I have to have a thyroidectomy, please help?

Lovewater · 12-06-2008, 10:46 PM

Hello everybody,

I recently been diagnoised with a having a multinodular goiter and since it is pushing against other organs in my neck, I will have to have a total thyroidectomy

. I will have to take thyroid hormones indefinitely and will have a permanent scar on the base of my neck. This was 2nd to the worst case scenario for me; the first is it being cancerous. It seems like I inherited all the endocrine disorders from the women in my family (on both sides!). I hate to be depressed, but I am incredibly depressed. My doctor cut our consultation short due to me breaking down during her telling me news. I still don't know if it is cancerous or not. I pray it is not. It will be a 2-3 hr surgical procedure and will require an overnight stay in the hospital. It is a very complicated and intricate procedure as one slip can damage my voice forever. I'm scared and angry at the same time. However, I am very thankful for all the support I've received so far from friends and family. It is amazing! I have a lot of prayers going up for me. But, it just makes me wonder, what next? What could possibly go wrong next? I'm trying to stay positive but I don't think I can now. I'm scared of passing all my genetic nuisances to my future girls.

If you can, please say a prayer for me. I'm only 31 and it seems like ever since I hit my 30's everything bad is popping up. If it’s not this, it's that. I'm just tired of my body failing me. I don't know what I can do to help it more

. If anyone has experienced this, please lift me up. I need all the positive stories I can hear. There can never be too many stories. Also, I think I did the worst thing you can do...I went to Youtube and saw a live procedure, unfortunately. All that did was scare me more, but I was curious. I've been doing research and all I keep hearing is, or what is sticking out to me the most, is cancer, radioiodine ablation, cancer, radioiodine ablation! That's nothing you want to hear being associated with your problems. The only thing that can come good from this is having my regular voice back (it’s now more raspy and hoarse than it normally is), I will be able to project my voice better and sing high notes better, I won't have the lump feeling in my throat (which is a biggie), and, well, that's it. Okay, well maybe one more, hopefully, with the thyroid medicine my hormones will be more regulated and will allow for weight loss, since my thyroid caused weight gain. I don't know if it will help my PCOS? I've been trying to find research that correlates the two, anybody know? I went to PubMed but, again, was distracted by articles that I should not have been reading. It seems like I gravitate to all the bad articles almost to prepare me for the worst case scenario, but I shouldn't do that and I will stop.

Sorry for such a long post. I will keep you all updated on any news or surgery dates. I'm in my last week of finals and this is not a great time to receive this type of news. I can't really concentrate on my studies, but I have to find a way to. Well girls, thanks for listening and if you have any experiences with this, advice, ANYTHING, please let me know. I appreciate you all so very much!!

Happy72 · 12-07-2008, 01:20 AM

Hello,

I dont do alot of posting here mostly lurk, but I thought I would try and offer you a little support, I am 36 and have worked for an ENT specialist for over 10 years, he performs several partial and total thyroidect each month, in this time I dont know of anyone having a difficult time recovering, the worst complaint is you cant take a shower for 24 hrs and you will most likely have a small drain tube that will be removed usually the next day, the scar is usually in a natural crease in you neck and may be near impossible to see, I understand your anxiety about the results, goiters are very common nearly 75% of women our age have some form of nodule, I do and have it checked every 6 months, and I have had it biopsied, in the world of cancer if you are going to have it, thyroid would be one of the ones to hope for because of excellent treatment and success rates, and in 10 years I can only remember maybe 3 or 4 being cancer, my mother and mother in law have had their thyroids removed due to goiters, it will be important to have your medication regulated and I am sure the idea of taking medication everyday seems like a drag, try and think of it as if it were you daily vitamins. If there is one thing I have learned ( I have a lot of health anxiety, I worry about everything) try and not spend too much time looking to the internet for this kind of info, because most people who put their experiences out there for what ever reason are people who had a negative or bad results maybe it is a way to vent, and I just end up regretting that I went looking . I hope some of this helps, I am sure when this is all done you will be much happier and wish you had it done sooner. Good luck and take care.

Selina

SoSilly · 12-07-2008, 01:35 AM

I have no experience with this but I would like to wish you the best of luck. *hugs*

Rainbow Brite · 12-08-2008, 11:57 AM

Just wanted to let you know that my aunt had a thyroidectomy and it went great! You can't see a scar on her AT ALL and she's feeling wonderful. Good luck!!!

Lovewater · 12-09-2008, 02:12 AM

Thank you all for responding. I decided to see an acupuncturists for a second opinion. My first appt will be Friday. I had a small consultation over the phone to ask up front if my symptoms were ones she were familiar with and she said yes, as a matter of fact, one of her patients have been receiving treatment on her multi nodular goiter, so she is very familiar with my issues, and PCOS. I am very exciting about my first treatment. I will let you all know how it went.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!!