Re: Surgery's Done!

[Guest guest]

Hi Carmel

Glad you are recovering well. I can't believe how fast you where on a

plane home. I was still vomiting 3 days after my surgery. Probably the

from the G.A.

> flew home on Wednesday and ended up in our

> local hospital on Friday with hypocalcemia.

I also had this. Got the worse cramps and very strange spasms in face,

arms and legs. I also got better quite quickly.

> Question Number #1:

> I was wondering if anyone else out there that has gone through a

> total thyroidectomy remembers how they felt emotionally after the

> surgery. I am feeling a bit unsettled and perhaps a bit remorseful.

> Is this normal?

I think anyone who losses 'a bit of themselves' in surgery feels 'weird'

at first. The whole process is very stressful and with the thyroid it is

also quite emotional due the hormonal effects.

> My thyroid had enlarged so much that it had to be separated from 2 of

> my parathyroid glands. They were reimplanted and that is why I had

> the low calcium.

My surgeon had to implant 1 of my paras and another was damaged but

looked as if it would survive. I still take 1200 mgs of calcium daily

with no problems since the first week.

> Question Number #2:

> How quickly did you start the replacement medication after the

> surgery?

I started the day after surgery on 150mgs of thyroxine. I remained in

normal levels for Free T3 & T4 and TSH until I was about 14 weeks when I

went a bit hypo and the thyroxine was increased to 200mgs. During the

second pregnancy my free T3 went slightly below normal but I stayed on

200mg. I felt OK (apart from the worse flu I had ever had). I'm still on

that dose (my second baby is 10 weeks old). (I had a sub total, so have

some thyroid material left).

> My endocrinologist wanted to wait at least 3 weeks before

> starting the hormone replacement.

I think this is negligent because you will certainly go hypo with all of

your thyroid removed. Why does he want you to experience the symptoms

before he gives you the meds????

> However, the surgeon prescribed

> levothyroxine right away and I followed his advise instead.

Good on him and you.

> Comments like that make me loose trust in specialists, physicians, etc

> and I think

> that is why I am feeling unsettled.

I would feel a bit more than 'unsettled' had my endo said that to me,

especially straight after surgery.

Make sure you take it easy for as long as you can. I had 1 month off

work and we had a beachside holiday for 10 days also. Very relaxing (I

feel pregnant there so it worked for us!!!!).

Hope you continue to recover.

Cheers

Caroline

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[Guest guest]

Hi Carmel

Glad you are recovering well. I can't believe how fast you where on a

plane home. I was still vomiting 3 days after my surgery. Probably the

from the G.A.

> flew home on Wednesday and ended up in our

> local hospital on Friday with hypocalcemia.

I also had this. Got the worse cramps and very strange spasms in face,

arms and legs. I also got better quite quickly.

> Question Number #1:

> I was wondering if anyone else out there that has gone through a

> total thyroidectomy remembers how they felt emotionally after the

> surgery. I am feeling a bit unsettled and perhaps a bit remorseful.

> Is this normal?

I think anyone who losses 'a bit of themselves' in surgery feels 'weird'

at first. The whole process is very stressful and with the thyroid it is

also quite emotional due the hormonal effects.

> My thyroid had enlarged so much that it had to be separated from 2 of

> my parathyroid glands. They were reimplanted and that is why I had

> the low calcium.

My surgeon had to implant 1 of my paras and another was damaged but

looked as if it would survive. I still take 1200 mgs of calcium daily

with no problems since the first week.

> Question Number #2:

> How quickly did you start the replacement medication after the

> surgery?

I started the day after surgery on 150mgs of thyroxine. I remained in

normal levels for Free T3 & T4 and TSH until I was about 14 weeks when I

went a bit hypo and the thyroxine was increased to 200mgs. During the

second pregnancy my free T3 went slightly below normal but I stayed on

200mg. I felt OK (apart from the worse flu I had ever had). I'm still on

that dose (my second baby is 10 weeks old). (I had a sub total, so have

some thyroid material left).

> My endocrinologist wanted to wait at least 3 weeks before

> starting the hormone replacement.

I think this is negligent because you will certainly go hypo with all of

your thyroid removed. Why does he want you to experience the symptoms

before he gives you the meds????

> However, the surgeon prescribed

> levothyroxine right away and I followed his advise instead.

Good on him and you.

> Comments like that make me loose trust in specialists, physicians, etc

> and I think

> that is why I am feeling unsettled.

I would feel a bit more than 'unsettled' had my endo said that to me,

especially straight after surgery.

Make sure you take it easy for as long as you can. I had 1 month off

work and we had a beachside holiday for 10 days also. Very relaxing (I

feel pregnant there so it worked for us!!!!).

Hope you continue to recover.

Cheers

Caroline

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>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Caroline, thank you for your reply, I know you must be busy.

Yes, it was quick to fly home after three days. I was supposed to

fly home on the Friday, but because my follow up appointment was

moved to four weeks later, I couldn't stand the thought of recovering

in a hotel room. The calcium levels now seem to be okay. Although

after talking to a good friend of mine who has been through this I

learned that I shouldn't be taking my thyroid pill with the calcium

as it will lessen or void its effectiveness. This makes it tricky

but I'll figure something out.

I am seeing my family doctor tomorrow. I went for my bloodwork

yesterday and they took four vials of blood for all the tests they

needed to run. So I'll get my results tomorrow and possibly get more

direction from the doctor on the calcium etc.

I am also feeling better about the whole surgery thing. I think you

were right about the surgery being a stressful experience and it is

very emotional.

My sister ( a nurse) removed the tape from the incision yesterday and

I was very encouraged that it is not big at all.

Thank you for your post and I'll keep everyone posted as to my

appointment tomorrow.

Carmel