[bishop76]

in reply to: Going into surgery next week! #1067864

Thanks Nancy and Ski! I had my surgery this past Wednesday. I am home now. I am still feeling weak and in discomfort, but nowhere near the pain I was in while at the hospital. The morphine given to me every 3 hours via IV was like child’s asprin and did not take the extreme pain away. Now, I am walking around a bit and preparing my own soup and calcium supplements (all parathyroids came out, as well). My surgeon told my parents and my endo that it was the largest thyroid he has ever seen and that it was pushing my trachea all the way to the left. I saw pics he took. It was extremely huge! I knew I was a mutant. LOL I am glad it is out. I still have swelling in my face and neck. It still feels like I am being choked on my left side. I am not on hormones, yet. I should be put on them sometime this coming week. I have not gained any weight sine the surgery as I am not eating everything in site. In fact, I am keeping it to soups, V8, yogurt and maybe a little ice cream. I did quit smoking. I am not going to use the patch, as I already have gone through the 72 hour nicotine withdraw. I am just taking it one day at a time, trying to curve my cigarette cravings with other thoughts… until I am able to curve them with exercise, this is all I can do. I was told I will be started on 100mg of synthroid to start, and am hoping this is enough. I do not want to yo-yo with this. I want to feel right, right away. I want my face to start looking like normal. Even if my eyes stay looking a little swollen, I want my cheeks and rest of my face to return to normal. Is this ‘deformation’ permanent or does it go away? I understand the eyes could get better or worse and it is a waiting game. I am patient enough to wait on that as long as the rest of my face returns to normal. The bottom of my face is puffy like a bulldog and make me look like I have the ‘frown’. My face has drawn down and accumulated what seems like permanent swelling at the bottom. You guys have been so helpful already. Nancy, I did call that day and got your email, but have not called again as I was busy prepping my house for post surgery and getting everything I needed in order. I will call as soon as my voice gets a little stronger. Thank you, Ski, as well for all of your help!

[bishop76]

in reply to: graves eye disease #1075691

Thanks Ski! I do know about a lot of what you said. And I appreciate you writing since the posts of yours that I have read today shows how knowledgeable you are!! ” title=”Smile” /> At the moment, I think it is just the drying out of the eye. I had an MRI today and should know the results tomorrow. I am waiting to see what the oculoplastic says tomorrow. I have the tissue build-up around the eye, as you said you had. It is bad, even puffy into the eye corners going to my nose. Though, I thought they looked like Catherine Zeta Jones eyes and, before they got this bad, actually like them. LOL. I am really scared now about the surgery… I am trying to sike myself out of this feeling. And I am sorry you’ve had 12 years of this! I never even heard of Graves before I was diagnosed! All of this has happened so fast. Good to know that it won’t get much worse due to me having surgery vs the RAI. Thanks so much for that piece of salvation of knowledge!

[bishop76]

in reply to: graves eye disease #1075689

This is my first post. I am new to this site. I am 32 and was diagnosed with Grave’s almost 5 months ago. It is in my thyroid. In fact, I have a huge goiter growing out of my neck. I am going into surgery next week to remove it. After the roller coaster of changes and symptoms in my body, the one that has stayed constant is the pain in my eyes. I see about 5-6 doctors/specialist per week and and seeing an optoplastic doctor tomorrow for the first time. I was told today I may need plugs in my eyes. I am confident the swelling in my lids will go away. I know I have to wait some time before surgery, but I will have them done by a cosmetic surgeon. The lids do make me feel embarrassed, as well as does the swelling in my face and the ‘mini me’ growing out of my neck. The eye bulging isn’t TOO bad, but it is there. In fact, the bulging was worse, but has subsided to give way to the pain. I have to wear dark sunglasses while in my house, some days. It feels like someone threw acid in my eyes. I started steroid drops today, as well and been on rewetting drops for about a week. I was so excited to finally have my surgery since they originally said I couldn’t have it for another 3-4 months due to risk of dying in surgery, but now that my thyroid is constricting my windpipe, it must come out. I learned 2 days ago that the burning will not stop after surgery. My heart was crushed! It is the worst part of the symptoms, well, at least after they controlled the rest by PTU and Inderal. I am a smoker, but am quitting now, before my surgery. I read on the board earlier that some lady had 6 surgeries on her eyes after they killed her thyroid! I pray for her and hope that won’t be the case with me… ” title=”Sad” /> I am glad I found this site today, to talk with people that understand what I am going through!! Nice meeting all of you.

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