Sorry to hear you are going through that and yeah, it does seem weird that they are taking out the lymph nodes before they know it's cancer. Even if they knew it was, they would not necessarily take lymph nodes - depends whethere there is spread or not - but they would probably take the entire thyroid. Never heard of taking lymph nodes without taking the full thyroid before.

That said, I had my full thyroid and all the lymph nodes at the left side of my neck removed two years ago and...well, if it's any consolation, I was up and walking about and stuff less than 24 hours after the operation. No operation is nice, but I was pretty much OK about 3 or 4 days after the operation, just had to be careful about lifting things and couldn't turn my head too easily for a couple of weeks and my voice got weak if I talked for too long for a couple of months.

I took a month off work, but that was largely because I'm a teacher and two things I really need it to be able to look around quickly and to make myself heard over crowds of teenagers. If I worked in an office or something, I would probably have taken like 3 weeks off.

Yeah, doing it twice would not be fun. I was told just before my operation, "we might have to take out the lymph nodes at the other side next year!" REALLY what I wanted to hear. I asked the surgeon about this again after the operation and he said based on what he had seen during it, it was very unlikely and thankfully didn't happen.

Hopefully, they would just do the operation, it was make it easier for you to swallow and there will be no need for any more. That probably is the more likely option.

Sorry to hear you gone through all that hun.The whole thing has thrown me.He did say from my ultrasound he really thinks it is.I am not looking forward to monday.I didn't sign nothing brought it all home was in state of shock.If I left it definitely think it would grow.I believe it has in space of few weeks.I really think they not telling me whole story.They had a big meeting without me too.Im gonna question it all before I go under armed with questions I couldn't think of when he told me I needed surgery.Im being kept in something to do with a drain.My tsh was really overactive at one point but now all gone bk normal so hopefully that's one postive.Thanks for sharing your story sweet its a bit of relief. I Cant be ill for long have a disabled son im a carer for.

Yeah, if you have the lymph nodes removed, you will need a drain afterwards, which is annoying. I was a week in hospital, waiting for that to be removed, which was really annoying and boring, but I guess boring is better than the alternative!

It probably would grow but thyroid cancer usually grows really slowly. Looking now with knowledge, my nodule is visible in photos taken about four years before my diagnosis. And they were still like, "it's not going to do anything in the near future, but psychologically, it's better to get it dealt with as soon as possible."

Sorry to hear about your disabled son, but hopefully you won't be ill for too long. 

And I doubt there is much more they could tell you. Worst case scenario is really removing the whole thyroid.

Definitely understand the state of shock thing. I was in complete shock going home, didn't sleep at all that night and then went in to the principal the next morning and told her, so she would be aware I would have to take time off fairly shortly.

Thanks for your support hun.Im glad it went smoothy for you.Fingers crossed it be ok and nothing,but then Im gonna be annoyed they took my lymph nodes honestly I just feel like I Need more answers before I go through with it all.I guess come monday the surgeon may ease my worries a bit.I will keep u posted.x

Hi I had my surgery at home now it was horrific.I have had level 6 neck dissection and thyroid removal one side.I had a drain and like 10 staples in my neck.I haven't been feeling well today turns out I have fluid on my lungs so on antibiotics too.I promised id let you know how things went gosh I really didn't think it would be this rough.Im back again in 3 weeks and if its spread they gonna remove right side I don't think i can post photos here prolly a good thing my whole family been in tears at state of me.

Sorry to hear you had such a rough time. It is still very early days though. Hopefully, you'll feel better in another couple of days. I was pretty weak on the Wednesday (operation was on a Monday), but was fine by Friday or Saturday.

My scar was pretty impressive immediately after the operation too. It's virtually invisible now though. By the time I had my radioiodine treatment (about 5 months after the operation), even the doctor had difficulty finding it. The week after my operation though...my mum took a photo of me dressed as a witch because my neck made such a creepy addition.

Hope you feel better soon and that you get good news and don't need the other half of your thyroid removed.

Thanks hun.I was joking to hubby saying I should've had it done Halloween time I gotta have bloods done tomorrow been having hand numbness,its really odd.They think it maybe low calcium levels or something,have you heard of that? I can't wait for the staples to come out been hell having to sleep upright and so uncomfortable.Thanks for your support lovely.xx

That would be low calcium levels. I had the same thing; it's pretty common apparently. I think whatever controls your calcium levels is very close to the thyroid so it often gets knocked a bit off during the surgery. It's usually a temporary thing. The hand numbness can be scary though. I woke up a couple of days after the surgery and couldn't straighten out my thumb. It's not that big a deal though, just means you have to take calcium tablets for a while.

Thanks hun,thats a relief to know.I thought i was going  crazy with the morphine or something.Glad thats all it can be,and yep it freaks me right out keeps happening.Thanks for your reassurance xx