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  #1   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 14:43
BaileyWS's Avatar
BaileyWS BaileyWS is offline
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Posts: 232
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 292/271/160
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Baytown, Texas
Default Thyroid Surgery

I'm having surgery in a couple of weeks to have my thyroid removed. I have a very large goiter on one lobe; and the other lobe tests "inconclusive" for cancer, so we're removing it as well.

I've been taking Levoxyl and (most recently) Citomel. I am feeling fine ... but I'm wondering how adjusting to no thyroid (taking meds) is going to affect my weight loss. I'm already loosing very slowly (about 4-5 pounds per month).

Also ... those who've had the surgery ... how long can I expect for recovery?
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  #2   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 15:08
tamarian's Avatar
tamarian tamarian is offline
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Posts: 19,570
 
Plan: Atkins/PP/BFL
Stats: 400/223/200 Male 5 ft 11
BF:37%/17%/12%
Progress: 89%
Location: Ottawa, ON
Default

Hi Wendy,

Don't know much about the topic, but I'm sending my positive vibes for a successful safe operation and smooth recovery

Wa'il
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  #3   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 21:08
SlimShAdY's Avatar
SlimShAdY SlimShAdY is offline
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Posts: 986
 
Plan: Atkins for now.
Stats: 135/?/115? Female Short. 5"3
BF:Don't wanna know.
Progress: 15%
Location: RI
Default

Hey, i had that done..I had the same thing..

I don't know what you mean by "adjusting to no thyroid meds"..After you have the surgery, you need them for the rest of your life bcause it replaces the actuall thyroid


As far as weight loss, I lost like 14lbs right after I had the surgery, but thats because I wasn't really eating anything..lol But Its still going to be hard because being Hypo slows your metabolism down and makes it hard to lose weight...So its going to be as hard as it is for you now...Altho I was on Levoxyl after I had it done, and I gained weight on that and It made me dizzy.


And recovery dosen't take too long ..The first 2 days are the hardest because you can't move your neck and your head. and you won't be able to yell..lol But I was fine after mine and even went back to work after 3 weeks..(which was way too soon, so I don't recomend it lol)

I'm just wondering...How long have you been doing Atkins? I just started and I've lost weight, but most of it was water..I tried Atkins a few months ago when I weighed less and I didn't lose anything..(even though I did some things wrong)..So I'm just wondering How much you have lost since doing it?

Hope that helped, and good luck!
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  #4   ^
Old Mon, Jan-21-02, 21:32
BaileyWS's Avatar
BaileyWS BaileyWS is offline
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Posts: 232
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 292/271/160
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Baytown, Texas
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by SlimShAdY
Hey, i had that done..I had the same thing..

I don't know what you mean by "adjusting to no thyroid meds"..After you have the surgery, you need them for the rest of your life bcause it replaces the actuall thyroid


Of course ... I wasn't clear ... I mean that although I'm taking meds now for hashimotos that I will need to take more after the surgery ... will that make losing even harder for me than it is now?


Quote:
And recovery dosen't take too long ..The first 2 days are the hardest because you can't move your neck and your head. and you won't be able to yell..lol But I was fine after mine and even went back to work after 3 weeks..(which was way too soon, so I don't recomend it lol)


Uh oh ... I wasn't planning to be down that long. I'm a preacher and my doctor said I wouldn't feel up to preaching the next Sunday, but that I could be there, even read a little if I felt up to it. I planning to be back the following week ... I don't expect I'll be doing lots of home visits, etc. But I will be planning on working at the office -- planning, writing, reading etc. Is this too ambitious?

Quote:
I'm just wondering...How long have you been doing Atkins? ... wondering How much you have lost since doing it?

Hope that helped, and good luck!


I've been doing Atkins since July 27, 2001. Just about 6 months now ... When I started Atkins I weighed 280 ... now it's about 236. It's worked well; I once lost 60 pounds by counting calories, cooking low-fat, and exercising. But that was nearly 15 years ago ... I gained it all back and then some within 2 years.

In March 2001 my doctor's scale weighed me in at 287 and I know that my home scale went above the 290 mark at least once. I took a mission/study trip to Guatemala last summer and lost 10 pounds .. the food and intestinal problems ... when I got home, I decided to start Atkins.

That averages to about 7 pounds per month, but it's actually more like 4 or 5 pounds per month now ... I lost 8 pounds during induction.

Thanks for writing ... my surgery is scheduled for February 6.
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  #5   ^
Old Wed, Jan-23-02, 08:28
SlimShAdY's Avatar
SlimShAdY SlimShAdY is offline
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Posts: 986
 
Plan: Atkins for now.
Stats: 135/?/115? Female Short. 5"3
BF:Don't wanna know.
Progress: 15%
Location: RI
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by BaileyWS
will that make losing even harder for me than it is now?


It won't be harder, it will still be about the same..they take your thyroid out your still going to be hypo, which is what makes it hard to lose weight..its not the meds...Although theres a natural drug called "Armour" that alot of ppl have an easier time losing weight on, but alot of dr's won't put their patients on it.

Uh oh ... I wasn't planning to be down that long. I'm a preacher and my doctor said I wouldn't feel up to preaching the next Sunday, but that I could be there, even read a little if I felt up to it. I planning to be back the following week ... I don't expect I'll be doing lots of home visits, etc. But I will be planning on working at the office -- planning, writing, reading etc. Is this too ambitious? [/QUOTE]

Nah I don't think you'll feel like preaching the next week, Id say deffinetly 2 weeks, but not after one week..It dosen't hurt to talk, but its like you won't have the breath for it..lol The ofice work you'll be able to do though. Thats like nothing, I was a cashier and went back after 3 weeks and I got really dizzy and tired..mostly from standing up all day though. lol


That averages to about 7 pounds per month, but it's actually more like 4 or 5 pounds per month now ... I lost 8 pounds during induction.

Thanks for writing ... my surgery is scheduled for February 6.
[/QUOTE]

Yea, from what I keep hearing thats an average weight loss when you have hypo..as much as that sucks...The more you weigh though supposedly the faster/more you lose though...
Hey heres a tip, take advantage of the weight you'll lose the first week! then right when you feel like eating normal again, try doing atkins right there..its like a head start! lol

Good luck!
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  #6   ^
Old Sun, Feb-03-02, 13:43
cathlaur's Avatar
cathlaur cathlaur is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 40
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 220/209/185 Female 5 10
BF:
Progress: 31%
Location: Ontario
Talking Hello

I am new to this site but when I saw your post I had to answer.

I had a partial thyroidectomy on the 21st of Jan for a large nodule that was pressing on my esphogus. They only took the right side. My nodule was hyperactive. The Dr is hoping the other side will compensate for the loss of the right.I go for blood work on the 19th of Feb. I feel fine, though tired, I may need to be put on synthyroid. I have still lost some weight so that is good. The first week was rough. Tomorrow is 2 weeks. I think I could preach today LOL well my voice could , not the rest of me The surgery went okay. Your voice will be sore. I had to eat a lot of soups and yogurts so be prepared to eat more carbs than usual. My scar is still healing. I will put Emu oil on it once it is better. I am off work for a month!

I hope this helps


Cath
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  #7   ^
Old Sun, Feb-03-02, 15:31
BaileyWS's Avatar
BaileyWS BaileyWS is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 232
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 292/271/160
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Baytown, Texas
Default

Cath,

Thanks for writing ... It's good to hear from someone who's going through it. I'm still getting psyched for the surgery on Wednesday. I'm planning to lie low for about a week ... then gradually add things ... I have a conference to speak at (if I can) on the 15-16 ... I'm just a panelist, so it's not like I have to do a bunch of preparation, or talk for hours ... I plan to lead worship on Ash Wednesday ... only a week after surgery, but the service is only an hour and my speaking will be minimal.

I do plan to be back to a more normal schedule by the following weekend, Feb. 15-17.

The congregation will understand that I will do what I can ... the rest, well, we'll have to make do with what we've got.

Did you feel your nodule? Was it pressing enough to give you noticable symptoms? Mine is quite large on the left side ... I don't notice any pressure or problems, though ... just the large lump on my neck ... but, then, I notice I am careful to sleep with my head tilted backwards, I think to get a clear passageway ...

I wonder if I'll notice any differences with breathing of swallowing once that large (5cm x 7cm) nodule is removed.

Regarding this woe ... I'm going to eat what I want for the first week or so ... I am already craving ice cream ...

But I intend to get back to the Atkins plan soon after, in a few days to a week after the surgery.

I still wonder if I'm too ambitious and just not realistic about the recovery period ... but I guess I'd rather plan on a very quick recovery, and then take on a little at a time as I feel able ... that will keep me motivated and involved.

I'm glad you feel like preaching today! I will have a free pulpit here next week, are you interested?
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  #8   ^
Old Sun, Feb-03-02, 17:58
cathlaur's Avatar
cathlaur cathlaur is offline
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Posts: 40
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 220/209/185 Female 5 10
BF:
Progress: 31%
Location: Ontario
Default Hello

I am glad that I helped you out a little bit. I could feel the nodule on the inside of my throat. Necklaces hurt the seatbelt in the car and even turtlenecks drove me wild! On the outside as it grew you could feel it and sometimes see it. It was not nice. I fondly called him the Alien Nodule "Ned" but now he is gone and I am so much better off without him. The nodule was slightly hyper active so I had heart palpations, tremors in my hands and was always so warm.

You will do great with the surgery. The waiting is the worst part of it. I was surprised when I woke up with a drain tube in my chest. I only spent one night in the hospital though I thought 2 would have been better. But he that is life. My last Sat and Sun I had improved greatly. Every day I feel better and better. Just how one is supposed to heal.

Let me know how your surgery goes. Dont forget your own pillow!!!!!!!!!

Take care and good luck

Cath
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  #9   ^
Old Sun, Feb-03-02, 21:23
BaileyWS's Avatar
BaileyWS BaileyWS is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 232
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 292/271/160
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Baytown, Texas
Default

thanks again Cath,

My nodule is "cold" no extra hormones there ... in fact, I'm already on thyroid meds. I guess they will up the dose after they remove the whole thing ... but we need to wait for the results from the pathologist before I know how much to take.

I guess if it's malignant I'll need to stop medication altogether while we wait for the hormones to leave the system before treatment with radioactive iodine.

That's a rare possibility ... doesn't really look like cancer, though the right side is inconclusive ... a friend of mine just went through all of that ... and it was cancer.

My doctor suggested keeping the wound covered with A&D ointment while it heals -- at least until the stitches come out -- no crusting he said -- I guess that's to help keep the scarring to a minimum.

I will only be in the hospital one night, too. It's technically "out-patient" surgery ... that night will be spent in the "out-patient recovery unit." Never thought about bringing my own pillow ... could be helpful .. if nothing else, comforting.

2 days left. I'll keep you posted ... how it goes, etc. Thanks again for the support.
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  #10   ^
Old Mon, Feb-04-02, 07:12
cathlaur's Avatar
cathlaur cathlaur is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 40
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 220/209/185 Female 5 10
BF:
Progress: 31%
Location: Ontario
Default Good Morning

Wendy I did not have any stitches on the outside, just steri strips. So I had no crusting just a lot of swelling. The incision is really starting to look good. It will take 6 months to a year to get rid of the redness. It is winter so I went out and bought mock turtle necks, so you cannot even see the scar!

1 more sleep

Good luck

Cath
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  #11   ^
Old Fri, Feb-08-02, 00:09
BaileyWS's Avatar
BaileyWS BaileyWS is offline
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Posts: 232
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 292/271/160
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Baytown, Texas
Default Surgery complete

Well, I survived the surgery.

The nodule on the left side was about the size of a tennis ball, and the right side (small side) of my thyroid did have a very small bit of cancer. We'll hear more from the pathology report that should be in tomorrow.

I'm actually still in the hospital (thank God for laptops) ... my parathyroid glands are "on strike" it seems and my calcium level was falling rapidly. The doctor wants to keep me hospitalized until the calcium levels out on oral doses (no more calcium IV). It might be a couple more days.

My pain is much better today ... virtually none (when taking tylenol 3 ) Though it still hurts to swallow. I am off the liquid diet ... but finding it impossible to follow a low-carb diet in the hospital. I'm hungry now, because I didn't get enough to eat at dinner which was SO long ago ... don't these people believe in midnight snacks? I'm always such a late night owl ... I'm sitting up in my room on my laptop ... it's after midnight ... but my roomate just stood up for the first time after her colonectomy. So, at least I know I'm not distracting her too much. It's hard to sleep in the hospital when I've been stuck to an I.V. all day ... with little movement and little excitement. I thought I was going home this morning ... until the blood tests came back ...

Now that I have my laptop, though, and learned to hook it to the phone line ... I'm happy.

IF I'm out of the hospital by Sunday ... I think I should be able to attend church and do the small bit I have planned ... then rest easy the rest of the day ... and I should be back to a limited routine by next week ... I'm really feeling fine ... and my voice is great ... not even hoarseness, really.

I did try singing yesterday when the singing chaplain came to visit ... and I couldn't do much, but I could tell it wouldn't be long before I was singing again too.

My incision is itching ... I guess that's a sign of healing ... it does look awful ... but I can live with that ...

Thanks for your support ... I'll keep you updated ... and let you know when I go home.
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  #12   ^
Old Fri, Feb-08-02, 06:50
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cathlaur cathlaur is offline
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Posts: 40
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 220/209/185 Female 5 10
BF:
Progress: 31%
Location: Ontario
Default Get better Soon

Wendy I am so glad that you are doing well. It is all behind you now. Sorry about the Cancer I am glad that they got it.

You will start to feel better everyday so that is good. I am off the low carb right now. I was doing great then gained 4 pounds in 3 days. I think my thyroid is still out. I started some fruit and other stuff. This morning I lost a pound. My body is still healing so I decided to give it a break and me a break and not diet until I know what is going on! You do the same. We will get the weight off but not right now!!!!!!!!!


My Dr called and said that my path report came back and some of it was inconclusive, whatever that means. SO it has been sent to a Cancer specialist in Toronto. I am not as worried about the Cancer if there is some, because the success rate with thyroid is awesome. It is the thought of having another surgery that scares me. Hubby says I am getting way ahead of myself! I know I am but they had told me it was benign and they had wanted to leave it! I have to wait another 1 to 3 weeks can you beleive it! Oh well



Take care and have a great recovery


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  #13   ^
Old Fri, Feb-08-02, 09:25
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BaileyWS BaileyWS is offline
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Posts: 232
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 292/271/160
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Baytown, Texas
Default Calcium level back up

Cath,

The good news this morning is that the calcium levels are going back up ... still a little low, but on the rise. One more check today in the middle of the day ... and if that's well, then I'll be going home this afternoon.

My path report came back ... left side, no cancer ... right side just a bit (like we already knew) ... and three of the four parathyroids have remained intact ... So I should be fine.

He's going to consult with the endocrinologist today ...

I'm not worried about following the low carb diet, so much, as I am about feeling well ... eating things that are healthy for me ... and a little treat now and then.

I'll be healing for awhile ... I'm not worried so much about the cancer either ... though I am not eager to do the radioactive iodine treatment.

I'm more worried now about stabilizing the hormones ... I don't want to be hypothyroid anymore than I have to be.
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  #14   ^
Old Sun, Feb-10-02, 17:23
BaileyWS's Avatar
BaileyWS BaileyWS is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 232
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 292/271/160
BF:
Progress: 16%
Location: Baytown, Texas
Default

I was able to come home from the hospital on Friday afternoon ... but with reluctance. The doctor wished for a bit more assurance that the calcium levels would be OK before releasing me ... we agreed that if I felt ANYTHING was wrong to call immediately.

I did at midnight that night ... I was feeling numbness and tingling in my hands arms feet and legs ... could have been a sign of low calcium ... So I went to the emergency room and had my blood drawn again ... about 3:30 we got the news that the calcium level was normal ... so I went home and rested well.

Today I went to church, hosted the pastor from China, led communion and a few other parts of worship then came home and changed back into my comfy pjs ... and resting.

Everyone was amazed at how quickly I was recovering ... no voice problems at all ... in fact, my voice was a strong as ever (though I got tired quickly when singing).

Tomorrow I should resume a relaxed working pace ... I will call the doctor in the morning ... he may want to do one more calcium level on Monday ... but maybe not since all was fine on Friday night.

Thursday I get the stitches out and get my blood drawn again for thyroid levels ... I will see what happens from there.

I see the endocrinologist on the 19th.

I have been neglecting LCing since the surgery ... the hospital food, then the strong desire for ice cream, people stopping by the house with meals and chocolate cake ...

I will resume my LC woe tomorrow morning ... Myweight was as low as 232 when I first returned home fromt eh hospital ... today it was 235 ... but that's fine ...

Thank you all for your support ... I really appreciate it.
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