Thyroid Surgery

Has anyone had tyroid surgery? I did this July 6th,2004 . I went in the hospital for one night. I had a fuild cyst Goiter about 3 1/2 cm. big thing. They had drained the cyst twice and just keep coming back up . I had the cyst for three years. I went to the tyroid doctor and he told me it was time to get it removed . I did well after surgery . Oh , I had taken tyroid medication and it would not swrink the cyst it just keep growing. They get os big they cut off you breath and it just about did . I sitll sleep with two pillows still afraid of choking at night.

I had called American Tyroid Foundation in Boston Mass long before I new I was going to have surgery .

My point is not not enough is said or known about tyroid conditions in women of medapause age like us. My mother had the same thing in the "50" and found out that my cyst was genic .

I watch some talk show and nothing has mention . If only we could get the word out. I surveyed the surgery , but if you don't get the right doctors there are risk. I had a very good surgeon. and very thankful for that.

Has anyone had a similar operation ?

Nancy

Nancy,
I have not experienced this, but I'm thinking that since you have, and you are a writer, this would be a golden opportunity for you to do some research and come up with a article telling all about this operation, the risk, the lack of knowledge, etc...I bet you could sell that piece over and over! And since you actually experienced it, you would be a great advocate for spreading the word, don't you think? Just a suggestion.

JJ

Jaw Jaw,
I am a begining writer. I am working on a true life story . I could do that! . I have written and article that was published to the editor of our local Towson Times her in MD . All my friends saw the story . I will think on that one.

Thank you for the suggestion.

Nancy

Nancy, I never had thyroid surgery but at one time it was an option for me. I have Grave's Disease, which is a thyroid disorder. At one time, my thyroid swelled up, but with meds it returned to normal. I've been in remission for almost two years.

My Aunt Missy had a Goiter (medical term)removed from her thyroid about 10 years ago and has done fine, it never came back. It was common and still is I'm told and not too much to worry about as long as the surgery goes well...thats all I can add.

You just don't hear much about this problem. The American Thyroid Foundation has a wonderful web site about information about thyroid medication . I have a book that talks about " Graves Disease" . My cyst Goiter on my left lobe is gone for good. The surgeon said that it should not come back on the right lobe. Now, if I had cancer then you do have to worry about getting a cancer on the other thyroid lobe. The books don't tell you how much your throat will hurt and how you just eat soup for a month and it takes your vocal cords a whole month to come back . Most the books tell is two weeks . It depends on the patient .

A lot of women has this problem and it should be brought out. There is breast cancer and AIDs , but nothing is said about thyroid disease.

I would not know where to start for doing research . Maybe the thyroid foundtion in Boston MA .

Think on it.

Nancy Thanks everyone

[ October 16, 2004, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Nancy50 ]

Well, as I sit here I have a big old honking lump on my thyroid. I am to go to the specialist November 1st and I don't have a clue what to expect. There are some other lumps in my neck as well, but they haven't said too much to me about those.

I've read everything I can get my hands on, but until this doc talks to me and gives me some indication of what's going on with me, I guess I will be in the dark.

Mine just keeps getting bigger lately. I've had scans... to include the radioactive one, but my regular doc wants the specialist to handle it.

What was the surgery like anyway? Were you awake? Was it awful????

Thanks so much for stopping here and mentioning this. As lots of the chicks here know, this has been pretty heavy on my mind for awhile now.

My mother had a goiter removed in the late 40's.
She was fine just had to take a thyroid pill every day after that. I am positive they have more and better information out now than they did then.
Maggie

Sher,
My cyst was 3 1/2 cm . I had to sleep with two pillows at night. I had the fluid cyst drained several time. I had the cyst for three years and with medication it liked me so much it would not go away . You probable will see a thyroid doctor . Ask lots of questions . The doctor will do and altrosound of you lump. Now, is your lump a cyst or what? I would love to give you the American Thyroid foundation web site , but will mail it to your direct or post it on the web site thing.

I had a good surgeron . I did check to see how many operation that he had done on thyroids surgery . There are risk involed with this surgery as in any surgery.

I went into the hospital here in MD at 6:00am and was operated on at 7:30am . The operation took and hour and half. I did stay one night in hospital and went home the next day . We cannot work for two weeks and you neck hurts like heck. I only took thyoidl . I would not take the Morphine at all . I had and IV in my hand all night in the hospital and my voice was horse for a month. I ate soup for two weeks and lost a lot of weight . I needed to lose the weight . I still don't want any dessert , for which I am glad of that. I still mantain my weight I stayed tired for a month , but got my strength back after that.

Not much of a scary only a little red on my neck at the base of my coller bones. I did well the doctors say . I wanted to do well . I was always wearing scarfs to cover my neck. The cyst was going back in my neck. At times , just before my operation the lump felt as thought a rubber band was around my neck. Yikes! that was scary! I had a hard time eating anything. I told the surgeon. He said if I had let it go any longer I would have choked to death. Now I don't wamt to wear nay turtle neck sweater anymore or a scarf.

I have my swan neck back . I had a small pieace of tape on my neck. I guess they glue you together now. Surgeons glue. Did a good job. I am please . I was afraid , but that is normal .

If I have left anything out please ask more questions . I am here for you. You are not alone.

Nancy

Thank you, Nancy. At the moment, they don't know what my lump is.... just that it's multinodular. I had a sonogram and a thyroid scan and all they could tell me after those is that it looks more and more like it's not cancer... but they still can't say with certainty.

I'll visit with you after I see the endrocinologist on November 1st.

Thanks again for sharing.

Sher,
Please keep us all informed. I'm so glad Nancy was able to answer so many questions. This boomer home is worth it's weight in gold, is it not? We will all be with you on Nov. 1st.

Hugs - JJ

Sher,

Please keep us informed . Glad that I could help . We have to get the word out about this . A lot of women our age have thyroid problems and nothing is said.

The thyroid doctor will probably do a biosphy of your lump on you neck . They doctor did one on my neck to make sure it was not cancer. They have a find needle that will extract fuild from the lump . It will not hurt . At least It did not hurt me.

Take care, Want to hear after you have been too the doctor.

Nancy

Ladies under this same TOPIC I posted and NO ONE bothered to read it. Its a sort of joke and rather funny if I say so myself. Please read under Estrogen Pregnancy and Women, it'll give you a chuckle.

We have to get in the habit of opening the topic side. Yesterday there were about four topics going in one forum.

Sher, I'm glad Nancy is able to shed some light. Please know we carry you in our prayers. Come running back after the first of November and update us.

Heck, come back before then and post in the other forums.

HI. I have Graves disease, and had a sub-total thyroidectomy almost three years ago. I understand your concerns and would just encourage you to read and research, and make sure you have a doctor who knows about thyroid disease. Most people do well with the meds and or surgery, But you must be in charge of your own health. I hope I don't sound snitty (certainly don't mean to), it's just that I have had a lot of rocky experiences, as I have never followed the text book with my disorder. But let me say, that I'm a very rare case, as I said most people do well with treatment. Just read and learn as much as you can-and make sure you have a doctor that listens! You must insist on the best care! Dana

Dana,
Have you gotten in touch with the The Thyroid Foundation of America, Inc. in Boston, MA.
I will send you there web site. Or I have posted it on this site. I had done reseach before I had the operation on my right lobe. I had a wonderful surgeon . If it had not been for the Tryroid Foundatin Of America. I would not have not know as much as I know now about Thyroid conditons. I was lucky I was told that I did well. I went into this operation with no choice , but to have it.

You have to be positive at all time. At least that helps.

Nancy

Thanks Nancy for the info. I have literally been in touch with medical personnel from all over the country since the beginning of my disorder. I knew "things" weren't going right from the begining. My surgery went very well and I have no complaints there, however my levels never have remained stable, and herein lies the problem for me. It has come down to having my levels drawn all the time in order to adjust medication. Almost two years ago I had a medically induced thyroid storm, because a dr. did not listen to me-it has left me with some problems. But I am happy to report that my GP is now realizing I know when my levels are off, and we are able to catch it a bit faster. It still is frustrating, but at least she is listening, for the most part . Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll be fine! Dana

Dana,
I had my surgery July6th . I went to my thyroid doctor and ran a blood test to see if my right lobe of my thyroid was working normal . I did not have to take thyroid medication . I will have to be checked each year . This is to make sure that since the the right lobe took over that it continues to work normally. I keep having normal thyroid reading. I am truly greatful . I had a cyst/Goiter removed .

I think our bodies tell of when something is wrong and I am glad that you got your doctor to liston to you . I hope that you continue to do well also. Stay postive that always helps.
Did you see the Post Vicki Taylor has graves Disease also.

P.S. Just on same note; I went into this surgery and was determined to do well and stayed postive . I had read the risk and they were low and talked to my primary doctor who new about the surgery and the surgeon that the thyroid doctor had recommed for me. You have risk with any surgery . Still like to be postive . it helps a lot.

Nancy

[ October 22, 2004, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Nancy50 ]

Dana, you are so right about being our best advocates. We know when something isn't right with our bodies. We need to communicate until we get the right answers. I think speaking with other patients who have similar conditions works miracles. Sometimes they can be more helpful than the doctors. You can pick up little tid-bits that can be life changing!

Dotsie,
That is why we are here to help each other in the worst of times and through the best of times. Now who said that. Was it Edgar Allen Poe? I agree with you.

Nancy