Hi All:

 

I'm still here.  Going to see the surgeon on Tuesday (Sept. 30th).  I'm still not sure what is going on as no one will explain anything to me fully.  I'm hoping to get some answers to at least some questions at the least.  Not sure how much time I will get to spend with this surgeon.  Thus far, it seems that the specialists seem to think that it's enough for THEM to know what's going on with our bodies, but not us????  It's kind of like....get this test, get that one, go for surgery and when asked WHY they are doing all of this, the answer always seems to come back "It's the next step."  End of explanation. 

 

It certainly leaves a person feeling so in the dark about things. 

 

But, I'm thinking as positively as I possibly can and taking all of your thoughts and prayers and good wishes with me as I go along.  They all help me tremendously! 

 

And, Grizz, you are also in MY prayers!  You are right in saying that it may be cystic.  The last biospy I had done in August of this year, showed a "partially cystic nodule".  

 

Thank you ALL!!!!  From the bottom of my heart!!!!!!!

 

Love

Louellen

 

 

Thank you Linda! 

 

Your message was very much appreciated!  Every positive response gives me strength and a feeling that I'm being taken care of. 

 

You raised a great point....what to call "God" or whatever we believe is Higher than us.  I simply call upon Higher Powers/The Universe.  Whatever "God" is or however the Higher Powers work, I simply call upon those powers in an all encompassing way rather than specific names.  BUT...I also believe as you have said, prayers get to the right ears no matter what name one uses. 

 

Thank you Linda!

 

Love

Louellen

XO XO XO

 sending prayers for you I hope everything goes well ,sincerly Doreen

Hi Linda and Anyone else following my saga:

 

I saw the surgeon yesterday.  Her take on things was less alarming than my endocrinologist's.  Apparently, the type of cell that showed up on my last biospy can be either benign or malignant.  They cannot tell which it is unless they do surgery.  However, she feels that it favors being non-cancerous by 95%, leaving a 5% chance that it is cancer given all of the other criteria (Clinical, ultrasound, biopsy cells, history, risk factors, etc. all taken into account.) 

 

She gave me two options. 

 

Surgery for this type of pathology is being booked 3 to 4 months away, or roughly in January of 2009.  If this was going to drive me nuts mentally and emotionally and cripple my life, thinking about it, they would go ahead and book it in for January.

 

However, the second option (that she seemed to be persuading me to do) was to wait 6 months from the last biopsy and ultrasound and have it repeated (that would make it the first week in February about 3 weeks more than the surgery date they would be booking).  2 weeks after the biopsy, I would see her again and IF the nodule had grown again or, the cells came back malignant on this one, they would push the surgery much more quickly than the 3 to 4 month wait and remove my entire thyroid. 

 

So, in the meantime, I have the choice of waiting for that biopsy (which she already had me book in as she seemed to think this was the way to go) and then seeing where things stand, OR, I can go back, if this is driving me nuts, sign the consent form and they will go ahead and book the surgery and cancel the biopsy in February. 

 

I'm not 100% sure what I want to do just yet, but either way, she said that I was in no danger.  Even were this to be cancerous right now, the waiting is not a problem since thyroid cancers are not the same as other cancers in the body.  It does not grow the same way or spread the same way.  Whether they do the surgery in January or in March, there is no difference as to prognosis or outcome in those few weeks and I can safely leave it, without harm. 

 

I've put in a request (weeks ago now) for a second opinion by another surgeon but, have yet to have him respond with an appointment thus far (he's far busier).  However, the safety net is there that if I want, I can push for the surgery to be done in January or February. 

 

So, I'm taking a couple of weeks to think things through and see how I feel but, in the meantime, I have the appointment for February's biopsy and a pending request for an appointment with a well known surgeon for a second opinion since I have 2 conflicting reports from doctors.  I will also be seeing my family doctor this month (October) so, I will ask her opinion on the 2 conflicting opinions and my options and see what she has to say too.  Apparently, no matter what, there is time.  Had I not been as pushy about things as what I was, I'd only NOW, be getting the biopsy that I've already had done in August.  Given that I pushed things, I got it done much sooner and am ahead of the game.  Were I to have waited for the biopsy as he wanted to do, I'd not even have gotten the results that I have now and would then, have to wait another 6 weeks to see the surgeon that I've already just seen...taking it into early November anyways.  And, to add to that, it would have been another 3 to 4 months beyond that appointment for surgery, taking it into February or March anyways!  So, I guess that I am really not behind or slacking no matter which way I go with this as the system seems to go??? 

 

Fingers crossed and may Divine Powers be guiding my decisions and helping. 

 

That's my update.  I feel like this is a soap opera now.   

 

All of your prayers are very much appreciated as I go through this!

 

Love and Light,

Louellen

You will be alright Lou. Don't worry too much.Otherwise you will get some stree related problem. Go for the sergery so you don't think anything about it later. But If it is me I will wait few more months.

Love and Light

Voyageer

Goodmorning, Lou,

 

You have been on such an emotional roller-coaster ride.  I really like that you have "time" to make this very important decision.  Sounds like whatever you do, the prognosis is going to be the same.  You are going to be fine with or without your thyroid depending on your decision about surgery.  The question that comes to my mind is if you choose to have your thyroid removed how will it affect your body processes and your emotional makeup?  If you remove a thyroid that is not malignant is it worth the resulting consequences in the long run.  Sounds like cancer in the thyroid is slow and does not tend to spread like some other cancers do so you do have time to make an informed and carefully thought out decision.  I am glad you are reaching out to others including your family doctor and another oncologist for a second opinion.  That is wise.  You have time on your side, Lou.  Use it well and wisely.

 

Thank you for the update.  Healing and calming prayers are being sent your way.

searching

 

 

 

 

Thank you V, Searching and Linda! 

 

Your opinions are very much appreciated as I try to make head or tails out of this situation.  Just knowing that you are all thinking of me really and truly does help and it gives me a sounding board on which to get all of your opinions too.  That helps a LOT!  HUGS to all of you in here!

 

V, right now, I agree with you.  I think that waiting to get another biopsy is probably wise and see from there.  As Searching has said, having my thyroid removed, especially if it is benign means that there are going to be a lot of bodily upheavals that happen.  The thyroid gland can affect so many things and very often, getting the levels straightened around with synthetic/supplemented meds is also a difficult task.  Weight, body temperature, metabolism, emotional and mental functions.....a LOT is regulated by our thyroids.  Right now, mine is working.  It just has these nodules on it that are questionable as to their makeup.  Malignant or benign, benign or malignant.  That is the question that they cannot answer at this moment.  Certainly, there are risks involved in surgery as well as there are with any surgeries, including anesthetic and possible vocal cord paralysis (temporary or permanently), infection, damage to the parathyroids which regulate calcium production and can become life threatening and the list goes on.  That is something that I also need to take into consideration.  It's only when the benefits outweigh the risks that one can say that surgery is the route to go down, without much hesitation.  Obviously, if they felt that this was more of a chance of being malignant than not, I'd go right for the surgery....clinging on with white knuckles of course, but I would have no choice but, to do it.  However, at this point in time, I also feel that waiting (unless I am told otherwise in the meantime) is far less stressful than going through possible needless removal of my thyroid gland as they will remove the entire thing once they go in and cannot tell for sure until final pathology post surgery comes in.  Then, it could become either an "Oooopppssss.......didn't need to come out.  Good luck in getting your meds straightened around now." or, it can be a "Oooopppsss....should have done this sooner."  Either way, it's a gamble but, given the odds, right now, I'd say that I'm likely better to err on the side of waiting to see what the next tests show in February and go from there. 

 

V....you are so right in the idea that stress can bring on so many different other ailments too!  That is something that I have to take into account as well.  If this is benign, the stress of this entire saga could be doing more harm than having the thyroid removed.  This is where I am weighing things out in my mind and my "gut" so to speak.  At this very moment (that could change if I get another opinion to a different story), I feel that waiting to see what the next biopsy and ultrasound bring in terms of results before I make any decisions about having my thyroid ripped out.  Of course, if the next one comes back as "indeterminate" and has some growth to it or, the doctor's opinion changes....I will have the surgery and get it done and over with.  Stress is very much damaging. 

 

Linda, I am going for a third and if needed, a fourth opinion!  Thank you for sharing your experiences with your daughter's condition.  I take it that she's doing well now?  I hope!  And, thankfully, I am in Canada where our healthcare is paid for.  It's not a perfect system either but, we are lucky in the aspect that if we need 20 opinions, it doesn't cost us and we are free to have them.  Of course, we try not to abuse that priviledge for the most part. 

 

Searching, you are so right in saying that using this time well and wisely is what I have to do and am doing.  It's only been a few days since my visit with the surgeon and I'm digesting and researching all that I've found out and am going for at least one more opinion.  For the time being anyways, I have options and I have safety factors (as much as one can anyways) there for me.  I think that while I wait for an appointment with the other surgeon that I wanted to see, my family doc is next in line for a grilling!   Put her on the hot seat for a bit now. 

 

Thank you all!  Please keep your thoughts coming my way because I feel them and they calm me greatly!  Love wins out over fear every time! 

 

Love and Light,

Louellen

 

LOL Bob!!!!!  "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"!!!!  That had me on the floor!!!  Needed that laugh...thank you!  And, thank you for your response and thinking of me.  Thank you also for your gut feelings on this.  I'm so hoping that surgery is not needed as it's not malignant. 

 

I am going to try hard to enjoy the holiday season. 

 

Hugs

Lou

XO XO XO