My 23-year-old friend is going to have the left side of her thyroid removed next month. After battling thyroid-related symptoms since December and advocating for her health, she has finally found a doctor who seems competent and caring enough to treat her.
After a benign biopsy three months ago, my friend returned to her endocrinologist, at the request of her doctor, and recently learned the nodule on the left side of her thyroid has increased in side in the last two months, while the one on the right is more stagnant. She was also told the biopsy sample she had given was not good enough and had another one last week.
Since the second biopsy and the rate of growth, her doctor has decided the best course of action is surgery. So in one month, my dear friend will go under the knife, to hopefully revive with her right thyroid intact.
While removing the left portion of her thyroid, doctors will immediately biopsy the right and make sure it does not have to be removed. If all goes well, she will keep her right thyroid, which will keep her off thyroid hormone medications, and she will not have thyroid cancer, which is a small, but possible finding.
Do you know anyone, or have you personally gone through a similar procedure? How did it turn out? Do you have any advice for my friend?
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Tell her she might not be near by but she is always in your heart, thoughts and prayers and that you will be with her in those ways while she is having her procedure done and dealing with the changes. Let her know she can call, email whatever whenever and there is no where you would rather be than with her if it were possible, but to remember you will be there in every other way possible and keep in touch with her. Take care and be strong for her and for yourself, remember it will be over before you know it, that is when she will really need your support and caring thoughts, when she will need her friends support. Chin up, always be positive when talking to her. Be her compassionate friend and take her spirits up as much as possible. Remember she will be tired until they get her dosage correct on her thyroid medication.
July 29, 2009 - 10:35amThis Comment
I think the worst part for me is since I moved away from where we grow up, I can't even go over and see her and hang out and sometimes it can me difficult to talk about difficult topics when it happens over the phone.
Having known family members in similar circumstances, how can I reassure her and help her the most while living so far away?
July 29, 2009 - 9:10amThis Comment
I am glad that it made you feel more relaxed about your friend. I didn't know anything about it until my sister developed hyperthyroidism and my husband developed thyroid cancer. I was pretty freaked out about it and then found that the worst part was getting the medication for both conditions adjusted properly. That does take a while so don't be upset if she is more tired than usual until that dose is determined. My husband had his surgery in Feb 06 and they are still adjusting it off and on so it is an ongoing treatment. They test for thyrogen levels and other things and then adjust accordingly. Glad things are better for you. Good luck to you and your friend.
July 27, 2009 - 7:02pmThis Comment
pgooden9085-
Thank you for sharing your family's experiences. I know my friend is probably not too concerned, but as a friend, I'm worried for her. However, reading your share put me more at ease.
Thanks!
July 27, 2009 - 3:54pmThis Comment
My husband has been in remission from his Thyroid Cancer for 3 1/2 years and takes a healthy dose of Levoxyl every day. He has his medication adjusted depending on the results of his annual scans. If his thyroid levels are up the medication is increased and if lower or the same as the previous scan the dose remains the same. He had his entire Thyroid removed along with some lymph nodes and he is doing great.
My sister had to have her Thyroid destroyed with a Nuclear treatment years ago and takes a medication for it with the same adjustments based on a routine scan on a set schedule. She also is ok.
Thyroid Surgery is considered a simple procedure (a butterfly surgery), some people go home the same day some the following day. The most difficult part is getting the medication dosage correct. It will take a while and she might not feel like doing much while the medication level is being adjusted but she will be fine.
July 20, 2009 - 3:10pmThis Comment