The THYROID Thread

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I hope I didnt speak too soon because now today I noticed my neck is starting to get red again above the scar line, sigh, sigh,. Dh came home for lunch, I didnt ask him he just popped in and I did say after you eat look at my neck He said yes he notices it too. Gheesh.

I will keep an eye on it over the week end. So happy we are going into the city Monday. Because if it doesnt go away then the surgeon can see this for himself. Might take some pictures to show him just in case its something mild that goes away.

What do they say - a picture is worth a thousand words lol!! In this case it sure might be.

These are the questions I am asking the surgeon on Mon.
1. What is the neck redness issue?
2. Explain the twisted arteries and blood vessels
3. On the path report it says one ruptured lymph node. I did look this up on line (definition). I am wondering if the ruptured one had cancer in it? Does this mean it could be there microscopically again?
4. I want a copy of the surgical report for the endo since it was done at another hospital,. I think I need a permanent record since all my stuff is at the univ. hosp. ID they charge for it, hmm?
Anything else you would ask if you were the patient? I already discussed the statistics of recurrence and the scanning protocol. Now with non avid and tg not reliable.

Dh also informed me that he will be doing a flurry of traveling in the near future. One trip to the west coast. One trip combined to France and Milan, Italy and then of course the planned South Korea trip. In the middle of all of this I have an endo visit, blood tests, sono and I think a bone scan and then a pcp visit before Sept. 12. Never a dull moment.

I am waiting for dh to see all these dates before I start the trip planning.

Hope everyone has a great week end.

 

[SingingMom]

Just back from Disney. Hot Hot Hot! Really heavy humidity. Would have spent more time inside or at the pool, but we were traveling with friends who of course where there for the parks. DD had a few days off and switched shifts with a few, so she was able to be the official tour guide. That thrilled our friends. Very impressed with our Disney Girl .

Stayed at the Boardwalk for the first time. Room was lovely. I thought the set up of the resort is lacking however. Had to go outside to the actual boardwalk to get to shops or any type of food. Thought it was very inconvenient. Only Jelly Rolls stayed open late. The actual location is great with Epcot & Studios, but I think I'd rather stay at Yacht and Beach Club. Went over to Dolphin for lunch at the Cabana Bar on our last day - the lobby is all covered for renovation. Will be interesting to see what it looks like when they are finished.

Bon Voyage Character Breakfast was adorable. Food was excellent. We never do character meals, but it was the 21st birthday of our friends' daughter, so we all went. Great interaction with Flynn Rider, Rapunzel, Ariel, and Eric.

Mess with our flights going and coming. Thunderstorms caused lots of trouble. But... all in all, we had a very good time with our friends. Lots of laughter, lots of alcohol!

DD is coming home for a wedding in August, so I won't go back to Florida until September. We are going to see "The King and I" at Dr. Phillips.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I know you are all wondering how my surgeon visit went today...well it didnt happen.

Dh and I were on the road by 5:15 am. W got about 4 exits from our home, heard a dinging alarm and we pulled over to the nearest exit and gas station. Dh saw something happened to the tire pressure valve, then he tried to get the tire off but something was jammed and broken and welded or rusted on.
Oh did I mention he was doing this all in a pouring rainstorm. He was soaked to the bones like a wet puppy and then some.
We were really thankful we didnt break down by ny city because that would have been a nightmare and a half for sure. God was hearing y prayers!!

So we got a tow truck. Dh road with the toe truck, ds 2 picked me up. Ds 1 picked up dh from the tire place and now we are waiting for the call to tell us its fixed so dh can pick it up. This is costing us $$$$.

In the meantime I left a message on the surgeons answering machine since I was the first appt. So now I called them again. She says come thus. dh says no because he has meetings,.

Now the surgeon is going away and my next visit is not until Aug. 21st. Such is life. So at least I know if I have a problem I guess I will just have to go to my gp. Dread if its something worse because now before that time it will mean dr. who almost killed me sigh. I will think positive because my neck is looking pretty good right now.

So thats life today. And poor ds1 went for an interview and the lady said she had no record of him in hr. He showed her the confirmation e mail.from someone else I think. Now he says he doesnt want to talk about it. sigh. But he is looking for another job too.

Ugh, I need a vacation sometime.

Hope you enjoyed your cheese while I had the whine!!

 

[macraven]

what a day you went through!!!

you need......


car trouble are real headaches and it is always expensive


it is a darn shame that you can't connect with the specialist in NY

hope the gp can do magic with you so you have answers and help

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well in the latest chapter of when is this summer ever going to end because it really has been a doozy one...

I now have an upper respiratory infection. Got this from ds3 hospital germs that he got too.
Dh took me to the pcp. I actually saw the resident and then she came in. I took what I could get. She feels I dont have srtept and just thinks its viral and does oit want to give me antibiotics unless it gets worse. So I am just takeng some coricidin hpb stuff. She heard how terrible my voice was and it seems my trachea is getting tight mostly at night. I wake up in the morning and can barely talk. sigh

So she said call her next week and she will give me an antibiotic if t is not improving.

 

[Christine]

LMP, hope you are feeling better by now! I think *I* am coming down with a cold but I hope I'm wrong. Whenever I get a cold, it seems like they hang around for about 3 weeks.

My son went to Charlotte, NC with his job for their convention. He had a good time and had to give a presentation, but he really enjoyed it. But he picked up a cold on his second to last day there. By the time he got home, it was raging. On Saturday, we all helped my daughter move from one apartment to another and I was trapped in the car with him as he hacked away and blew his nose. Now my throat feels a little funny...Grrrr....so I was supposed to take some time off next week. I have nowhere to go so it would be a "staycation." Bet I'll have a cold. But I hope I'm wrong.

Had my 6 month endo visit yesterday. The labs came back already. My TSH continues to drop (right along with my estrogen I guess!!). I'm going to hang on to the dose I'm taking because I feel okay, I just don't sleep well. My TSH was 0.1. Not horribly low but it is coming down. The less estrogen your body produces the less T4 you need.

He did a CBC and cholesterol. CBC was normal. Cholesterol was down to 168. Losing 16 lbs made a HUGE difference. Last time it was over 200. Both of these tests were done non-fasting though so they would probably be even better if I did them fasting.

Otherwise not much exciting to report here. My son's internship is almost over and he goes back to school around the 26th. While I really enjoy him, it will be nice to get some peace and quiet. My kitchen remodel is almost done. Just have to get the tile backsplash done. Would love a trip to Disney but I just couldn't work it out. Maybe I'll shoot for mid-December!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Christine - glad your endo visit went well. Hope you didnt get the cold and that your kitchen I am sure looks great

macraven - how is the endo stuff going for you with the referral? When are you going to food and wine. I think we might go Oct. 26 as dh will be in South Korea before that but ds3 is pushing me to go in sept. too.

Well I finished booking all the test appt. stuff. Gosh I will just be glad when this summer is over but then in the fall dh will be going travel crazy so I will have to deal with all that stuff.

So tomm. is sitting with the masses for the blood tests since I couldnt get an appt. 6 days out
Mon. is the surgeon IN NYC
Friday neck and thyroid sonogram
Sat. DEXA BONE SCAN
30TH ENDO

Then I have to do the eye dr. for both dh and I and me for the dentist big time and it will be lots of $$$ as I need maybe a root canal and at least a crown or they will have to pull the tooth.

check in when you can

 

[macraven]

hope you both are over the colds and doing better now
and hope the infections are out of your system also.

Christine, your test scores look really good for the cbc, cholestrerol, etc !
LMP, looks like you have more testing yet to do.


i did see the new endo and have been doing labs with her.
get the results from one lab which leads to her needing a different test.
my 3rd lab appt in two weeks is this coming tuesday.

at first visit with the new endo, she had labs sent to her from past doctors and told me i need the parathyroid surgery within the next six months
(have not made a decision yet, too overwhelming right now)


either i go with the Dr Norman center in Tampa or back to my surgeon in chicago.

Tampa center only needs the past results faxed to them at this point

not sure which one to use.....

see ortho surgeon end of this month,
finally will be released from him
knee has a long way to go due to swelling
last told 6 to 12 months out from surgery is when the swelling will go down.
maybe because of the two blood clots i had is the issue?
(been 3 months and 20 days since surgery)

 

[luvmarypoppins]

macraven - do you lkke the new endo? Did she recommend that you go to that place in Florida or did you research it yourself? I hope things can get worked out for you and that your new tests will help get a good plan in place for you. I am sure you want to feel like you.

Well the blood tests were great. We had to go early because dh forgot to tell me he was working, so we were there before 9 am and there were only 3 people there, in and out. Dh said we have to do this again next time lol.

Then yest, was the surgeon Its no easy trip there and we left here by 5:45 am. The nurse took my bp. He came in and didnt even shut the door all the way, but most of the way, He puts on a pair of gloves and checks m neck. Said its good. Then I proceed to ask him my questions.
1. What was all that redness on my neck - answer I dont know
2. What did you mean about the blood vessels and arteries being twisted.?He said its either most likely when they fixed the L side and then my R side had to make new pathways for the blood flow since I lost that one vein. Could be I was born like that but more probably the other.
3. What does the ruptured lymph node mean that was on the path report. Not what I thought that it ruptured inside me. He said t was done doing the path report that it broke or him getting it out?
4. Asked again about testing since I am non avid and no detectable tg. He said um refresh my memory - who is your endo again. Gheesh!! This guy cant even take the time to read the chart again or even an electronic medical record. He said sonors six month and pet scan a year if the endo wants that and if it comes back dont worrry "we will take care of it" Yeah, I guess he will since surgery is my only option if it can be done and an accessible and safely.

All of that took about 7 minutes and then he wants to see me again in 6 months. He said that will be the last time. I made the appt. Its feb. but I am calling to cancel it in the new year. Dh doesnt want to drive there again and he doesnt do anything really. I feel like a little fish in his big thyroid sea. There were like 10 people when we came out before 10 am. I am sorry but I think that place is turning inroo a thyroid mill I told dh. Just quantity but that is what you get in the city I guess. It is quality but at lightening speed. lol.

christine - what are your thoughts on this. I didnt ask this time but last time he said when I asked him what about the columnar cell variant on the path report. It was not listed. He said if you want me to look at the lining (him asking the pathologist to do it) I will I didnt say anything yes or no.

Now dh says I should sk the endo. Now I am worried my ins. wont pay for it. I am wondering if its that important since right now I have no spread distantly, they know I have it, it wont change the treatment since I am now non avid and tg undetectable etc. Your thoughts? I am guessing if it wont cost me anything I should ask maybe? If its thousands or something, no thanks. I think we have a good enough picture.

Ds3 and I went on a little adventure yest to a park to see the eclipse, then to the beach to eat lunch. I just stayed in the car and watched the ocean. I was just too exhausted from being in the city all morning. Then we got some ice cream at a new place. I didnt like it and didnt finish it.

Ds1 also went into the city yest afternoon. He took the train. He went to the hospital that Bill the dad/husband from The Little Couple went to. I think its affillited with Columbia. He said he needs a hip replacement. This is the 3rd dr. that told him this. So we will see where that goes.

More tests for me, yea!

 

[Christine]

LMP, I think I would ask for it and also ask on the cost. As far as I know, further pathology doesn't cost the patient but I suppose it would come down to how it's requested from the pathologist. I'm just one of those people that wants to know everything, but you are correct that knowing doesn't really change anything so maybe you just don't want the aggravation. Either way you go, I think you're safe!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Greetings thyroid peeps!
Yesterday was the endo visit. My testing went well as could be. I had my regular sono gal whom I just love. But when I had the dexa scan the tech had me lay on my side and I heard a pop. I was in misery for 2 days with my L ribs and even had to take 2 of the pain pills left over from my surgery. sigh. The endo ordered rib xray for me which she will call if she sees something.
My sono is clear, it better be lol!
My tsh is 2.2. Hmm, this use to be undetectable,. So she said she will have me do blood work in a month and if its still like that she will up the synthroid depending on the number. She said it could be an absorption problem or my body being wacky with all these infections, she does not know yet. Also could be stress, hmm like I havent had enough of that lately lol.
Talked about testing and she says 6 month sonos and yearly pet scan because the sono cant see lymph nodes behind the thyroid area.
Showed her the red neck picture.
She said she does not like the path report they sent and its terrible and she is calling the pathologist in the city next week. Besides the typo of mm which should be cm, she said it does not even say pap, its just says carcinoma. Hmm I will have to loik and see if she has the same copy I have or maybe I jsus read it wrong too. She will ask the pathologist about the columnar cell stuff. Great she went to medical school there too I think so that should help.
And ready for this one... I almost fell over when she said this. She says, oh yes I called my colleague at MD Anderson about you before I sent you to surgery.What??? She never said this before. She said she wanted to make sure everything was good and she had done everything possible or something like that. Well I almost fell on the floor that she would even do that wowsa and wowsa!!!
And in other stress stuff, ds1 is thinking of having his hip surgery oct. 4th I think, then of course dh is on his way to South Korea soon after that and now dh is saying lets go to food and wine, huh? I dont know if ds1 can be on his own but ds3 will be around, yup life is always interesting. I did check on some rooms, cant get an ap room, cant use my miles for a room and the cheaspest room at the swan or dolphin one night that is almost booked up is like 325!!
Check in when you can. Have a great holiday week end everyone. I will be saying au revoir and ciao to dh. I hope he brings something good back only food really.

 

[macraven]

How can you turn down a trip for f&w?

Go for it!

 

[SingingMom]

Glad to hear the sono was clear!!
I'm heading to F & W on Monday. Our friends are will be down for vacation and asked me to plan my monthly visit to my daughter while they are there. lol
I had already made plans for DD & I to see "The King & I" at Dr. Phillips Center, so I just added some more days to overlap. Poor DH has to work, so I'm stocking the freezer for him.

trying something different this time - I'm not renting a car - DD got a CM rate at POFQ for a few nights on her "off days", so I'll take Magical Express, then when she goes back to work, I'll stay at her apartment, and take her back & forth to work, using her car. Then the night of my visit, she got one night at Coronado Springs and I can take Magical Express back to airport. Since I'm there a total of 10 nights, it will probably not cost much more this way than renting a car. Guess we'll see how it works out!

Weather this summer at home has been eh - probably nicest weather was while we were away in Spain - so I'm looking forward to some Florida sunshine!

 

[Christine]

Hey everyone! Happy end of summer. I agree that the weather has been very "meh" for the last few weeks. Glad I never planned that beach trip after all.

I'm just taking Friday and Tuesday off, trying to burn some leave. Not doing much. My daughter was/is here at the house today so we did a little shopping. I finally got my backsplash tile ordered this morning so that's all set for the 9th of Sept. Maybe then my kitchen will be together.

Otherwise, busy time for me coming up. I'm a financial person so it's end of the fiscal year for me. Then all the worries as to whether the government will close down or not. All gets very tiresome.

Glad to hear everyone seems to be doing well.

 

[macraven]

Nice to have work days you can burn and be productive at home

Had to put a hold on my parathyroid gland surgery
Still active with new endo with adjusting synthroid levels

Did my 4 month check up and X-rays on knee
All looks good

Broke left foot on Monday
In airboot for 4 weeks and leave days after that check up for Orlando

 

[SingingMom]

Sorry to hear about the broken foot, macraven! Go easy while you are in Orlando. That vacation is always a lot of walking - hard on a HEALTHY foot!

 

[macraven]

Thank you

 

[Christine]

How did you break your foot? Gosh, I hope it heals fast for you--you have been through a lot lately!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

macraven - so sorry to hear about your broken foot. You have been through so much too! I hope your foot heals and that you are not in too much pain. The food and wine trip is great to look forward to. Glad your knee seems to be improving.

singing mom - I hope you have a great trip. Have never been to either of those resorts. I think the pool at Coronado looks fun. I hope you wont be in the midst of the upcoming hurricane. Have fun and stay safe! I would love to hear about all the food and wine foods of course.

Christine - I hear you on the weather. It has really not been good weather wise here and today is stormy too. Also yes I am sure your end of the fiscal year is crazy. Dh goes through this all the time. He has to commit stuff or lose it and then they say well we are having layoffs. etc. I think this year it was 120 and they offered packages too but dh missed it and I dont think we could do it insurance wise right now anyway.

My L ribs still hurt sigh but alot less for sure. I say ribs but its my whole L chest area. Its a soreness that wont go away.Talked to dh in France. He said there were lots of people in wheelchairs at Lourdes. Now he is in Italy. Ds1 may have his surgery Sept. 27 and ds3 and I have been talking about a trip to food and wine. He has a lot of time off soon.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

macraven - how is your foot doing? I hope it is healing and you are not having too much pain and not too much difficulty in walking around.

singing mom - were you in wdw during the hurricane. I hope you and your dd made it through ok. Thinking of you.

Christine - hope you had some relaxing time off. I know about the fiscal stuff. Dh boss said he suddenly found some end of year money for dh, gheesh.

Well I went to the pcp. She doesnt know why I am having trouble breathing and thinks also I pulled a rib muscle? She said go for a pulmonary function test. Asked for a mammo script for a few months down the road and she said I could skip the colonoscopy if I did the mail in test, hmm.

And in the best news...ds3 and I just booked the Disney trip. We are going Sept. 19-25. Staying at the Swan but the last night at the Dolphin because they were sold out. So now we need to do dining and fast passes. I booked the town car but have to see if the wheelchair went through. There really is not that good dining times or places left. Ds said no France and that is my favorite place, gheesh. My cousin is there now and I dont know when he is coming back. His friends from England had their flight delayed until Saturday. I hope its ok down there. I have a bittersweet feeling knowing others are pulling through this storm.