Thyroid surgery?

mattsmom81 · Dec 12, 2002

I had half my thyroid out in Feb...now gotta take thyroid meds the rest of my life.

Docs thought it was cancer but it was just benign growths...thank God.

It was a fairly easy surgery and recovery.

Sleepyeyes · Dec 12, 2002

yep, kristi, my daughter rachel had thyroid cancer at age 18, and had to have her thyroid out.

She said it was uncomfortable to talk and she kept her hob up and O2 on. Swallowing was also uncomfortable at first, but she said on the whole, that it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.

If you have a Lippincott's Manual of Nursing handy, it can give you more of the nursing procedures and duties postop.

kristi915 · Dec 13, 2002

Thanks for your replies everyone!!

She's having her surgery today....My boyfriend is soo worried....poor baby..

BioRN · Dec 13, 2002

I had a total thyroidectomy in 2000 for thyroid cancer. The surgery wasn't too bad but life afterwards was very hard. I just recently finished my radiation and got my thyroid meds straightened out. Also life without a thyroid caused a 30 lb weight gain over two years.

mattsmom81 · Dec 13, 2002

I hear ya, BioRN!! It's also impossible to take off any weight I'm finding...still getting regulated on the thyroid supplement...

It's like my metabolism has just shut down.

Hope your boyfriend's mom has a good outcome Kristi!!

RN always, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2002

I had a huge nodule on my thyroid that was removed. They only had to take a piece of my thyroid. I'm now taking synthroid for the rest of my life. It seems like half the patients I care for are on Synthroid. A very popular medication. My scar is so faint you can hardly see it. I will be sending good thoughts for your boyfriends mom.

hapeewendy · Dec 13, 2002

good luck to your boyfriends mom on her surgery!

I hope she recovers quickly!

*HUGS*

RainbowzLPN, LPN · Dec 14, 2002

I had a goiter removed when I was in 6th grade, I guess I'm lucky to not have to take meds, & my thyroid is working well. ::knock on wood:: It was hard at first talking & eating certain things, but all went well besides that.