CancerCompass message board discussion started by Girlcat36 on 5/14/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,24021,0.htm Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ 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! Girlcat36 Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  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! Wow!  You've really been through it.  1.  My stitches were on the inside; just steri strips and a bandage over it.  Nothing to remove. 2.  Yes I had a drain.  Most everyone has one, but it was no big deal.  He removed it the next day and I didn't even feel it.3.  My surgeon promised to make the incision in the crease of my neck.  He hit it right on and you can barely see it if you're not looking for it.  My TT was March 5th.4.  My calcium was fine in the hospital but went low after I went home.  My doctor put me on calcium and Vitamin D supplement.  I take 500 mg Viactiv in the AM and 750mg tums at night.  The next blood test was perfect.  Calcium levels are a normal problem from everything I've heard and read, but most people can handle it with supplements with no problem.5.  I did have the complication with my neck swelling up from the inside out right after surgery.  My surgeon thought it was because my thyroid had a hard time coming out due to adhesion to my larnyx (sp?).  Anyway, I was put on steroids for a week and it cleared up almost immediately.  Your neck will be stiff and you'll lose your voice for awhile.  I couldn't talk well for almost 7 weeks and couldn't eat for two.  It's now 2 + months later and my voice is still alittle raspy.6.  If it's comfortable for you, I would definitely do range of motion exercises.  My surgeon said it could tighten up if you don't exercise.  I did it the first week and now have total range of motion.It's a breeze from here on for you.  Are you using Thyrogen or hypo?  Talk to your dr about Thyrogen.  It is wonderful!!  Lid diet is a little tough, but if you prepare for it that too isn't so bad.Let us know if you have questions along the way.  This board got me through a lot by answering all of my many questions.Donna dinparadise Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My doctor plans to have me go hypo, but we do not have a definative cancer diagnosis yet--still waiting for the path report. So they started me on synthroid  right after surgery. I brought up thyrogen, but she didn't seem interested in talking about it, possibly because there is the possibilty that I may not need RAI. Thanks for answering all those questions! Girlcat36 Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I had my TT on April 29th. I did have a drain but it came out the next day. I did have stitches and those came out a week later. Then I had the strips until they fell off two days ago and now some of the scab is coming off. Mine is a long scar but I think it won't be so bad at all. I went back to work a week after surgery feeling great. Been to the gym to walk on the treadmill a few times. My throat and neck hurt for about a week but now, two weeks later I am fine. I can even sing! I am not sure when I am doing the RAI. I want to use thyrogen for sure and hope the doctor will allow for it. I do think lots of getting through this is positive thinking and attitude. PLS444 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  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!!!   georgetwo Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/15/2008 PLS444 wrote:I had my TT on April 29th. I did have a drain but it came out the next day. I did have stitches and those came out a week later. Then I had the strips until they fell off two days ago and now some of the scab is coming off. Mine is a long scar but I think it won't be so bad at all. I went back to work a week after surgery feeling great. Been to the gym to walk on the treadmill a few times. My throat and neck hurt for about a week but now, two weeks later I am fine. I can even sing! I am not sure when I am doing the RAI. I want to use thyrogen for sure and hope the doctor will allow for it. I do think lots of getting through this is positive thinking and attitude.You are absolutely correct, A positive attitude will do wonders! I had my surgery on may 9th, and I also am not sure about the RAI treatment and when it begins. Can someone give any details on food preparation?  georgetwo Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello. I had my TT on May 6th. I had Hurthle Cell in one of the 4 nodules. They were all large ranging from 1.5cm to 3.5cm. They all grew over 1 cm in less than 11 months. Doctor said it must come out.Surgery was very easy! I have a 2.5-3cm incision. My thyroid was very large. Surgeon said a normal thyroid weighs 15grams my was 45 grams. I met with 2 different surgeons. I wanted to have the best. I am in the Seattle area. I went with the one with the lowest complication rate. I am so glad I did. I did not even have a hoarse voice. I did have a small sore throat for about 2 days. No complications. I did not even take tylenol after surgery.I am taking Synthroid 150. I guess I was lucky and a great surgeon! I also had a drain tube, it came out the next am. The incision is healing great....well it itches.We got back the path it said begnin, but my endo sent it off to another lab just to be sure because of the Hurthle Cell. Seattlesister Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Glad everything went great for you all. I am going to get my stitches out today. My incision looks like cr*p, and I cannot talk today. I just don't get it. My surgeon is an ocologist, and works at one of the top cancer centers in the country....It seems like everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.I have to add, I don't know if this carries much weight, but I did have full neck radiation last yesr for a separate cancer, perhaps this is at the root of my problems. Hope I get my path report today, it seems like you all got yours quickly! Girlcat36 Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband had his TT on the 20th and now he's dealing with fluid build-up around the incision site. He had it drained yesterday (not a fun experience) and it started filling up again last night.  Did you have this, too?  I don't know if he had a drain in after the surgery but, if so, it wasn't in very long.  I'm waiting to hear back from the surgeon today to see if this is something we need to continue worrying about of if his body will eventually reabsorb the fluid.  He looks like he has a small goiter or something. Leetaann Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/30/2008 Leetaann wrote:My husband had his TT on the 20th and now he's dealing with fluid build-up around the incision site. He had it drained yesterday (not a fun experience) and it started filling up again last night.  Did you have this, too?  I don't know if he had a drain in after the surgery but, if so, it wasn't in very long.  I'm waiting to hear back from the surgeon today to see if this is something we need to continue worrying about of if his body will eventually reabsorb the fluid.  He looks like he has a small goiter or something.In all of my reading, I 've never heard of this so long after surgery.  I had swelling on the inside but that was due to adhesion complications during surgery.  The drain is supposed to handle the drainage of all excess fluid.  Hopefully your husband had a drain.  maybe it came out too soon?  That's only a guess.  They put me on steroids for the swelling.  Maybe you can suggest that to the dr.  Good luck! dinparadise Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT