feeling sorry for myself when so many others are fighting and dealing with this as well. Best of luck to everyone. And here's to staying positive!

 

[Christine]

Hi, I'm new to this thread, just found it. Read a bunch of posts and can't believe how many people are dealing with thyroid issues. I just had my thyroid out back on June 25th, I had cancer and it was in the lymph nodes as well. I am currently on the LID which really sucks. I have the cookbook, but much of the food tastes awful. I am making do and eating what does taste ok. This week I am having a scan to find any diseased tissue that may be left and then I will have the radiation pill and spend a week in isolation. I am hoping to have the pill as soon as possible. I cannot wait to get back to normal. This all happened so quickly for me as I never knew I had a thyroid problem. I went to the Dr for a sore throat and came out with thyroid cancer. I hate the fact that I've been out of work and that I don't have the energy to take care of my new baby (5 months old). Also, we had to cancel our Disney trip. So I am not happy about this situation for many reasons.

But I can't believe there are so many others going through this as well. I can't believe I have had moments of feeling sorry for myself when so many others are fighting and dealing with this as well. Best of luck to everyone. And here's to staying positive!

Wow--you're story is similar to mine. I had a 6 month old baby, a sore throat (viral), and in-laws on the way. I went to an urgent care in case it was strep and came out knowing that my thyroid gland was asymetrical and on my way for a scan. Turned out to be cancer. That was 15 years ago.

Good luck to you. This is a challenging time for you. I hope you get on your meds soon and keep us posted on your scan!

 

[mrsklamc]

Micayla, suppose you will be pigging out this week pre lid? Wishing you all the best. Last time on the lid I lost 20 lbs, this time I lost 10. And I made sure to pig out before the diet this time too.

Yes...we went to Pigeon Forge, TN for the weekend; I had some great southern food as well as not limiting the Krispy Kremes Sadly I didn't lose ANY on the LID last time but I ate a LOT of unsalted peanut butter which is high calorie so maybe if I cut back on that I will lose some. I think it will be easier this time with so many fresh fruits and veggies in season. Of course, I say that now, but I'm sure I will feel differently in a couple of weeks...

 

[mrsklamc]

Hi, I'm new to this thread, just found it. Read a bunch of posts and can't believe how many people are dealing with thyroid issues. I just had my thyroid out back on June 25th, I had cancer and it was in the lymph nodes as well. I am currently on the LID which really sucks. I have the cookbook, but much of the food tastes awful. I am making do and eating what does taste ok. This week I am having a scan to find any diseased tissue that may be left and then I will have the radiation pill and spend a week in isolation. I am hoping to have the pill as soon as possible. I cannot wait to get back to normal. This all happened so quickly for me as I never knew I had a thyroid problem. I went to the Dr for a sore throat and came out with thyroid cancer. I hate the fact that I've been out of work and that I don't have the energy to take care of my new baby (5 months old). Also, we had to cancel our Disney trip. So I am not happy about this situation for many reasons.

But I can't believe there are so many others going through this as well. I can't believe I have had moments of feeling sorry for myself when so many others are fighting and dealing with this as well. Best of luck to everyone. And here's to staying positive!

Welcome! The ladies here are great. And I know the last few days I was hypo, it was pretty much impossible not to feel sorry for myself no matter how I tried, so don't be too hard on yourself!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi, I'm new to this thread, just found it. Read a bunch of posts and can't believe how many people are dealing with thyroid issues. I just had my thyroid out back on June 25th, I had cancer and it was in the lymph nodes as well. I am currently on the LID which really sucks. I have the cookbook, but much of the food tastes awful. I am making do and eating what does taste ok. This week I am having a scan to find any diseased tissue that may be left and then I will have the radiation pill and spend a week in isolation. I am hoping to have the pill as soon as possible. I cannot wait to get back to normal. This all happened so quickly for me as I never knew I had a thyroid problem. I went to the Dr for a sore throat and came out with thyroid cancer. I hate the fact that I've been out of work and that I don't have the energy to take care of my new baby (5 months old). Also, we had to cancel our Disney trip. So I am not happy about this situation for many reasons.

But I can't believe there are so many others going through this as well. I can't believe I have had moments of feeling sorry for myself when so many others are fighting and dealing with this as well. Best of luck to everyone. And here's to staying positive!

Welcome from a Long Islander!! I am sure its hard on you. But stay strong and fight tough. I know the food is hard. I like to mix it up. My rad onc. doesnt just do the lid cookbook, hers is part nih and throw in I can only drink distilled water as Suffolk County water cant be verified iodine free. Also I was only allowed 4 ounces of meat, versus the lid 6 ounces. I just did the diet again in May for my 1 year scan, I only ate a banana for breakfast since I dont like oatmeal, but did try that a few times. 2 weeks of salads is hard too so I tried to mix it up with tastes and also color looking on the plate.
I also got a little creative with the chicken by using honey on it and chilling it and for hot I used orange marmalde and basmati rice (close to chinese as I could get) with birdseye steamfresh snap peas (no salt) and also peach jelly was good on it. I rotated also between potatoes,sweet potatoes and no yolk noodles. Dessert is the greatest now with all the fresh fruit. For snacks I did nuts and the unsalted peanut butter with celery sticks. Matzoh, unsalted if I wanted something crunchy.

Are you getting thyrogen? I know its hard when it in the luymph nodes. I had to have 47 out and 6 were positive. I have papilary but its also the rare and agressive columnar celll variant. But I am doing fine. My endo is from LIJ, but she comes out here to the hosp. where I go.

Wishing you all the best. Any questions or if you need support just come here. The ladies are great.

 

[dischick4778]

Thanks so much for all the quick responses and kind words. I have what they are calling the agressive tall cell variant so I guess that's why the Drs are pushing for things to happen so quickly. They removed my whole thyroid as well as many lymph nodes. The Dr basically told me he cleared me out. It was also wrapped around my vocal cords so the surgery was longer and more complicated than usual and I still don't have my voice back fully. But that is the least of my concerns.

The diet is not fun, eating oatmeal every morning and salads and meat. So boring. But thanks for the additional tips on how to make the food more interesting. I have my scan on Friday and will definitely update you all. Thanks again!

 

[mrsklamc]

After giving myself some time to recover from the LID I've decided to try the South Beach Diet. The first two weeks are considered very restrictive. Compared to the LID, it will be a breeze.

 

[Christine]

After giving myself some time to recover from the LID I've decided to try the South Beach Diet. The first two weeks are considered very restrictive. Compared to the LID, it will be a breeze.

I agree!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

After giving myself some time to recover from the LID I've decided to try the South Beach Diet. The first two weeks are considered very restrictive. Compared to the LID, it will be a breeze.

Best of luck Micayla. Do you have a goal amount? I am not too familiar with it. Yest. I went and ate 2 chocolate cupcakes. I am stressing out that my stomach wound from last years surgery has opened up. I am going to the surgeon tomm. Gheesh, after the 3 cancer surgeries and then his 4 stomach/hernia/bowel obstruction surgeries, you think I would be done with this stuff. I just saw him 3 weeks ago and he said "you are good for another year", yeah right. Hmm, should I ask for a warranty or something in writing

 

[mrsklamc]

I'd like to lose 20 or 25 pounds. According to the book, South Beach dieters lose an average of 8-13 pounds during those first two weeks and 1-2 lbs per week after that.

I'm so sorry for all your medical 'stuff.' It seems like you just get through one thing and another pops up!

 

[Christine]

I'd like to lose 20 or 25 pounds. According to the book, South Beach dieters lose an average of 8-13 pounds during those first two weeks and 1-2 lbs per week after that.

I know many people who've done South Beach. Women tend to be on the lower end of that weight range (of course). Also, depends how much you have to lose. I only have about 10 lbs I'd always like to lose so I never get any great losses when I try anything. Weeks will go by before I see the scale budge.

luvmarypoppins--keep us posted on how your appt. goes with the surgeon today. I hope it's nothing.

I had my 6-month follow up with my endo on Wednesday. I was all freaked out about going because, as you may remember, I *failed* my attempt at Synthroid withdrawal. I thought he was going to "tsk, tsk, tsk" me and then force me to do it. He reviewed my entire file again, agreed I was very low risk and said "Just don't do it--we won't worry about it and we'll just monitor your bloodwork and definitely continue with ultrasounds." So that was a relief although I still feel ashamed that I can't do this simple test.

I then had to get my labwork done yesterday. Thyroglobulin and thyroid panel. Don't you hate it when you feel like something's wrong? When I had the blood drawn the tech only took one tube of blood. Whenever I have a Tg test, I always have two tubes drawn because the Tg is sent out. I just have this nagging feeling that she didn't do it right. I keep thinking that I'm going to get a call from my doctor or lab today telling me to come back in. I should have said something but I get tired of feeling like I'm checking up on people's own jobs. I could be wrong and I hope I am.

 

[dischick4778]

Scan went really well today. Dr said she saw such a small area of diseased tissue left after surgery that the radiation doseage is not going to be nearly as strong as anticipated. I go Monday for the radiation pill. Getting set this weekend for my "isolation". The hardest part will be staying away from my husband and son. But at least I will be staying with family and I feel good about my scan today. I was fearing the worst. It finally feels like the home stretch and I am so ready to get back to my normal. Luckily I get to start on synthroid the 28th.

luvmarypoppins - thank you for the encouragement and the recipe ideas. I never thought of using marmalade and it's pretty good.

Christine - thank you for sharing your story. I feel so good to hear something similar and know how long ago it was for you.

This thread is wonderful!!

 

[mrsklamc]

dischick4778-

I don't know what all you are eating now or if there is someone who will go pick items up for you, but so far I have picked up unsalted tortilla chips and unsalted peanut butter from Trader Joe's, and unsalted ketchup from my regular grocery store. The no bake cookies made with cocoa powder were a big help too because I love chocolate- but they may also have been why I lost NO weight on the LID.
Trader Joe's also had a fresh guacamole kit- the avocado helped some with the 'creamy' sensation I was missing from dairy. We also have a new ice cream maker DH will be using this time to make me fresh fruit sorbet- just fruit and lemon juice I believe, but luvmarypoppins' dietitian told her that raspberry hagen daas sorbet was OK too.

One idea I wish I'd had when I had my treatment dose- they tell you to suck on lemon drops, and I DID until my mouth was absolutely raw, but I'm still having trouble with my saliva glands. It dawned on me at a theme park last weekend that frozen lemonade would have been wonderful, and you can make lemonade from just water, sugar, and lemon juice. I don't know if it DOES have the same effect as the lemon drops, but I just couldn't take another one.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi everyone!

Christine - Hoping your blood tests were done correctly and that the results are good. Its good your endo has the blood test and ultrasound plan. I think I am starting that exclusively next year.

dischick - Hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel!! Do you know what your dose is giong to be? I had 200. 150 for the normal dose and then 25 for the lymph node mets and then 25 for the columnar cell agressive variant. You will get back to being you shortly. I say I am me, just a different me, but still me. I hope the week will pass quickly for you. I just watched tv alot and when my 3 ds were out of the other room I went on the computer. Weird typing with rubber gloves on. Wishing you all the best

Micayla - wow, I would have loved the tortilla chips. Are there any bromated agents in them? My dietician was saying stuff about additives in shelf stable food etc. Remember how I was talking about doing the matzoh with some homemade pico de gallo (sp?) Those would have been great for me if I was allowed. You are lucky to get to have the cocoa power. Again, they told me no way, since we dont know how its processed etc. Wishing you all the best, but heah, you are an old pro at this by now, a seasoned veteran, right?

Well an update on me...the surgeon said as I surmised tht I have a seroma, just a side effect with the surgery. He opened it up to let it drain. Go back like aug. 2 or 3rd. There is a 50% chance there is an internal stitich that is causing this to happen, so if that is the case, I will need a day surgery to have him take it out. He said after all you have been through last year this is nothing. I am praying it will heal on its own.

 

[mrsklamc]

Sounds like good news! I am not sure what bromated means but the ingredients say 'Organic stone ground white corn with a trace of lime, organic vegetable oil (sunflower and/or canola and/or safflower oil.)

 

[Christine]

One idea I wish I'd had when I had my treatment dose- they tell you to suck on lemon drops, and I DID until my mouth was absolutely raw, but I'm still having trouble with my saliva glands. It dawned on me at a theme park last weekend that frozen lemonade would have been wonderful, and you can make lemonade from just water, sugar, and lemon juice. I don't know if it DOES have the same effect as the lemon drops, but I just couldn't take another one.

I actually thought that Dr. Ain (a specialist in Kentucky who has his own thyroid cancer listserve) had told people to stop with the lemon drops because it had an opposite affect on the salivary glands. I used them during my first big dose and had scarring of my left gland that took over 2 years to resolve itself. The second treatment I had, I chewed on grapes which seemed to help (frozen grapes). It got the glands going but not to the extent of the lemon drops.

 

[mrsklamc]

I actually thought that Dr. Ain (a specialist in Kentucky who has his own thyroid cancer listserve) had told people to stop with the lemon drops because it had an opposite affect on the salivary glands. I used them during my first big dose and had scarring of my left gland that took over 2 years to resolve itself. The second treatment I had, I chewed on grapes which seemed to help (frozen grapes). It got the glands going but not to the extent of the lemon drops.

Wow. It was definitely stressed to me to use lemon drops...I was SO frustrated when the saliva gland problems started because I had forced myself to have SO many...I am just glad that yours finally resolved itself, my dentist told me it would but I read online that it was probably permanent, and I SO don't want to deal with chipmunk cheeks on and off for my whole life!