TT

[cstacie]

I HAVE POSTED A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT A MULTINODULAR GOITER AND FEELING OF LUMP IN THROAT ALL MY BLOOD WORK HAS NEEN NORMAL I AM TO HAVE SURGERY NEXT WEEK TO HAVE A TOTAL THYROID REMOVAL THE ENT SAID I COULD JUST DO HALF BUT SINCE I HAVE NODULES ON THE LEFT SIDE TOO THAT LATER ON I PROB WOULD NEED SURGERY AGAIN. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT COMPLICATIONS AND HOW I WILL FEEL AFTERWARDS HE SAID IT WOULD BE A 3 HR SURGERY WITH A 2 TO 3 DAY HOSPITAL STAY OR IF I JUST DO THE ONE RIGHT SIDE A 1 HR SURGERY AND 1 DAY STAY. JUST CONCERNED AND CONFUSED.  THIS WEB SITE HAS HELPED A LOT.

[redhed87]

I guess everyone is different, but I would hate for you to go through the surgery twice.

[redhed87]

I had a TT on May 30th and mine took 4 hours- they had to do a frozen section in the middle of my surgery- it ended up being cancer as originally thought. If it wasn't, he was only going to do a partial even though i had nodules on the other side.  I would have hated to go through this twice, but I understand your dilemna. It is a life changing event especially if you have normal thyroid function otherwise (like me) I had the same one- but in the end I had no choice.  Are they going to do a frozen section?  I would hate for them to find a small area of cancer afterwards and have to go back later.   I stayed in the hospital 2 nights- I had nausea and vomiting and they watched my calcium. But my surgery was over around 8pm or so.  Good luck with your decision.

[cstacie]

I HAVE DIFFERENT SIZE NODULES ALL OVER WITH THE BIGGER ONES ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND LIKE I SAID NORMAL BLOOD WORK JUST A FEELING NOW AND THEN OF SOMETHING IN MY THROAT . IAM JUST NERVOUS ABOUT THE OUTCOME AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THE MEDS AND HOPEFULLY NOT DAMAGE THOSE PARATHYROIDS OR ANYTHING ELSE IN THERE MY ENT SAID HE DOES THESE ABOUT 3 A WEEK HOPEFULLY HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING

[At The End of My Rope]

I just had a TT on June 5th my surgery was about 2.5 hrs long and I stayed one night in the hospital. Everyone is different and every doc is different. I think they worry more about the calcuim level after surgery.
Good Luck! Please keep posting and reading on this site this was my strength through this whole thing.

[danie17075rm]

This sounds like what I have.  When did they decide to remove your thyroid.  My multinodular goiter is a little over 5cm.  They are sending me for the uptake scan and to an endo, but I wonder if they will remove it.  It is bothering me.  This is so scary.

[NJ Yogini]

I had a partial in Feb but didn't get the papillary carcinoma diagnosis for 10 days.  And now it's been 5 weeks since I had the rest of my thyroid removed in May.  The first surgery was due to a fine needle biopsy report of a follicular neoplasm.  Both surgeries were about 3 hours and I stayed 1 night. There were no problems with scar tissue, though the surgeon did mention to my husband right after surgery something about removing scar tissue. I had no post surgery issues with either surgery.  I do know that my body is REALLY missing its thyroid hormone, even though mine was failing due to Hashimotos. My body is aching sooooo much.....It's just waiting for my newer higher dose of synthroid to kick in.   That's the worse part so far for me.....waiting for the hormone levels to get to where they need to be (.3 - 1)   I healed very quickly both times, but this high TSH is a real pain!!
Have you had any biopsies done?  Are you having your thryoid removed because it is compressing your throat or trachea?  My endocrinologist was who was in charge of what surgery would happen.  My ENT surgeon said she was just the technician, doing what the endo ordered. Did your endo recommend getting the TT?
Good luck, what ever happens.
Linda

[cstacie]

MY DR SAID HE DOESNT LIKE TO WAIT DURING SURGERY TO CHECK FOR CANCER BECAUSE IN HIS OPINION THEY NEED MORE THAN 15 MIN TO DETERMINE IF ITS CANCER SO IF I DO THE PARTIAL THEY WILL SEND IT OUT AND IN THAT CASE IF IT WAS POSITIVE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO HAVE THE REST OF THYROID REMOVED. THATS PART OF MY PROBLEM IM ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THEM HITTING A NERVE BUT HE SAID HE COULD SEE THE NERVE AND ALSO HE USES A NERVE MONITER.

[shaerich]

My TT was just over 2 hours if I remember right and I stayed overnight.  Every surgeon/hospital seems to have a different protocol.

I ASKED for a PT and I was told that if they had to go in later to remove the second half, it would be more difficult b/c of scar tissue and higher likelihood of vocal chord damage.