One Month Post-Op

Scar covered in glitter. See it? :)

This will probably be my last post in the series of "post-op" entries. I celebrated being 1 month thyroid-less by dancing with my girls in the annual Southernette's Mardi Gras Ball. Now, those not from around here may not realize this, but Mardi Gras is a season here and we take it very seriously. We practice half the year, get all dolled up, stock up on our favorite snacks and drinks and get ready to have a good time. I am glad I felt well enough to go to practice after surgery and I had a great time at the ball.

Louie loved my pink poodle tutu

I'm feeling okay for the most part. My TSH and T4 levels are all kinds of wacky and I feel it. I've had a small anxiety attack, am always tired, and am still dealing with some depression. Don't feel bad for me, though. I'm being doted on by lots of loving family and friends. If you want to feel bad for anyone, feel bad for my sweet husband (of almost 3 months), he's the one that gets to deal with my drama day-in and day-out. I've been trying to do more wifely things like cook dinner every night to make him feel special. haha I think it works!

I do have a couple things that continue to trouble me. As any newlywed can tell you, as soon as people find out you've recently tied the knot, they have no problem asking, "So... When are you going to start a family?" Maybe it's cause we're 26 years old and in South Mississippi that makes us super old to be childless or maybe people just really love to ask this question, but I never know how to respond. Do I just tell them it'll be a little while? Or do I be the complete Debbie Downer and tell them that yeah, we had planned to just let God decide, but now we have to wait a year because of my radiation next month? The whole cancer story happens after that... And then the person feels bad for asking and I feel bad for making them feel bad. Sigh.

Yes, that's me on top of my
new craft table in the Corolla

Anyway - our sweet Louie is definitely keeping us on our toes and is a great practice round before we actually reproduce human offspring. :) Louie. Is. BAD! haha I never knew puppies could be so mischievous, he's lucky he's so darn cute!

SO. I am the project chick after all and I've FINALLY got a craft table in our spare room and I am just days away from being ready to get back into sewing and quilting. Look for that post soon!

Three Weeks Post-Op

Returning to Work

Betrayal.

Mr. K and I returned to work Monday from our company's two week holiday shutdown and as much as I hate to admit it, I am somewhat glad to be returning to a routine. I've been extremely exhausted every night this week, though, when we get home. And of course, our sweet Louie who's adjusting to crate training, is extremely energetic when we get home; thus, the reason this post is just now being written on Friday night (not to mention the fact that we've watched two seasons of Downton Abbey this week... ADDICTED).

Thyroid Cancer: Ain't Nobody Got Time for That
I went to my endocrinologist for the first time since surgery on Wednesday. This appointment was to go over everything from the pathology reports to the nitty gritty of my radiation treatments to life after thyroid cancer. Dr. Frieze is very thorough and in some ways that's awesome and in some ways it's terrifying. He tells everything that could possibly happen. Best case scenario and worst case... Now up until now, everything that he'd warned was "worst case" has been what's happened... SO I hope I've had the last of that and this radioactive iodine will be the end of my cancer story. I ain't got time for cancer, y'all!

Thyroid Cancer: Ain't Nobody
Got Time for That!

Everything I told in my post-op blog was still the truth, the cancer in the lymph nodes and everything. I'll begin the RAI treatment prep on February 18 with a shot, another shot the next day as well as a mini radioactive pill and full body scan. On the 20th of February I'll receive the RAI pill and head home where I'll be in isolation for 3 days. Following this, life should return to normal. Praying that the full body scan I have after treatment comes back perfect. If you're a friend or family member of mine and you're pregnant, younger than 15 or have kids under 15 or are elderly, then don't be offended but I'll be staying away from you for 2 weeks following my treatment. Seriously. I will be radioactive and could harm you. It's pretty intense. I'm beginning to stow away good reads and projects for my isolation time.

Moving Forward
As I mentioned before, this radioactive treatment means no pregnancy for Mr. K and I for 1 year following. And according to Dr. Frieze, our story won't end there. He told me pretty much as soon as I do get pregnant when the time comes that I tell 3 people in this order: 1) Kevin 2) Our parents 3) My endocrinologist. In addition to taking the Synthroid I'll probably be monitored for the rest of my life to make sure the cancer doesn't return. He said my prognosis is very good and that I'm considered low-risk when it comes to mortality (dying), but that I'm high-risk in terms of morbidity (cancer reoccuring). Good thing I got rid of my cheapo insurance this past summer after the blood clots!

Hopefully I'll have some more positive posts in the near future. And more importantly, I hope to have some more PROJECT oriented posts considering I'm the freaking Project Chick. :)

If you're reading this, thanks for supporting me through this tough time in my life. My mom is ordering bracelets and we are going to have a team in the Relay for Life this spring, comment and let me know if you'd be interested in playing with us that night!

In case you have no idea what I'm talking about when I say, "Ain't nobody got time for that," feast your eyes on this little gem.

Two Weeks Post-Op

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Today marks two weeks since my surgery and physically I'm wonderful! Most of the swelling has gone down and my scar is barely noticeable. It pretty much looks like a scratch at this point. 

I am, however, experiencing some mental/emotional side effects from the surgery, new medication, etc. Oddly enough I often find myself feeling around on my neck, though, searching for the mass. I guess I'd gotten so used to feeling for it throughout the day that it's strange to not feel it there anymore. I'm also having some wild mood swings and depression. I'm not sure if it's because I was immediately thrown into hypothyroidism, anxiety over my upcoming treatments, or if I've just always been this way (mom  & dad, no smart responses)!

I sit and wonder if the crazy tantrums I had during wedding planning could have partially been attributed to having a whack-o thyroid or if they were just bridezilla moments. I guess I spend too much time thinking? 

I don't know how people dealt with issues back before the days of the internet and social media. It must've been so much harder! I have found such comfort and solace by the fellow thyroid cancer fighters I've found via blogs, Twitter, even Pinterest. It's like having a support group without awkwardly sitting around in a circle exchanging pleasantries. 

Mr. K and I are working on formulating our new lifestyle including a very limited meat diet, since much of my cancer fighting research points to plant based diets. Stay tuned for a post on that in the next week.