DX- thyroid cancer

[Leah]

Oh Deb! I am so sorry to hear about your dx!
At least you know these symptoms weren't in your head and that there is a solution. Most of us here are taking some form of thyroid meds. I take them and will for the rest of my life. Because of my IgA deficiency, my endo said that my thyroid might just get weaker and weaker at producing the hormone and that i might eventually be on the highest dosage ( the same dose that people who have it removed take). Could be much worse. Also, I take Tums sometimes and they are fine. The fruit flavored ones are actually kind of like a treat :)

Hope the surgery and recovery go smoothly
Leah

[Sheila]

I'm so sorry you are dealing with another health issue on top of MC. I also have a friend whose husband had thyroid cancer. He was treated very successfully and is alive and well for 15+ years. Of course, you still have the stress of the surgery. On the plus side, removal of your thyroid could ease other symptoms.

You've gotten excellent information from Tex and others and all I can offer are my good wishes. Please let us know how you are.

Sheila W

[JFR]

I'm sorry about your diagnosis Deb. I am glad you persevered in in finding answers for your symptoms. Hope it all goes as smoothly as it can for you and that things get better.

Jean

[DebE13]

Thank you Vandolyn, I am sorry about your mother but it is encouraging. Thank you for sharing. I think my family is more concerned than I am. Maybe I am just relieved to hear a doctor confirm I have a problem. My whole intent was to be placed on thyroid meds, I guess I got my wish!

[tex]

Hi Zizzle,

Yes, I am well aware of the tendonitis and tearing risk associated with the fluoroquinolones. There is no such thing as a risk-free drug. Each and every one of them (including naturopathic herbs and OTC meds) imposes their own unique risks upon everyone who uses them. Some people are much more vulnerable to those risks than others, and in most cases it's impossible to predict individual risk levels, so we either take our chances, or we simply don't use them.

That said, the fluoroquinolones are still the least likely class of antibiotics to cause problems (of any kind) for people who have MC. Most people who end up with torn tendons as a result of an antibiotic treatment are repeat, frequent, or longer-term users, but unfortunately there are a few individuals unlucky enough to suffer damage the first time they use the antibiotic.

We have at least one member who wound up with torn tendon issues, but she was using Cipro as a long-term treatment, to maintain remission of her MC, as per her doctor's recommendations. She posted about the problem on this board, several years ago.

Tex

[carolm]

Hi Deb, my dad and a close friend of mine both had thyroid cancer. They were also both told that it is a slow growing cancer and the 'best' to have. My dad was about 72 at the time. My friend Julie was in her mid 30's.
Both of them had their thyroids removed and both surgeries went smoothly. They both did 1 round of radiation where they swallowed a radioactive pill and had to stay in the hospital overnight.... and that was it. They were started on thyroid meds and did very well. That was about 10 years ago. Julie and I still work together. Since her thyroid cancer, she's taken up jogging, runs 5ks and is coaching a middle school cross country team in addition to her work as a school psych. She's also an avid golfer. Apparently it didn't slow her down.

Odds are that you will do as beautifully as they did. Please keep us posted on your status.

Carol

[JeanIrene]

Deb, I'm sorry to hear of your dx. I had 90 percent of my thyroid removed about forty years ago. It was one of the remedies for hyperthyroidism back then. I have functioned fine since, have taken synthroid in varying dosages since.

I know it will work out for you. Will keep you in my prayers.

Jean

[wmonique2]

Hey Deb,

I don't have anything to add since I am not really armed with any information. Just want to wish you the best. I am so sorry that you have so much more on your plate.

Sending you Light and good wishes your way.

Love,

Monique

[DebE13]

Carol, that is a good example, thank you. I have always been fairly active which has been not the casecfor a few years now. I am hoping to gain that part of my life back which will be wonderful.

Jean, it is comforting to hear from others with good stories. It makes it not so scary.

Monique, thank you.

[Marie]

Hi Deb,

Sorry I'm late to the thread but I wanted to give you a big virtual (((hug))) online and offer you some upbeat news. My mom had her thyroid radiated at insanely high levels (they call it Hiroshima's thyroid) when she was three years old. In 1952 they didn't realize the dangers in removing tonsils through radiation. My mom developed thyroid cancer in her mid-forties and had to have it entirely removed. Her thyroid cancer was discovered in a hot spot on an ultrasound. She is now 64, takes Synthroid daily, and is doing very well.

I am thinking of you. Stay strong and hang in there. I'm crossing my fingers that you get complete MC remission with your thyroid surgery.

All my best,
Marie

[DebE13]

Thanks Marie, the success stories are very encouraging. The hardest part now is sitting here twiddling my thumbs waiting for September 10th to roll around while feeling increasingly worse. I have an excellent surgeon and wish I could just get it done. It's funny you should mention the hotspot- I had thermal imaging done in December of 2012 as part of my diagnostics for accupuncture and my whole neck area was red. They were right....I had something going on there.

I've been doing lots of reading online of different patient stories. Most are positive and some are scary. I know it will be another long road of recovery but I guess the MC road has taught me that it is going to take some hard work and a lot of patience. I'm hopeful that this is one of the final pieces that have prevented my ability to gain remission. On the darker side it could very well be unrelated and just another malady to deal with. Only time will tell.

[Gloria]

Deb,

It's a relief to have an answer for the way you've been feeling. I'm sorry it's cancer, but it sounds very curable. I don't have any experience to share, but I hope all goes well.

Good luck with sending your son off to college. That in itself can be pretty traumatic, especially if this is the first time you've done it. I felt like a part of me left home. Then she came back home to live with us after she graduated. That was another adjustment.

Gloria

[MaggieRedwings]

So sorry to hear of your diagnosis Deb and do hope they can take care of things in a smooth manner. Goes to prove we have to be persistent to get a real diagnosis when we have symptoms.

Love, Maggie