This just in! New pics from today. I get the steri-tape off on Monday, but see how much better it looks already? :DHello all! OK, so an update on my thyroidectomy.
The surgery itself took a long time, about 4 and 1/2 hours, because it turns out my entire thyroid was just one big, cancerous tumor. The Dr. had to dig under my collar bone to get nodules out, it had spread so badly. Ugh. The pathologist could hardly find any regular thyroid tissue! He also tested the surrounding lymph nodes that were taken out. These have cancer, like we feared, but the Dr. is very positive and thinks we can kill them all with the radioactive iodine treatment in about 4 weeks.
My voice is ok, just weak and scratchy. Throat still hurts too much to try singing, but this Dr. was AMAZING. He actually found some tumor on my vocal chord that he separated off by hand. Wow...
The scar isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, I look like Jack the Ripper got to me in a back alley somewhere, but it's a small price to pay! Dr. assures me that within a year it will blend in to the folds in my neck. Wasn't sure that comforted me, really ;)
The biggest problem I've had since the surgery: calcium. It's not just for bones, people! Did you know that if your calcium level drops you could go into cardiac arrest?! Again, the things I'm learning are incredible! So, yes, that's why I've been in the hospital all week, my calcium still hasn't kept up like my Dr. wants it to. I got home last night (yeah!) but have to go in every morning for 3 days (boo!) to get calcium level tested and maybe have an IV for it. Speaking of, I really need to go. I will update with nasty pictures and everything later! Much love!!!
The surgery itself took a long time, about 4 and 1/2 hours, because it turns out my entire thyroid was just one big, cancerous tumor. The Dr. had to dig under my collar bone to get nodules out, it had spread so badly. Ugh. The pathologist could hardly find any regular thyroid tissue! He also tested the surrounding lymph nodes that were taken out. These have cancer, like we feared, but the Dr. is very positive and thinks we can kill them all with the radioactive iodine treatment in about 4 weeks.
My voice is ok, just weak and scratchy. Throat still hurts too much to try singing, but this Dr. was AMAZING. He actually found some tumor on my vocal chord that he separated off by hand. Wow...
The scar isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, I look like Jack the Ripper got to me in a back alley somewhere, but it's a small price to pay! Dr. assures me that within a year it will blend in to the folds in my neck. Wasn't sure that comforted me, really ;)
The biggest problem I've had since the surgery: calcium. It's not just for bones, people! Did you know that if your calcium level drops you could go into cardiac arrest?! Again, the things I'm learning are incredible! So, yes, that's why I've been in the hospital all week, my calcium still hasn't kept up like my Dr. wants it to. I got home last night (yeah!) but have to go in every morning for 3 days (boo!) to get calcium level tested and maybe have an IV for it. Speaking of, I really need to go. I will update with nasty pictures and everything later! Much love!!!
3 comments:
Woo hoo! Nasty pictures! I can't wait! I'm SO SO glad everything went well, especially with the extent that the cancer had spread. Good luck with the calcium problems. Love you tons! Hang in there!!
Thanks, love. I'm fightin' the good fight with the help of all you wonderful people. Guess what? I bought the XY Coldplay album to listen to in the hospital. Lovin' it!
Testing my calcium tomorrow, but I'm feeling good so I think it will be just fine. Talk to you soon, hun!
Ummmm..... excuse me L-I-Z!!! I leave Lakeside and what happens?? All *#-+* hits the fan! Are you kidding me? Are you ok? Those pics are so freakin HOT! I bet Steve REALLY can't keep his hand off of you now! K, so what can I do? How can I help? I will be praying for you, but I want to do more. Can I take Noelle? Make you dinner? Clean your house? Bring you a shake from Jakes? :) You better let me know or I will fer sure come and hunt you down. Let me know k?
Luvs, Luvs, and more Luvs!! xxooxoxoxo
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