Scared, curious, nervous, please help!

On 5/12/2008 NOBUTTERFLY wrote:

 

On 5/12/2008 serge wrote:

I had my TT on march 11 and my RAI on APRIL 30. The Hypo prior and the RAI was a breeze. My TSH was 58 when I went to do the RAI. I felt great though. The fear of become Hypo was far worse than going through it. I thank my eating habit for this. Since diagnosed in January I drastically changed my eating habits. I cut out red meat and junk food. I eat really HEALTHY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. I lost 30 lbs and had the most energy I have had in years. So just watch what you eat and you will feel fine. The RAI was painless. Keep a positive attitude and when you start to feel tired or hypo, get up and do something, go for a walk or something. Sometimes the mental is harder than the physical. The hardest part was the isolation during the RAI. I was in the hospital for 2 days, in a hotel for 3, since I have 2 small kids and a pregnant wife, and stayed in the basement for a week The first week is the most crucial.

 All in all everything was far easier than I worried it would be. Looking back I wasted alot of energy worrying about all the bad things that could happen. Block those things out of your mind and just convince yourself that these things will not happen to you. I know that sounds "mind of matter" ish, but it worked for me. Once you realize that this cancer will not get you, give yourself the permission to enjoy life and LIVE. Besides the sore shoulder everything is great and I feel blessed to discover how to appreciate my life and what I have.

Email me at

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 if you have any other concerns.

take care

Sancho 

Sancho, With no disrespect intended your post reads as a story written by someone who has no clue what it really feels like to go through all the pysical and mental issues contected with Thyroid cancer.I have talked to real people who have gone through RAI and they all said it was tough. Nausea, frequent urination, painfull salivary glands, sleeplessness etc. By the way you are also a male, women usually  have either menstral cycles, and or menopause to deal with during all of this. Nothing about cancer is a breeze and when you are so worn out just to make it through each day that you want to cry, taking a walk is about the last thing you want to do. How about a nice backrub or a warm bath? That's reality until you are all done and balanced out. Whenever that happens.

I understand what Sancho is saying.  I'm a 53 year old woman; in menopause since I was 47.  I am diabetic, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia etc. etc. etc.  I just completed my RAI and am waiting to do my WBS on Wednesday.  I had no problems with any of the procedures so far.  I did have a tough time right after surgery as my throat swoll up and I couldn't breath.  But after steroids, it all went back to normal.

I believe Sancho has the right idea.  We all have cancer; some more serious than others.  Sure, I was overwhelmed at first at the thought that I had cancer; always happens to others doesn't it?  Then I took hold of myself, stopped feeling sorry for myself, did a lot of homework and worked with my doctors to follow the best path for me. 

Hasn't anyone ever told you that the best medicine in the world is attitude?  I was tired, but other than that no side effects.  You have to realize that everyone's body reacts differently.  There's no reason to scare people just because you had some side effects and/or react differently to the C word.  I have chosen "the high road" and no one is going to force me off of that road. 

No one should be afraid.  If you have a low tolerance level, it may be a little harder for you.  But you will make it fine.  If you have a higher tolerance level like Sancho, New York and I do then it won't be so hard!!  If it gets hard, dig deep and you'll find a side to yourself you never knew you had.  If you don't have the energy to dig deep enough right now, that's ok.  Find a loved one to lean on; you'd be there for them.  If that doesn't help, private email one of us and we'll see if we can help you out.  But don't get the attitude that this is the worst thing you will ever have to go through.  With the right attitude, you too will find it to be a "cinch". 

Be positive and EVERYONE will get through this time in our lives!!!!

Touche~ Sancho

Donna

Sancho, With no disrespect intended your post reads as a story written
by someone who has no clue what it really feels like to go through all
the pysical and mental issues contected with Thyroid cancer.I have
talked to real people who have gone through RAI and they all said it
was tough. Nausea, frequent urination, painfull salivary glands,
sleeplessness etc. By the way you are also a male, women usually  have
either menstral cycles, and or menopause to deal with during all of
this. Nothing about cancer is a breeze and when you are so worn out
just to make it through each day that you want to cry, taking a walk is
about the last thing you want to do. How about a nice backrub or a warm
bath? That's reality until you are all done and balanced out. Whenever
that happens.

Tara wrote:

I wasn't expecting any problems and I have always been told I am a very positive person.  I thought "this will be a breeze."   Well, while hypo, II couldn't even walk upstairs to my bedroom without having to sit on the landing to rest (and I have always worked out at the gym so I wasn't out of shape).  My heart beat out of my chest,  I ached all over, my hands drew up and I couldn't type and add the LID to it....I was weak and miserable and it was not in my head!!   Thank goodness it only took me 2 weeks until my lab showed I was ready for RAI.   I rarely throw up and after 150 of RAI on a Friday, I threw up all weekend and actually hallucinated.  I lost 10 pounds that I didn't need to lose.  I always try to look on the bright side and be thankful for what I have---but that hypo/RAI blindsided me and knocked me for a loop.  Others have no problems at all and no one knows why.    We are all in this together and everyone's experience gives me more insight to this disease.   The best to everyone!   Tara

On 5/7/2008 PLS444 wrote:

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, you were correct that they took out 7 lymph nodes and 4 had cancer.
I had a doctor friend come over today and explain line by line the pathology report. It was very interesting. It shows that they did biopsies on the lymph nodes during the surgery and found cancer which is why they took them out.
I am learning so much!
I am going to see my endo tomorrow and then maybe a different endo on Friday or Monday to hear two different doctors. Then I will make my choice.
Thank you again! Any other thoughts or ideas from anyone are so welcomed.
-Paige

 Hey there, just wanted to try to reassure you some more.  I also had my cancer spread to the lymph nodes and as someone who had been taking a lot of bio classes recently (biochem engineering student and trying for bio minor) was a little freaked by that.  I knew that in many other cancers, spreading to the lymph nodes is bad news.  In our type, however, prognosis is generally unchanged.  I had a TT in 04, and an RAI (this is very important if it spreads to lymph nodes) in jan 05.  I am happy to say I have no signs of cancer to date.  The RAI treatment went pretty well for me also.  I took the pill and had to stay in the hospital until I was determined to be safe (via a geiger counter).  Ended up being a little over 24 hours.  My advice would be: drink an inordinate amount of fluids.  I constantly drank gatorade and went to the bathroom ridiculously often, but I purged enough iodine to get out in 24 hrs.  

 Anyway, good luck with everything - it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders so I think youll be fine!