So the surgery went very well...
HERE IS THE BEFORE
After 3.5 hours later... (and they removed the staples and placed steri strips) on Post op day 1 i looked like this
He thinks he got it all... Turns out the cancer was spread a bit worse than the scans showed. My thyroid wasnt the bad part but my lymph nodes were. They took all level 3 4 & 6, then dug out my thymus gland (which is directly underneath the top of the sternum). You need the thymus in childhood to help mature your immune system, however as an adult it should be shriveled up - HOWEVER mine was enlarged and funky looking. Then he dug all the way to the spine to make sure there werent any other angry nodes. And HE THINKS HE GOT IT ALL!!
Other good news
He did spare my parathyroid glands (they help me regulate calcium levels) however due to the trauma of surgery my levels are way low, thankfully easily fixed with a few tums a day
Bad News:
The tumor in the thyroid was wrapped around my recurrent laryngeal nerve. Like encased in it. As a result my voice is a little funny. I am very hoarse and my pitch has changed - a little higher than before. Not sure where this will go I am scheduled for first speech rehab appt monday! I know the endotracheal tube can change things a little but he did say that he had to move than nerve around quite a bit. it may get better we will see. For now... I AM ON VOICE REST... complete VOICE REST... and i hate it. My family is here i never see them and i can t talk. IT SUCKS... makes me very sad- but i understand why. I understand if i give my voice time to heal i might be singing again. Now when i listen to music all i want to do is cry. But its only day 2 so i get it. I am still mourning the loss anyway.
here i am with my new dry erase board so i can tell my hubby how much i love him... (and my family too!)
Swallowing
So post operatively i had LOTS of trouble swallowing thins (for those outside medicine it means anything with the consistency of water). I would cough and choke and that would hurt so bad i would cry. I got eval by speech before i left the hospital and they scheduled me for a video study monday. Said its likely due to weakness both from the low calcium level and from all the moving around they did in that area. So for now i am on nectar thick soft solids. And my hubby made me the BEST mac n cheese EVER!! it was warm and tasty!!
Not very bad but interesting:
I am numb over most of my neck. From my chin to the very side on the right all the way down to the sternum. and over part of the left side as well. Its not bad and i can live without it but its a unique sensation. Esp when i go to shave my chin hair- i cant feel where the razor goes LOL
Lets see what else:
I feel very tired at certain points in the day- can be from my timing on the cytomel dose. Without my thyroid i start to run out of metabolism energy. The cytomel is SHORT ACTING thyroid hormone. It helps make the symptoms better, although i feel like i cant stay awake sometimes.
Pain
MUCH BETTER TODAY!! Its post op day 2 and i take half of the pain meds im supposed to and only 3 times a day. Without all the coughing im way better. Although i am lightheaded from time to time.
I got a shower today and felt like a new woman. I am able to get around and feel sturdier on my feet. Just to be safe I am keeping my knee high socks on. Dont want a clot in my legs!
I am very grateful for all your prayers and good thoughts. While I was in the hospital the chaplain prayed with me and brought me the PRETTIEST purple prayer shawl. I wrap myself in it a lot. It helps when i am sad. I dont want to give you the wrong impression I am in good spirits overall. It just feels like i lost something and i dont know if i will ever get it back. and that takes some adjusting.
Meds
So now im on 6 meds so far LOL... its wierd having a schedule. I take 4 tums twice daily, vit d twice daily, cytomel twice daily, my pain meds, nausea meds and a few others for symptom control.
Enjoy some pics from the hospital. I did have a good time and overall a pleasant experience with my first hospitalization
We played Gin a lot... and I WON! =)
No comments:
Post a Comment