Oh Maryna,

I'm so pleased it went well for you. How are you feeling today? Is it very uncomfortable? I hope it's not too hard to eat and drink. Will they keep you in for long? Sorry for all the questions

I've been looking at the scars that are left and they heal so well! They're almost invisible after a year. I hear neck scarves and polo necks are all the rage this year anyway

Rest lots and let everyone look after you.

Wishing you the speediest recovery x 

Oh you poor thing. Did they take much of the thyroid away or was it just nodules? I have a U3 on my right side which needs to go but I wasn't sure if they'd take the U2 on my left too. I'm sure I'll find out when I see them next. 
 

I hope you continue to feel better. I have low blood pressure constantly! It's caused some embarrassing faints in my time. I'd also be a useless druggie

x

They took half a thyroid, which actually gave me neck definition lol I have a shape of a throat now, inspite  of Frankenstein scar haha

If they take your u2 too  you would have to go on medication, so hopefully not... but probably depends on what they find in u3 side. Or may be that's what they want to talk to you about on consultation?

I read more into this thy3a and thy3f business. Thy3a is atypical changes in cells, when thy3f is more precise  abnormality in follicular cells. From what I understood, a comes before f.

I started to notice changes in April, so hopefully whatever it is hasn't had enough time to turn into cancer. I feel strangely calm and not bothered.

There is still quite good chance that a's and f's are not cancers, so you've got to think positive. Thoughts have tendency to materialise.

Please write once you have an update.

Fingers crossed for you.

Xx

Hi Bridget,

I just wondered how you're getting on? Have you heard anything more?

I'm getting really anxious and feel so helpless. I have an appt on Monday but I've received a letter telling me I have cancer again and I've had so many mixed messages on calls. My referral for surgery was sent by a professor, with 35 years of experience of treating thyroid cancer, marked as urgent, requesting a 2 week wait but the consultant has overruled him and booked a 4 week wait for me. I'm in the process of complaining but I was told today that my surgery could be months as all surgery is on hold because of Covid! 
 

I hope you're getting on better than me x

What a *** excuse that surgery can go on hold because of covid! They operate left, right and center and have been for a while! You go for them, girl! Get their butts airdried!

You can use their cancer letters as main point of complain (you told me I have cancer but did not put me on emergency operation list... do it NOW! sort of thing)

I wonder if it is bad management or what is their bloody problem? 

Hope Bridget is ok

Xx

Hi both,

I hope you're doing okay. I finally had an appt with my surgeon today. He was very blasé about it all, saying the probability of it being cancer is only 1%. This goes against everything I've read and have been told so far. I feel like I'm being pulled in all directions. I've been carrying a brick of anxiety around for weeks!
 

My surgery won't be for at least 6 weeks but it could be months apparently. It's definitely not being looked at with any urgency. If it is malignant, he said it would be follicular thyroid cancer and that it doesn't spread but I've read numerous studies that suggest it can and spreads more than papillary cancer. I don't know how they can be so relaxed when they don't know for sure! I'm just so confused and I don't know where to go for answers. The thought of waiting this long is killing me. 

How are you both getting on? 
 

Sophie x

Hi Sophie, 

I am sorry to hear they make you wait this long, considering they messed up with you so much. 

Is there any chance you can spead up the process, on grounds it causes you so much anxiety you can't live normal life etc etc...?

They created situation with their communication error and must do better than this to correct it. 

I met a lady who has thyroid cancer which has spread. She's been battling since 2012. But her case is one of a kind and for it to go that far she had it from early childhood undiagnosed. It took 30 years.

I also found out that if the cancer growth is less than 2cm, usually they do not remove second part of thyroid nor give you radioactive iodine. Each case is individual of cause, all depends on number of factors, but gave me hope if they do find something, it will be tiny so no more treatment is needed. 

Not much new with me here. The scar has healed and doesn't look that drastic, though still has swallen edges. I have a few aches and pains but pretty much got back to normal. And there is no news on results yet (2 weeks yesterday). I really want to put it behind me now. 

Keep strong and push the bad thoughts away

Hugs, Maryna xx

Hi both,

I just wondered how you're getting on? I hope you've had some news (good news!)

My surgery will be a week on Monday. I'm so pleased it's come around quicker than I was told but I'm feeling really nervous about it. Maryna, thank you - you've really helped to put my mind at rest. What will be will be hey. We're all isolating here ahead of the surgery so I'm trying to soak up some lovely time with the kids. 
 

Do you have any post-surgery tips? Could you eat okay afterwards? (Food is always the top priority )

Take care,

Sophie x

Hi Sophie, I am glad to hear you are finally having your operation! Thanks god they listened to you and didn't put in the end of a queue.

Are you going for Covid19 test? That is vile lol

My nose was aching for the rest of the day -they put the stick right up in your brain..

You will be fine after the op, the throat will ache, but not too unbearable not to eat. I didn't have problems sleeping either. My blood pressure was low for a week after the op, as side effect of anesthetics, and i couldn't shower for 4-5 days. They do not put any plaster or dressing on the wound, you just walk around with Frankenstein neck until its healed enough to have a wash.

I read, sometimes people have drains fitted after the operation and stay in hospital for a night.  I can't say much about it, as luckily I didn't have to.

Also, there are still no results for me, 3 weeks after came and gone. I called them, the doctor's secretary said nothing came from the lab yet. God knows why, may be  they are doing more tests, or understaffed, or busy...plus doctor is on annual leave till Monday.  So may be i will find out next week, if lucky...

All the best of luck and let me know how it all goes xx