My ThyCa Journey

4 weeks post surgery

2010-03-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

Not too bad looking. Still have the stupid dissolvable suture in there and some bumps left over from the allergic reaction, but all in all not bad!

Just take it one step at a time.

2010-02-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

February 16 - two weeks post surgery Things are going really well! I went back to work last weekend and it was great! The best part was simply getting back to my regular routine. My neck got just a hair sore right at the incision where it felt like it was tearing inside, but it was mild/moderate. Not bad at all. It was a little unnerving going to work with this crazy incision and syphillitic looking rash on my neck. No one gave me a hard time about it and all my co-workers were AWESOME!! They asked questions and were curious, but in a supportive way. The rash is going away very slowly, but I make sure to keep the whole area clean and "lubed" up with bacitracin!

February 17 - surgeon's follow up visit Not a good day. I stayed in Memphis last night because my appointment was supposedly at 8am at my surgeon's office. I get there, however, only to find out that they don't even open until 9am!! I called my mom (who's staying at my house to take my son to an appointment he has) and she finds my discharge papers and verifies my appointment time on there. Fab. So, I show up at the surgeon's office again at 9am and they have no record of an appointment for me. I explain where I live and that I can't just come back in here whenever, so they worked me in to see another surgeon. Two hours later I finally get to see someone. He asks me to get him up to date on what I had done, takes one quick look at my neck and tells me it looks fine and that I can go. Huh? I thought he was going to take out my one remaining stitch! That's what Dr. Hammond had told me and my husband. Apparently not, tho. He said it's dissolving and will come out on it's own. Great. Ok then, back to my day!

February 22 - first Endo visit post surgery This day I knew was going to be rough. I worked 7pm to 7am last night and my appointment is at 945am!! Yikes! Ok, no big deal. So, I get there and of course have to wait forever to see my Endo. He comes in, takes a look, asks me about how I'm feeling and then tells me we're going to try Synthroid 112 mcg daily. He checks some lab values since I'm having occasional signs of hypocalcemia (numb and tingling hands and face) and a THS (why, neither of us know, I guess just because! LOL). He wants me back in 3 months to check my levels. We'll see how it goes! I'll be posting a new picture of the scar soon. It's healing well!

11 Days post op

2010-02-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

A friend from work reminded me that I hadn't updated this with all my latest news! Thanks!! I did mean to do it and just completely forgot.

Ok, Update number 1: I got my final pathology report yesterday "follicular adenoma". Basically what that means is that it is a non-cancerous tumor made up of follicular thyroid cells. The thing with this is that it eventually turns cancerous. So, I beat cancer before it got the chance to get a foot-hold! Whoo hoo!! Hooray for me being persistant!! So, I'm done now. No radiation, no scans, nothing! I'm officially cured!

Update number 2: I went back to work yesterday. It was really awesome to be able to get back to work and out of the house. My neck didn't hurt that bad, but the incision itself started to hurt. It felt strange, kinda like a "tearing" sensation when I turned my head to one side or the other. It wasn't bad, but VERY annoying. I'm sure that's a normal sensation and I'm not the least bit worried about it.

I go back on Wednesday for my first follow-up with the surgeon and he will take my one stitch out. I've named my stitch "Floyd" by the way. I figured if I had to deal with it hanging out of my neck for 2 weeks, then I might as well call him something! LOL! Sorry, please excuse my warped sense of humor. Anyway, moving right along. The rash from my reaction is starting to go away. The bumps are still there a bit, but most of the redness is gone. I have a little pustule there where Floyd is, but it's tiny. Um, let's see. . . I feel great, almost complete mobility in my neck, no hoarsness, no swallowing problems (I can "feel" it, but it doesn't hurt, more on that later.), rash going away. I think I'm officially "mended"!

Ok, about the wierd swallowing thing, whenever I swallow, I can feel a lump move in my throat. The thicker whatever I'm swallowing is, the more I can feel it. I do believe it is just scar tissue from the surgery. It's not inside my esophagus, but between there and my skin. That's why I think it's just scar tissue. It is not painful in any way, just . . . odd. I asked my dad about it since he had a total thyroidectomy about 40 years ago. He sat and thought about it for a while (and swallowed, LOL) and said that if he pays attention to it he still feels it too, but said you get used to it and it doesn't bother him. Cool!

So, all in all I think things are going really well! I start jogging again on Monday and I will also be starting Taekwondo on Monday! On Wedesday I start my Mediterranean/Atkins diet and I WILL LOSE THIS FREAKIN' WEIGHT! Ok, I fell better now. I guess I'll update one more time at 2 weeks post op, then I think this journey will be just about over.

Thanks for reading!

6 days post op

2010-02-08T17:09:00.001-08:00

Ok, this is 6 days post op. I'd finally had enough of my latex/adhesive allergy. My surgeon's office was closed today due to the killer winter weather we had last night and this morning, so I couldn't get in. Me being the bad patient (they say nurses make the worst patients) I went ahead and pulled off my steri strips. I was dying here!! Anyway, I think it all looks pretty good considering! I think I would have actually been worse off if I had left the steri strips off. I really think the allergic reaction would have prevented appropriate healing.

Ok, so on to my other complaint. I still don't have my final path results! I'm starting to get very upset about that. My surgeon said that I would have results in 2-3 days and now it's been 6 and still no results! I'm getting very angry and upset! I'll try calling again tomorrow.

Blistering steri strip allergy

2010-02-06T19:08:00.001-08:00

Pretty, isn't it??

4 Days post op

2010-02-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

Well, my sister has just left and my husband is at work. First day alone. Not too bad so far. My pain is nearly nonexistant, so that's not a problem. I'm still steadily working my neck to regain full ROM. It's much much better, but looking up is still where I'm lacking the most. I even still walk with my head down slightly if I don't make a conscious effort to raise it. My only issue today is I don't have a vehicle. I haven't gone and gotten a rental since I butchered my truck on Sunday morning. My parents are going to be coming out on Monday to bring the kids for their Taekwondo class, so I'll probably go back with them and pick up a rental then. That will be the first time I have driven since my wreck. I'm a little nervous about that as well. That's why I'd like to be as healed up as possible from this surgery before I start driving again.

No final path report yet. My surgeon expected to have one by Friday, but no such luck. Had a preliminary path report that said multi-nodular goiter, but I'm not relying on that. I mean, don't get me wrong, I HOPE that's what it is, but I just have a feeling it isn't. So, yet again, I have a weekend wait to get information. I'm hoping to be able to pick a copy up on Monday when I go in, but the office may be closed by the time I get in there. If that's the case, it might not be until next Friday before I actually get a physical copy of the report. I also plan on getting a copy of my entire hospital stay. Call me OCD, but I want to have records of everything that happened to me. Can't help it. Ok, off to clean house some more!

3 days post op

2010-02-05T15:14:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling pretty good now! I don't have hearly my full range of motion in my neck, but it's getting better every day. I don't have to take any more prescription pain medication either. It's really nice now. Unfortunately, I think I am allergic to the steri strips that they used to close my incision. The part of my neck that is under the steri strips is still swollen and red, also very itchy. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to just deal with it until they come off on their own. I'm also still waiting on the final path report. I got the ok from my surgeon to start working out and start tae kwon do whenever I feel like it. I think I'm going to start up again the week after I go back to work. I don't want to over do it and set myself back. I might, however, have to hit the treadmill before that. I'm really itching to get going on this!!

Picture diary time

2010-02-04T07:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, time for the picture diary of the day! This is a picture of me in the same day surgery area just before being taken to pre-op holding. Greta had started my IV and I was getting LR at KVO while waiting:

Here is my most wonderful husband! He was such a comfort to me during this whole thing. He never left my side except when he absolutely had to.

This is my first post-op picture. I had actually been out of surgery for quite some time, but this is the first time my husband got to see me. I'm sure he was horrified!!

I'm slowly starting to wake up and rejoin the living! LOL

Moved back to pre-op holding here because it's taking so long to get me a room in the hospital. I'm trying to update people and let them know that I'm done with surgery.

Please excuse the sideways pictures!! THere are right after I got in my room upstairs and my family came up to see me.

Reunited with my babies!!! Now I'm one happy Mama!!

Yeah, you know I had to get on the computer soon or later! Gotta update my facebook peeps!

I begged my nurse to take that huge piece of tegaderm off!! It was killing me! Of course, I see now that my tape allergy has apparently gotten much worse!

Now, I'm at home!! This is one day post-op and I'm feeling much better!

Day 1 post surgery

2010-02-03T05:11:00.001-08:00

Wednesday, February 3, Day 1 post surgery Not too great sleep last night, but that didn't come at any suprise to me. I'm super-tired of being in this hospital bed, but really I'm doing just fine. I can't wait to go home!! No idea, tho, as to when that might be. I had a rockin' nurse last night who took excellent care of me. I'm going to try and catch her before she leaves this morning and find out the name of the nurse I had last night. I want to recognize them all for their wonderful work.

Ok, on to the recovery part. My throat is still very very sore. I don't think I can take solid foods just yet. My neck is still stiff and sore as well. I'm trying to move it around in all directions carefully so I can get my range of motion back asap. I can't drive until I get that back. I think I got up to pee approximately 5,000 times last night. They've had LR going at 100cc/hr since I got out of surgery. That's a lot of fuilds people! Add that to what I'm drinking and you're just asking for it! LOL! Let's just say, I'm very well hydrated now! Haha!!

I have a wonderful husband as well!! He shouldn't have stayed because I knew he wouldn't be comfortable, but I have to say that he was a great comfort to me. He's been wonderful about everything. I even love hearing his snoring right now! LOL!! Seriously, tho, he was a great comfort to me.

Oh, I forgot to mention in my post about surgery day that my priest came to visit me! That was a great suprise! She prayed over me and asked for a rapid recovery. I've never had a priest come visit me before, and it was really nice!

Going to try and rest a bit more and NOT watch the clock while waiting to be discharged!

Surgery Day

2010-02-03T04:54:00.000-08:00

February 2 Surgery Day 4:50am Wake up time. I actually got some good sleep last night. I took something to help me after I had eaten that wonderful meal at Molly's! I did not want to get up and get moving. Oh well, up for shower etc and then head off to the hospital.

6:10am Arrival. Got to the hospital and checked in at the main desk. After some paperwork, we headed around the corner to the surgery center.

7:00am In surgery center. About 7am then called me back in to the surgery center. Then, they verified my information and history, obtained consent for the procedure, changed into gown, blood drawn and IV started. Not really too fun getting stuck 3 times, but sometimes that's what happens. No big deal. I'm not feeling nervous yet! This really suprises me as I thought I would be feeling nervous at this time. Hmm, interesting.

7:50 Off to the pre-op holding area. They take me over there where I meet the anesthesiologist, my surgeon comes by, and they verify one last time that everything on my chart is correct. Then, shortly after all that transpires, the OR nurse comes to take me to the OR. All of this is happening so fast, I didn't have time to be nervous! It was really wonderful! Just before we left, the anesthesiologist gave me a dose of Versed. Versed is an amnesiac which means it makes you forget! LOL! I don't remember getting in the OR or on the table, but I do remember looking up and seeing the lights. I also remember them putting an oxygen mask on my face and telling me to take slow deep breaths. The next thing I remember, I'm in the recovery room!!

10:30am Recovery. I'm exhausted and it takes everything I have to keep my eyes open. My recovery nurse was absolutely wonderful! I have got to find out her name because I simply can't remember it and I'd like to acknowledge her for her wonderful care of me. She was obviously busy, yet she took impeccable care of me. She even snuck my husband back there to see me!! He normally wouldn't have been allowed back there, but I was in recovery for around 7 hours because they didn't have a room available for me. Now, THAT was frustrating. I wanted to grill my nurse about it, but I know that she had nothing to do with my getting a room. I was in recovery for so long that they had to move me BACK to pre-op holding because they didn't have anywhere to put the fresh OR patients! I was back in pre-op holding for about 30 minutes then I got a room.

5:00 pm In my room. Yay! I'm finally in a room!! I was taken to room 454 West. I have yet ANOTHER super great nurse! I am so lucky this stay. I've got to find out her name again as well. It was kinda funny, I changed in to my personal pj's before I came up (just to be more comfortably) and she took one look at me and goes, "I love to see a patient come up in their own pj's!!" Too funny! Then she got all excited when I moved over to the bed alone with no problems. She said I'm the first of her patients today that was able to do that! LOL Anyway, she got me situated and was really great. She brought me my clear liquid diet (oh joy, but all I could swallow!!) and then Catherine took over at 7pm. She was really awesome too! I'm telling you, I couldn't have asked for better nurses the whole way around! I am definitely writing a letter. Nurses this wonderful need to be acknowledged for the great care they give.

Ok, so shortly after I get in my room, I call my parents and let them know I'm up there. They wanted to wait until I was in a room to come see me so that they could being my babies too! I really needed to see my kids. I don't know why, but that was suddenly really important! So, my mom, dad, sister, and my two kids show up and it's wonderful!! My kids are obviously nervous, but they warm up. They all bring me the most awesome gifts!! I got some beautiful flowers, a cute little red bear with chocolates, a box of Ghirardelli chocolates, more jelly belly's (my personal fave!!) and some fruit wedges. I simply can NOT wait to eat that stuff!! I was able to let the little chocolates with the red bear melt in my mouth, but I can't tolerate solid food yet. Just too hard on my throat. Maybe later, tho.

So, now it's time to try and get some rest!

12 hours

2010-02-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

I think this will be my last pre-surgery post. It's 12 hours before start of surgery. My sister is at her class, my two little munchkins are curled up on their step-dad's lap watching "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs", and I'm ready to get my mind off this. I have everything for tomorrow ready, I'm going to make one final look at everything to make sure all I have to do in the morning is pick it up on my way out. Then, I'm going to go ahead and wash my face, brush teeth, and then hopefully my sister will be home and we can chill for a bit while I let my feel good sleep medicine kick in. Adios amigos. My next post will be post-surgery.

Starting to get nervous

2010-02-01T03:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm starting to get more nervous. It's slow at work (yes, I said the cursed word!!) and I have time on my hands. I can't leave because 1. I don't have a vehicle 2. I'm not waking my parent's up at 540am just to bring me home and 3. I have to stay in order to pick up my FMLA paperwork. I've cleaned up, patients are taken care of, and I'm just sitting here thinking, thinking, thinking. My heart is pounding, I loathe to think of what my blood pressure is doing, and it's rediculous. I know nothing's going to happen, so what's my problem? I mean, really??? In almost 24 hours exactly, I'll be leaving for the hospital. WHY AM I SO DANG NERVOUS ABOUT THIS?? Ok, going to try and relax now.

1 Day

2010-02-01T00:29:00.000-08:00

Down to the wire, now. I "officially" have 1 day before surgery. I'm doing really well! I was afraid that this night at work would be really tough for me. That I'd be all distracted and obsessed with it and everything, but that's not the case. It's going really well. I have 4 hours left and I'm not crazy. I think I'm emotionally ready to do this and get it over with. I'm physically ready, bag packed, pre-op done, registered and everything. I get a little "butterfly" in my stomach when I stop and think about it, so I'm just not letting myself sit and think about it. I know I'm in good hands, this is what needs to be done, and God is watching over me. My priest came by my mom's house today to bless me and, unfortunately, I was asleep. I stayed awake as long as I could waiting for her, but I didn't know what time she would be by and as it was, I was only able to get about 2.5 hrs sleep. I'd like for her to bless me, so maybe we can do it some time tomorrow. I'm also going to try and get in to my chiropractor tomorrow because of the wreck. I'm not hurting now, but I'm afraid I will be. I'm overdue for an adjustment anyway. Well, I'm looking forward to the evening of relaxation and fun that we have planned after I nap later on today. I'm sure I'll update again!

Wow what a day

2010-01-31T19:34:00.000-08:00

So, I'm trying to get home, all the way home, to see my husband. I thought the streets were ok. They WERE ok. Until, that is, I hit a patch of "black ice" on the interstate. That's when all hell breaks loose. I spun out, hit the right guardrail, spun out again and came to rest againts the center divide. Luckily, I didn't hit anyone else and I didn't go over the side rail!! I thought I might at first! I'm not hurt, but I think my truck is totaled. Glad it was the truck and not me, but still. I really didn't need this so close to surgery. All I can take for pain is Tylenol. Luckily I have a high pain tolerance and I'm really not hurting that much. There is not much body damage to my truck, but the steering wheel just spins, you can't turn the key all the way off, and I have no brakes. We'll find out soon enough if it's totaled. Here are pictures:

2 Days

2010-01-31T01:56:00.000-08:00

Nearly there, nearly there, and yet my anxiety isn't going up. That's a good thing, tho! I do still think about it alot, but the near manic obsession isn't there. I'm a daydreamer and I've often caught myself thinking about it, say, when I'm driving or something. Just picturing what pre-op will be like, the OR, etc. I still think my issues are strange because I can't decide what's making me so nervous about all this. It's not the surgery, it's not the scar, and I don't THINK it's the "dreaded c word" either. I just don't know. I know everything's going to be fine but I continue to think about it. Maybe that's natural.

I was told that I need to pick up and fill out FMLA papers for this leave, "just in case". I'm not sure exactly why, but that's ok. Kinda a pain because that means I have to hang around Monday after I get off work to wait for HR to open up so I can get a copy. I'll need to get my surgeon to fill it out while I'm in the hospital and then get a family member to drop it off sometime after that. Oh well, if that's the worst of my worries then I'm set!

3 Days

2010-01-30T01:02:00.000-08:00

Well, here I sit at work, my first day of the last 3 before surgery. Did you follow that? Haha! It also just so happens that I'm snowed in. . . IN MEMPHIS! WTF? That's strange! We had a winter storm come rolling in Friday morning, so I headed in to my mom's on Thursday evening just in cast. Glad I did because it is nasty with a capital "N" out there! I'm going to be here until my surgery, it looks like. It "might" thaw some on Sunday during the day, but not in time for me to make the drive home. Then, of course, I have to be right back out here for work Sunday night. I'm thinking it would be wiser just to stay in town. I'm going to play it by ear tho.

Still anxious about the whole thing. Tonight isn't as bad as I was afraid it would be, but this isn't the night I'm really worried about. Hopefully, when I get to my mom's later on, I'll be able to take something to help me sleep. That's the worst part about everything right now. I simply can't sleep worth a crap. I think my emotional state as a whole would be better if I could just get one good solid night's sleep. Maybe today will be better.

4 Days

2010-01-29T06:20:00.001-08:00

Well, I was able to pretty much get everything done I wanted to. I didn't get quite all the laundry done and I wanted to be able to neaten up again on Friday, just to make sure. However, lovely winter weather didn't cooperate. It is supposed to be a horrible ice/snow storm today so I had to go ahead and come in to Memphis as my job doesn't allow call-ins for weather. I might be stuck here until Sunday morning! *sigh* I hope not, but it's definitely a real possibility.

I'm doing much better during the day with my nerves, but the nights are no better. Luckily, they are no worse, but definitely no better. I haven't had a good solid night of sleep in over 2 weeks. It's getting to me now. I would do anything for a straight night of not waking up. I've tried all kinds of medication that I can and nothing is working. I would call my doctor, but I'm not sure what he could prescribe that would actually work for me. I don't want something that's going to put me in a stupor for work, so I just don't know. I'm afraid I'll have to just deal until Tuesday. All will be well then!

5 Days

2010-01-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

Let's see, today's agenda included working out, cleaning house, Taylor's appointment, and then Karate class. I've pretty much got it all done. I'm wanting to have the house immaculate before I go back to work tomorrow. All I want the hubby to have to do is vacuum and dust once. I'm thinking we're headed in the right direction! LOL! I'm also working out as much as possible (without overdoing it) so that I will be in as good a shape as possible before surgery so I can get back to working out as soon after surgery as possible. I know that will help my recovery. Gotta finish cleaning!

6 days left

2010-01-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, I continue to count down daily. I can't help it. I'm not obsessing like I was before, so I think this is ok for me. I had a little bit of "me" time today. I got my hair cut and colored and my eyebrows done! It's been ages since I got that done. I'd like to get a mani/pedi but I'm not sure that's going to work out. Besides, the nurse at pre-op told me no nail polish. *sigh* oh well. Anyway, my new pajamas came in from Victorias Secret today! Yay!! I've halfway started packing a bag to take to the hospital. I'm thinking I won't need much other than something to sleep in (I hate hospital gowns) and a couple things to entertain me. Oh yeah, toothbrush might be good too! LOL! I'm thinking I won't much feel like fixing my hair, so I won't bother with that whole load of stuff. Now that we've decided to go the route of total thyroidectomy, I called my surgeon today with three other questions. 1. Will this increase my stay any? 2. How big do you expect my scar to be? and 3. Will I have a drain? They didn't get back to me today, but I'm hoping they will tomorrow. I can't think of any other questions that I have for the surgeon at this time. He pretty much answered my questions at the appointment. Alot of them have now changed since we've decided to go with the TT, but I know a good bit of those answers now. I'll update later once I get the answers to those questions.

I am a tad worried about this weekend at work. Right now, at this moment, I'm doing just fine dealing with all of this. I've calmed down and all that. However, I know as Tuesday gets closer, I won't necessarily be so "fine". I think that Friday and Saturday I'll do just fine, but Sunday is another thing. Luckily, I work with some awesome women, and we'll do just great, I know. I hope I don't space out too much! Monday, I'll have my family with me to help keep my mind occupied as well. I'll just have to take it one moment at a time!

My motivation

2010-01-27T08:21:00.000-08:00

Here is my motivation for getting healthy and staying healthy!!

Me and my wonderful huband:

Me and my amazing children:

Pre-op testing

2010-01-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

January 26, Pre-op testing I spent a good bit of the day on the road today, all for a 30 minute appointment. Remember, it's an hour and a half for me one way to the hospital. Today, I had pre-op testing day. Let's see, I get there and only wait about 5 minutes before I'm called (if that!). What a wonderful surprise! Ok, first person I see is the anesthesia consult. I get all the typical questions and it was done shortly. I was a bit taken aback when she went over the whole "don't eat after midnight" speel. I expected it, but then she started listing specific foods. I laughed at her, thinking she was joking. Then, I realized she wasn't joking. The list she was telling me was comprised of things other folks had eaten when told "nothing after midnight". It included things like lettuce, barbeque and communion! ROFL Ok, moving on. The next person to grab me was one of the hospital nurses. She did a history and home meds sheet on me. It took a bit because she had 10,000 boxes to check, but it's all good. I'm used to that from working in the ER. Finally, the blood draw. I must say this, that phlebotomist was EXCELLENT!! I seriously didn't feel her do a thing! I was quite impressed and told her so! Now, nothing to do but wait until Tuesday. Seven days left.

Surgeon called. . .

2010-01-25T15:39:00.000-08:00

January 25 Surgery plan changed. My surgeon called me today after he looked at the ultrasound report. He didn't really like the changes that he saw, so as of today, we are now doing a total thyroidectomy instead of a left lobectomy. I'm worried about what the surgery itself might entail now, but it does make me feel better now knowing that the whole thing is going to come out and I don't have to worry about a possible repeat surgery.

Now, I have tons to do and not much time to do it in. Tomorrow, I go in for pre-op testing, sometime this week I have to get both of the kids hair cut, my hair cut, my son has an appointment on Thursday, and somewhere in there I have to clean my house! I am hoping that all this running around will keep me occupied and not focusing so much on the surgery and recovery.

feel goods

2010-01-24T18:09:00.000-08:00

I'm buying some new button down pajamas and such so that I'll have comfy sleep stuff after surgery. It's making me feel better! I'm going to do what I can to make my first few days after surgery better!

The waiting. . .

2010-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

Not fun. I'm getting nervous already and I'm not entirely sure why. It shouldn't be the surgery because I've had surgery twice already before. Maybe just the unknown? Maybe it's that I might get the definite "cancer" diagnosis? I don't know. I do know that I'm getting tired of it. It's starting to consume me. I think about it nearly every waking moment. I check the websites that I'm following countless times a day, check my emails, reread reports that I have, talk about it, it's rediculous! Luckily I have a wonderful family support group, but there's only so much they can do, and the rest is up to me. I already have a little anxiety order and am on Celexa, but this is getting worse. Every time I turn my head or look up I think about it. If I were a drinker, I'd be in trouble. *sigh* Oh well, only 9 more days and it will be over.

In the beginning. . .

2010-01-23T20:42:00.000-08:00

The beginning of this all started with the suggestion of a friend at work that I use a place called LifeSigns. I was wanting to have a really good thorough physical done and was told this was the place. I was especially impressed with the fact that they did an ultrasound of your internal organs as part of your exam. Let me pause for a moment and give a little bit of history here. I knew that my father had thyroid cancer when he was younger, so I have always gottne my doctor to check my hormone level. I've been doing that for my entire adult life.

October 19, day of appointment. Ok, back to my appointment. She places the ultrasound transducer on my neck (thyroid first) and frowns. I don't think much of it (not really watching her) until I notice that she keeps coming back to the same area. She then proceeds to tell me what she sees. Three nodules on my thyroid. Two on the left and one on the right. One on the left measures 1.2 cm in diameter, the second on the left is 0.4 cm, and the one on the right is 0.4 cm. She tells me that the majority of thyroid nodules are benign, but my wind is up anyway. Remember, I've been "watching" my thyroid for a while now. So, she prints off the pictures of the nodules and makes me an appointment with an Endocrinologist and off I go.

Of course, in the time between the LifeSigns appointment and my Endocrine appointment, my brain keeps turning. Just wondering about some things and thinking. I just keep thinking about all the times I've asked various doctors to check my thyroid and telling them about my family history. How long have these things been there? Do you know how hard it is to stop thinking about them once you know something is growing in your neck???

December 3, first appointment with Endocrinologist. I bring my father with me since he's been through all this already and might be helpful at the appointment. So, we get there and wait a small eternity for the doctor to come in there and talk to us. He does a very thorough exam and asks plenty of questions. We discover that unfortunately, my father doesn't know what kind of thyroid cancer he had. OH! Almost forgot. Just before this appointment, I learn that my grandfather (my dad's father) actually DIED of thyroid cancer! OMG nice to find that out now! Once the doctor found out about the history, he was much more interested. He ordered some lab tests and scheduled me for a biopsy. I was really impressed with this doctor as he seemed quite thorough and ver knowledgeable. I thought finally that things were headed in the right direction.

December 17, biopsy day. Dad and husband accompany. I'm also participating in a study to help doctors get the most out of fna results. I've never had a needle biopsy before. It wasn't painful, but at the same time it was very uncomfortable. I was totally ok until I had to lay back with my head below my shoulders. Major dizziness to follow. Took me three times of trying before I could lay flat. The biopsy wasn't "painful", but it was really really uncomfortable. It's hard to describe, but it isn't something I want to go through again any time soon. Anyway, 3 pokes with the needle and we're done. Ye haw. Please let that be the last one. Should expect results in under a week.

December 22, biopsy results. I get a call from my Endo stating that my biopsy results are benign. I ask him what the plan would be for follow-up and you would have thought I spoke Swahili to him. He just sat there on the phone for a minute and says (finally) "plan??". That starts my whole OCD process going. No way am I going to let this settle. He finally decides that he will reultrasound it in 6 months. Nah, no good for me. I get my own copy of the biopsy results which show "hurthle cell changes". I thought that was interesting and started doing some research to find out what Hurthle Cells were. I discovered that there are two kinds of Hurthle Cells, those that are indiginous to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and those indiginous to cancer. I decided I needed to have another discussion with my Endocrinologist so I made a follow up appointment.

January 11, follow up appointment with Endo. He printed off the path report so we could both have all the info. I reminded him of my family history and the fact that we didn't know the type of thyroid cancer that they both had. He took another look at the path report and said "Why don't we go ahead and send you to a surgeon". I just sat there for a minute and stared at my mother, who went with me for moral support, with my mouth open in pure disbelief. I actually kept talking for a while because I didn't believe he actually said it after he wanted to dismiss me earlier! However, he said it again and we both heard him. So, now I have an appointment for an ultrasound on Friday the 15th and waiting for the surgeon to call.

January 12 get appointment. I hear from the surgeon and have an appointment on Friday the 29th with him. Will update later!

January 15, ultrasound. I get my ultrasound today and my sister goes with me just to watch. The ultrasound tech is very nice and talks to me the whole time and explains to my sister what she is looking at. She finds the smaller nodule on the right and says it's still small. However, that's where the good news stops. BOTH of the nodules on the left are bigger! Nearly TWICE the size they were in October! I like to had a heart attack. I asked her to print me out some pictures so I could take them with me to the surgeon.

January 19 appointment change. The surgeon's office calls me and tells me that my surgeon has decided to take this time to go to Haiti and work in the disaster relief and they need to reschedule my appointment for some time in February. Not cool. I tell her why I'm upset with this and that appointment won't do. She said she could get me in earlier with a different surgeon. I asked her if he did thyroid surgeries and she stated that they all did. I took the earlier appointment, and now I'm set up for January 21st!!.

January 21 Surgery appointment. After the nearly hour wait in the waiting room, I get back to see the surgeon. Again I have my mother with me for moral support and because she always remembers questions that I don't think about. I must say, I am very impressed with my surgeon. He spoke to me like I was a real person, took all the time I needed and was honest with me. He said that the left side needed to come out for sure. The first suprise I had was when he looked at my biopsy results. He told me that they were NOT benign!! OMFG I nearly died! I have a follicular lesion and you can only tell it if is malignant through surgery where you check for whether or not it is encapsulated or vascular. It took me a while to get over that. Ok, so then he tells me that if the nodule on the right has grown by 50% then he will to a total thyroidectomy rather than just a left lobectomy. Neither he nor I were able to get a copy of the ultrasound report from Friday before my appointment with him. I told him that I would work on getting him a copy. I leave the appointment with a left lobectomy scheduled for Tuesday, February 2 at 8:30am.

January 22, receive ultrasound report. I finally get a copy of my ultrasound report and take it by the surgeon's office so he can see it. On the way there, I start reading the report. On the report it shows the two on the left larger, which we already knew about. It also shows the one on the right 50% larger AND another one on the right that we didn't know about!! OMG! My surgeon was gone for the day already when I dropped it off, so he's supposed to call me either Monday or Tuesday and let me know what he thinks. Now, I can't stop thinking about this!! I'm already on Celexa for anxiety and this isn't helping!! Now I'm just trying to mentally and emotionally prepare for surgery.