Well, today is the day for my Thymectomy. Just wanted to thank everyone because your posts and this site make going thru the process much better. I will post when I get out of the hospital in 4-5 days. thanks again

Take care, and rest lots!!
Look forward to talking to you when you are feeling up to it.
take care
redtail

Hope all went well with your surgery - had mine in 2006 - let people help you out... Keep us posted on how things are going.
Gabrielle

I hope you are doing OK! How is your family? Try to remember to not lift ANYTHING for a while if you can help it. I know it stinks, but you need to rest and HEAL for now.

I know you prolly don't feel up to it right now, but I'd love to hear from you when you have some time.......

In the meantime, don't be a martyr, take the pain meds. The pain will go away in about 6 weeks or so (or at least it did for me)

Erin

Well everyone I had my Sternomy/ Thymectomy about two weeks ago and it was not as bad as I expected. My procedure lasted about 3.5 hours and I spent 6 days in the hospital at the ICU and “step-down “unit. My stay in the hospital could have been shorter but my doctors we concerned about my MG weakness and started me on IVIG treatment for 5 days. Over-all I am happy with the procedure!!! I am still taking 120mg ( 2 X 60mg)of Mestine ever 6 hours and I still have some double vision but that is much less than before and I feel my overall strength has improved (not sure if it is because of the Thymectomy or IVIG???). But with any Pro’s there are Con’s and here are mine. I have about an 10” scar down the center of my chest but it is healing nicely and should not be too bad in a few months/year or so. Second the pain. Yes, this procedure does hurt but can be managed with pain meds. Lastly, down-time- I will not be driving for another 2 weeks and moving heavy stuff is out of the question but this will past. If anyone is considering this procedure I would have to recommended it (I am not a doctor) it is not that bad and the benefits are good. Well, if any one has additional questions please let me know. I am only two weeks out and everything is still very fresh in my head. Thanks again everyone for the advise. Hope I can help someone

Glad everything went well for you. Relax, recover and have a great Christmas.

I am so happy to hear you are feeling better!!!!!

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Erin

Yes, USMC_with_MG! You can definitely help me! I've just been diagnosed in Nov and had a CT scan 2 weeks ago. I just visited my neurologist today and he recommended that I have a sternotomy/thymectomy sooner than later (probably next month). Of course, this is not good news to me. All I can think about is that I am the mother of 3 young kids and want to be around to watch them grow. So, I know that this is a surgery I must have, but I am scared! Please share your experiences (anyone reading this message). Please let me know what I lies ahead for me.

Hello there! You have found a great site! I too had my thymectomy right after my diagnosis (less than a month after) and was scared out of my mind!

It is big surgery and it does hurt, but your prolly going to feel much better after it! It took about 6 weeks to recover - no driving, no carrying anything over 20 bls and sleeping sitting up, but it does get BETTER - much better!

Before my surgery and my diagnosis, I had a really rough time, but now I have days when I almost feel "normal" again!!!!

Hang in there and know you are not alone! Everyone here has been so kind and helpful! There is a lot of knowledge to be gained from everyone here!

It is going to be OK!!!!!!

If you need to talk anytime, let me know!!!!

Erin

HEY leatherneck, so glad you are on the mend!! OOORRAAAAHHHHHH!! Keep taking it easy, I know not your style, but nail that boot to the floor marine!!

to our mom of 3 littles...........I can empathize. I was not very old either when I got dx with mg. It is and was a scary thing to see life changing so much. I had dx in Oct and thymectomy in Jan. It is thought that to have the thymectomy in the first year is the best time for the most positive outcome. (of course with us, so many had mg longer and either didn't go to the doc or in some cases were jacked around by the docs and lost that 1yr window) I was one who thought oh to much work, to much running, to many irons in the fire and wrote of my disease for almost a year. Was first evaled in April by GP and diagnosed in Oct by neuro (waited 3 months for neuro appointment) diagnosiss was sure and swift within 3o mins of appt inititation. At any rate I had the VATS (robotic via 3 small slits on the R flank toward the back) There is some pain involved, but if you don't try to be wonder woman and go go go and do do do and not take your pain meds, you should be relatively comfortable. But no lifting the babies, so will need help 24/7. I sat on the coach or in the bed and the kids all piled in and snuggled like that. Works great that way. There are many and varied issues that can arise with the thymectomy. but it is like anything else, a crap shoot. Do you try it and maybe get remission?? Do you try it and NOT get remission. Do you NOT try it and then kick yourself down the road for not exhausting that possibility?? For me it was another thing to exhaust on the list of possible treatments. I had to know for sure that I had done all I could to fight the beast and the thymectomy was a part of that. Nothing in life comes with garuntees. But hey if you think there is a chance, go for it. You've had kids, and I am here to tell ya that is much worse than the surgery is. LOL. So take a deep breath, find a team you can trust who has experience in this. And be sure to find an anesthesiologist who is well versed in MG!! Mine was great. He kept monitoring my muscles thru the surgery and had the IV mesty so well regulated I came out of anesthesia without a hitch!!
God bless
Deb