This is my journaled notes from my first thyroid surgery. I had a right partial thyroidectomy. This also the timespan where I found out that I have Thyroid Cancer.
The Day Before Surgery
Pre-Op Appointment and Covid Test
They gave me a medical body wash to shower before bed and an Ensure to drink.
I am extremely nervous but my pre-admission nurse was amazing at calming my nerves.
Day of Surgery
I am set to arrive at the hospital at 6 am and surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am
I shower at 4:30 am, but my nerves were too much for me to drink the Ensure
I was nervous but I could feel the prayers as I went into surgery.
Iv went in the first time-Hallelujah! They gave me Pepcid for my nerves, a nausea patch, and had me take 2 Tylenol before going into surgery. The anesthesiologist said they would make sure and try to control my nausea during surgery…
Said bye to my hubby and they wheeled me to the OR, they had me move onto the operating table and breath into a mask 3 times and the next thing I remember is that I was waking up in recovery. My husband said I was in recovery for 2 hours and he said the operation took 30 minutes longer due to the size of the nodule but all went well.
Recovery
I was sore and had a little bit of a voice…..The nurse put an ice pack on me to bring swelling down. She gave me sprite to help with my dry mouth and sore throat….I was feeling a little nauseated so they gave me something for nausea.
I had pain once I got back into my room after recovery so the nurse gave me a pain pill. I got dressed, walked around my room and the nurser discharged me.
I went home and got straight into my remote control recliner…I already had a table set up with all of my necessities before I left that morning… (a blog post on that coming soon)
I drank cold drinks all day and around 5:30 pm I was able to eat two bowls of Zuppa. I was up answering emails and talking. I would fall asleep on and off. I stayed on Hydro every 3 hours for about 24 hours and then I started tapering off of it. I don’t like the way any medicine makes me feel.
Post Op Day 1
I stayed on Hydro every 3 hours all day. I was sore and I kept my ice pack on all day and on my neck. Slept in the recliner—use an eye mask, you will sleep so much better during the day.
Post Op Day 2
I started tapering off of pain meds. I kept the ice pack on all day….I felt like the pain med was keeping me awake so I started tapering off of them. I felt like I had phlegm in my throat which is hard to clear after surgery but it wasn’t bad. It was just a nuisance.
Post Op Day 3
This was my toughest day…I started feeling like I was coming down with something…My chest started feeling a little heavy, my body ached, my temp was 99.5, and I started coughing. My throat felt like strep (razor blades and a lump in my throat)…I just didn’t feel good. I took a bath before bed…I just sit in the tub so I wouldn’t soak my incision. I was going to sleep and call the doctor the next morning when they opened.
Post Op Day 4
I didn’t sleep much the night before. Sleeping in a recliner is getting old. I called my doctor and he wanted to check on me. My incision also looked rough and I had drainage coming out of the incision. My doctor was out so I saw his assistant. He said my incision looked good and that the “drainage” was lymph drainage. He said my sore throat symptoms and body aches were not normal so he gave me a Covid Test. I was relieved that my incision looked great and prayed against a positive Covid. He also told me to take my pain pills-I think I took myself off of them too early. I took one when I got back home and rested well. We decided to make me a bed on the couch so I could try and sleep better and it worked. I had only 1 pain pill this day and it worked.
Post Op Day 5
I slept well last night. I am feeling better today. A lot better. I started walking around the house and outside every 30 minutes. Good day! No pain pills. Started sneezing today. My Dr called today with my results…..Not at all what I was expecting to hear,
“You have cancer”
My nodule was sent off and came back as malignant. He notified me that I would be going back into surgery next week to take out the entire thyroid. I am just in a state of shock but I know to get people praying. I am believing this cancer has not spread and was contained to only my nodule that was removed.
Post Op Day 6
I slept on my side last night! Awwww! It was nice…I stayed on the couch and slept really well. My back was sore from just laying around so much so I used a heating pad. No pain pills. Still sneezing. I have cried all day from this diagnosis. I am researching everything I can…my advice is to stay off Google. We decided we will not use Google and will watch Disney movies and funny shows all day. I am in such a state of shock with all of this.
Post Op Day 7
I slept in my bed last night….It wasn’t comfortable. It pulled on my incision all night. Still sneezing. Anger set in today, like honestly. I am just shocked and angry with this diagnosis. I actually asked the question today, “Why me?”
Post Op Day 8
First day for hot morning coffee. I cleaned house today, worked in my office and was busy most of the day….Slight headache all evening.
Still sneezing. I cleaned and cried, cleaned and cried. Emotional day.
I decided to go pick up a paper copy of my results so I could see them and send them to my Endocrinologist for his opinion.
Post Op Day 9
Extremely fatigued, exhausted. Praying I haven’t caught a bug or Covid. Today was just an off day…I have been in the house for 11 days now or I possibly overdid it yesterday…..
This is the first day I’ve eaten all regular food with no swallowing weirdness. Still sneezing.
My Endo called me today. He explained all of my results in detail, went over all of my questions, and brought me so much peace. The Lord surely orchestrated this because I could not stop crying; my friend reminded me of the scripture in Psalms; I cried unto the Lord and He answered. This was the sweetest moment. After 4 days of pity parties and letting my emotions out, I decided it was time to put my big girl panties on and take this on. I have my prayer team in place, but I personally started spending my days with a “prayer focus” for each day.
Prayer focus today: My surgeon and my Endo
Post Op Day 10
Started taking Vitamin D after I noticed that it was ok to take before surgery. 50,000 a day before surgery was suggested for 5 days before surgery——-I will only be able to get 4 days in but it is better nothing.
Worse day yet! Extreme fatigue. Covid tested for safety. Negative…Can’t lift my head up off the pillow. Absolutely no energy. Light headache. Praying my energy gets built up for this next surgery on Thursday.
Prayer focus today: My surgeon, successful surgery, and protection against Covid before, during, and after surgery.
Post Op Day 11
Not as bad of a day as yesterday, still really tired. The nerves kicked in a little extra today knowing that my surgery is just a few days away. I called Pre-Admissions bc I had not received my Pre-Admin appt and they said I didn’t have to do another one since I was just in 2 weeks ago. They moved my surgery to 2 pm, I have to be there at 11 am. pre-Admin said the Vitamin D was fine to take before surgery. My stomach has been really upset from my nerves. The surgery time being so late in the day hasn’t helped my tummy a bit but I am ready to get this over with! We are now deep in planning our Disney reservations so that is helping to make my mind off of things…I was up through the night praying for my doctors and nurses, anesthesiologist, and everyone whom I will come in contact with.
My word(s) for 2021 is Let Go, I know I am having to Let Go like never before and Let God take control. I never knew this battle would be one that I would fight in 2021 but it didn’t take God by surprise. He is already speaking words to me for 2022 so I KNOW I’ll be telling of my healing and this miracle for the rest of our lives. He doesn’t go back on His Word, the Lord made me promises a long time ago and I have gripped it and proclaimed it all throughout my life and especially this past week that I just have to shoot him back with the promise God gave me. When the enemy wants to invade your mind, kick him out with the promises of God. God said. That’s the end of it. Don’t entertain the enemy’s tactics, we give the fool too much credit sometimes.
Prayer focus: My surgeon, the IV (I’m such a baby with needles), a complication-free surgery and recovery. I am already praying over my calcium levels and my hormone levels, I am praying against any calcium issues and that my hormone levels will not be as much of a rollercoaster as I have heard. My main focus is that I know I am already cancer-free, I know the cancer was contained, did not spread, and that I will not have any reoccurrences of this cancer or any new cancers. I am standing firm and taking my healing in Jesus’ name.
Toward the evening, the headache and fatigue came back. This is such a roller coaster. I have been in bed all day but around 6:30 the exhaustion hit again. I also have a tinge of a sore throat. I started buying all of my groceries for after surgery today so I am ready. I have a few favorites that I’ll list that really help my throat and etc.
Post Op Day 12
I woke up had coffee and took Vitamin D. I have a mild headache. I can’t take any medicine so I am hoping to be able to get rid of it. I am still fatigued and have body aches…I don’t know if I’m trying to come down with something again or if this is hormones. The hardest part of going through 2 surgeries right now is being in the middle of a Pandemic. We have Covid tests at home for this reason. My nerves are high knowing I am 2 days away from surgery. Using Peppermint Oil for my head, as the morning goes on my headache has gotten worse. We picked up my prescriptions today for my pain pills after surgery and my Synthroid.
Post Op Day 13
I am not so nervous today. Thankfully the nerves are at bay. I have laid in bed today and enjoyed moving my neck around because I know what tomorrow holds. I am busy getting the house ready for round #2 tomorrow. I have a mild headache and a sick stomach. I had to take ammonium today. I also had Vitamin D.
I’ll detail my second surgery recovery in another blog post. Stay tuned.
