Surgeries

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but it will take some resolve to get back to writing here on a regular basis. There is plenty to write about but after a month (and now months) of silence, there is too much to write about and I don't know where to start. I've decided the best way is to jump back in with the most significant change over the past several months.

In May of 2014 I noticed a nodule on my neck in the thyroid area. I was in St Cloud at the time and didn't know a doctor even if I had the time to go. Besides, I was preparing for a six-week bike trip and didn't want it derailed. A doctor friend told me it wasn't urgent since I wasn't feeling any differently. I let it go longer than I should have, but I did finally get to the doctor in September. That began more trips to doctor's offices than I've had in 20 years.

The results from a fine needle aspiration biopsy was suspicious enough that the right side of my thyroid was removed on November 16. The diagnosis came back as follicular carcinoma which meant the other side needed to come out too. The second surgery was on December 24. I was off work for a week both times but recovered fairly well with little pain. The first time I stayed overnight at the hospital with a drain. The second time my surgeon allowed me to go home that same day and without the drain I had more swelling. But overall it didn't make much difference in my recovery. Both times I ran 3 miles 4-5 days after surgery. I went slow but I had no problem doing them. I did have a lifting restriction for a week and I dealt with some lightheadedness which evidently was due to being dehydrated.

People have asked me if I'm feeling better now. I wasn't feeling bad to begin with. In fact, in some ways it's "worse" now as my body adjusts to the thyroid meds and we figure out the proper dosage. It's only been a couple of weeks but they made a change in the dosage following a blood test on Friday. I haven't quite figured out how it all works, but I was feeling rather amped up especially in the early morning hours when I would have just as soon been sleeping. This will be the biggest challenge in the weeks or maybe months to come. I've joked with nurses that I now have a medical history and yes, I do take some medication. In February I'll be swallowing some radioactive iodine which will destroy any remaining thyroid tissue in my body. No further treatment should be needed. If I have to have cancer, thyroid cancer is a good kind to have.