Biopsy results...
 

My thyroid biopsy came back today as inconclusive...

The good news, I guess, is that it might be one of two types of thyroid tumors: cellular adenomatous nodule or follicular adenoma. The bad news is that it could be one of two other types of tumors: follicular cancer or follicular variant papillary carcinoma... If anyone wants the Microscopic Description, I will write it out here-it's not long.

This lung doctor at the medical school will NOT call me back about my CT Scan of the lungs. I don't know what is going on there, except that he thinks I am on too much medicine and that I see too many doctors... Like how am I supposed to keep all of this stuff from happening? I cannot help all of this.

My friend's daughter had a nodule in/on her thyroid and she was given some kind of radioactive iodine pill which destroyed most/all of her thyroid. I was wondering if this is a treatment possibility if anyone here knows. The connective tissue disease doesn't like surgery very much...

If my good humor is fading, please forgive me...

Cathie

Oooh Cathie,
 

Your good humor is always there. I'm sorry you didn't get a clear concise answer to the biopsy. What's the next step with that problem?

If you can't get the lung doctor to call you back, go down there to the office and ask for the results. They are your records and you have a right to them!

I found this info about thryoid treatment with radioactive meds : http://www.mythyroid.com/iodinehyper.html Hope this answers your question. I have no experience with it.

I don't blame you for having your humor slip. :hug: Hugs to you.

Billye

Its something you just want....
 

OVER WITH!!!!!!!!!!!

At least, there wasn't a 'We've got to admit you' to the whole thing! So optimism shall reign until otherwise informed.

Boo to the lung doc tho....I hate rudeness when waiting for some hopefully good news!

I don't know much about the radio-a pellets other than that it's used for some BC's and other C's and can't recall all the s/e's. Sorry I've kind of blocked all that info from memory-bank recall.

Just sending you a heap of 'e'-hugs for the interim! Along w/some positive vibes as well. - j

Well, I've always heard the squeaky wheel gets the oil! Guess you have to make more noise! You know, if it was for someone else, like your child or your husband, or your puppy, you would be all over that doctor like white on rice, but because it's for "you", you're giving them a little slack. What makes it less important because it's you instead of someone else.

Go get em momma! You love yourself as much as you love those babies... so stick up for yourself! Make some noise! Make them listen to you! When they get sick of hearing you, then they will finally give you what you want to hear just so you will leave them alone!

Cathie,

I don't understand some physicians. They are well paid and respected for their knowledge, skill, and the service they provide. Physicians are in a service profession. Their job is to serve us, not the other way around. Sometimes, I think of the analogy of the tail wagging the dog when dealing with arrogant jerks like you describe.

Luckily there are plenty of physicians in all specialties whose compassion and human skills match their considerable technical skills. I personally will not tolerate being emotionally abused by overpaid social cretins too full of themselves by half. Cathie, I hope you can switch to another doctor who treats you like you deserve to be treated. That may be difficult if you live in rural Montana, but there are plenty of good pulmonary specialists in any medium sized city. Get a recommendation from the receptionist, and then ask for a consult with that physician. Switch if you like the new one.

If we all isolate and complain about emotionally abusive physicians, they will either have to change, or get jobs as pathologists. :D

Your maybe-soon-to-be-ex pulmonary specialist may have a point with "too much medicine." Each drug is targeted for a specific symptom or condition, but each has side effects. Dealing with those side effects and detoxification stresses your body. You can easily reach a point where all the medications together can cause more harm then good, even to the point of being seriously debilitating or fatal.

Both of my parents had drugs prescribed for something that was actually a side effect of another drug, or by several physicians treating different things. We thought my mom was mildly senile for years, until her many medications were severely decreased to only what was absolutely necessary. We could talk with her again, and she knew who and where she was the last few years she lived. She lost a decade of her life and we lost her for that period of overmedication for no good reason.

This is where a good primary care physician or internist can shine. If you sit down and discuss all the drugs you take with them, you may be able to safely eliminate several or even most, and feel much better as a result. My 95 year old dad did that with his excellent primary care physician, and now takes only three drugs. My doctors share, or at least tolerate, my caution with drugs and prescribe minimal doses of what is needed, for limited periods of time, with frequent reviews of what I’m taking.

I had a positive lung biopsy about 8 months ago (since resolved...maybe). With the help of my wonderful wife, friends, family, and animals (two purrfect cats and an old dog), I got over the initial shock and was able to focus on the miracles all around, even though I felt lousy for a couple of months. In fact, every moment became more precious because I thought my remaining moments were going to be many fewer than expected (5 yr. survival rate for lung adenocarcinoma is 17%).

I hope you can find the strength to not let your fears of what might be happening in your body ruin the joy of now. This is the time for you to be courageous and strong. Whatever the diagnosis or prognosis, you are alive now and treasured by all of us here and the other people and animals in your life.

You can chose to live and love and laugh no matter what. Who knows? You could live to 120, or die tomorrow crossing the street by falling down an open manhole. Losing your sense of humor is like losing your life while you're alive. Why die before you die when you have a lifetime ahead of you?

Take care and please keep us informed.

Help...
 

Thank you for the lovely supportive posts. I really appreciate that today.

I have got to locate someone somewhere who has experience doing minimally invasive thyroidectomies. I can go anywhere where my insurance covers. For some reason, Dallas is just NOT the place to be for people who need new, advanced techniques. It appears I will have to have a total thyroid removal, unless I miss my guess. It could be an ENT doct, an Endocrinologist or a surgeon... Anyone know of one???

I found someone in Augusta, Ga., then at the Univ of Pisa, in Italy. The latter probably has the most experience. My aneurysm repair went well with this technique. I think in an open surgery, they cut the muscle, whereas, in some minimally invasive procedures, they just move it aside. Also, you have to deal with swelling, which might compromise breathing in an open surgery, maybe not so much in the other. I swell at the drop of a hat in response to things my body does not like. Like when they waxed my face, or if they put tape on me.

If you all know of a doc who does these, please let me know. The Augusta doc at Med School of Ga., told me that no one in Texas is very interested in learning this techique, therefore he is not teaching it to doctors here...

Cathie

Cathie,

I'm so sorry about what's happening to you. Unfortunately, I'm coming to the conclusion that there's no "place to be" medically in this country.

Wish I had a suggestion. Hope you find a good one!

rose

Thyroid surgery
 

I live in Texas, but I did find a few places that do minimally invasive thyroidectomies: Augusta, Houston (not too far), Chicago, Des Moines, and I think the other one was Tennessee. I am not too excited about having this done away from home on one hand-too many complications, but on the other hand, it seems like the least traumatic to my autoimmune issues.

I can't understand why more surgeons here are not interested in this. It would be so much easier on so many patients.
Cathie

Visit to surgeon
 

I saw a surgeon today to discuss this thyroid problem. Much to my surprise, he wanted to remove only the lobe of the thyroid with the large (25 cent size) nodule, not the entire thyroid. When I asked what about the other lobe with the 2 small nodules in it, he got this blank look on his face. He did not seem to know anything about these, even though he had the reports. This does NOT inspire a lot of confidence in his attention to detail... If I had not had copies of reports with me, I would have thought I had misread them.

Even after pointing this out, he still felt removal of one lobe was the right way to go. I am not so sure about this. I have made an appointment to see an Endocrinologist, then I will seek a second opinion from another surgeon.

I don't think he liked me very much, because I asked too many questions-like how could he prevent the vasospasms I get with IV's.

I was noticing the medical journals in his bookcase-many, many-most of which were very old. I thought most doctors kept up with their field by reading current medical journals? Since his secretary was using a typewriter, I don't think he is reading online... :) :) :) Boy, she did not like it when I said I hadn't seen one of those for a while... Oops...

He did have a WHOLE BUNCH of new golf magazines on his table though... What kind of message are we getting here??? This makes me wonder if he keeps up with his field, or moreso with his handicap...

The number of drug reps in the halls (many of whom were arriving with catered lunches) was unbelievable... Some had on business attire with verrrrry short skirts... :) Amazing... I felt confident they were all M.S. in biology, since they are no doubt educating our doctors...

I was trying to think of something positive to say about this visit. I came up with two things: a picture on the wall and his chairs were comfortable...
Cathie

What, no computer?
 

Yorkie Mom:

The secretary in the doctor's office was using a typewriter and not a computer? Where have they been? Not only are typewriters out of date, even little old ladies at home have computers these days. (I am one of them.)

I was shocked to read about this typewriter and the old medical journals. :eek:

Shirley H.

New Indo for you?
 

Cathie,
Call Dr. K and ask him which indocrinologist to see. He says there are only two in Dallas he recommends and I can't remember who they are. If you like your indocrinologist, what doctor did he recommend for surgery? Anyone in Dallas?

Billye

Endocrinologist
 

I can't get in with an Endocrinologist until Feb 22nd. I don't like waiting this long, but have heard from others that it is hard to get an appointment quickly. I am on the waiting list for an earlier appointment, but will check with Dr. K. I need to see an Endocrinologist first.

I have one surgeon here in mind, who did my gallbladder removal. Someone on the board sent me information on a thyroid clinic in Austin, which I will also check out. It looks like this is all they do-thyroids... I read a part on their website that talks about spreading thyroid cancer with a needle biopsy, which was a little unsettling...

My Internist wants me to get this out, but I don't want to get just anyone to do this. This surgeon I mentioned is probably a fine surgeon-he certainly is experienced. I just did not feel very comfortable over some things-some mentioned, some not-and I was unsure about removing only part of the thyroid, when there are places in each side. For all I know, he may have stacks of current journals where I could not see them, but the old typewriter was funny, kind of set the mood of the visit, and made me pay more attention to things like the journals and magazines...

I took a college computer class a few years back. There were a number of kids in there young enough to be my grandkids. The teacher was talking about typewriters and one of them raised his hand and asked what that was. :) :) :)

Cathie

Having another...
 

doc make a 'referral' call can speed things up heaps. You'd be surprised how fast you could be 'fit in'!

Having done the specialty surgeon route myself last year, there's a lot of good to be said about it. But access to the doc and doc's offices should any wrinkles arise after surgery is important for you as well. It's a choice only YOU can make in the end.

Typewriters? Humm, I guess I'll date myself here-that's like carbon paper, isn't it?

Hugs for now! - j

run, don't walk, from this guy!
 

All those hinky feelings at once? Not a good sign. He is a cheapskate, with the old billing, and loves handouts/freebees, obvious from the sales reps. In my area, doctors are now excluding reps from the offices! And one major hospital as well. Do you think the typewriter was doing transcription? Right there at the entrance desk? That is not a good sign either. A busy doctor would have
that done by another employee.

I'd get another opinion. And preferably a surgeon who does alot of these
cases.

I am sorry I cannot advise you much on this problem. It seems very
specialized. Beyond getting a very good surgeon, you also need very good
after care. What I have seen there is difficulty in stablizing hormone
after the surgery. So you want assurance there from your endocrinologist that
he/she will do everything to stablize you, well.

And you will want to ask the surgeon how they save the parathyroids. They won't like that question at all, but ask it.

Good luck.

Oh, and BTW... I would NOT assume any medical training with those reps. They are mostly business majors. They get 4-6wks training on their drug only...most do not have any specialized knowledge beyond that.
If you go to www.cafepharma.com and click on boards, then company boards, you can see how "professional" they behave.
Check out the Eli Lilly board and Pfizer..both very large..and read the language etc. They are interested in money, and numbers...and NOT the patients.

Hello again...
 

:) :) :) That was a shot, MrsD, at the drug company reps. I know they do not have M.S. in biology. They are all over the place in the halls of the medical building. I didn't see them in his office though. When I was seeing a Rheumie in this building, I had to wait sometimes, because they were wheeling big carts of food in for the office staff and had to get things set up.

I don't know what to do here. Am I supposed to have an Endocrinolgist or an Internist who specializes in thyroid disorders first? Wouldn't it be better to see a thyroid specialist before I have the surgery, esp. if the hormone levels are hard to work out? What kind of doc? Who is supposed to do aftercare? Regular Internist, thyroid specialist, surgeon?

This guy did not seem to grasp that post surgery problems with connective tissue disease (at least for me) are terrible. I really wonder if I can even make it through this surgery. I made it OK through 5 1/2 hours of surgery for my aneurysm repair, but then they were not taking anything out, there was minimal blood loss, and it was minimally invasive. I did very well. The aftermath was hell, but it was the pain from the muscle and joints from the connective tissue problems-not the surgery itself...

Also, I have vasospams when I get an IV-twice now-w/D&C and then w/anesthesia w/Needle Biopsy. I asked the surgeon if he could give me anything to keep those from happening and he got all irritated at me and implied I was borrowing trouble before it happened. Well, they had to discontinue the IV both times-the spasms were running up my arm and hurt very much. Is this asking too much? I don't know if this is right, but I heard that this can cause a heart attack.

Maybe I should just do nothing and hope that things will be OK. Sorry for so many questions....

Cathie

First plan?
 

Cathie,
How about the first plan you had: "I am not so sure about this. I have made an appointment to see an Endocrinologist, then I will seek a second opinion from another surgeon."

Did you tell the Endocrinologist that you think it is an emergency?

Billye

Endocrinologist appointment
 

I told the girl at the drs. office about the lesions, but she said that was as soon as she could get me in. My sister-in-law, an RN, suggested contacting my Oncologist and seeing if she could get me in with someone earlier, since I am an established patient with her.

The referral service at Baylor recommends Internists who specialize in thyroid disorders. I don't get it-I thought this would fall under Endocrinology...

Just getting a little stressed out, I guess...

Cathie

MrsD and all
 

I spoke with a doctor in Austin who has a thyroid clinic. He has done several thousand thyroid surgeries and just put out a newsletter to other docs with an article about all cancers having been small at one time... In short, the whole thyroid will have to come out.

Or, I can take my chances and do nothing, but I am not sure about that. The surgeon I consulted with here said I would have a 1 in 7 chance of cancer of the thyroid. I am not sure I am confident in his judgement abilities after the way the visit went...

The Austin doctor did not get the least bit huffy when I asked him how he would save the parathyroids. He said they are pushed to the side, so to speak. Then they test for calcium at 5 that afternoon... Is that what you were talking about?

Cathie

Good news...
 

My gallbladder removal surgeon took over my case and I am relieved, to say the least. I showed him some VERY old bloodwork with anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal antibodies done way back in 1893. He ran extensive thyroid testing yesterday and I have to have a scan next week...

I don't know why someone else has not considered doing these... Something about hot and cold spots, but now I can't remember which one is the good kind...

He is very upbeat, easy to talk with and makes me feel a lot less stressed out.

Cathie

Oops... I believe that should be 1993, unless I have been re-incarnated....

Let me see if I have this straight. You are in a doctor's office and a secretary is using a typewriter. Dollars to donuts, she's using a selectric. God, those are over 25 years old. Remember them? They didn't use keys, they had a little ball cartridge that you popped in and replaced with a new ball cartridge. I had one in my office (when I was an administrative assistant) and that was indeed 25 years ago.

Then I was chosen to go to computer school and be the first one in my company to be given an IBM with a dot matrix printer. I learned quite a bit and never had to go back to that typerwriter again.

I must say, how on earth can a doctor's office in 2007 have a typewriter. EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING IS COMPUTERIZED. Even my dentist does e-mail.

I hope this is a good guy who is just old fashioned but might just know his stuff. Otherwise, mosey on down to another part of town and get thee to a computerized office. NEW TECHNO STUFF IS GREAT!!!!

Saves time and money!!!

Pretty soon, we'll be like Star Trek where they'll just run a scanner up and down our bodies and go "There, there's the problem, just zap it and you'll be good to go". Oh, to wake up in the 25th century!!!!

melody

Hello Mel
 

Heh heh heh... I had not seen one of those in so many years, I thought I was hearing things when she was typing...

The other thing that was a little strange-For my exam, I was SITTING UP on the end of the table, fully dressed, even shoes and socks, he made his girl come in and stand there, like when you go to the ObGyn... I thought that was odd, considering the thyroid is neck level and you don't have to take off your top.

Anyway, I am happy with my old surgeon taking over. I was even able to get an Endocrinologist appointment with someone he knows, a little earlier than the 22nd...

Cathie

I'M SO HAPPY SOMEBODY REMEMBERS SELECTRIC TYPEWRITERS.

The funny thing is I am a fast typist (that's why I go on the message boards and my husband uses two fingers to do ANYTHING).

I never got timed while using an electric typewriter (the ones before the selectric). Then when I got the selectric, boy did I whiz through reports.

THEN, my company sent me to IBM computer school (this was about 19 years ago) when my company fot the first desk top computer with the dot matrix printer.

You should have seen what happened when someone saw me type on this keyboard. I never thought I could go faster on anything than a selectric but this first keyboard really made me fly.

One day I was typing some big report and I must have been typing really fast when my boss came out of the office, looked at me and said "what the heck are you, some kind of superman??" and we laughed.

Then all was quiet. And I continued typing and all of a sudden, there was a hush and a whole burst of applause and I turned around and there were the other staff members applauding me. I never laughed so hard in my life.

Then I entered a typing contest in Kings Plaza Mall and I won. They clocked me (on a selectric by the way), they didn't have a computer for this typing contest. I was clocked at 145 words a minute. That also got me carpal tunnel syndrome by the way.

I won $50.00 and they kept calling my office asking me if I wanted this job or that job. My boss got so annoyed the next time the phone rang he grabbed it and said "she doesn't want your job".

Jeez, I remember those days.

lol

Melody

:)
 

Gee Mel, you were on your way to being a great court reporter... :) On that funny little machine they use, or used to use, I think about 250 was what you had to be up to speedwise to graduate from their school here...

Cathie

thyroid status
 

Cathie--

What's up with your thyroid? Are you having surgery? Is it recommended?

I've lost the thread of this.

Cathie that thyroid...'stuff' is a heck...
 

of one hoot of a bummer? I am seeing endo soon for another 'assessment'... probably means MORE BLOOD DRAWN! ...

Melody, I always thot that my typing 45 wpm mostly #'s super accurate was good! Your #'s Yikes?!?

Oooh I looved those selectrics! and you could change the fonts? Especially the correct-tape ones..they were heaven! Then Word Processors turned execs into secretaries...great equalizer in one way,, lots the 'other person' editing feature tho...sigh..

As for thyroid stuff, I'm learning far more about that all than any human besides a doc should have to know...on top of all the other 'stuff'! It's [for want of any other word] HINKY? I don't know whether to post goodies here or under the auto-site... It's got lots of cross-over?

Hugs for the interim to YOU! Hang in there -we'll all get to where we are supposed to be, at some time I surely hope! May it be soon? Hugs-plus -j

Missed LizaJane's posting...
 

I may already have answered this in email, but the vote for the thyroid surgery is now 2 for and 1 against... Unfortunately, the one against happens to be the surgeon... Sooo, I can't say what is going to happen yet...

I don't know why they can't just do a coarse biopsy, but he said this is not the way they do things... ???

Meanwhile, I guess I am waiting around a few months to see if there is a change... I cannot imagine regulating thyroid replacement hormone along with steroids in conjunction with a flareup straight out of hell...

Cathie

Please Endocrinologist FIRST don't depend on nitwits making the,
appointments.Get your family Dr.the records have them faxed..There is no
reason for this nonsence.Cry your way to the Endocrinolist.He will explain
your options if surgerg is necessary,do the what if i were your Mom bit!!

My husband had thyroid surgery,my 12 yr.son had Thyroid cancer that's rare
do you have Anderson near you??If nothing else please have them faxed
by your foot Dr. if you have to..I don't understand the hold up,Unless it's
lung Dr. being foolish.I don't want to scare you but everything all of your
questions need to be adressed by aEndocrinologist now.Wow thes is down
right wrong.My son is 29 now.It's not so bad if you can get there :mad:

You can do this!!! :hug: Sue

My mother had thyroid surgery when I was 14
 

You know when you sit and think about the past, all the memories come flashing back to you. I was in class in highschool and I had told the teacher that my mom was having a thyroid operation. Over the loudspeaker the principal said "Let's all pray for Melody's mother, she's having an operation".

I remember visiting my mom and she had this scar across her neck. So my mother had a thyroid problem.

Next, my father had this lump on his neck (I was teenager). He would wear scarfs all the time so no one would find out about it. My mom's friend hugged him one day and exclaimed "my god, what is that think on your neck". My mother got mad at my fathe for not telling her,took him to a doctor, and he had a GOITER. It was removed. He also had a big fatty tumor on the side of his body (I was very young). It was removed. He also had a small benign thing on the back of his leg, IT WAS REMOVED!!!

So now my mom had a non-malignant thing in her thyroid removed. My father had a goiter and several non malignant growths on his body removed.

Now let's get to me. I had a fibroadenoma removed from my breast 19 years ago, and I had a lipoma removed from my knee over 15 years ago.

Now let's get to my son. Last year (he lives in California), his doctor ran a thyroid screening and found he had certain numbers that were not normal and now he is on Armour (at least that's what I remember he told me he was on).

So this thyroid thing skipped over me and went to my son?????

wow!!

Melody

The delay...
 

is because of my other health issues, which include a nasty Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. Supposedly not as severe as Lupus, this MCTD never gives me a real break, I fight continual flareups with even minimal stress or procedures...

A 5 1/2 hour laprascopic renal artery aneurysm repair was easy; the flareup caused from the procedure was pure hell...

Two Fine Needle Aspirations have not succeeded in determining if this is cancer or not. Normally, I suppose they would spot this in a CT or Ultrasound and then watch for growth changes, but with a history of radium exposure as a child, this changes the odds somewhat...

My surgeon is extremely concerned over how I would do with this surgery. I saw one other surgeon, but he evidently was not trained to read more than one radiology report at a time and missed the fact there are nodules in both thyroid lobes... I mean, it is getting pretty bad when the patient has to point out what is clear in both reports... He was MOST offended when I tried to point this out... :)

Cathie

Cathie, it's scary?
 

Having gone thru reading lots of BC boards and the whole 'aspiration' process.. Well, I have to guess it seems sort of a hit-or-miss process?

I admit, I was very lucky in that I'd a fam. history of cancers and first off after the sonos, mammos, mri's etc, I got a 'Pet Scan withlittle hassle. They called me in advance, 'getting extra 'history'' and asked if I needed financial assistance. Luckily I'd already met that elusive 'catastrophic deduction' by that point. BTW the Hashi's is confirmed...all is being treated right there, at least for me? [as one wise doc would say...THAT's off the list...or at least checked off?]

For you tho...Gee whizz! I'd call and ask the docs straight out...what the WHO's GOING ON??? Can you all come to some sort of concensus about what to do or not to do? That is the question[s]?

I'll PM you about surgery stuff I found effective.

Till later, good person - :hug: !!!! - j

Surgery
 

Cathie,

First, that is pretty sad you have to point out important details like the nodules... geezz...

On the surgery - I've had two 3 1/2 hour surguries in the last year and a half - and had to take care of myself and four footed creatures from the minute I got back home - alone.... the first surgery was brutal - even though I wont let them use opiates as they make me very sick - I had an extreme flare up and was sick for a long time..... I felt that a great deal of it was due to the anesthsia so as Dahlek did, I spoke to te anesthesiiologist before the second surgery and even went into surgery with a note for both her and the operating doc - to use the minimal amount of meds needed to keep me "under" because I had such a hard time 8 months earleir..... I definately notiiced a difference even when I woke up recovery - I stayed concious right away - and did not that have heavy sedated feeling for days like the first time....

I gave the anesthesiologist my complete medical history which includes severe PN, gastroparesis, and cardiomyopathy - list of drug allergies etc. - and she worked very carefully to make the procedure as easy on my body as possilble. My recovery time was much quicker then the first time around and PN flareup not nearly so noticeble...

Hang in there;)

Surgery
 

"First, that is pretty sad you have to point out important details like the nodules... geezz..."

Obviously, he won't be my surgeon of choice when it comes down to the wire... :) If he is not even careful enough to read all of the reports, then how careful is he when he starts cutting???

Cathie

Yorkiemom
 

1. Mybe i missed it,did you have radiation tratments as a child between
the head neck area. They did them in the Dr.s office,usually for acne,
yes acne. When my husband said he did,hunnn!! So i called old family
Dr. he said they did,and everybody sitting in the waiting room probably
got a blast as well!!! :rolleyes: The Dr. asked me if Hal ended up with
a cancerous nodule?? No first, a large cyst the aspirated it with a needle,
no acne no cyst

2 At the age of 35 he's pulling the car over,cant stay awake,just seemed
to be very tired.. Got him to finally go,he had just started new job had
to drag him there..They found another nodule a carinoma he was in
next day,was in hospital 1 day ICU nest every thing was renoved he
back to work 2 days later.Now they can be removed with radioactive
radioactive iodine he took thyroxine tab. for the rest of his life..Will
get back bad storm hitting us again..:D Sue

Radiation
 

I had radiation therapy to the nasal cavity. I had a lot of trouble with nosebleeds, eustacian tube issues and inner and middle ear problems as a kid. I think I was around 5, maybe 6 years old. Tonsils were removed or attempted to be removed 4 times.

I understand a lot of pilots, who were flying then, had the same treatment for similar problems. Unfortunately, some people are developing head, neck, thyroid and I think brain cancers later in life. Many probably don't even remember having these as children. I do... While my memory of late is terrible, I remember my mom, being sick, and sending me in a taxi to the doctor's office...

The problem with removal is the nasty connective tissue flareup that will follow. The surgeon is concerned about that.

I can't believe we are going to get more rain. I have been begging my husband to put in a small pond in our back yard, if we don't move. At this rate, our whole yard is going to turn into a pond, or maybe I should say a lake... :) At least, that would make my adopted resident ducks happy... :)

Cathie

Well.
 

I 1992 i was living in Jeff City when Mo. was hit by those floods,the Mo
bridge broke in halve..Had my children's friend's living at our house for
weeks.

Usually the ground just sucks up the rain,but with our strange cold weather
with all that snow.Brought back memories of Mi.and the cold,
heating bills very high!! Now hot weather,and all that rain,2 ins.a hr.so yes
we have a lake as well.Now it's back down to 42.I think the flowers have
come and gone..I was going to ask if anybody was thinking of moving out
of there houses,i know i am.

3 of my Drs. live across the street ,see them every evening running walking
the dogs ect.I would have Bob's girlfriends bake some of Mel'S Muffins if
they would come over for our appointments,until Bob can Sit down.
Ohh i remember 1 of those taxi scares,but mine was to the Dentist.Do you
know now with the Sjorn's they say spit and i can't it's awfull.:o

Well my mom had to have 1 of those little pea or pearl size oh parathyroid
glands,there are 4 and usually are not where they should be.Her started
with burning in her thighs.1st dr. told her to take off pantyhose when she
walking,well can't say what she said,very funny though. Her little pea
was down almost in the lung area..She was lucky only 1.

Then my 12 yr. old son was in Cl. skiing,friiend fell on him,they had to do
rescue. Dr. called told us he felt swelling in thryoid area,cancer was rare
in children but have it checked out fast.One of very well know Endro. Drs,
who worked with Childen was here where i live now at teaching hospital.
You know i heard his raspy saw all signs,but he was 12.We got in the day
after he got home,Dr. felt around down they came and i held his hands
his friend his feet and they did biopsy,brave son.
Next night in the evening Endro Dr. calls and said be brave,it's cancer is
your husband there he talked to both of us,told us the surg.would call
in a few mins,my husband couldn't listen,i did 4 a hour.Nest day he was
in the hospital.The youngest they had before was 17 her brother a nurse
a 21 yr. old who when sick and had been for yrs,would come back to
for young ones who where afraid i spent the night.We laughed all night.
Next morning he decided he wanted sister and brother grandmom got them
there.I won't go on how long it took.All i can say is i'm glad he fell on his
head..Oh after surgery they had to put him in MRI to look for any hot spots
he fell alsleep,he hears this voice Ryan are you ok,they heard his voice
GOD is that you,all he hears was laughter,than he yelled it's not funny to
funny to laugh at GOD..But the young heal easy.And there are a lot of
scars in the family around the neck.He is 29 and married and doing well.


I think things would be moving faster if there was but concern..Please
get in sooner if you can,surgs.always worry about pn issues,perhaps
you won't need it,if you do talk and i hope not, talk to anesthesiolgist
talk,talk have all questiond with you.Tell all your fears..:) :) Sue

What do you get from a papered cow? Spoiled Milk