Well, I am healing. Scars are getting better and better.

Well, it’s thanksgiving. Obviously I have a lot to be thankful for and I won’t bore you with the details because I have to go cook some apple crisp in a few minutes… gotta get those last two ingredients!

So thank you to everyone who was understanding, patient and thoughtful during this past year and during my health news. It’s not over yet, but I hope that as the days go by things get back to a new normal.

I’ll post something tomorrow that is a bit more thoughtful. Might go shopping on Black friday! It will be the first time I’ve ever tried it. I will be working from home for a little while, but I hope to slip out to maybe take advantage of some deals.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I went to my post-op appointment on Friday. Everything was good or as to be expected. I got a 5 or 6 page document about all the lymph nodes they took out. They took 42 and 15 came back positive for the “disease”. One thing the thyroid nurse explained to me was that the margins were clear of the disease… which is really good. So that made me feel good. I guess my cancer is considered conventional, nothing atypical about it. I’m thinking that’s also a good thing.

However, my surgeon, Dr. Shindo, was very different in this appointment than all the other ones. She actually checked her watch! I was kind of surprised, but it was a 15 min. appointment and I got held up at the blood draw place so I was 2-3 min. late. It was strange, but I think that was my last appointment with her. I am taking less calcium (a.k.a. Tums) and am off the Vit D. Next week I’ll have to have my calcium levels checked again. I’m not sure how long the calcium level checks will keep up. Maybe for another couple of weeks?

Other than that I am feeling fine. My voice gets tired if I have to talk too loud in a restaurant or if I have been talking for a long time, but it isn’t too bad. I don’t have the same tonal range I used to, just that I can make high pitched sounds as easy. Not that I do that too often, plus that might go away in the coming months.

So what have I been doing these past weeks? Well, I’ve been cooking or preparing to cook and then cooking. I’m starting on a low iodine diet on Dec. 1 (for 3-4 weeks for the radioactive iodine therapy). No salt, no dairy, no soy, minimal pasta and rice. Mostly just fruit and vegetables (no spinach). I have a huge list of things to be weary of! I wanted to make sure that I had some sweets and some breakfast food so I made some peanut butter cookies, gluten free, and some cocoa zucchini muffins. Both are sweet and taste pretty darn good. Next I’m going to make up some sauces so I can make stir fry and other fun stuff. My mom got me a crock pot and I’m looking at easy recipes for that as well. My first will be vegetable broth and then Red beans (or black) and rice! After this diet is over I want to continue cooking on a regular basis. I have a great market right by my house, Uncle Paul’s, and they have mostly organic fruits and vegetables. Every time I go there I think, I should go there more often!

Anyway, I am going to cook pretzels (big soft pretzels, gluten free) on Wednesday night AND a double batch of apple crisp for Thanksgiving! I’m going to two different T-giving’s this year! Should be fun! I hope I don’t gain 30 lbs…

Two weeks ago today at this very moment I was 4 hours into my thyroid surgery! It has already been two weeks!

I feel pretty good, but I seem to have developed some insomnia! Sunday and last night i had a lot of trouble sleeping. Not sure if it’s my thyroid meds or not, but I have a post- op appointment on Friday and they will do bloodwork to check everything out.

I am sleepy right now… hope this means I will be able to sleep tonight!

I’m not really back into the swing of things totally yet, but I can craft! I got a bunch of embroidery supplies (as you can see) and am preparing the “floss” so that it won’t get all tangled up once I start using it.

I just get tired more easily than I did before and I’m not really able to plan as many activities as I once did. I’m learning that the hard way. I know it hasn’t even been two weeks since I’ve been out of the hospital, but I keep thinking I can do more. I need to keep reminding myself not to make plans and to just take it one day at a time. Really listen to my body and when it is tired… rest.

This week is going to be a challenge. I’m back at work full time! I’m sure I can make it through the day, but I don’t think I am going to make plans after work. I sort of had to realize this today after going out for a couple of hours and being exhausted after. It’s easy to take naps on the weekends. I’m sure each day will get better though.

OK, I want to finish a few more of these floss things and then I will “hit the hay”.

Photo #1 my hospital room view, not bad.

Photo #2 the view from my own house.

Which would you choose?

I thought this article was interesting:
Cases of Thyroid Cancer have increased over the years

So it hasn’t been quite a week since my surgery and I am feeling better and better each day. My voice is still froggy and my neck is still stiff with some soreness in my right shoulder, but I am able to get dressed and put my make-up on. The important stuff.

I am hoping to go back to work for most of the day on Thursday. I thought I might go back on Wednesday, but I’m still feeling kind of weak etc. I’ll see how I feel. I probably won’t work a full day. I just get tired really easily. I’ll probably take a nap soon, but first I will watch a movie. I got “My Life as a Dog”. I hope it’s good.

Anecdote for the day: So I’m still kind of out of it and yesterday I woke up and had half a blueberry muffin for breakfast. That’s when I take my synthroid, calcium and other meds. ANYWAY, I didn’t realize it until today, but instead of taking my calcium… I took my heavy duty pain meds! I wondered why I was sooooo tired and had to take a nap after taking my Mom to the airport! Funny! I figured it out because I suddenly didn’t remember the shape and color of the calcium pill from yesterday. Then I counted up the pills and I had an extra one!

I still feel a little foggy headed, probably from the anesthesia, but at least I am able to read now. I started on Musciophilia by Oliver Sacks. Thanks Lynne, Mike, Audrey, Andy and Rebecca! It’s good so far.

Ashley and Patrick have been a huge help too. Thanks.

I was discharged from the hospital yesterday around 3:30. It took them about 2.5 hours after my doctor took my drain out and told me I was going home to get everything together. I guess my doctor did not tell them (by word of mouth) that I was being discharged. I think it was just put into the computer and if the nurse etc. didn’t check it they would have missed it. She didn’t realize that I was able to go home!

I got home around 4 p.m. and it was just so nice being in my own place. I instantly felt comfortable and happy. I took a short nap and then Radcliffe brought dinner over and we watched a couple of old The Office’s on TV ( I know, that doesn’t really make sense, but we watched re-runs from The Office). Last night I pretty much fell asleep on the couch at 8:30 and woke up only a few times to adjust and take some tylenol. It makes a big difference when you get some sleep!

Today I have felt really good most of the day. I had some visitors (Andy, Audrey, Rebecca, Lynne and Mike!) for about 45 min. and was getting tired about 30 min. into it. Lynne asked me if I was getting tired and I had to confess that I was. They all left around noon and I relaxed some more until lunch and a movie. I watched The Proposal with my mom. My co-worker had suggested it. I actually really liked the movie! Seriously, Rebecca, you should watch it. I got teary and laughed all at the same time. My laughing “voice” is little odd still, but each day it is getting better and stronger.

Tonight we are getting thai food and watching another movie, Revolutionary Road. When Radcliffe comes over … right now!

It’s been raining like crazy today! I want to go for a walk tomorrow though, no matter what.

So, it sounds like my calcium levels are getting better and I might really get to go home this afternoon.  The doc told me this morning that they are just waiting to get all the meds etc. worked out.  It will be nice to wash my hair and just be home.  I miss my house so much it’s not even funny.

I’m still a little emotional today, but I haven’t really allowed myself to cry so I think yesterday and today was when it all decided to come out. It feels good to get it all out, but it is unexpected when it comes.  Most of the time I am crying because I feel lucky to have all of my friend and family/people who care about me in my life. I’ve realized how important it is to have those people around and what it means to love someone. I love all of you who have reached out to me so much.  It’s crazy, I sound like my mom!  She can get so emotional and can really express it in words, but I’ve always had trouble with that. It’s just difficult for me to say things to people. That’s just how I am, but at least now I have a blog and I can be dramatic and tell everyone that I love them! Even the nurses and doctors that I have been around have been great. The night nurse for two nights in a row was named Christi (not sure how she actually spelled it) and she was one of the sweetest ones.  Another was Rose who was also a night nurse.  But all of the nurses who have cared for me have really done a good job.  It makes a difference too.

Calcium- keep going up  and make me feel better.