TT pending - advice?

[MerelyMe]

I was just dxed w/thyroid cancer yesterday, papillary carcinoma, small (1 cm) on my isthmus.  My Endo has referred me to a surgeon and has told me that I

[february]

My TT was started at about 7 a.m and I was out of the hospital that day at 11 a.m and eating lunch at noon.  I did have a micro papillary cancer and thyroiditis and did not need  RAI after surgery as both surgeon and endo. felt I was "cured" as it was micro.  It has been about a month and my scar is hardly visable.  I had absolutely no problems at all and if I worked I felt good enough that I could have gone to work the next day.  I hope your surgery goes as well as mine did with no complications  and I am just sooo happy that little cancer is gone :)....don't be nervous and trust in your surgeon.  Best of luck.

[ceegee]

Hi,

I had my TT last September and mine was a breeze, the worst thing was spending the night in the hospital where they wake you up every time you fall asleep.

I had my operation on a Tuesday and went back to work the next Monday, and was fine.  I teach and my 'teacher's voice' was not as good for the first week but it came back.

I healed up just great too, I don't think anyone can even see my scar unless I point it out to them, I have trouble finding it sometimes. :)

Except for the pathology report coming back as malignant, I think I had a very positive experience, no parathyroid damage, no vocal chord damage, no lymph nodes involved.  I will wish the same good fortune for you.

Good Luck

[Justicemom]

I had my TT on 2/14/07.  I'm still taking it day by day, but feeling pretty good.  The hardest part about staying in the hospital was that they had to draw blood every 6 hours to check calcium levels.  I felt like I was swallowing a softball the first day, then it went to a baseball the next, golfball the next day...It really isn't too bad.  The hardest part is having a stiff neck for 2 weeks and not being able to drive till you can move your neck.  Medicine adjustments are a long process too...6 weeks at a time...Good Luck and it's for the best!

[MJ13]

I had my TT Dec 13th.  The plan was for a 2-day hospital stay, but calcium level dropped and ended up being in there for 6 days.  My surgery took 3 hours (normally only takes 1 - 1 1/2 hrs) because of my Graves Disease making in more vascular.  I had a reaction to the anesthesia later that day.  I got really, really hot, had trouble breathing and felt nauseous but never actually tossed cookies (Thank God!  I heard it really hurts after TT).  The next day after TT, my fingers, lips and toes started tingling because of calcium dropping, which is quite common after TT.  Thanks to the wonderful people here, I knew to tell my nurses about the tingling so I could get the calcium rolling.  I found out the hard way that Graves patients are more suspectible to hypocalcemia (low calcium) than other TT patients.  The hypocalcemia got so bad my hands cramped up and I had great difficulty picking up a plastic cup.  It REALLY important to notify your nurse if you experience tingling!!!!!

After surgery you are hooked up to an IV and a drain for your incision.  Getting up to go potty was extremely painful the first few times, but got easier each time.  One smart nurse realized you could unhook a patient from the drain tube temporarily and only have to take one pole with you to the bathroom.  After 3 days they just put a little bulb at the end of the drain that fit in the pocket of the hospital gown. For the first 24 hrs after TT, all I could tolerate to eat was ice chips and orange sherbert, but the following morning I was able to eat scrambled eggs, toast, and veggie sausage.  By 10:00 a.m. the next day after TT I was up walking the hall with my IV pole (slightly hunched over because it hurt to walk completely upright).    

I too had blood drawn every six hours....needless to say you don't get much rest while in the hospital.  My voice was a little funny sounding the day of surgery, but quickly got back to normal sounding.  I couldn't take a shower until the 3rd day after surgery.  I was still a little weak but stood in the shower for 20 minutes..it felt SOOOOOO good!!!  The first time I looked in the mirror the next day I didn't know which looked scarier...my scar or my hair!!   I think it was my hair!  

The most important thing to remember is tell the nurse ASAP if you feel tingling in hands, lips or toes.  Most people sail thru TT's with very little difficulties.  Good Luck and be sure to let us know how everything goes once you get back home and feel like posting!

[Amanda7980]

My TT was really easy.  I was in the hospital for "23 hour observation" and went home the next day.  Didn't really take pain meds and didn't have trouble sleeping.  The only problem was my calcium dropped, but even that wasn't much.  Seriously, having my wisdom teeth out was worse than my thyroid.

[Nicki1433]

My surgery experience was HORRIBLE!!!  I didn't have any permanent nerve damage.  I had little to no voice for about 6 weeks post TT.  I had a very painful recovery though and my scar formed a keloid that is still painful 18 months post TT.  If it helps though, everyone that I know that has had thyroid surgery healed up fine and the surgery or recovery was no big deal.  I would definitely have it done though if they definitely diagnosed the cancer already.  The less amount of thyroid cells you start with pre-RAI the better the chances at getting it in one treatment.

Good luck!