Success!

My surgery went really well. I will find out the results from the pathology report when I go to my follow-up appointment with the surgeon on Thursday. I’m really hoping it wasn’t thyroid cancer, but if it was…it’s gone now…I will just have to do the radioactive iodine treatment in about a month or so.

Now for the surgery details…I had to get to the hospital at 9am and they took me right away. The nurse took my vitals, and no surprise but my blood pressure was off the charts, 153/100. My heart rate was also elevated. Needless to say, I was very nervous. I was seriously sitting there thinking of ways to get out of having this surgery done…not a fun time. When the anestesiologist came, he gave me a nice little cocktail that immediately put me at ease. Jared gave me a kiss, told me he loved me, and they wheeled me into the operating room. I remember sliding over to the operating table and them telling me they were going to give me something to make me sleepy. Next thing I remember is waking up being wheeled into recovery. My voice was a bit weak and I had some nasty stuff in my throat, but there was no pain. I spent two hours in recovery, awake the whole time, waiting for my room to be ready. Everyone that came in told me that I looked great and that I didn’t even look like I had surgery! I don’t know if they were just trying to make me feel good, but I really didn’t feel all that bad. They also gave me a beta blocker to slow my heart rate down…I was told it was elevated the ENTIRE surgery!

When I got to my room, I was greeted by Jared and my parents. They didn’t allow anyone in recovery with me, which really ticked me off! The nurses kept asking if I wanted anything for the pain, but all I took was tylenol. Jared was able to spend the night with me, and thank god he did because I barely slept at all. Around 10:00 the nurse gave me a shot of Heparin, which is supposed to prevent blood clots. About 10 minutes after my legs started shaking uncontrollably. The nurse came in and didn’t know why this was happening, but my heart rate was up to 158 bpm so she ordered an EKG. That came back normal, other than my heart rate being elevated. My legs stopped shaking about 30 minutes or so after they started. I am not sure if it was related or not to the shot, but it was pretty scary. Jared and I both didn’t end up falling asleep until around 3am between all the noise and nurses coming to check my vitals, and we woke up at 6am. I had the surgeon and a few people who were on his team the day before come and check on me, as well as my endocrinologist that morning. They all said I was doing well, and shocked I was only taking tylenol! They told me they removed my entire thyroid as well as two lymph nodes. My calcium levels came back normal and they discharged me around 11am.

When Jared and I got home, we were both so exhausted from the night before, that we both crashed for 4 hours. We laid in bed all day watching movies. I don’t know if it was some medication from the day before wearing off of me or not, but that night I had a crying fit for no reason at all. I was just thanking Jared for everything he has done for me and how lucky I am to have him, and then came the water works! That night I also got sick once, it was pretty gross.

Now here I am 6 days post surgery, and I feel really good! My neck is a bit swollen where the incision is and it feels tight in the area. I also can’t completely move my neck all the way yet, but that’s okay. I am really just so happy that it’s over! Thanks again to everyone who has been there for me, and left me well-wishes. You are all truly amazing, and I am very thankful for your support.