Who Knew??

The Thyroid was such a tricky little organ?

On July 5th @ 9:30am I was wheeled into the operation room at DCH in Tuscaloosa to have the left lobe and isthmus of my Thyroid removed. My Mom flew in to help me and to watch Brady while I was down. BJ was right with me during the whole thing.

Lets back up 8 months. October 2010 I had my annual Thyroid check-up and physical with my wonderful family doctor. He found a small nodule on my left lobe of my thyroid and an ultra sound was taken confirming his findings. At this point there was not any alarm. My blood TSH levels were good and the nodule was tiny.

February 2011 I returned for more blood work to check my levels and to have another ultrasound. The nodule had grown. So I was taken off my hypothyroidism prescription and scheduled for an uptake scan at DCH. This test would help show if there was a possibility of cancer. At this point I was scared and not looking forward to 6 weeks off the prescription that keeps me balanced.

April 28, 2011 The morning after the HORRIBLE tornado that left a path of destruction through Tuscaloosa, the north part of Alabama, and Georgia I was scheduled for the uptake scan. Needless to say the hospital had other more important issues.

May 2011 The scan was scheduled in Abilene during our family visit to Texas. The scan came back - - okay! but a visit to an endocrinologist in Tuscaloosa was scheduled.

June 2011 Endocrinologist appointment where I had a Fine Needle Aspiration of the nodule to check for atypical cells. After two weeks the results were in and there were two nodules found one of left lobe (the one I already knew about) and one smaller one on the isthmus ( I didnt know about). The results said that there were atypical cells found in clusters that could or could not be cancer. After long discussions with BJ, Mom, my mentor TJ, and 3 doctors it was decided that I would have the left lobe and isthmus removed.

July 5, 2011 My left lobe, isthmus and one of my parathyroids were removed due to All three of them having nodules present. Tests were ran and I found out two things:
1. I had three Benign cysts - NO cancer. Thank goodness!!!
2. I have Hashimoto's disease where my antibodies attack and kill my thyroid decreasing its production. That was the reason for me having hypothyroidism.

Morning of Surgery:


1 Week Post Surgery


2 Weeks Post Surgery:


3 Weeks Post Surgery:


I am feeling fine. I have been back at work for two weeks now. I am tired and exhausted but I dont know if it is from the surgery or from the lack of a thyroid. I have check-ups in two weeks with my surgeon and family doctor to check on my progress. Thank you for everyone that sent me good lucks and get well soon.