Having Surgery Thursday!

[MKlacza]

Hi All-

I am having a Total Thyroidectomy done this Thursday. I wanted to know if there is anyone out there that can enlighten me on what they went through or their experiences. I am terrified!

[Thypatient]

Glad you made it.  Good job.  Especially with having the calcium levels be okay.  

Perhaps your body just needs time to settle down.  But maybe putting a call into the on-call surgeon can't hurt, especially with having heart palps.  If nothing else it could ease your concerns.

Take care.

[worriedinmd]

my surgeon sent me home today with a prescription for an anti-anxiety/sleeping med called Ativan. Fortunately, I haven't had any symptoms so I haven't had to take it. But if you were to call the doc, you may be able to get a script.
- Viv

[MKlacza]

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!! I am home and feeling ok. A little sore, but I am doing ok. I guess what I am having a hard time with is the anxiety I have been feeling since coming home. Is this normal? Dr said my frozen Path came back benign!! He said after surgery my calcium levels were great at 8... not sure what that means. Anyways... I see my endo on wed and surgeon as well. Do you thin kthey will put me on some meds to get these meds within my system?? Is it normal to feel anxious and not sleeping well?? Some heart palps too. I am so scared right now. Please tell me this is normal? They gave me some Ativan.. maybe taking one might help?? I guess I thougth that because I didnt have the thyroid anymore, it would put my into HYPO and not HYPER.

[CatieC]

I just had my right lobe removed this past Tuesday the 25th so I couldn't wish you well.

But the whole ordeal is behind you now...I hope everything went well with your surgery and you are home resting.

[jeh57]

The surgery is behind you now....Hoping for you a speedy recovery!!! Rest and take care!

[shannon828]

Thinking of you and hoping everything went well!!!

[beachnut]

Welcome home!!!!!! How are you doing?  Prayed for you last night and will continue to pray for your family.  I wrote this while you were still at the hospital but I wanted you to have a note when you got home.

YOU DID IT!!!!!!!!
hugs to all,
liz

[dscoochie]

I am praying for you right now.  

The way you are feeling is to be expected, scared, weepy, concerned about your children, but know that you are doing what has to be done so that you can live you life!

Be strong - many many hugs coming your way!

DSC

[MKlacza]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I dont even know you guys and I feelas if you are already a HUGE part of my life! I am going to the hospital in 1 hour!! YIKES! Chicago time. I am very scared, but looking forward to putting this behind me and getting back to you guys and letting you know how all goes. The hardest part was leaving my kids at my mom in laws last night! That was extremely hard and emotional for me. Please pray for me today and my family. Talk soon! Or whisper!! :)

[mom_in_training]

Might be chiming in a lil late but my daughter (19 years old) just had a TT on Feb 15th 2008. Her surgery lasted for about 3 hours. She did very well and stayed in the hospital overnight is all. So long as your calcium levels are good the chances of you being there for one night is good. After waking up she could talk, Her voice was low but not scratchy and her neck was a lil sore  and the surgeon did have a drain on her but removed it in the morning.(The Dr prescribed Vicodin for pain). She experienced a lil cramping in her back but that subsided by the next day. She for the most part was up and about the same night she got home just going at a slow pace compared to her norm and only took the Vicodin before bed for maybe three nights total. All in all I am very impressed with how well she did. She takes one 75 mcg synthroid per day and has shown minimal signs of any calcium depletion. The reason why she had her TT was because she has a reacurring mass (First one being 3 CM) when she was 13 years old. The most recent Feb 2008 was a 9 CM mass on her thyroid. Surgeon was concerned of a possible reacurrance and opted to do a TT as a preventative. Thank god that all was benign and her Parathyroid glands were unscaithed. It would be the Parathyroid gland that produces the calcium. Good luck on your surgery.

[tracy74]

Hi,
I had a TT 8 months ago.  I had thyroid cancer that had spread to my lymphs.  The surg wasnt that bad.  Pain after at the worst for me was maybe a 7 out of 10 but not lasting long.  I stayed in the hosp for 5 days because I was having a hard time regulating my calcium.  Honestly, (not to worry you more) for me the worst was the drain tubes that I had.  Those got pulled out 3 day post op and I felt alot better.  Good Luck.  Let us know how it went.
Tracy

[beachnut]

I was in the hosp. for two full days because I didn't get into recovery and then my room until later that night so they didn't count that night and then I had one full day and thank goodness I left the next morning.  I swear if I could of walked home with my butt hanging out, my IV pole in one hand and my over-night bag in the other I would of if I had know I was getting the roommate from hell!  She was 17 and taking percocet like gummy bears for a kidney infection. It was more like a frat party!  I got no rest but I learned who was cheating on who at school and who was hot!

Your family will be fine and they will appreciate just how much mom's and wives mean to a family.  I know you won't sleep tonight but think nothing but positive thoughts and soon you will be answering someone else's questions about your experience with thyroid surgery.

I will be thinking of you and your family tonight and tomorrow.  Let us know your well.

with thoughts and prayers.
liz    

[TriciaS]

Good luck tomorrow!  Try to relax, I'll be in your shoes pretty soon, though I'm not scheduled yet.  Why are you having a TT?

Tricia
: )

Just think, when it's all over, you'll be able to sign : )) !!

[Thypatient]

Just stopping by but good luck to you!

[MKlacza]

Liz you are funny!! :)  I wish they would just take it out the moment they decide that is the way to go. I am having hard time dealing right now as I only have tomorrow until surgery. I look at my kids and fight back the tears. I have faith but sometimes your emotions and fear take the best of us unfortunately. How long were you in the hospital? I was told only a night. I guess I am afraid everything will happen when I am home.

[beachnut]

Hello,

I had a TT approx. 12 years ago. I initially went in for a partial but they found they needed to take it all. I too was scared but honestly the most uncomfortable part for me was my sore throat afterwards.  It was from the tube they placed in my throat to maintain my airway.  It felt so much better within 24 hours.  It was still a little scratchy but nothing worse then when you have a cold.  

For me, the worse part was leading up to the surgery like you mentioned.  Don't you wish that when they tell you you need surgery they just do it right then and there so you don't have to wait and think!

Once I was at the hospital the staff was so reassuring and the nurse gave me something (I think a valium) to take the edge off-you can ask for something if you like- and then in I went and out I came and it seemed like it was only 10 miutes.   I have a very high tolerance for pain so I declined the pain killers and only used tylenol for comfort.  I really don't remember being that uncomfotable.  My hospital roommate made me crazier then the surgery!

I wouldn't want to go through it again but honestly and I swear for me it wasn't that bad.  I had reconstructive surgery on my wrist and hand a few years later and that sucked worse.

You will be fine........I will pray for you tonight and please keep us posted on how everything went. To tell you to try and relax is easier said then done but get your rest and stay positive. This will all be behind you very soon and you'll start feeling better.

Liz  

    
      

[KelDC]

I'm scheduled for a TT on 4/7.  You came to the right place!  There are lots of people here who have gone through it and are happy to share their experiences.
Best of luck to you!!!  

[a_rodriguez_04]

According to my endo I will be fine once the left side of my thyroid starts to pick up the slack for the right.  I am still waiting for that to happen and haven't seen any signs of being "normal".  I have a follow up scheduled on the 14th of April, I know he wants to check my levels then to see where I am at, if there is no improvement by then maybe just maybe he will put me on something to make me normal again.

[MKlacza]

Thanks for your support and insight! Why are you not on any meds?

[a_rodriguez_04]

I had a right hemi-thyroidectomy on the 27th of February.  The surgery was my first, and it took about 2.5 hours.  The surgery went fine, no problems.  It was not so bad, and believe me I was absoultely TERRIFIED!  I was having panic/anxiety attacks the entire week leading up to my surgery.  It has been a monthe since my surgery and I am still very very very fatigue, and have tingling up and down my arms/legs.  Sometimes this can happen.  BUT, I am also not on any hormone replacement pills.  I am guessing that because you will be having a Total TT done that you will be prescribed some kind of hormone replacement pill.  Good luck and keep me posted :)