posted
In an earlier thread I am too tired to look up I mentioned my wife was having Thyroid problems.
Boy is she having problems.
She has symptoms of major Hypo-thyroidism. He lab work (triple checked) shows Hyper-thyroidism. Confused? So are we, and so is the doctor.
The large nodules on her thyroid have been byopsied. The results are inconclusive. Which means they couldn't tell if it was cancer or not.
The solution, just yank the whole thing out and give her some pills.
So they tell us to be there by 6am, which means wake up at 4am, so they can go in and dig it out. (Accept for two small nodules that will remain around the nerves leading to the vocal chords. This is to protect them. Though many people think James Earl Jones voice is sexy, coming from my wife, not so much.)
It also means I will be away from here until sometime Wednesday afternoon/evening. I'll give you all an update then.
Wish us luck, send us prayers, pity us for waking up at @#$@#$@# 4:00am.
posted
In the early stages of autoimmune-mediated (Hashimoto's) hypothyroidism, the lab values can be wonky. As the thyroid cells are being destroyed, they release thyroid hormone, so the level temporarily shoots up every now and then. I wouldn't be surprised if this were the case for your wife.
For what it's worth, if you are going to have a cancer, thyroid would be the one to get. It is eminently treatable. However, the odds are in her favor that this is a non-cancerous process.
You'll be in my thoughts.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Also the symptoms of hypo and hyper thyroidism can be very misleading. Tiredness can be from low metabolism OR breakdown of muscle tissue by overactivity. Weight gain can be from low metabolism OR from the increased appetite that accompanies hyperthyroidism. Other symptoms are more autoimmune in nature and don't really indicate what thyroid levels are present at any given time. Fascinating organ, the thyroid.
posted
On behalf of the People Lacking A Thyroid (or PLAT for short), I'd like to welcome your wife into our club.
I had my own thryroid destroyed with radiation only a couple months ago (I'll link to the thread , because it has my favorite thread title I've ever made).
Do you know why the doctors opted for surgery instead of radiation? Is it because there were hot nodules?
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Wow, read this and Xav's thread. Life without a thyroid doesn't sound good at all. That's a pretty important gland. Best of luck--to all involved.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I had my entire thyroid taken out this summer. I actually found out that I had cancer the day after I graduated from highschool, so I know how much thyroid cancer sucks. I had the operation about 6 weeks ago though, and I'm doing fine. Of course, I'll have to be on medication for the rest of my life, but it's a small price to pay I guess. So, in short, I know what you're going through. I'm here if you need to talk to anyone.
quote:Wow, read this and Xav's thread. Life without a thyroid doesn't sound good at all. That's a pretty important gland.
Well since I've been on the meds, I've been pretty normal. Pretty much symptom free.
That means that instead of having a crazy fast metabolism, or a crazy slow one, I have a normal person one.
So that means I haven't gained any more weight (went from 166 to 190), but I haven't lost any either. Pretty normal metabolism I would say. Now I just need to get off my butt and exercise. Gonna be tough to lose all the weight, but its not like I am obese or anything. I would say around 175 would be a healthy weight to shoot for.
quote:By the way, I would like to become a proud member of PLAT, if you don't mind.
Of course! You have even more right to be in the club than I do . Mine is a lump of dead tissue, while yours no longer even exists.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
I'm back. We both are. Good news and bad news. The good news, everything went perfect except for a case of the tummy upchucks brouhgt on by the anesthesia, and the doctor going to surgery when he was supposed to be releasing us to the public.
The bad news--my wife's vocal chords were unhindered. She can yell and scream at me as much now as ever.
Oh, and she is against any weight loss plan that consists of removing organs.
Thanks for all the support. Consider Cindy a member of PLAT.
The most important feature of PLAT membership is an attitude of insincere wisdom. Yes, that is the official Platitude.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Dan, glad everything went well for your wife.
I had a hemithyroidectomy about 2 years ago for a nodule that couldn't be biopsied after multiple attempts. It turned out to be benign. But better safe than sorry!
Hope she recovers well.
Posts: 5771 | Registered: Nov 2000
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quote:Well since I've been on the meds, I've been pretty normal. Pretty much symptom free.
That means that instead of having a crazy fast metabolism, or a crazy slow one, I have a normal person one.
So that means I haven't gained any more weight (went from 166 to 190), but I haven't lost any either. Pretty normal metabolism I would say. Now I just need to get off my butt and exercise. Gonna be tough to lose all the weight, but its not like I am obese or anything. I would say around 175 would be a healthy weight to shoot for.
Excellent! That sounds so much better than it was.
Dan, I hope things continue to go so well for Cindy as well.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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. Mine is a lump of dead tissue, while yours no longer even exists.
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