Hi Dottie,

I was looking up info on mederma, and wondering when you started using it on
the scar. I've heard from others that you have to keep the area as sterile
as possible for a couple weeks. Does that mean that you started using
mederma after that? The doctors have told me I only have to stay at the
hospital one night just in case there's bleeding, but after that I will be
going home... Do you feel like it's important to have other people around
once you're at home, or can you pretty much take care of yourself after
leaving the hospital?

Thanks again!
- Lily

On 9/8/06, Dottie H <dottie_123@...> wrote:
>
> I had gotten a lot of advice to not have surgery also, but I had no
> choice,
> I could no longer swallow solid foods. I did not have cancer. I had
> Hashimotos and the surgery took all the scary symptoms away.
>
> As for going back to work on Monday, I kinda doubt that you will be able
> to.
> I had my surgery on Friday and I was only supposed to stay in the hospital
>
> overnight but they bruised my parathyroids when they took mine out
> (remember
> I had to have it all out and actually my doc said when they do a really
> good
> job and get it all, they sometimes bruise your parathyroid) so my calcium
> levels dropped and as I live over an hour away from the hospital they kept
>
> me until Monday to monitor. My calcium went up as my parathyroids healed
> and I have had no more problems. The three days in the hospital were so
> boring because I actually felt better than I had in months. I think this
> was due to breathing better and getting more oxygen in my body. I really
> waited too long to have surgery as I dreaded it so bad. Looking back, I
> was
> silly because it really was not bad at all.
>
> I was never sore and the only problem I had with the incision was
> incredible
> itching while it was healing. I used mederma on the scar and it is not bad
>
> at all.
>
> Again, best of luck to you.
>
> >From: Dawn Dingeldein <spiritsk@... <spiritsk%40yahoo.com>>
>
> >Reply-To: ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com<ThyroidDisease2%40yahoogroups.com>
> >To: ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com <ThyroidDisease2%40yahoogroups.com>
> >Subject: Re: [ThyroidDisease] Thyroid Surgery
> >Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 11:50:57 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >
> >I was sore after the surgery. I had trouble getting
> >up from a laying position because you do use alot one
> >muscles in your neck when you do try to get up. I
> >only had an overnight stay in the hospital and went
> >home the next day. I took prescription painkillers
> >for a few days. As for getting back to normal it took
> >me about a week or a little over that. Looking up and
> >things like that was a minor and I just adjusted to
> >how I did things. I have a child that is 9 yrs old so
> >she did get to help me some.
> >
> >Your doctor may not let you go back to work so soon.
> >I stay at home and I babysit for other families. I
> >watched a 2 yr old 3 days after each surgery. I did
> >adjust how I did things but it worked. I had to wait
> >2 weeks to do such things as sing and play music. I
> >play handbells and sing in a choir so I had to take a
> >break from that. But now I am good as new. One thing
> >I experience is that when it is chilly at night my
> >neck will get stiff, like you have a charlie horse,
> >but once I move my neck I am fine.
> >
> >Like I said I have learned to live with it. But since
> >my thyroid does not work I have to take a thyroid
> >hormone.
> >
> >One thing I found out when I was told I had ancer was
> >that my surgeon said it is common to find cancer
> >during surgery and that if you are to get cancer,
> >thryoid cancer is the best one to get since it is
> >usually slow moving.
> >
> >I was told by a friend I should not have surgery but I
> >did my research and followed my heart. I felt surgery
> >was best for me and good thing I did.
> >
> >Keep us informed on your decision and how you are
> >doing. I know it is not easy and we have dealt with
> >this een with 2 girls in our home.
> >
> >Dawn
>
> >--- Lily Chiu <lilychiu@... <lilychiu%40gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> > > 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@... <dottie_123%40hotmail.com>>
> 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>
> > > <lilyvc%40yahoo.com>>
> > > > >Reply-To:
> > >
> >ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com <ThyroidDisease2%40yahoogroups.com>
> <ThyroidDisease2%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > >To: ThyroidDisease2@yahoogroups.com<ThyroidDisease2%40yahoogroups.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
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > > removed]
>
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >Dance as if no-one were watching, Sing as if no-one were listening, Live
> >each day as if it were your last."
> >
> >www.wwme.org
> >World Wide Marriage Encounter
> >we are Prayer Couple Coordinators for our local community.
> >
> >
> >Homemade cards
> >
> >__________________________________________________
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>
>


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