Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Health › Health and Healing › facing thyroid surgery
New Posts  All Forums:
 

facing thyroid surgery

post #1 of 5
Thread Starter 
I feeling really overwhelmed right now. I'm probably getting at least half of my thyroid taken out next month. It didn't occur to me until last night that this my affect future pregnancy changes, or the pregnancy itself. And that there's a good chance I'll be on meds for the rest of my life. I've been like an ostrich with my head in the sand about this for 2 months.

The story: In October I went to visit a nurse due to bronchitis and she recommended I see my doc sooner rather than later because I had an enlarged thyroid. Once she pointed it out I was like, yeah, wow, look at that! It's visible once pointed out. Doc did the blood test (all came back normal) and sent me for an ultrasound and then to an ENT. ENT sent me for an ultrasound guided biopsy of the most suspicious looking nodes. (5 biopsies, ugh). I had a CT yesterday. There are nodes on both sides, but mostly one side. It's pushing my windpipe to the side, so highly likely I'll need surgery just for that reason. They all came back negative, but I've been warned that doesn't mean I don't have cancer for sure. Apparently they go in and remove the big half. If they see? suspect? something... cancer, they take the whole thyroid. If not, just the half and that gets sent to a lab for testing. If it comes back at that point cancer, I go in again to get the other half removed.

Just half removed - 60/40 chance I'll need meds for the rest of my life bawling.gif Whole thing removed, definitely need meds bawling.gifbawling.gif

Now I'm reading all this can cause trouble conceiving. Can cause trouble carrying to term. We were going to try for #2 this summer and I'll be 40 this spring. Please - any comments would be appreciated. (I'm cross posting since I really want to get as many opinions/thoughts/comments as I can).

Thanks mamas.
post #2 of 5
I am actually just home from a total thyroidectomy yesterday! I feel pretty good. I have probable papillary thyroid cancer. I also had an US and biopsy and I've been on thyroid meds for 18 months. It's not too hard to get used to taking a little pill in the morning, I promise. I'm sore and am off wrk for 2 weeks but doing ok. Hang in there!
post #3 of 5
Thread Starter 
Oh thank you! 2 weeks huh? I'll let my boss know just in case. They are letting me work from home if I feel like working after a few days. It's next month.

Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk 2
post #4 of 5
Well I'm an ER RN who works 13hr shifts so he wanted me to take the full 2 weeks. I'm 5 days out and feel very very good.
post #5 of 5

I have nodes too- the biopsy is terrible, isn't it? :( I hope that whatever happens, you heal well. I agree that thyroid replacement medication is, as far as meds go, reasonably benign. Thinking of you and sending good thoughts!

New Posts  All Forums:
 
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Health and Healing
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Health › Health and Healing › facing thyroid surgery