Surgeon appointment tomorrow

[KoalaEm]

Any last minute thoughts to add/advice?
Feeling a bit brain dead, can't focus as stressing about it all.
Nodule needs removing- follicular- so may need the whole thyroid depending on results from frozen section intrasurgery. Plus that nasty old gallbladder needs to come out too!
Em

[lumpy2]

Don't stress, have hope.  It could turn out to be nothing- mine did and now I'm just lacking the half that had the lump.  But even if it is you will get through it and a year from now your scar won't even show.

[KoalaEm]

Went and saw the general surgeon.

He will remove the left part of my thyroid 12 Nov... apparently the chance of the frozen section's capability of determining if it is cancer is about 1%- so I then wait while they test it good and proper for 5 days.  Then if it's cancer I go back in to have the rest of the thyroid out in a second operation  -about 8 weeks later.
THEN after all the thyroid stuff is out of the way he will do the gallbladder. So if it's benign - he can do the gallbladder mid December. If it's malignant then he'll work out the gallbladder 'later' ie: I assume some undetermined timeframe.
I was really brave and didn't start crying my heart out until I got home... and it hasn't stopped much since.  The reality of the cancer possibility is starting to hit me hard.

I just keep thinking why did this have to happen to me?
Anyway,
going to bawl my eyes out some more.

Em

[patient-x]

I agree with Darla anything thatt comes into your head...any query/question at all write down as from now & hand to your doc.
You dont want to come out & think  'oh,I forgot to ask...'
No matter how small, if its important to you write it down & get the answer.

Good luck!

Jen

[[email protected]]

Make sure the surgeon and hospital use nerve locating sensors during the operation. They are used to identify location of all critical nerves around the vocal chords.

As mentioned above, 100 + per year should qualify the surgeon.

[DarlaLOU]

You know, for me, it was easier to make a list.... even if it seems like little stuff, later it might seem big to you and you'll be glad you asked. No question is a dumb question - remember that! Ask everything you can think of. Good luck!

[devushka]

Find out how many thyroidectomies your surgeon performs per year. He/she should do them on a regular basis. Some sources say 100-150 a year. Ask where the surgeon will make the cut--just so that you are not surprised afterwards (if you are nervous about the scar). Listen carefully when the surgeon talks about possible side effects, especially of low calcium. After surgery you will want to be aware of the symptoms of low calcium--tingling in the extremities or face, muscle cramps.