On 5/14/2008 Girlcat36 wrote:
Had my total thyroidectomy on May 9th. I had to be admitted for 5 days, due to hypocalcemia. So I have a couple questions:
I am not happy with my scar. It's about 4-5" and I have about 14 stitches in it. I was expecting steri strips for some reason. Did you have stitches or steri strips? And what is the reason for each choice?
My stitches will be in for 11 days--seems long, most people I've talked to had them removed right away.
I had a surgical drain(tried to talk my surgeon out of it), and the incision was placed on my collarbone instead of inline with the main incision(didn't like that). The drain was in place for 5 days, then when in was time to pull it--OMG---it wouldn't come out!!! I never want to go through that again! Did you have a drain or not?
Hypocalcemia--I had a textbook--but rarely seen in practice--case of hypocalcemia. If you had this, did it resolve quickly? My doctor said my parathyroids were left intact.
I am now taking 1250 mg calcium carbonate every 6 hours.
What is the difference between prescription calcium carbonate, and Tums?
My neck is pretty stiff, did you do range of motion exercises, and if so when did you start?
Thank you!
I had my tt the same day as you, so we are plugging right along together! I had three large nodules of cancer so the entire thyroid was taken out. I had steri strips, no stitches, a drain tube that was very painful to take out on the 5th day, and now suffering from low calcium, too. but I am now taking 4500mg of calc per day along with cacitrol, and vitamin D. It didn't really start to show up until yesterday, and I can't seem to get it up high enough, to relieve the tingling symptoms, The Dr. on call today says to go to the ER if it won't come down by increasing tums and calcium. Yes, my neck is really stiff and my steri strips came off today, The incision isn't pretty, about 5 inches and very bruised. My parathyroid glands were affected, so that may be the reason. But it isn't fun. and Yes the tube hurt like HECK to remove. I don't know when the RAI treatment will begin, but I hope that is easier on you than the surgery. Wishing us all a great recovery!!!