[Talley]

in reply to: Just when things seemed okay, vitiligo? #1180400

So sorry to hear this. I have vitiligo. Found out after my TT that I also had hashi in addition to graves…and cancer…

Any way, start the cream ASAP – it will help with spreading – hopefully. Stress will also cause spreading. Did the doc prescribe Protopic? I developed vitiligo around the age of 31. It spread last spring – when I noticed the graves symptoms.

Once you have one autoimmune disease more tend to follow. Please feel free to PM me for more info. I am on vacation with the kids at the beach so not online regularly right now.
Talley

[Talley]

in reply to: had post-TT appointment with ENT #1180397

thanks for the replies!

At my lowest – during Graves – I was 111…too low of a weight for me. I am most comfortable right around 115 – I had actually been gaining weight the past 6 months with Graves and was working hard to keep my weight stable at 115 (gained a pound in Italy).

I know I need to be patient – not a strong point of mine. I just hope I can keep the weight from continuing to creep up until I get stabilized on meds…I did a second workout tonight (a good hike with my husband). thinking I’ll keep the second workout until I can get back to a good weight. It’s hard – being just 5′ tall, 5 lb is a lot! I workout a lot and have muscle, so adding weight to that just looks bad:(

Sue – I hope you’re not at this point in four weeks. I was very disappointed in my endo – he had originally told me he would start me at a higher dose since I was used to being hyper and he didn’t want me to go hypo…he seemed to have forgotten that. Best wishes to you for tomorrow – I’ll be flying out with the kids to visit grandparents but will check in as I am able!

Thanks again!
Talley

[Talley]

in reply to: Sue’s TT – July 16, 2013 #1180326

Sounds like you have what you will need:)

I agree with previous post about liquids – I would call and clarify if you can have liquid in the early AM. My surgeon said nothing 8 hours prior to surgery – I had surgery scheduled at 1:00. I did get up at 4 AM and had some tea and a cookie! I get nauseous when I get hungry and couldn’t stand the thought of a caffeine withdraw headache!

I also had a small amount of water in the morning to take my propranolol, and I would put water in my mouth and “swish” it around to help with the dry mouth…

You’re going to do great!

[Talley]

in reply to: Best wishes Sue #1180319

As far as the nausea goes, I was really worried since I had horrible nausea and trouble with general when I had my breast lift/reduction. I talked to the anesthesiologist about it, she did her “magic”, and I felt great when I came out of it! It really is amazing what they can do now…just be sure to voice any concerns ahead of time:)

[Talley]

in reply to: Best wishes Sue #1180314

I think she goes in on Tuesday…

Sue, I would also like to wish you the best with your upcoming TT.

I really didn’t find it so bad – just took longer to recover than I expected – gotta love getting older! I was glad to get home since I didn’t sleep at all in the hospital…

My suggestions – make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep when you get home (we don’t have a recliner so I set up the couch in the kids playroom – after I got home – with lots of pillows so I could sleep on my back), Popsicles, ginger-ale, crackers, your post-TT meds, and lots of help:)

I had all sorts of dressings for my incision, but the doctor sent me home with steri-strips and had me keep them on until I see him tomorrow.

Will be thinking of you!
Talley

[Talley]

in reply to: 13 years of Graves, plan to TT, right decision?? #1180235

Hi there;

Read all you can and then make a decision that feels “right” for you.

I had a TT three weeks ago. Turns out they found a small cancer on my thyroid after it was removed…not sure what would have happened if I had done nothing or if I had RAI. So, I am glad I had it removed. I am not happy about the weight gain post-TT…I am amazed that I am gaining weight rapidly – nothing other than the surgery has changed. Hoping this will be resolved soon.

As far as having it removed. I felt better psychologically knowing it was gone rather than “dead” inside me…weird, I know, but we all think about things different.

Good luck with your decision!

[Talley]

in reply to: Lowering Levothyroxine for Hypothyroid? #1180217

That doesn’t make any sense…I agree, if you are hypo then the meds should be increased not decreased. Maybe the nurse had it wrong…

I’m two-and-a-half weeks post TT and I am very worried about becoming hypo! My doc started me on 100mcg (I weigh around 115).

I’m really curious to hear what the doctor says on Monday – I wouldn’t decrease anything until you speak with him. Let us know!

[Talley]

in reply to: Bulletin for the HOT FLASHES CROWD! #1180134

I’m going to file this one away – sounds great! Fortunately, my hot flashes are gone!! I think they were a way for my body to get rid of the extra fluid in my system after the surgery – similar to what happened after my children were born.

So, looks like I get to wait a few more years (I hope), before they come back:)

BTW, Thursday (9 days post TT), I felt good for the first time – I really felt like myself again! I am hopeful that this is it and I’ll continue to feel better – and really hoping that the Synthroid is at a good level and I won’t turn hypo…

Thanks – I’m going to go read the article:)

[Talley]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179636

Hi there;

Quick question for Karen and Shirley – is it worthwhile to see a specialist if I am uncertain about eye involvement and I have already had the TT? My eyes are dry and hurt most days – but I live in CO with high altitude and lack of humidity…

I was just thinking that I would try to see one of the docs at the Kellogg Eye Center in MI on a visit home to see my parents…

Thanks and I hope the double vision clears without the need for surgery…

[Talley]

in reply to: question – post TT & hot flashes, nausea #1180067

Thanks Karen;

One an hour!?! Oh my, I think that would push me over the edge:)…I hope your hot flashes getting worse are short-term along with mine…

I hope tomorrow there is no nausea…if so, I’ll try to avoid the tea for a bit longer.

[Talley]

in reply to: Swollen Lymph Nodes in Neck #1180029

have them checked out – most likely nothing, but you never know!

i had swollen lymph nodes for 8 months – they ended up doing a ct scan (which you should never do with graves) and found a tumor in my chest – the lymph nodes were “nothing” though…

interesting, now that my thyroid and tumor are gone so are my swollen lymph nodes – i would have thought they would be huge right after surgery…

[Talley]

in reply to: TT complete #1180012

Home and trying to rest. It’s hard – I feel guilty not doing anything…but just going up and down the stairs is hard. The doctor removed the drain this morning – not much was coming out by that point. They also checked my calcium levels and said they didn’t change (don’t remember if they told me the number or not).

Dr just called to tell me he got the pathology report – fastest he has ever received one. The tumor was benign – cant remember the name, but something I have had since birth that was slow growing.

They found a small cancer in my Thyroid!! He said due to the size it is seen as cured with removal! I really dodged a bullet – so very glad I decided to remove it before it grew or spread. For me, the TT was the right choice.

I am having a lot of pain in my upper chest where the tumor was removed. Think I’m going to lay back down. Just wanted to share my news!

Thank you all!
Talley

[Talley]

in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179624

Wow about the cancer! Another reason I prefer having it taken out to RAI…

So my surgeon uses a drain…he said it can help to prevent blood clots. I did some reading and thoughts seem to go either way. Not looking forward to it, but if he thinks it might prevent a clot guess that is what we will do!

I loaded up on “scar creams” – hoping I won’t need them, but with the vitiligo, I figure it can’t hurt…4:45 AM, head to surgery at 11…I woke up at 3 and had been told no food/water 8 hours prior do I got up and had water and a mini doughnut since I can’t see having nothing before 1:00. I wake up starving – at least ill get a small amount of water with my meds – gonna go try and sleep for another hour;)

[Talley]

in reply to: no medication “prep” prior to TT? #1179947

Hi all – sorry not to update – been trying to get unpacked and the house in order before my mom gets in tonight.

I talked to the surgeon today – he was great. He is not concerned about my thyroid levels right now – said he spoke with my endo. He wants me to take a Tapazole tomorrow morning before I head in and he said the anesthesiologist will call me tonight to talk about the propranolol and other concerns. He does do a high number of TT each year – one of the primary surgeries that he does.

He is most concerned about getting the tumor out asap. he did give me the option to pass on the TT, but I can’t imagine not doing it now while I have the chance…my endo prefers RAI – which I can’t do for at least 6 months due to the recent CT scans and if there is another problem I’d have to go back in for surgery.

I am feeling “at ease” about the surgery tomorrow – thanks to comments, I’m not going to worry about the weight issue. I am sure with my endo’s help we can get my levels set. I am worried about the scar. I purchased a couple scarves today that I can wear to try to hide it…yuck.

I do have a question. The ENT said he may want me to stay on the tapazole after surgery for a few days – is that normal? My endo talked about started me on the Synthroid right after surgery…do I do both? I’ll ask tomorrow but it confused me and I didn’t ask because I was worried about my other questions and then forgot.

Thanks again…I’ll post when I get home on Wednesday since I don’t think I’ll have access in the hospital:)

[Talley]

in reply to: no medication “prep” prior to TT? #1179939

Thank you so much Shirley, Sue and Christina!

I am going to email my endo right now and ask about the drops and prep. He didn’t seem too concerned when I met with him prior to our trip – just had me increase my dosage of methimazole every-other day. If we have to postpone the surgery a couple days, I am OK with it…I know the ENT and Oncologist wanted the surgery asap – I’ll see what they all think.

They need to surgically remove the tumor due to its location and can’t do a biopsy due to the location and blood vessels around it. The doctor said the surgery to remove the tumor would be 3-4 hours and would add an hour to remove the thyroid. I am not sure how many thyroids he removes (I will ask), he is an ENT and talked about this being “routine” for him.

I would much rather have my thyroid removed than to have RAI and I know I will be better about taking meds post-surgery than I have been now…my endo said he will start me on a higher level of meds since I have been used to being hyper and he wants to avoid my doing hypo…My biggest fear (yes, it’s stupid), it to gain a lot of weight. I have struggled my entire life to keep my weight down – never happy and probably pretty close to an eating disorder – more that I workout a lot to keep the weight off than anything else. This has made the decision difficult, but I know with my weight “issues” I will continue to be “bad” about taking my methimazole due to fears of weight gain, but I will be religious about taking my post TT meds due to the same fears.

I will email my endo now – wish my ENT had email available…If I wasn’t so concerned about lymphoma, I would have probably put it all off. I already have trouble swallowing due to the tumor and really want it and the thyroid gone.

Thank you again for your words…wish I could have coffee with you all – you are all amazing women. Thank you for sharing your journeys and offering support.
Talley

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