Neck healing, scar fading

Most of my friends/co-workers say my scar is hardly noticeable...which is great because I don't want to freak people out, but sad because I like all the attention!! (Those who know me understand that statement!) Truly, I am looking forward to when it fades, but for now it is a great conversation-starter!

Frustration, Irritation

Had anyone 2 weeks ago told me that my number one worry would be about my arm, I would have thought they were crazy. I am so frustrated with these darn blood clots...I know they take time to resolve but I hate having to worry about them.

I had a 2nd ultrasound on my arm today, with little change (I think...the US took so long I couldn't see my doctor afterward).

I just want them to go away!!!! I want to get all the treatment stuff over and get on with my summer!

UGH!

My "Second Smile"

This is my scar with no steri-strips. I call it my "second smile." Even though my scar still is kinda swollen (It's like having an extra chin--ugh!!!) it really doesn't look that bad...even after only 8 days post op. Remember, this picture was taken with a flash, so it is more well-lit and noticeable in the photo than in real life. I read on the net that in 6 months it will really start to fade and be even less noticeable, but for now everyone gets 2 smiles from me!!!!

Next Wednesday I have another Ultrasound on my arm to make sure that the clots are getting better (or at least not getting worse), and will probably schedule my radioactive iodine treatment and scans. Right now, I am more concerned about the 2 weeks of being off my thyroid meds and being hypothyroid (fatigued, etc.). From what I read, side effects of the actual radioactive iodine aren't too bad. I am seriously considering what my co-worker did and go on "retreat" to a hotel for 3 days...I'll let you know what I decide to do when I have more information.

You are not going to believe this--GOOD NEWS

My surgeon/ENT consulted with a vascular surgeon and they both decided that Lovenox/Coumadin was overkill and switched me to Plavix instead! I have a repeat ultrasound of my arm next Wednesday to make sure the clot is getting better or at least not getting worse. So at least for now, there are no more injections. Please pray that my body starts reabsorbing this clot, that my veins heal from the IV and that I don't have to restart Coumadin.

After next Wednesday's ultrasound, if my arm is not getting better then we will reassess at that point.

Oh, and if you ever need an ENT, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Myers!!!!

Stiches out and cool scar

Today I got my stiches out...but my cool scar is covered with new itchy steri-strips (but only for like 2 more days). Once the swelling goes down, it won't be very noticeable

T +4: My day in the ER

What a way to spend my Tuesday...OK my left arm hurt where the IV was placed...but started hurting worse on Monday. Now, not having a lot of experience in the ways of IVs, I didn't know what was normal or not. When my arm started getting hard and hot (yes, I said my ARM!), I got a bit concerned, so I called my surgeon and he had me go to the ER.

Long story short: after 5 hours in the ER and an ultrasound of every vein in my left arm, I get 5 days of injectable Lovenox and 3 to 6 months of Coumadin. Probably because a nurse botched my first IV attempt and blew the vein, along with other risk factors. Yes, I am mad because I don't think it had to happen.

On the good note, the nice doctor (a colleague of my surgeon who was on call) let me see my path report and all my tumor was encapsulated and not spilling out into other tissue so it is most likely ALL GONE!

So, the moral of the story is find a really good nurse to start IVs and DON"T BUMP ME FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS BECAUSE I WILL BRUISE EASILY.

My T-shirt

This is the image of the T-shirt I made to wear home yesterday. My doctor laughed really hard and gave me the best compliment ever...that I had a really sick sense of humor!!!. The first image is on the front, and the 3 photos are on the back. Remind me if I ever leave the clinical research profession NOT to go into fashion design!!

Feeling OK, actually went to church last night. That was pushing it, however. I am really glad that I have some time to recuperate... sometimes I feel really normal, and then I feel like I've been hit by a bus. Sleep is my number one priority now, so I am signing off to go back to bed. Let me know if any of you ever need a t-shirt designed!

I'm home!!! T +1

Hi, all. It is 9:30 on Saturday and I am already home...everything went well and other than being tired and having what I describe as "a bad sore throat" I feel pretty good. Tired (I didn't sleep all that well the night before, and more or less dozed between "pokings" last night).

Clarian West was lovely. The room was great, the staff awesome, and the "room service" food was really good. It certainly makes one feel better than the institutional-type hospitals of the past.

Thanks to everyone for all the well-wishes, prayers, and help. I have the greatest friends and family in the world.

Feeling good

People have been commenting on how good I look for just having had surgery, so I danced a little jig on the way to the bathroom. Mike said "don't push it!". Dorothy's oatmeal raisin cookies are awesome and soft. Overall I'm feeling great and glad this part is done. Hoping to go home tomorrow.

Surgery went well

This is from Mike. Lisa is done with surgery now and in recovery. The surgeon said it went very well. There were no complications, and all went as expected. Lisa will fill in all of the crazy medical details later. When it comes to medical things, I generally understand "well" and "not well," and this happily is on the "well" side. I'll give another update soon after I see her. -Mike

T-0

Today's the date...now I have this cancer and this afternoon I won't!!!!

Bravado Declining

Things are getting hard today. I am losing my bravado...now I keep thinking about all the "what-ifs." All the jokes, self-assurances, etc. are not making much difference today.

Want this over

This is T-3. I actually looking forward to it...not that I want surgery...I just want it behind me so I can start scheduling stuff again. I want to plan the radioactive iodine treatment so I know what I can do with my summer.

Come to be reminded that my Brother-in-law had the same thing last year. Funny how for being so rare, I know people who have been there.

T -7

One more week...then the Thing is GONE. This has been a really good week...I am to the point that I am not thinking about it constantly except for the positives. I am actually looking forward to having this over. It is what it is and I can only go forward from this point in my life.

T -9

Welcome to day T -9. While doing some work on an Ovarian Cancer patient today, I got to thinking: how might her outcome been different if she would have had aggressive treatment when first diagnosed. Now, ovarian cancer is particularly insidious, and thyroid cancer is not, but it made me realize that I am glad my surgeon is being thorough. Although I would like to avoid a total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine, I think I will be very glad that I did it all at the outset.

Many thanks for all the kind emails...especially to my friend Linda who wrote about her experiences with total thyroidectomy. It is so nice to hear from those who have been through it.

How did I find this out?

A good friend of mine posed this excellent question. For about 1.5 years my throat has been scratchy…my doctor (primary care) decided it was sinus and gave me antibiotics and decongestants. I insisted on an ENT visit and the ENT IMMEDIATELY felt a 2 cm nodule. Now, 95% of thyroid nodules are benign, but because of its size, they did and ultrasound, then a biopsy, which came back as papillary carcinoma. (See...I am uncommon after all! Only about 20,000 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed in the US per year!)

By the way, if you ever have to have a fine needle aspirate (type of biopsy) done, it really is no big deal.

I have to admit, I am sort of put out about the fact that my primary care physician didn't feel the nodule, as it was palpable and she did the whole neck exam in March.

Moral...if you don't agree with your doctor, insist on a visit to a specialist.

The countdown begins

Only 11 more days until "THE THING" is HISTORY!!! I am more concerned about after the surgery and tweaking the replacement thyroid hormones than I am about the surgery. I worry about not feeling good for a few months and that I am too busy to be down for long.

My coworker who had this was back at work 3 days after surgery. If she can do that, I should at least be able to function!!!!

Chocolate

I hear that being surrounded in chocolate is the best therapy possible--and it is good for the soul. M&Ms, plain and peanut, Hershey's kisses with Almonds, Double Dippers...all of these things have had an incredible impact on my mood (we are not talking about the waistline right now).

OK, I confess. I made up the part about chocolate being the best therapy possible, but I am sticking with that theory until it is scientifically disproven!