Re: 2.5 weeks after surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi Sonu,

I don't think it is uncommon for your sinuses to be bothered by such

extensive surgery considering that your sinus cavities are in such close

proximity to the surgical site. I'm sure most of us will agree that we had a

fair bit of swelling, etc. I had a tt and neck dissection which meant that

they had to keep me in critical care for a long time after surgery. I had

such terrible swelling, that they had to keep my tube in place so that I

could breathe. That is another thing to take into consideration. Your voice

isn't only raspy because of surgery, but that tube sometimes hinders our

progress in vocal recuperation. There are many things that can be leading to

your sinus and voice situations. However, know that these things are very

normal. My vocal range has never fully recovered to the point where I am

able to sing as I used to, and I tend to get raspy quite a bit. This is all

leftover from my surgery. I had terrible pain in my sinuses and within my

jaw (I already have TMJ) after surgery. This all sounds so familiar.

The good news is that you will be feeling better in no time. Some people

have smaller incisions than others, etc. If your incision site is very red

or seems swollen, you will want to consult with your doctor as sometimes

there can be an infection. If it looks like it is healing fairly well with a

minimal amount of swelling, then chances are, you just need to take it easy

for a while until you feel back to normal. If you really don't think work is

a possibility on Monday, call your doctor and request that a a letter be

faxed to your employer regarding your condition. Will they allow you

extended leave in this situation? If you are starting to feel the stitches,

that is a GOOD sign. Perhaps there was only minimal nerve damage. They

could feel a little bit itchy even. I still have nerve damage under my chin.

Some numb or tingly spots may remain depending on the extent of surgery.

Regarding the tightness in your neck...that is VERY normal. Because of my 3

incisions, I couldn't turn my neck for at least 4 weeks. Perhaps you should

try some exercises that your doctor may suggest. Sometimes we " baby " our

incisions too much which can limit our recovery of normal range of motion. I

have a friend who had a tt a couple of months ago and her voice is still

raspy. These things all take time. Don't be frustrated.

I seriously doubt that you will need 8 more weeks of time off. The Cytomel

should help out tremendously while hypo. Someone made a suggestion earlier

that has worked well for me. Instead of taking your cytomel twice a day (for

example)...cut the pills in half and take them 4 times a day in order to try

to maintain a consistent therapeutic level throughout the busiest parts of

your day. Try to take your last 1/2 of the pill several hours before bedtime

and this might actually help you fall asleep. It's best to get the benefit

of Cytomel while you have to function at work, etc.

Don't worry about going hypo. I know it can seem overwhelming at the time,

but just know that by the end of your hypo days, you will be feeling pretty

lousy (tired, constipated, sleeping long hours, unable to focus on tasks in

certain situation and emotional). If you expect these things in advance,

then you can anticipate needing a few days off toward the end of hypohell.

Some people don't need days off at all. I think we all have a different

tolerance to discomfort. I was able to work right up until the end although

the last two days I am always dragging in a big way.

I have been told to wait at least an hour after you take Levothyroxine

products before eating. Or, you should wait 2 hours after you eat. Does this

sound right gang? 30 minutes may be too soon. Better to play it safe I

suppose.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck and keep us posted.

Audra