On W&W and need a Parathyroidectomy

[CBME]

I am scheduled to have parathyroid surgery. I am on W&W for 1-1/2 years. WBC at 18.40 and Lymph #12.44. Very nervous about infection, time of healing. Any advice/info anyone has would be very appreciated.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi CBME,-

You can see my CLL history here: healthunlocked.com/user/lan...

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I have had 2 major back operations - the second included a 6 inch long incision in my stomach and reaching through my abdomen to install a wedge in my backbone and another long incision to reach the opposite side of my spine to install a titanium cage in 2019.

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My CLL expert doctor and the two surgeons ( neuro and vascular) warned me and my wife to be hypervigilant about any signs of infection around the sutures and the drains installed to relieve liquids from under the internal sutures. I took prophylactic antibiotics for several weeks, along with anti viral and anti fungals. I had no issues and completely normal recovery.

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I suggest you have your CLL expert doctor confer with the surgical team to plan appropriate post surgery care for your individual case needs.

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Len

[CBME in reply to lankisterguy]

Thanks. That is very comforting that you had a good outcome.

[AnneHill in reply to CBME]

I had surgery on my back when first diagnosed and more at a later date. No problems.

[msbypass4cll]

I have had higih risk CLL since 2008 ((5%p53/p17 deleted, unmutated, complex karyotype etc.).I have had a number of treatments and have been on VEnetoclax since Nov. 2020. I had a parothyroidectomy in May 2021. I was concerned primarily about COVID Exposure from the health care workers.... My oncologists okayed the procedure after checking my CBC (neutrophils etc..) My surgery was successful and my recovery uneventful. I might, however have reconsidered the procedure if I had known beforehand the considerable percentage of healthcare workers who would be caring for me who were still unvaccinated.

[Fran57]

Hello.I don’t have CLL ..it’s my husband who has it…but I did have a parathyroidectomy in 2017 ..it was my first ever operation and I was terrified.

I know your circumstances are different and, of course you must speak to your consultants, but I wanted to reassure you how straightforward the operation and recovery was for me.

I am sure you will be very well looked after. I hope it goes well.

Stay safe,

Fran 😉

[CBME in reply to Fran57]

Thanks, you made a difference in how I feel.

[SKINOW]

I am watch and wait just shy of 3 years. Lots of nodes, spleen increased 50% and Unmutated. Had right superior parathyroidectomy 10 days ago. For what it is worth, I am a recently retired physician. This is a relatively fast, simple surgery in a highly vascular area. You will be given an antibiotic prior to surgery. Infection concern is very low. Not sure where you live, but there is a surgical group at a hospital in Tampa Florida that does 15 a day and has a remarkably reduced procedure without intubation. Check on google. Had I have known, I would have flown there.

[CBME in reply to SKINOW]

Thanks. That is very reassuring.

[SofiaDeo]

If you haven't been having constant/near constant infections (especially recently) during your watch & wait, your immune system is likely functional enough that you would be considered much lower risk for a hospital acquired infection, or post surgical infection, than someone undergoing immunosuppressive treatment. Probably closer to a "normal immune system" person than a "high risk of infection" person. Do your gums bleed a lot when you brush? Do any skin cuts take an exceptionally long time to heal? There's a very wide spectrum among us "immune compromised."

I personally would be thinking along the lines of what msbypass4cll noted, what is the vaccination status of those around you, especially if not wearing masks? I wouldn't want to go anywhere there were unvaccinated people, but I am also under treatment right now, my risk is higher.