[Gabe]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179616

@Boomer. Appreciate the reference. I will definitely research that before stopping these cold turkey. I only take one each day at bedtime…OK…I lied….there have been a few rare days when I took one in middle of day because anxiety was so bad. This is my definite next goal. These drugs generally scare me. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. Much respect for people who have overcome addiction struggles..

@Talley….Arrivederci! (I’m sure I’ve botched my lame attempt at Italian). I love Florence… Enjoy every moment. No extra dressings needed at all. The same steri strips from the surgery all still covering the site. Was told to shower as normal and do nothing to the site area. I find wearing nothing around my neck area is most comfortable. Button up or V neck shirts. The wound is starting to itch a little which is good…sign of healing. I don’t cover it at all…girl at the grocery store asked about it today and I used the line Kimberly recommended….told her I got caught in a bear trap. Her jaw dropped and the guy behind me busted out laughing. We all had a good chuckle. It honestly doesn’t look like much but a few inches of steri strips. Puddings, Popsicles, Gelato, are all nice but I have not had to change anything I’m eating. I have been able to eat anything since the night of surgery! Swallowing at times is different but hasn’t stopped me.

@Amy. Thanks….yeah the anxiety of not knowing is frustrating but manageable. Can’t wait to see my first labs. Sad and funny the things we look forward to!

Cheers all,,,

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179612

Hi all, update one week post surgery. Things are going very well. Energy is up, able to do most anything except rotate head and heavy lifting. Steri-strips still in place and surgical area is fine – no swelling or bruising or signs of infection. The tired feeling is starting to dissipate somewhat. Have not had any OTC or other pain meds at all since last Sunday.

My post check with the surgeon is 6/17 and I expect to be released back to work. Already getting antsy and will probably start checking emails this weekend. My follow up appt with Endo is 6/25 so I’m curious to see what the labs says and what adjustments he’ll make to Levothyroxine (starting at 50 mcg) I did take one Metoprolol earlier this week since my heart rate was high. None since.

So portions of my goals are being met. I’m off two meds (methimazole and metoprolol) and not missing their side effects. I still take a Xanex before bed to help with sleep, which was an issue for me before GD since I’m menopausal. My goal is to get off that also…baby steps.

My current struggle/anxiety: finding the mental/emotional balance between the anticipation and fear of what it will be like if/when I go hypo while Levo is being regulated WITH the opposite thought of yay I’m feeling great this fixed everything. Two extremes. I’m trying to find the logical, realistic middle ground. And trying to be patient, not easy for me!

Peace, love, and happiness!
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Dear Thyroid… #1179716

Good for you Ann! Making this decision is by far the hardest part. Now all you have to do is find the best surgeon, interview them with all your questions, and go thru the normal anxiety of questioning your decision and then you’ll be on your way.

As Alexis said, you’ll never be 100% because you will always have GD but I’m already finding that it can be a whole lot better, especially when you can’t be regulated by meds.

Good luck and best wishes!

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Dear Thyroid… #1179711

Hi Laurel, well written. It is like a death/divorce when you near the TT decision. It’s not easy to make and it sounds like you have done everything to give yours a chance to get with the program and stop misbehaving! I’m less than one week after my TT and still question did I do the right thing… It’s not easy to have an important piece of you cut out…. But except for brief moments of doubt, very brief, I’m glad I did it.

Make sure you have all your questions written out and get the answers from your surgeon. If not, move on to another one. To me it was very important that he/she did a hi volume of TTs annually with zero surgical errors.

With that said, maybe your thyroid will decide to get in line and you can regulate and live normally without surgery!

Best wishes, Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179610

@James. My surgeon does over 300 TT’s annually and has not had a surgical error. One of the things I learned in the “Treatment Options” paper that Kimberly keeps posted in the Announcements section is that you want a ‘high volume’ surgeon who does no less than 30 annually and preferably over 100. Volume has a direct correlation to complications. When I mentioned his name locally to other medical professionals they all said he’s the best. Since we are now allowed to mention doctor names on this forum, his name is Raafat Abdel-Misih. I hear he’s not far from retiring and has become an excellent teaching surgeon. Yet he does his own surgeries and does not allow his residents to perform for him.

There were zero issues with my parathyroid glands. My calcium started climbing up by the first post-op blood test (about 8 hours after surgery) and continued to climb. Other than the sore throat from the anesthesia tube, my voice is exactly the same. Zero issues.

Caveat…everyone is different as we all know. Not trying to sound like a salesperson for TT’s. just sharing my experience. We all choose what’s best for each of us…

Cheers,

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179608

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement! Today I feel pretty good. Got a shower, cleaned up around the house, did a few loads of wash, and then took a 2 hour nap. I agree with you all about feeling tired but I’m sure this will pass with time.

I took a beta blocker yesterday since my heart rate was a little elevated (115) even resting. My BP was 126/96 (didn’t like that bottom number). Today I’m not having any ‘heart’ issues

Totally stopped the Vicodin. That is nasty stuff…really messed my stomach up and it generally scares me. Took nothing today except the 50 mcgs of Levothyroxine.

Scar area looks good. Just a few steri strips about 2-1/2 inches long. Still generally sore to touch. Neck, back, and jaw muscles still a little sore.

Now if my levels get straightened out fairly quickly and the mental/emotional GD symptoms go away, this will be a success. So far, I’m pleased with the physical aspects of healing from the TT. The rest remains to be seen…

Cheers!
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179601

Hi all. Thanks for all the well wishes. Here goes….
Process at hospital was very smooth. By far the worse part of the actual pre-op stuff was the IVs. It took them 4 attempts to find a vein and by the third time I was very anxious. I hate needles. Then they gave me something and the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery.

First memory…horrible sore throat, begging for something to drink. Back to my private room and then they allow me to sip. Heavenly but it hurt. Still on IV so they gave me one IV shot of pain killer. Felt great. Ate a big dinner since I was starving…turkey, gravy, stuffing, broccoli, applesauce, graham crackers. No problems swallowing.

Woke up morning of second day feeling pretty good. Ate a big breakfast. That morning they give me my first 50 mcg of Levothyroxine and a pain pill (Vicodin). Discharged around 11:00. Home, settled, and then around 3:00 I’m not feeling so good. Pop a few pain pills and rest. Slept ok first night at home.

For reference I have a very low threshold for pain so don’t go by my need for pain meds since I’m a big baby with pain! Also anesthesiologist gave me two doses of anti nausea medication in the IV so absolutely no issues with nausea.

Today feeling better than yesterday but woke up with jaw, shoulders, and neck muscles very sore. Took two more pain pills and slept most of afternoon. Feeling good enough now to log on here, read the Sunday paper, and ate dinner.

Surprises: 1) that I can eat almost anything, although swallowing isn’t easy, it’s not bad enough to keep me from eating. 2) that I’m so sore all over. 3) not much bruising around surgical site, expected a bigger cut.

So far, so good!
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179592

@Naisly…thanks I am aware of the risks of worsening the TED. My ophthalmologist is as optimistic as I am.

@Boomer…how did you know I was a badass?! Haha. I will remain as positive as my menopausal-GD-riddled brain will allow. Thanks for coming back…

@Maryl…love the “mentalpausal”…describes this multi-year process very accurately! Thanks for the hugs..

[Gabe]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179588

Thanks Amy. Your journey and posts have given me a lot of confidence and comfort. Forever grateful!

Hugs back…

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: My total thyroidectomy journal #1178832

Hi Amy,,, thanks for the update…doesn’t scare me…reality is always better than wondering, guessing, stressing, supposing, etc. I’m glad you’re on the mend and starting to feel better. I hope I end up with a better singing voice than I have now..my husband says I can’t carry a tune in a wet paper bag!

Cheers!
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Save the Date – “Mini-Conference” on Sat., 10/26 in Baltimore! #1179570

Yeah! finally something close to me… I will do my best to attend…

[Gabe]

in reply to: orbital decompression #1169718

Thank you…my gosh you’ve been thru a lot….can’t imagine having your eyeball fall out of your head. I gasped when I read that. I’m new to this so updates from veterans such as yourself are very powerful. Thanks for sharing and I wish you the best!

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: To Boomer #1179535

Please stay Boomer! You made me laugh, out loud, and many times. I’ve lost count of the many times I’ve had to apologize to friends, family, coworkers, and strangers because my moods and irritability are off the charts at times and I’ve said things that make me cringe.

You’ve apologized, we’re all over it, it’s not the first time it’s happened on this forum, and won’t be the last.

Don’t leave… We need you!

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: “Be patient” you’ll get better #1179470

Hi Ann.. hope today is better for you…when you see your GP ask him/her to check your labs… if you’ve been on meds for 6 weeks and are feeling no better (maybe worse) maybe your meds need to be adjusted? Having a virus/flu on top of all this is no fun. I too live on the water, near the ocean and it’s very soothing to watch sunsets, listen to the waves and the seagulls. Peaceful…

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Cold. #1179499

Hi Barbra. Don’t wait for your doctor. Most laboratories today allow you to view your results immediately online. Most are available within 24 hours. If not, call your doctor’s office and have them fax, email, or read them off to you. With this disease we’ve all learned that you have to be an active partner with your medical team and if your team doesn’t welcome that or isn’t doing what you need/want then maybe it’s time to find a new team!

Cheers!

Karen

[Author]

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