had my total thyroidectomy this morning

[hillaryedrn]

Oh yes, about every 1-2 hours I'm putting an ice pack on it for 20 minutes. I actually caught myself scratching it in my sleep last night!! It woke me up because I snagged that one stitch I have! Oh that hurt!! I told the nurse about it yesterday and she said "Well, about all you can do is take some Benadryl". Um gee, thanks. So, I took 50 mg Benadryl before going to sleep last night. Guess it didn't help too much. I'm going to try hydrocortisone cream around the steri strips (but not over them) and see if that helps any. I will definitely update you on the path report!!

[Andros]

Originally Posted by hillaryedrn

Oh yes, about every 1-2 hours I'm putting an ice pack on it for 20 minutes. I actually caught myself scratching it in my sleep last night!! It woke me up because I snagged that one stitch I have! Oh that hurt!! I told the nurse about it yesterday and she said "Well, about all you can do is take some Benadryl". Um gee, thanks. So, I took 50 mg Benadryl before going to sleep last night. Guess it didn't help too much. I'm going to try hydrocortisone cream around the steri strips (but not over them) and see if that helps any. I will definitely update you on the path report!!

I am sorry you are allergic to the steri strips but the good news is you don't have staples! OMG!! They use them in the UK a lot for thyroidectomies and those buggers hurt; I kid you not.

Hopefully this nightmare will be behind you soon.

[hillaryedrn]

Oh, I bet!! Some use them here too and I can't imagine! I'm a nurse and they creep me out! LOL!! Anyway, the hydrocortisone cream seems to be helping, and they should be working their way off soon as well.

You have been the BIGGEST help to me through all of this, Andros, and I'll not soon forget it! The worst of this is all over. I don't really care too much what the path report shows. It's all out and I'll follow up on it routinely anyway. Having the path report just makes it official, if you know what I mean.

[Lovlkn]

Originally Posted by hillaryedrn

I'm afraid I am allergic to the steri strips that are closing my incision. Just under the steri strips is still quite swollen and red. It also itches like a mad fool!! The red isn't spreading and doesn't look infected, just like it's irritated. They are already starting to peel at the edges, so hopefully they will come off in another day or two and I won't have to worry about it any more.

You will remain swollen for a week or so - keep some ice on it to help keep the swelling down and it should also give you some relief from the itching and pain.

You probably have stitches on the inside and the steri strips are "extra" just to keep the incision smooth so if they are giving you that much irritation I'd pull them off and consider using those OTC butterfly strips.

As far as the Cytomel - since you are not having any hyper or anxiety issues try taking it 4-5 hours apart breaking doses if necessary to keep yourself out of hypo. If you feel anxious you can lengthen the time between doses or lower dosage.

If you feel extremely anxious it usually wears off in 2-3 hours as the Cytomel has such a short 1/2 life.

What were the actual dosing instructions you received? I'm curious.

[Andros]

Originally Posted by hillaryedrn

Oh, I bet!! Some use them here too and I can't imagine! I'm a nurse and they creep me out! LOL!! Anyway, the hydrocortisone cream seems to be helping, and they should be working their way off soon as well.

You have been the BIGGEST help to me through all of this, Andros, and I'll not soon forget it! The worst of this is all over. I don't really care too much what the path report shows. It's all out and I'll follow up on it routinely anyway. Having the path report just makes it official, if you know what I mean.

It will be important though and I pray there was no cancer. But, if there was, you will possibly have some radiation treatments but more importantly, for the rest of your life, you will have to keep your TSH suppressed.

So......................we will know soon enough and I pray that the whole gland was clean.

I am glad I could be your friend throughout this ordeal; that makes my heart smile.

[nyer_at_hrt]

i'm allergic to those damn strips also...i get blisters from them. if u find urself scratching at night try sleeping with gloves on ur hands. sounds silly but it will keep ur nails from tearing ur neck apart without u knowing about it.

[hillaryedrn]

You probably have stitches on the inside and the steri strips are "extra" just to keep the incision smooth so if they are giving you that much irritation I'd pull them off and consider using those OTC butterfly strips.

I'm trimming them as they start to come off. I'm "helping" them but not too much as I do scar badly and I want this one to be minimal. Before I go yanking them off, I'll check and see if I can even get my hands on the OTC ones. I do have internal stitches and one external stitch that he'll remove at 2 weeks post op.

What were the actual dosing instructions you received? I'm curious.

50 mcg by mouth daily are the actual instructions.

It will be important though and I pray there was no cancer. But, if there was, you will possibly have some radiation treatments but more importantly, for the rest of your life, you will have to keep your TSH suppressed.

So......................we will know soon enough and I pray that the whole gland was clean.

I am glad I could be your friend throughout this ordeal; that makes my heart smile.

I'm hoping it was clean, but I'm prepared for it not to be. There were just too many "red flags". You definitely were a friend and it meant the world to me!

i'm allergic to those damn strips also...i get blisters from them. if u find urself scratching at night try sleeping with gloves on ur hands. sounds silly but it will keep ur nails from tearing ur neck apart without u knowing about it.

That's a really good suggestion! I might have to try it!

[hillaryedrn]

I'm so ticked!!! I STILL DON'T HAVE A PATH REPORT!!! What is the problem here?? What is taking so long?? Do they not realize how hard it is to sit and wait on this path report? The way my life goes from now on depends on this path report!! No cancer - no real follow up with it, Cancer - possible rai and further testing to make sure it doesn't come back!! Am I overreacting?? WTF I'm so upset! I thought when I had the TT that I'd have the report in a couple days and all would be over. I swear, I'm still fighting the medical community!

[Andros]

Originally Posted by hillaryedrn

I'm so ticked!!! I STILL DON'T HAVE A PATH REPORT!!! What is the problem here?? What is taking so long?? Do they not realize how hard it is to sit and wait on this path report? The way my life goes from now on depends on this path report!! No cancer - no real follow up with it, Cancer - possible rai and further testing to make sure it doesn't come back!! Am I overreacting?? WTF I'm so upset! I thought when I had the TT that I'd have the report in a couple days and all would be over. I swear, I'm still fighting the medical community!

Wow! And the weekend is over! Did everyone put the slides in abeyance for the Super Bowl, I wonder? Such a life.

On the serious side of things, I hear your angst. This is very very nerve wracking. The pathologist does this every day but it is not every day you have your thyroid out and are waiting for the results.

I sympathize and send you hugs {{{{Hillary}}}}

[nasdaqphil]

Im just curious and actually always have been....Do you feel an "empty spot" where your thyroid used to be? I mean does it feel any easier to breath or like you can swallow more now or just feel more "opened"? Just curious.

My thyroid is enlarged so it's always bugging me one way or another - either with swallowing or eating or breathing or just feeling it "there" all the time - like a fullness feeling that constantly reminds me its there. Was wondering if any of that changes after TT.