The THYROID Thread

[luvmarypoppins]

Firefly - I would def. get a blood test and check your levels to see if you need a med adjustment. You are the best judge of how you and your body feels.

ang - so sorry the results were not the best. You are a fighter and you can do this! Its a different kind of experience, but it sounds like you have a great and knowledgeable and caring care team on your side too. So to heck with the modesty and I know you will do all you can do to kick this cancer to the curb!! We are here for you anytime you want to vent etc. Sending you lots of prayers and virtual

 

[macraven]

LMP, is that purple tag new?

my mind has been in a blow for days and just noticed it thinking, i didn't see that before..........or did i..........lol

 

[luvmarypoppins]

LMP, is that purple tag new?

my mind has been in a blow for days and just noticed it thinking, i didn't see that before..........or did i..........lol

No that is not new. I have had it forever. I was actually commenting on some thread that my husbands antenna topper got stolen and I said I was debating whether or not to put a new one on his van because I didnt know if it would get stolen again. Later, he found it in the van and said he forgot that he took it off because it was either windy or he was going to the car wash? Something like that.

My other 2 tags are from the breast cancer girls The 2nd one was when our central air broke I think, it was so hot in here and then it finally got fixed. It was really suppose to say - look who is the coolest sister here now.

The third one is because I am always giving virtual hugs to the breast cancer gals.They inspire me. I have met 3 of them at disney and another girl who's mom is a survivor.

Its funny because now in real life I can only give a R arm hug. I cant lift up the L arm because of the nerve being cut from the 2nd tumor running through it. I am lucky if I can get it up 50%.

 

[branv]

I'm still in shock. It's benign. I spent 24 hrs thinking it was aggressively malignant due to a mixup (they sent me the original path report, not the updated path report from the more advanced lab). I literally started shaking all over when the doctor told me. I didn't even know good news could make you shake. I feel elated, a little silly for all the sleepless nights. I feel a little guilty for asking for help and advice others need more. I don't know why.

I know I don't really know you ladies, yet your experience and guidance was unbelievably helpful to me. Funny how that can be.

Angwill, I'm so very sorry you are going through another fight. And incredibly emotional that you had the kindness to respond to my questions when you had your own battle. I am sending you a million healing wishes, and will keep you in my thoughts.

 

[SingingMom]

I'm still in shock. It's benign. I spent 24 hrs thinking it was aggressively malignant due to a mixup (they sent me the original path report, not the updated path report from the more advanced lab). I literally started shaking all over when the doctor told me. I didn't even know good news could make you shake. I feel elated, a little silly for all the sleepless nights. I feel a little guilty for asking for help and advice others need more. I don't know why. I know I don't really know you ladies, yet your experience and guidance was unbelievably helpful to me. Funny how that can be. Angwill, I'm so very sorry you are going through another fight. And incredibly emotional that you had the kindness to respond to my questions when you had your own battle. I am sending you a million healing wishes, and will keep you in my thoughts.

So happy to hear your good news!!!!!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[luvmarypoppins]

branv - so happy for your good news

ang - how are the rads going? Sending you thought and prayers

singing mom - did you ever go swimming at the Swan/Dolphin in Jan? I am just wondering if we can go in a few weeks. I honestly cant stand the cold at all. I saw someone post on the s/d thread that only one part of the pool was heated?

I had a bad cold,but all better now. At least it didnt get to the horrible hacking cough stage so that was good.

Ds3 is going to orientation at his 2nd part time sub job on Monday. Ds1 says he is going for another interview after Thanksgiving. Only the 2nd one in 3 months, so we will see. Ds2 job is running out of funding. The joys of contracts and then other family stuff we are dealing with, sigh. dh and I def. need a vacation.

And on my list of things to do: flu shot, bone scan and mammo.

 

[SingingMom]

branv - so happy for your good news ang - how are the rads going? Sending you thought and prayers singing mom - did you ever go swimming at the Swan/Dolphin in Jan? I am just wondering if we can go in a few weeks. I honestly cant stand the cold at all. I saw someone post on the s/d thread that only one part of the pool was heated? I had a bad cold,but all better now. At least it didnt get to the horrible hacking cough stage so that was good. Ds3 is going to orientation at his 2nd part time sub job on Monday. Ds1 says he is going for another interview after Thanksgiving. Only the 2nd one in 3 months, so we will see. Ds2 job is running out of funding. The joys of contracts and then other family stuff we are dealing with, sigh. dh and I def. need a vacation. And on my list of things to do: flu shot, bone scan and mammo.

Two years ago in January I spent a lovely day poolside at the Dolphin with my Mai tai and book, while DH and dd went to Studios. It was heavenly and I went home with a tan. A tan in January in NJ is quite an envious situation. Lol

Last year the weather was too chilly to swim. I think DD & I ran down for an hour, but we were too cold. One night on MK, she bought a quilt to wrap around her for the fireworks! Yet, some days are in the 80's. Really hard to pack & plan that time of year. But, whatever, it's still warmer than January in NJ. Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[angwill]

I'm still in shock. It's benign. I spent 24 hrs thinking it was aggressively malignant due to a mixup (they sent me the original path report, not the updated path report from the more advanced lab). I literally started shaking all over when the doctor told me. I didn't even know good news could make you shake. I feel elated, a little silly for all the sleepless nights. I feel a little guilty for asking for help and advice others need more. I don't know why.

I know I don't really know you ladies, yet your experience and guidance was unbelievably helpful to me. Funny how that can be.

Angwill, I'm so very sorry you are going through another fight. And incredibly emotional that you had the kindness to respond to my questions when you had your own battle. I am sending you a million healing wishes, and will keep you in my thoughts.

Do not belittle your experience you had a cancer scare and are blessed it turned out for the best. It is the waiting and loss of control that are the worst and you experienced that. Glad you found us.

Thank you for the kind words. I will get through this it could have been a lot worse. I was blessed with both my thyroid and the uterine cancer that I got them before they spread even if they were more aggressive than they first thought them to be.

Stay strong.

LMP, I am still healing and won't do radiation till most likely Christmas week. I was supposed to seee the radiation specialist at last weeks 2 week post op but the doctor and her nurse dropped the ball and forgot to set it up.

Angela

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Just want to say that I am thankful for all of you here.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone.

 

[SingingMom]

Just want to say that I am thankful for all of you here. Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I am leaving on vacation tomm.

I called sat. to order my meds. When dh picked it up yest. they said they were out of synthroid and could only give me 2 pills, but promised dh it would be in by mon. Its here but now my ds are going out int the snow to get it for me. Gosh, what pharmacy runs out of synthroid?? First time ever for me in 5 years.

Hopefully we will get there tomm. right now its snowing and they are predicting the huge noreaster will hit fiercely with high winds tomm morning and flooding, oh what fun.

When we had the bad rain storm in the summer I read another poster who lives by my area and tried to get to the local airport had her van flooded out on the way there, omg.

Our flight leaves at 7:45 am, so hopefully we can make our way there.

Thinking f you all, especially you Ang. Hope you are healing before you get ready to fight! You are in my prayers.

 

[angwill]

LMP, I missed your Thanksgiving message sorry. I am thankful for you and everyone here as well and hope your holiday was a great one.

Enjoy that vacation and relax.

My Pharmacy/Walgreens runs out of meds all the time here. Just yesterday they only had a 3 day supply of a 90 day script for my Cytomel. They can't even get that script right in their computer system and half the time I explain what is needed when I drop it off and come back an hour or two later depending on how long they say it will take to find out it's filled wrong and then they want me to wait in line all over again. No manager will tell them to fill it right now either and the home office could care less despite the fact that some of their mistakes could kill someone and the majority are made by one particular tech over and over. I no longer blame my doctor or nurse for pharmacy mistakes. I wish our Walmart pharmacy were better. lol

Thank goodness we are having warmer than usual weather in the midwest so only rain for us right now but still a bit of snow left on the ground. I hope the weather doesn't put a damper on your vacatoin or travel.

Thanks for the good thoughts for me. Oh I got my thyroid ultrasound done on the weekend and they found a swollen lymph node. It has been there for months. Waiting for my doctor to be in Wednesday for him to tell me what he suggests. He only works on Sat and Wed now. I just want answers and no more waiting. Wishful thinking.

Ang

 

[luvmarypoppins]

ang - (I am taking a packing break) When I had the swollen lymph node my doctor said he usually prescribes an antibiotic first. But mine was itching on my neck, but still I insisted he do a biopsy.

They did tell me if it was in a hard to get to place for surgery they could try alcohol ablation on it. Some people are rai resistant too, but that is a whole other thing.

Just be sure to get lots of info from your dr. Sometimes they do nothing and just keep watching it.

I always ask my dr. way too many questions (that was the surgeon). I always drove him crazy, but I could care less since he almost killed me. He should humor me and he knew it. But he did answer everything.

 

[SingingMom]

LMP - hope you can fly out with no delays! You deserve a vacation! Enjoy my beautiful Swan/Dolphin! . We leave in a month - but at POFQ this time. I'm sure it will be fine but I will miss the deluxe vibe and location. Not complaining though. Very thankful to have 10 days away from winter!!

Check with your airlines before you leave to make sure you are still scheduled! Have fun!

 

[angwill]

ang - (I am taking a packing break) When I had the swollen lymph node my doctor said he usually prescribes an antibiotic first. But mine was itching on my neck, but still I insisted he do a biopsy.

They did tell me if it was in a hard to get to place for surgery they could try alcohol ablation on it. Some people are rai resistant too, but that is a whole other thing.

Just be sure to get lots of info from your dr. Sometimes they do nothing and just keep watching it.

I always ask my dr. way too many questions (that was the surgeon). I always drove him crazy, but I could care less since he almost killed me. He should humor me and he knew it. But he did answer everything.

Thanks for taking a packing break to write. How long was your lymph node swollen for? I notice I get them under my pits and in different places on my neck. This one has just been there for several months now. I don't think antibiotic is going to help since I am sure I got that in high doses during my radical hysterectomy a month ago and it's still there. No itching for me.

My doctor is a bit of an airhead and if asked a question he doesn't want to answer will go on a long explaination of something else. lol I am pretty sure he is a wait and see kind of guy. Right now I would rather wait till after all the radiation from they uterine cancer is over. I have too much on my plate.

 

[squeegee]

I don't post much, but have been reading this thread for a long time. Now, I find myself with a need to vent. This will be a kinda long post. :/

I had/have papillary carcinoma with lymph node spread, and did the total thyroidectomy and partial neck dissection with RAI and WBS back in 2011. My then-endo said the *only* followup I needed was bloodwork. I trusted she knew what she was doing, though I had read that follow-up was usually more aggressive.

Two years later, my primary caregiver there, a nurse practitioner I rather liked, left the practice, so I decided to find a different endo, closer to home, since I know I need to follow up on this pretty much forever.

I am exceedingly impressed with my new doctor. I see HIM. In two years, I only ONCE saw the other endo - a 5 minute "visit" while I was talking with my NP. My new Dr., however, was not impressed with the follow up care I'd been receiving. He ordered bloodwork, and had an ultrasound done that instant.

There are two suspicious lymph nodes in the left neck that he wants to biopsy next week. The left side is where all the tumor was, before.

So, again I begin the waiting game.

If the FNA comes back positive, there will be more surgery, more radiation, more missed work.
Can't let on to my husband or parents just how frightened and frustrated I am, so I'm glad that this board exists.

What are the odds that the FNA will come bak normal? Anyone know?

Thanks.

 

[angwill]

I don't post much, but have been reading this thread for a long time. Now, I find myself with a need to vent. This will be a kinda long post. :/

I had/have papillary carcinoma with lymph node spread, and did the total thyroidectomy and partial neck dissection with RAI and WBS back in 2011. My then-endo said the *only* followup I needed was bloodwork. I trusted she knew what she was doing, though I had read that follow-up was usually more aggressive.

Two years later, my primary caregiver there, a nurse practitioner I rather liked, left the practice, so I decided to find a different endo, closer to home, since I know I need to follow up on this pretty much forever.

I am exceedingly impressed with my new doctor. I see HIM. In two years, I only ONCE saw the other endo - a 5 minute "visit" while I was talking with my NP. My new Dr., however, was not impressed with the follow up care I'd been receiving. He ordered bloodwork, and had an ultrasound done that instant.

There are two suspicious lymph nodes in the left neck that he wants to biopsy next week. The left side is where all the tumor was, before.

So, again I begin the waiting game.

If the FNA comes back positive, there will be more surgery, more radiation, more missed work.
Can't let on to my husband or parents just how frightened and frustrated I am, so I'm glad that this board exists.

What are the odds that the FNA will come bak normal? Anyone know?

Thanks.

You should have had an ultrasound at 6 months and 1 year post thyroidectomy especially with mestastasis to the lymph nodes along with thyroid tumor marker and tsh t3 and t4 blood work. I even had a WBS 6 months post and most doctors stopped doing that if ultrasound and bloodwork are good.

I have a swollen lymph node but when I saw my doctor he wanted me to wait 3 months and do another ultrasoud to see if it goes down. Remember Lymph nodes filter infection out of our blood so they do get swollen for other reasons than just cancer. It is the waiting and wondering with no control that drives us crazy though so I feel you pain.

If it makes you feel better you have company in the waiting game but I have to wait at 3 months for a node that has already been swollen for over 3 months and my doctor knows it. I am also waiting for radiation to start for uterine cancer during Christmas that I am not looking forward to the side effects from but feel fortunate I don't need chemo. Not to mention ******l exams every 3 months and CT scans for 2 years and then I go to every 6 months. Blech!!!

You can do this just vent here and make sure you let us know what the results are. You can do this and you most likely will have your answers before Christmas and let them be good so you can enjoy the holiday.

 

[squeegee]

You should have had an ultrasound at 6 months and 1 year post thyroidectomy especially with mestastasis to the lymph nodes along with thyroid tumor marker and tsh t3 and t4 blood work.

They never did any followup ultrasounds or even simple physical exams/palpations. I feel like such a moron for not insisting or leaving sooner. I even work in the medical field, myself. I know to advocate for myself, but didn't. Lesson learned. Bloodwork always did come back great, though, no antibodies to get in the way.

I even had a WBS 6 months post and most doctors stopped doing that if ultrasound and bloodwork are good.

The new Dr has mentioned that he wants to do that, but we've got to get past this biopsy first. No point in doing a tracer scan if I have to go through another ablation.

It is the waiting and wondering with no control that drives us crazy though so I feel you pain. If it makes you feel better you have company in the waiting game but I have to wait at 3 months for a node that has already been swollen for over 3 months and my doctor knows it. I am also waiting for radiation to start for uterine cancer during Christmas that I am not looking forward to the side effects from but feel fortunate I don't need chemo. Not to mention ******l exams every 3 months and CT scans for 2 years and then I go to every 6 months. Blech!!! You can do this just vent here and make sure you let us know what the results are. You can do this and you most likely will have your answers before Christmas and let them be good so you can enjoy the holiday.

The doctor wants to go straight to the biopsy given the previous lack of appropriate follow-up, not wait to see if they continue to grow. They're both over 1cm and had other features that were worrisome.
I won't actually be able to do it next week, like he wanted, as they're booked until the first week of January, so I get to wait a little longer. I wish none of us had to go through any of the waiting - if only it were as simple as "cut it all out" and be done with it.
Thanks for listening.

 

[squeegee]

And on a much shallower note, I'm angry that this might interfere with the disney trip I've been planning for the last four years.
We're booked for next December, but if I end up missing tons of work for this, I won't have any vacation time left to take the trip. Grrrrrrr.

 

[SingingMom]

And on a much shallower note, I'm angry that this might interfere with the disney trip I've been planning for the last four years. We're booked for next December, but if I end up missing tons of work for this, I won't have any vacation time left to take the trip. Grrrrrrr.

Not shallow at all. Very natural.

I hope you get good news and can continue with good care from your new endocrinologist. I myself never had an ultrasound until I changed doctors after 18 years. I am cancer free 22 years, but I also had papillary with 7 lymph nodes involved .

Prayers that you don't miss much work & you enjoy your trip. And know we are here for any venting needed!