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TT advice/ 5 days away
Well for those of you who do not know me, I have been hyperthyroid on and off for the last year, mainly hyper. I am hyper right now, although they have only diagnosed me with hashimotos. My eyes are starting to bulge and bother me. I REALLY think I have graves and hashi's, but my docs have pretty much been terrible. I am now choking from my goiter and swollen glands and the surgeons office was able to get me in this Wednesday for a TT. This is in 5 days. I am SOOOOOOOO scared. Does anyone have any advice? How long will I be in there? What was it like? Thank you all,
Danielle
Danielle
Thank you all. In less than 12 hours I will be on my way there. I am so nervous and I've been crying on and off all day =(. I'm choking though, so it kind of reminds me I gotta get this done.
Your big day is coming and you will get through it fine, with all of the advice and awarness, you will come through with flying colors.. =D
To answer your question: I had a multi-nodule Goiter which had abnormal cells (follicular and hurthle cell) which showed benign on the fna however, cancer could not be ruled out unless it was tested once removed. I went to 3 different 2nd opinions beside by endocrinologist and they all agreed to Removal of the entire Thyroid.. (I wish I still had it tho).
It's obvious that some did not have the same experience as I did, but it may be that way so don't rule it out. I was prepared to have calcium issues because that what I read and it did happen to me, however I was given the supplements for precaution and the next day is when I had really bad symptoms of calcium deficiency. I didn't have anyone to help me to the bathroom so therefore a bedpan was what they offered until I was feeling "awake" enough to go to the bathroom (a few hours later)..everyone has their own exerience and opinion and this is mine. You will be fine and they will test the specimen as Brucergoldberg says, however those results won't be back for days.
Dannie they will send your junk for a biopsy too. I'm having mine dipole tomorrow.
I never had calcium issues and never have and never needed calcium supplements. It is not something that everyone experiences. I was walking the same afternoon of the surgery with help (only because of the anesthesia and the nurse said I would embarrass myself if I tried walking alone). I did have a slight sore throat but that quickly went away. I stayed 2 nights in the hospital but the day after getting out I was walking around the mall. It really is not that bad of a surgery. I have also known people who did not spend a night in the hospital and were sent home the same day because their surgery was early in the morning and they were well enough to head home.
Well, I was hospilized for about 5 days after my TT but mine was due to hitting thyroid storm prior to having surgery.
The TT went okay (5hr surgery). Goiter was huge. When I was discharged I went to the mall....for pizza... I did not have any issues, but did develope thyroid eye disease, but I think mine was due to RAI, that I believe also damaged my salivary gland.
I did not have sore neck or anything like that. I went back to work after a 10 day check up & started on medication, but do not remember the dose, but I did have to go every 6 weeks for blood work. I never had issues with the calcium levels. All good..
Now unless you look real close, you can't even tell I had surgery on my neck...maybe a trace of scare if you look really really close, My surgeon did a great job.
The TT went okay (5hr surgery). Goiter was huge. When I was discharged I went to the mall....for pizza... I did not have any issues, but did develope thyroid eye disease, but I think mine was due to RAI, that I believe also damaged my salivary gland.
I did not have sore neck or anything like that. I went back to work after a 10 day check up & started on medication, but do not remember the dose, but I did have to go every 6 weeks for blood work. I never had issues with the calcium levels. All good..
Now unless you look real close, you can't even tell I had surgery on my neck...maybe a trace of scare if you look really really close, My surgeon did a great job.
danie...i never had to use a BEDPAN...lol...just had hubby help me to the bathroom. there was also no "emergency kit" next to my bed. throat was a little sore but my neck wasnt stiff.
you'll do fine :)
you'll do fine :)
blsdnsvd- I didn't realize everyone had the calcium issue. That is pretty scary. I really wish I didn't need mine out =(. I really am so scared of doing this. What did you have your thyroid out for? I have been mainly hyperthyroid for the last year.
My experience was just as expected. I did alot of reading on this thread and also listening to my endo and the three other surgeons that I had 2nd opinions with and the surgery went accordingly. Once you are prepped for surgery, the surgeon comes in and goes over the procedure once again and ask questions. Once you are awaken from the surgery, you will find that it's very difficult to turn your neck, due to stiffness and bandaging. You will have to use a bedpan until you are able to make it to the bathroom. I found myself having to go very frequently due to the iv solution. You are required to stay one night for pre-caution. Due to the fact that the parathyroid glands are disturbed during surgery, the calcium level will more than likely drop at some point causing symptoms of hypocalcemia. This is temporary and will subside once calcium supplements are given, more than likely while you are in the hospital. There will be an emergency kit placed on the bedside table in the event that the wound has to be reopened (very unlikely but a precaution). The next morning, you will be released and once at home, you will have to find a comfortable position to lay in due to the stiffness and soreness in the neck area. It will take a few days or more to recoop from surgery. You may notice a sore throat as well, that can be very uncomfortable and hoarseness which are normal after have a TT. It will be beneficial not to speak alot, in order to preserve your voice. Depending on the recommendation of your surgeon, is when you will start taking the medication for thyroid hormone replacement. In most cases it will be within a week after surgery, however in my case it was 3-4 weeks and I started to notice hypo signs at that point. Once you have completed your follow-up visits with the surgeon, he can refer you to an Endo.
Goolarra- Thank you! I appreciate it. I will give everyone updates as soon as possible and I'm sure I will be back asking for help with dosing once I am hypo. I am sadly almost excited to feel hypo (I am so sick of being hyper).
Just want to add my good wishes. I still have my thyroid, although it's dead as a doornail, so I can't offer any experiences.
We expect updates! I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday.
We expect updates! I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday.
Thank you Barb. I really hope this will help. I tried everything to avoid surgery in the last year, but apparently it just wasn't in the cards for me. I'm really praying that getting it out will be better than this hyper mess I've been in. I will ask about starting on a low dose (I am very sensitive to meds as it is).
COMMUNITY LEADER
I understand how afraid you are, but please try to be calm (easy for me to say, huh??); anxiety can only make things worse.
Your primary doctor can handle your medication, but make sure whomever does handle you medication, knows how to treat hypothyroidism, which is what you will be following the TT. There is no standard dose to start on and everyone is different. It's usually best to start low (25 mcg or less), and work up slowly to your therapeutic dose. You will most likely have to adjust your meds a few times before you get it right.
Wishing you all the best with the surgery, and plan to see you back, so we can help you get your meds adjusted properly!!
Your primary doctor can handle your medication, but make sure whomever does handle you medication, knows how to treat hypothyroidism, which is what you will be following the TT. There is no standard dose to start on and everyone is different. It's usually best to start low (25 mcg or less), and work up slowly to your therapeutic dose. You will most likely have to adjust your meds a few times before you get it right.
Wishing you all the best with the surgery, and plan to see you back, so we can help you get your meds adjusted properly!!
I'm ready lol, send me a message. PLUS, who handles my medication after? I don't really have an endo at the moment, so that might be problematic. What dose should they start me out on? Do you take synthroid? Oh the questions I have.
No worries...let me know when you're ready and you can hear all the in's and out's lol :)
Lizzie, that gives me hope. I pray mine will go as well as yours. I'm hyperthyroid as it is though, so I am PANICKING. I swear I am going to need to be sedated just on the way there ugh.
Nat yes, I will pick your brain. I'm so nervous. I feel like I don't know anything about it. I want to know everything. I've never been in the hospital except when I had my son, so I'm pretty clueless.
Mine was really non eventful (except the fact that anaesthetic makes me sick LOL). Probably will just stay 1 night (unless you're throwing up constantly like me...then it will be 2) The surgery itself was really quite easy compared to other surgeries I've had. I had ice across my neck to help with swelling for a day or two...pain meds for a few days and then back to starting to do normal things. Neck was a little sore to turn for maybe 4 days or so but it eased up really quickly.
To show you how ok I was afterwards, I had surgery 3 hours from home...and the day I got discharged, I walked to the train station from the hospital (7 min walk) got the train home and walked 5 more mins to the car from the train station!
That's the short version LOL...let me know if you want any more details.
To show you how ok I was afterwards, I had surgery 3 hours from home...and the day I got discharged, I walked to the train station from the hospital (7 min walk) got the train home and walked 5 more mins to the car from the train station!
That's the short version LOL...let me know if you want any more details.
mine was pretty non-eventful. spent one night to keep ck on calcium...took pain meds by mouth for 2 days...throat was a little sore for a couple of days...voice was hoarse for a month or so, but not bad.
two days after surgery...i was up and doing my "normal" things.
two days after surgery...i was up and doing my "normal" things.
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