What should I expect now?

[scaredandconfused84]

I got my thyroid removed on January 2nd. I didn't even remember getting prepped for surgery. I came to in the recovery room. No catheter or anything. And apparently I had 4 additional nodules. What can I expect now?. My surgeon wants me to see him on two weeks but I have to see my endocrinologist first. My surgeon told me that I wont start any TSH medication until after the radioactive iodine treatment is over.

[scaredandconfused84]

How long until I can have solid food again? I am going crazy over here not being able to have fries or steak or anything like that?

[scaredandconfused84]

No more pins and needles as of 8pm last night. See my endocrinologist at 7:15pm on January 12th. Is it normal for the incision area to be itchy?

[898_1]

Thanks for update.
One thyroid cancer patient who was a medical student made a video of hers when she had low calcium level. You may want to look on it:
http://youtu.be/2quH8gvtEAw

[scaredandconfused84]

I called the Dr. and he said that I should take 8 calcium pills till the feeling stops, and if it doesn't stop then I have to go back to the ER and have them take my calcium level. So far I don't feel it anymore.

[scaredandconfused84]

Since I need radioactive iodine therapy he didn't want me to take anything until after it was over. I took my other two and it still feels like pins and needles. But its not as bad.

[898_1]

Take one now and see if it makes a difference; when you suppose to start your thyroid hormone medicine ? (most people are starting it between 36 and 48 hours after surgery)

[scaredandconfused84]

No but I have to take 2 more calcium pills today, should i take them all at once?

[898_1]

This is can be an indicationof low calcium.
Have you had blood calcium levels checked before discharge?

[scaredandconfused84]

I have the feeling of pins and needles in my fingers is that normal?

[Barb135]

I agree that it's odd that 4 additional nodules wouldn't have shown up on the ultrasound.  I wonder if they were lymph nodes or the parathyroids.

You don't take TSH medication, you take thyroid hormones to replace what your thyroid would have made, but can't since you no longer have it.  It won't be the surgeon who prescribes the med, it will the endo.  If you have a good endo, you will be tested for thyroid hormone levels, then started on medication based on those levels, not your TSH.

Be sure to post any lab tests you have done so we can help assess your testing/treatment.  It's best to post them here, rather than starting a new thread each time, as it gets hard to keep up with multiple threads.  

[Geddy5]

Glad you made it through okay :) I had the same thing done in Sept. and know how you feel. Hope everything works out for you!

[898_1]

It is strange that ultrasound failed to show 4 additional nodules.
Are these lymph nodes?
The doctor should give you thyroid hormone after surgery (and possible calcium supplements if your parathyroids were removed.)
If RAI or full body scan is desired you will have to start low iodine diet and have no thyroid medicine some time before treatment or you can be given thyrotropin injections before RAI