Neck resection and thyroidectomy

[kri312]

I had a left hemi thyroidectomy 3 years ago and 3 doctors at the time felt that was sufficient. My latest US shows papillary cells in the lymph nodes on the left and central neck. I am scheduled for a left lymph node resection and removal of the right remaining thyroid at Mt Sinai on 4/20. I am so nervous about the fact that it is in the lymph nodes and has spread as well as the massive scar this next surgery will leave. I also didn't do the full initially because I didn't want to have to do RAI after hearing so many horror stories...I don't know if I can realistically avoid it this time. Looking for some hope that I will be ok.....

[ling]

Maybe u want to check out other sites and post your question there? This forum has very few members and chances of a reply are low.

May I suggest u check this site out if u've not already done so? I don't know anything about it except that it's in the US and there seems to be a forum, email support groups, and thyroid cancer info seems detailed -

thyca.org/home/

I wish u all the best for the surgery, and hope that you stay positive to be strong for the op. Your surgeons will do their best for you.

With best wishes.

[kri312 in reply to ling]

thank you

[Batty1]

Hi Kri312,

I thyroidectomy in 2016 pap cancer with no RAI because new medical theory is Rai is not always needed with pap cancer is this true, who knows.

I currently have pap cancer in my lymph nodes and I took the wait and watch approach because I take immunosuppressive drugs for PSA and I just swear this drug skews test results, again who knows.

I would highly recommend you get a complete thyroid panel done prior to your thyroidectomy (TSH, T3, FT3 and FT4, T4 and antibodies) I regret never knowing to do this because having these thyroid tests before your surgery will give you a base line on your thyroid levels for after surgery reference without them your running blind. Also after you have the total thyroidectomy everything plummets and most Endo’s won’t bother doing a complete thyroid panel beyond the TSH and T4 which never tell the whole thyroid story and I would also suggest you request a script for T3 medications along with the T4 meds you will get after your surgery .... this was another thing I did not know and wish I had.

[rosegold-rockchick]

Hi kri312

I had a total thyroidectomy in October 2019, I had papillary cancer and was diagnosed out the blue the month before after having a sore throat for a couple of months. It had spread to my lymph nodes, I had 46 removed and it was in 8 of them, I had a ct scan of chest but it hadn't spread. I then had the rai treatment two months later, then a rai scan before leaving the hospital after the rai two night stay and another one six months later. All were clear, I don't know if this is what you will get but just thought I'd tell you what happened to me.

I spent four nights in hospital aftery thyroidectomy and then was discharged home. It did hurt a lot but after a couple of days was better than I thought. The scar is big, but I looked after it and soon as it had healed over I used kelo cote on it twice a day and that has really helped. It's quite expensive from the manufacturer but I bought sealed ones of ebay and they have been great. A year and half later I hardly think about the scar, it just takes time so be easy on yourself.

It took a while to even out my medication, well I'm still getting there to be honest. I felt awful on levothyroxine only (t4) and haven't long started adding t3 to it. Felt so much better but had a slight reaction to the t3, so am currently trying to find a way round this.

I went for blood test to check for thyroglobuin antibodies every three months after rai treatment and now go every six as they have always come back clear. I still get nervous when it's time to go but it does get easier.

Just go easy on yourself and you know your body best so don't be scared to ask for blood checks if you don't feel right etc.

I hope this gives you a little bit of hope that you will be ok. Good for your operation xx