Comments on: Another Gimp Story: Thyroid Lobectomy http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/ The life experiences of Brittany Walker Konsella Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:09:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Marion B http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1390 Marion B Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:35:24 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1390 Hello, I had a left thyroid lobectomy on Nov 7, 2011. Prior to that, I had the biopsy done which showed no cancer; however, after surgery, the pathology test came back cancerous. I was scheduled to have the right thyroid removed, but due to my left vocal cord being paralyzed from the first surgery, my doctor wants to wait until it awakens. I am a nervous mess because I feel that the right thyroid needs to be removed and that I need to be given the RAI. My doctor states that it was only a "small" amount of cancer found, "0.03cm" that I have time to wait. I have an appointment this Thursday, Jan 5, 2012 to see if the vocal cord is awaken and if so, I am scheduled for surgery on Jan 9, 2012; but if not, I will have to reschedule. Have anyone experience the vocal cord being paralyzed? Thanks...scared in Hawaii! Hello, I had a left thyroid lobectomy on Nov 7, 2011. Prior to that, I had the biopsy done which showed no cancer; however, after surgery, the pathology test came back cancerous. I was scheduled to have the right thyroid removed, but due to my left vocal cord being paralyzed from the first surgery, my doctor wants to wait until it awakens. I am a nervous mess because I feel that the right thyroid needs to be removed and that I need to be given the RAI. My doctor states that it was only a “small” amount of cancer found, “0.03cm” that I have time to wait. I have an appointment this Thursday, Jan 5, 2012 to see if the vocal cord is awaken and if so, I am scheduled for surgery on Jan 9, 2012; but if not, I will have to reschedule. Have anyone experience the vocal cord being paralyzed? Thanks…scared in Hawaii!

]]> By: Miss Shane http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1386 Miss Shane Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:34:55 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1386 I had my entire thyroid removed in 1992. I just want to say I feel better and mine was cancer so I had to do radiation but all is well as of 2011. I want to warn all that over the years there are side effects. I have had weight gain, blood sugar issues, hair loss on my head and hair gain on arms and face, mild vision issues, i did lose my voice all but a whisper for the first year and a half, chronic constipation, and early menopause. My periods stopped for 2 years and then I bled solid for 8 months and for the past several years spot a couple times a year and have hot flashes daily. The doctors tell me it is all thyroid related so I have tried everything. My best advice to all having their thyroid removed... Find a great endocrinologist and take a daily multi vitamin with extra calcium. The synthroid prescribed will deplete your calcium, and good luck. I also drank an aloe Vera drink that seemed to ease the side effects and gave me beautiful skin for e first few years. Don't want to be a downer but I want you all to know in case you start to have these effects. I had my entire thyroid removed in 1992. I just want to say I feel better and mine was cancer so I had to do radiation but all is well as of 2011. I want to warn all that over the years there are side effects. I have had weight gain, blood sugar issues, hair loss on my head and hair gain on arms and face, mild vision issues, i did lose my voice all but a whisper for the first year and a half, chronic constipation, and early menopause. My periods stopped for 2 years and then I bled solid for 8 months and for the past several years spot a couple times a year and have hot flashes daily. The doctors tell me it is all thyroid related so I have tried everything. My best advice to all having their thyroid removed… Find a great endocrinologist and take a daily multi vitamin with extra calcium. The synthroid prescribed will deplete your calcium, and good luck. I also drank an aloe Vera drink that seemed to ease the side effects and gave me beautiful skin for e first few years. Don’t want to be a downer but I want you all to know in case you start to have these effects.

]]> By: Daisy http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1351 Daisy Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:28:53 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1351 Does anybody have advice about the need for thyroid medication AFTER thyroid lobectomy? I had a right thyroid lobectomy three months ago and have been feeling mostly fine. However my thyroid levels have been going down and my doctor is now suggesting a low dose of thyroid replacement medication before I start getting symptoms which makes sense but is a bit intimidating. I will follow my endocrinologist's instructions but wonder if anybody has any advice or suggestions? THANKS! Does anybody have advice about the need for thyroid medication AFTER thyroid lobectomy? I had a right thyroid lobectomy three months ago and have been feeling mostly fine. However my thyroid levels have been going down and my doctor is now suggesting a low dose of thyroid replacement medication before I start getting symptoms which makes sense but is a bit intimidating. I will follow my endocrinologist’s instructions but wonder if anybody has any advice or suggestions? THANKS!

]]> By: Brittany http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1322 Brittany Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:43:47 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1322 Hi Shirley, You are asking a difficult question that only you can truly decide, advised by your doctor. My results also came back inconclusive for cancer, and when my thyroid lobe was removed, it indeed was not cancerous. There is a large amount of research out there that says a lot of people, especially women, have thyroid tumors and never even know it because they are benign and small. A second biopsy can make sense, although it will likely yield the same results. As far as your energy level is concerned, you may find yourself a bit sluggish at first. But, that's where the thyroid supplements come to play. If the tumor is not cancerous, you will only have one lobe removed. Some say the other lobe can take over for the whole thyroid, but I didn't find that was the case. I help the remaining part of my thyroid out by taking thyroid supplements. If your tumor is found to be cancerous, they will remove the whole thyroid, in which case you will definitely need the thyroid supplements. My biggest piece of advice to you is to get a thyroid hormone blood test before you have surgery. Know your T3 and T4 levels. That way, after the surgery, they can regulate the thyroid supplements to help you reach your normal levels. You may notice yourself being a bit tired until all this gets straightened out, but it can get fixed. I didn't notice a huge difference even when my thyroid levels were low. I just noticed I was more tired and was eating less, but it wasn't a huge deal. Even after my surgery and with thyroid supplements, I live a normal, active, and athletic life. Hi Shirley, You are asking a difficult question that only you can truly decide, advised by your doctor. My results also came back inconclusive for cancer, and when my thyroid lobe was removed, it indeed was not cancerous. There is a large amount of research out there that says a lot of people, especially women, have thyroid tumors and never even know it because they are benign and small. A second biopsy can make sense, although it will likely yield the same results. As far as your energy level is concerned, you may find yourself a bit sluggish at first. But, that’s where the thyroid supplements come to play. If the tumor is not cancerous, you will only have one lobe removed. Some say the other lobe can take over for the whole thyroid, but I didn’t find that was the case. I help the remaining part of my thyroid out by taking thyroid supplements. If your tumor is found to be cancerous, they will remove the whole thyroid, in which case you will definitely need the thyroid supplements. My biggest piece of advice to you is to get a thyroid hormone blood test before you have surgery. Know your T3 and T4 levels. That way, after the surgery, they can regulate the thyroid supplements to help you reach your normal levels. You may notice yourself being a bit tired until all this gets straightened out, but it can get fixed. I didn’t notice a huge difference even when my thyroid levels were low. I just noticed I was more tired and was eating less, but it wasn’t a huge deal. Even after my surgery and with thyroid supplements, I live a normal, active, and athletic life.

]]> By: shirley pashall http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1320 shirley pashall Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:19:49 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1320 I am scheduled for surgery in 2 weeks for the removal of one thyroid lobe because of inconclusive results for cancer. I am 70 years old and work a full time job and part time job in order to be able to retire in 2 1/2 years and be able to support myself on a very simple level. I am so afraid to have this surgery for fear it will reduce my energy level which will not allow me to work the way I now am. I have no relatives to fall back on. Questions: Does a second biopsy make sense? For any one there who has had a thyroid lobe removed how were the results...in terms of energy level or anything else? I am thinking about cancelling surgery because I understand the odds of not having cancer are in my favor. Any feedback will be welcomed. Thanks, Shirley I am scheduled for surgery in 2 weeks for the removal of one thyroid lobe because of inconclusive results for cancer. I am 70 years old and work a full time job and part time job in order to be able to retire in 2 1/2 years and be able to support myself on a very simple level. I am so afraid to have this surgery for fear it will reduce my energy level which will not allow me to work the way I now am. I have no relatives to fall back on. Questions: Does a second biopsy make sense? For any one there who has had a thyroid lobe removed how were the results…in terms of energy level or anything else? I am thinking about cancelling surgery because I understand the odds of not having cancer are in my favor. Any feedback will be welcomed. Thanks, Shirley

]]> By: Karen Giles http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1237 Karen Giles Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:09:36 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1237 So happy you received good news, Brittany. Did you have any symptoms before visiting any doctors, such as fatigue? I've been feeling completely wiped out lately and have had all the the thyroid tests done but everything came back normal. Karen So happy you received good news, Brittany. Did you have any symptoms before visiting any doctors, such as fatigue? I’ve been feeling completely wiped out lately and have had all the the thyroid tests done but everything came back normal. Karen

]]> By: Maryellen http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1236 Maryellen Mon, 11 Jul 2011 02:33:34 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1236 Hi, How is married life going? Will you post some weddng pictures? -ME Hi,
How is married life going? Will you post some weddng pictures? -ME

]]> By: Gina http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1219 Gina Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:57:11 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1219 Hi girls! Tomorrow is my surgery to have the left side of my thyroid removed. I'm very nervous but the Dr. assured me that if I chose not to have the surgery, I would have to endure that awful biopsy 4 times a year. No thank because it was horrible! I guess they had trouble extracting much of a sample so they stuck me quite a few times in my neck. I do appreciate being able to read about your experiences with this since I really wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't ask many questions because I really wasn't given a choice here. I am tired quite a bit and I asked the Dr. if it could be related to this and she said that she didn't think so but I really can't come up with any other reason except for perhaps, stress. Thanks again for sharing your experiences! Hi girls!

Tomorrow is my surgery to have the left side of my thyroid removed. I’m very nervous but the Dr. assured me that if I chose not to have the surgery, I would have to endure that awful biopsy 4 times a year. No thank because it was horrible! I guess they had trouble extracting much of a sample so they stuck me quite a few times in my neck. I do appreciate being able to read about your experiences with this since I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t ask many questions because I really wasn’t given a choice here. I am tired quite a bit and I asked the Dr. if it could be related to this and she said that she didn’t think so but I really can’t come up with any other reason except for perhaps, stress. Thanks again for sharing your experiences!

]]> By: Brittany http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1218 Brittany Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:05:42 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1218 Wedding plans are going well! Less than 2 weeks :) Wedding plans are going well! Less than 2 weeks :)

]]> By: Maryellen http://14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2009/07/another-gimp-story-thyroid-lobectomy/comment-page-1/#comment-1217 Maryellen Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:18:34 +0000 http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/?p=505#comment-1217 Hi Brittany, How are the wedding plans going? Not too much longer huh? -ME Hi Brittany,
How are the wedding plans going? Not too much longer huh?

-ME

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