Happy Holidays
Nov 26, 2007 10:29 PM Filed in: Personal
I am wishing everyone a belated happy Thanksgiving, and an early Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday should Christmas not be the celebration of your choice. Also, I really like this commercial. Very subtle.
On a lighter note
Nov 17, 2007 08:22 PM Filed in: Critters
Fun With Thyroids
Nov 17, 2007 08:10 PM Filed in: Thyroid
On Thursday, Melissa and I met with the surgeon. Using highly detailed full-color photos and illustrations he went over the procedure of removing my thyroid. I had to lay down for a few minutes during the overview. I think if we were supposed to see inside, our skin would be clear.
Anyway, the procedure looks pretty routine. A small (1%) chance of vocal cord issues, or breathing issues, but nothing too major. Recovery time of 2 weeks, but I could go into work sooner if I get bored sitting around the house. After the thyroid is removed, they will check it, and see if they need to give me a dose of radioactive iodine. That would happen 6-8 weeks after the surgery. Any remaining thyroid cells would concentrate the iodine, and deliver the dosage of radiation directly to where it needed to go. I would have to be isolated for a 48 hour period, but then I would be free to rejoin society. Once all is said and done, the cancer should be gone, and survival rate is 95%, so pretty good for something relating to the big "c".
The surgery will take place in the next 6-8 weeks, but I have not scheduled an appointment yet. That will happen sometime next week. And an assortment of various pre- and post-operative meetings, blood work, etc. along the way. I will keep everyone informed.
Anyway, the procedure looks pretty routine. A small (1%) chance of vocal cord issues, or breathing issues, but nothing too major. Recovery time of 2 weeks, but I could go into work sooner if I get bored sitting around the house. After the thyroid is removed, they will check it, and see if they need to give me a dose of radioactive iodine. That would happen 6-8 weeks after the surgery. Any remaining thyroid cells would concentrate the iodine, and deliver the dosage of radiation directly to where it needed to go. I would have to be isolated for a 48 hour period, but then I would be free to rejoin society. Once all is said and done, the cancer should be gone, and survival rate is 95%, so pretty good for something relating to the big "c".
The surgery will take place in the next 6-8 weeks, but I have not scheduled an appointment yet. That will happen sometime next week. And an assortment of various pre- and post-operative meetings, blood work, etc. along the way. I will keep everyone informed.
Health Updates
On Friday, I found out I had papillary thyroid cancer. This was found during a routine check of my thyroid due to my type 1 diabetes. Wow, typing that it sounds like a lot of crummy stuff has happened recently. And then my legs fell off, and one of my ears got a fungus...
Anyway, the kind I have is very slow-growing, and it's possible I have had it for a year or more. Treatment involves removal of the thyroid. The next step is to call the surgeon and schedule a meeting, and then figure out the timeline from there.
So there you go. Can't wait to see what happens next. Ugh.
Anyway, the kind I have is very slow-growing, and it's possible I have had it for a year or more. Treatment involves removal of the thyroid. The next step is to call the surgeon and schedule a meeting, and then figure out the timeline from there.
So there you go. Can't wait to see what happens next. Ugh.