[SueAndHerZoo]

#1060040

First, how come nobody warned me about the tube up the nose and down the throat????? YUCK!!!!! Actually, I’m probably glad I didn’t know – I might not have gone if I knew they were going to do that.

The surgeon was incredible. She spent well over 45 minutes with me alone, not only checking me physically but then explaining, in detail, what would happen, how and when. Then she let me ask my multitude of questions and answered each one thoroughly. In addition to her I also got to speak to a resident and a nurse. No question went unanswered, and most of them were answered before I got to ask.

Surgeon thinks I am a perfect candidate for the surgery and thinks all my reasons for wanting it are valid and justified. Surgery is July 16th… her first available date. She does 9 a week and has never had a complication… not bleeding, not infection, not damage to parathyroid or damage to vocal cord. She expressed all of her concerns and the potential risks and talked about the precautions she takes to avoid them. She made me feel very comfortable and confident in her.

So, soon I go to my GP for a medical release exam before surgery and for seven days before surgery I take drops three times a day? Apparently they are full of iodine to further shut down my thyroid even more than the Methimazole does.

I will be going back to Yale about a week before surgery for pre-op stuff and then the day before surgery they’ll give me a time of day for my actual surgery on the 16th. I have to be there about 90 minutes before, will spend one night at the hospital, and go home after breakfast the next day if all goes well.

I’m psyched!!!!
Sue

[snelsen]

#1179840

Yay. I think you will be VERY relieved to have a finite plan.

Yep, you will be intubated, but you will not know about it, going in or coming out. You will be very happy dreaming something wonderful during this procedure.

Tube up nose? Can’t figure out what that would be unless you are misunderstanding the nasal prongs for oxygen. Dunno.

Full discloser, I worked in an OR a LOT. Also a recovery room, pre op and post op. I think you will have a wonderful experience.

Read the many good posts about post op. My biggest mistake was that I thought I felt WONDERFUL, FULL OF ENERGY, READY FOR ALL AND ANYTHING at post op two weeks. And I wasn’t . Fatigue still is a big deal then. Was not back to “old self” or anywhere near it. Let people help you, cook for you, do laundry. You can go out for lunch with friends! Before the zoo comes home from school.
Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1179841

Hi Sue – I know you’ve been on quite a rollercoaster ride since you relapsed, so that’s great news that you were pleased with the consult. Wishing you all the best!

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1179842

I know I will be intubated during the procedure and am fine with that (well, not fine, but I know it’s necessary)…. the part I was referring to is the tube that went up my nose and down my throat TODAY during the consult!!!

She put a camera down there to look at my vocal cords…. standard procedure for her before she’ll agree to surgery. Unbenounced to me, my husband videod the whole thing on his phone so when we left I was able to see the monitor that showed the camera traveling down my throat, I got to see my vocal cords opening and closing, and then I saw the camera and tube leaving me. It wasn’t fun but I’m glad she’s that thorough and now that it’s over it’s cool seeing down my throat and watching my vocal cords say “eeeeeeeeeeeee”.

She promised that all other uncomfortable procedures would be done after I’m knocked out. I’m down with that!

Like I said, had I known the surgeon was going to check my vocal cords today during the consult I may have chickened out from going so I guess I’m glad I DIDN’T know.

Is that a regular part of a consult?
Sue

[LaurelM]

#1179843

Yay! I’m sure it must feel good to have that done with.

I have a consult tomorrow and a 2nd opinion next Thursday. I’m feeling really ready for progress.

Laurel

[snelsen]

#1179844

I don’t think so. It will be interesting to see what you hear from other folks
Shirley

[Gabe]

#1179845

Great news Sue! I had no tube down my throat at the surgical consult. My surgeon just palated. Never heard of that but if it helps her, help you it’s all good. I’m sure you feel relieved now that you’ve made a decision. I didn’t have to take any drops prior to surgery but maybe my thyroid was more in control than yours. All your other descriptions of the remaining steps are exactly like mine. Pretty routine stuff. Congrats!

Karen

PS. Listen to what Shirley says about the false feelings of energy in the beginning. It makes you believe that you are better than you are. Then reality sets in and you lose that ‘high’ or energy burst. Don’t overdue it early on…

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1179846

OK, since I haven’t seen much on this forum about the pre-op vocal cord examination I did some Googling to make sure my doctor knows what she’s doing. (I’m sure she’d love to know I’m second guessing her but, hey, it’s MY body!) I found lots of info, but to sum it up:

Prior to thyroid surgery it is important to establish that the vocal cords are functioning and moving normally and that the primary thyroid problem, or previous thyroid surgery has not affected the vocal cord function and mobility.

I also decided to check on the drops I’ll be taking for a week before surgery. Sounds unpleasant but probably a good idea:

Lugol’s solution contains 100 mg/mL of potassium iodide and 50 mg/mL of iodine. Given orally, the product: 1) reduces thyroid vascularity—hence its use to reduce blood loss during thyroid surgery; 2) temporarily inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion—hence its use in treating thyrotoxic crisis and in reducing the risk of thyroid storm post thyroid surgery; and 3) blocks thyroidal uptake of radioactive isotopes, thereby reducing the risk of thyroid cancer—hence its use in a radiation emergency or therapeutic/diagnostic exposure of radioactive iodine.

I’m going to read some more about the procedure for another day or two and then I’m going to STOP reading for at least 3 weeks. I can’t afford to get myself all worked up and nervous this early….. I’ll try to contain all that for the week before.
Sue

[snelsen]

#1179847

I took Lugol’s solution. For all the reasons stated in the research you provided. Tastes like crap. I found orange juice cut it the best.
Shirley

[flora]

#1179848

It sounds like you’ve lucked into a great surgeon, Sue! So happy you’ve found the right path for you, at last! Keep us posted,
Flora

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1179849

snelsen wrote:

I took Lugol’s solution. For all the reasons stated in the research you provided. Tastes like crap. I found orange juice cut it the best.
Shirley

I was eating my lunch dessert (applesauce) while reading your post, looked down, and wondered if I could drop the drops in applesauce. I imagine if I get it in me it doesn’t much matter how I do it, right?

Thanks for the orange juice tip…… if the drops are as bad as they warned me they are, I may have to make a fruit concoction.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1179850

LaurelM wrote:

Yay! I’m sure it must feel good to have that done with.

I have a consult tomorrow and a 2nd opinion next Thursday. I’m feeling really ready for progress.

Laurel

How’d the consult go, Laurel? Did you get a camera up your nose, too?
Sue

[LaurelM]

#1179851

I did! Glad I aware of that possibility. Thanks for the heads-up. It certainly is interesting to be able to see your own vocal chords. Everything looked good and they think I’m a good canidate for TT. This was with a Dr that my PCP (a UW doc) referred me to affiliated with UW ENT medicine.

Techinically, this was a 2nd opinion visit even though I ended up seeing them first.

I have an appointment next week with the surgeon my endo referred me to at another facility. Part of me is tempted to cancel and just follow-up with the UW but on the other hand, I also trust (but will verify) my endo’s recommendation too.

So much to consider.

Laurel

[Boomer]

#1179852

How did I know you’d be bragging about the Nose-Cam™? Some girls have ALL the luck don’t they?

I’m SO glad your consult went well! I mean the only thing better would have been two tubes in the nose burt we can’t always have everything we want right? Right! It really makes a difference when the doctor listens, isn’t rushing, etc., doesn’t it? Sounds like you picked a winner!

No matter how good she is I suggest you don’t tip her until afterwards- they don’t take too kindly to tips in advance. Don’t ask me how I know this…

I’ll be standing by while you upload the video. As they say “Pics (in this case video) or it didn’t really happen!”

Glad it went well and that the wait won’t be too terribly long. Keep taking care of yourself, stop Googling, and keep thinking postitive. And remember to tell your Thyroid “Nyeah nyeah I WIN!” on your way into surgery

Stay great!

Boomer

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1179853

LOL You know me too well, Boomer. I WAS trying to figure out a way to share the video but I think the file is just too large. You may be off the hook from having to look down my throat.

May your days be filled with opportunities to have tubes shoved up your nose.
Sue

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