Thanks Dawn and Dottie for your responses. How did you feel after the
surgery? I'd like to know what to expect...if that's possible. I've been
told that I only need to stay in the hospital one night. Does that mean
that I will be able to function pretty well after that? I had been planning
on scheduling my surgery for a Thursday or Friday, and then going back to
work on Monday. Is that a reasonable expectation?

The doctor makes it seem like it's no big deal...but then I've read stories
that are really scary. On a different board, everybody is telling me not to
even do the surgery.... but I would feel pretty stupid if I actually had
cancer and chose to ignore it. . . at the same time, I feel really
conflicted about the idea of getting half of my thyroid removed just to find
out it's benign. The nodule itself is not bothering me at all...


On 9/7/06, Dottie H <dottie_123@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I had my thyroid removed in May and the scar is just a thin, white line
> now.
> Most people say they don't notice it, unless I point it out. My surgery
> was the easiest surgery I have ever had. I did not even have to take pain
> pills after. The only complication I had was that my calcium dropped and I
>
> had to take some prescription vitamin d and calcium for a while, but that
> rectified itself a couple of weeks after surgery. By the time I finally
> got
> mine out (1 1/2 c), my swallowing had become so difficult that I did not
> care about the scar. I was just ready to be able to eat and breathe
> normally.
>
> Best of luck to you!!!
>
> >From: "lilyvc" <lilyvc@... <lilyvc%40yahoo.com>>
> >Reply-To: ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com<ThyroidDisease2%40yahoogroups.com>
> >To: ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com <ThyroidDisease2%40yahoogroups.com>
> >Subject: [ThyroidDisease] Thyroid Surgery
> >Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:48:29 -0000
>
> >
> >Hi, I'm new to this group because I was diagnosed with a 1cm thyroid
> >nodule about a month ago. I had an ultrasound, TSH (.03), and FreeT4
> >(19) tests done. I then had a fine-needle aspiration biopsy, which
> >showed follicular neoplasm. My doctor is now recommending that I
> >remove the left lobe of my thyroid. I'm 26 years old. I'm feeling
> >very nervous and unprepared for surgery, I'm seeking a second opinion
> >to see if there are any alternatives to surgery. Can people talk
> >about their own experience with a lobectomy or thyroidectomy though?
> >I'm really worried about the scarring. I know they find a skin
> >crease, but given my age, I don't have a lot of creasing that would
> >hide a scar... does the incision have to be in the middle of your
> >neck, or can it be off to one side? I'd really appreciate your
> >thoughts!
> >
> >- Lily
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>


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