Post TT and neck resection

[rachelflorence]

Hello!

I'm home after surgery on the 31st. It went well. But I do have the normal symptoms, low calcium, very tired, hoarse voice, trouble swallowing.

But I'm glad that it's over and I can start recovering at home.

I was put on T4 meds, 'Tiche" 137mg, and I started them yesterday. They are gel capsules as I have a colon issue. So far, so good. I don't know how I am meant to feel, I just feel sad and numb.

I had a throat test post surgery and my vocal cords are fine. So I'm hoping my voice starts to sound normal. One eye is slightly larger, I had a neurologist visit to rule out damage.

I have to to do a bunch of blood tests to see how my calcium goes, I'm taking calcium three times a day, as I have pins and needles.

The surgeon said my cancer was advanced, that I'd probably had it for more than 15 years, which seems wild. I had to have more lymph nodes removed that predicted, also in my central neck. RAI is scheduled for July.

My scar is mighty! But I'm sure I'll get used to it.

All I want to do is rest and drink tea.

Thank everyone for their help getting me through the waiting. All advice was awesome!

I'm taking high doses of Vit D and loading doses of B12 for the next ten days to bring me up to a health.

Anything else I should be doing?

Thanks again!

[Greekchick]

Dear Rachel,

I am so glad you posted and that you came through the surgery well. The good news - no vocal cord damage! The hoarseness will resolve in time and your voice will sound different for a bit. Hopefully, the calcium will also improve as your body adjusts.

I am sorry to hear about the extent of the cancer, but hopefully the RAI will address that.

Tired and sad is normal - I was crying for awhile after mine. It’s a huge op and thyroid affects all systems - sad and empty is how many of us feel. I still feel that way some days and I am 15 weeks out. This will improve once your meds are adjusted. I was feeling teary just yesterday - but as I was told by several wonderful people on this forum after my surgery - be kind to yourself!

Rest and quiet are critical. Don’t rush and just do what you are able. Your body will tell you if you are doing too much. Give yourself time to heal and pamper yourself a bit. I myself was propped up in bed for the first week - i was up and about for some things, but I would get so tired I would just go back and sleep. Sleep is restorative - it lets all systems heal and we often think we are being self indulgent - NO! Your body has been though a trauma and you need quiet, rest and sleep. After that I would sit in a comfy chair and just have quiet.

I am wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery - and that all for well. Rest, quiet and sleep are the best advice I can give you. Eat protein - it rebuilds tissue and speeds healing (if vegan, eat protein based foods). Lots of water - it flushes out all the meds from your system. Fresh food - high in natural vitamins.

One thing I discovered - don’t get scar wet for at least a month . They tell you otherwise but it heals better and cleaner if you can keep it completely dry as long as possible. I left mine dry for 6 weeks and it was much less hassle and worry . When the time comes , I have some tips if you are worried. Stay out of sun and keep scar covered 1 year.

Thinking of you today and sending you hige hugs and prayers for getting well soon. 🤗💋

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For what it's worth, as I had a multidodular goitre, not cancer, my feelings were totally different to yours. Going INTO hospital, I was dragging my feet, difficulty breathing, feeling totally exhausted; coming OUT of hospital just a few days later minus my thyroid gland I was feeling wonderful, skipping across the car park to my lift, not a care in the world!

No problems at all with the scar, never even covered it up but got a funny look from the checkout girl at Tesco the following day as the stitches hadn't been taken out!

No problem with voice at all, eyes as good as ever, no calcium worries. Feeling so good all I wanted to do was go for walks and shops as I had hardly been able to do anything for months previously. Don't worry about the scar, don't hide it as that will make you feel worse, show it to everybody and be proud of how you are a survivor.

Started on 150 levo and felt great............for a few weeks/months and was then offered RAI and put onto T3. Went back onto T4 and started gradually getting worse. 8 years later I gave up all hope of getting alternative medicine from GP or Endo despite muiltiple complaints and nearly confined to bed all day. Started on NDT and the improvement was dramatic. Just spend some wonderful days up scaffolding pointing the front of my house, will be replcing some windows and building a replacement fence after that..........etc, etc, etc.

I never cease to be amazed at how varied can be the experiences of those with thyroid afflictions.

There are stories about how controversial RAI actually is and now believe that the remnants of mine, which were destroyed by the RAI, could possibly havestarted working again and saved me fro some years of the hell of being on levo, but I also believe that in your case, with cancer, RAI is probably beneficial. I suggest, however, that you query the doctor doing the RAI about the benefits/drawbacks of having the treatment before you decide whether to have it or not. They are obliged to tell you.

Here's hoping you are fully cured and can expect to live your life as expected. Suggest that to do that you will need to take NDT.

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Good Luck I am pleased that you are back home now.