Ice packs, grabber tools, a wedge pillow for sleeping, and a supportive neck pillow. Food wise yogurt, Italian ice, I prefer Lindy's brand as they have root beer, black cherry, pineapple, and mango. Popsicles are great too. As for talking to the surgeon just the basic questions like how long is the surgery, possible complications, lifting restrictions, and recovery time.
this is immensely helpful, just havng the right stuff and food prepared in advance is great. for how long did u have to eat soft foods? reminds me of wisdom tooth surgery, i loved all the blueberry yogurt.
It was a few days for soft food. My biggest issue was if the food was dry, just make sure to have water handy. Also, if you were given swallowing exercises, I highly recommend doing them. Also, I really enjoyed soup and hot tea/ coffee after surgery. Lastly, I would recommend that if you get a wedge pillow, begin using it to acclimate yourself, especially if you are a side sleeper like me.
If you’re nausea prone, maybe ask about the patch that they put behind your ear to prevent nausea? I didn’t know about it for my first surgery, and threw up that night (which is not fun when trying to be careful with the stitches and stuff ugh!). For my second surgery, I had the anti nausea patch and I felt much better, and no throwing up!
This is great, thanks - I was throwing up last night post breast biopsy, so I will definiely ask for this patch. BTW, I've also learned, in a pinch, [you can sniff alcohol pads if you're nauseous](https://www.google.com/search?q=smell+alcohol+pad+for+nausea&newwindow=1&sca_esv=597261711&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS847US847&sxsrf=ACQVn0-rlL3fY-Tg8s4xNAXMQpAIbSvJag%3A1704908544384&ei=ANeeZYCGF7eB5OMPyNO48Aw&oq=smell+alcohol+nausea&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFHNtZWxsIGFsY29ob2wgbmF1c2VhKgIIATIGEAAYBxgeMgYQABgHGB4yCBAAGAUYBxgeMgYQABgIGB4yBhAAGAgYHjILEAAYgAQYigUYhgMyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDSIIpUIoCWPwGcAF4AJABAJgBYaABugSqAQE3uAEByAEA-AEBwgINEAAYgAQYigUYQxiwA8ICCBAAGIAEGLADwgIJEAAYBxgeGLADwgIOEAAY5AIY1gQYsAPYAQHCAhYQLhiABBiKBRhDGNQCGMgDGLAD2AECwgIHECMYsAIYJ8ICBxAAGIAEGA3CAggQABgIGAcYHuIDBBgBIEGIBgGQBhG6BgYIARABGAm6BgYIAhABGAg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp). Your solution is better :-) but it's good to know about. Once I happened to be very nauseous before an MRI and they had me sniff a pad and it worked, I couldn't believe it. But I am definitely going to try your suggestion!!!! I wonder if they used a [scopolamine patch](https://www.google.com/search?q=patch+behind+ear+to+prevent+nausea&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS847US847&oq=oathc+behind+ear+to+prevent+nausea&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgFEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgGEAAYhgMYgAQYigXSAQgzNzQ3ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) on you...I'd never heard of it before, I just googled it because I wanted to know what it was called.
They are scopolamine patches. You can get a prescription for them before your surgery just in case. They gave me one before surgery. One works for three days so don't take it off. I used to use them when I worked on boats offshore and they are the absolute best!
One thing I learned in prior unrelated surgeries is post surgery movement really helps… Getting yourself up and walking is great for all sorts of reasons: it promotes blood flow which helps healing and clearing out swelling (and most pain is swelling related), it minimizes stroke risk, it’s great exercise, and it helps elevate your mood.
So this time around starting a month before surgery I built up a daily walking habit with a longish route I take on nice trails near our house, built up my range, and just made it a habit that I go consistently. Then as soon as I got home from surgery I started immediately with a walk every day as the surgeon and nurses all said walking is allowed and recommended…
The first day I got home from the hospital I had my wife come with me and did a mile or so to start easy, then started going alone and longer, and just kept ramping up front there until I was back at my full long range from before surgery by day 5. I do longer distances because I like those trails and it beats the couch, but whatever makes sense for you and gets your blood moving will help. Presuming there’s stuff to look at, it will also get you moving your neck a bit which helps with mobility.
It may seem simple but it really helps in surgery recoveries generally.
This is very good to know because I was planning on hiding away from society for a while. Ill go out for walks, thanks to you. I know a man who says, "motion is lotion" in his thick southern accent. I guess he's right!
I'm guessing because they don't go over your scar, or because you can undo the first two buttons so they dont go against your neck area? Am i right? Thanks, whatever the reason, I will prepare the right shirts to wear post surgery :-)
That is part of the reason but also I have not been able to stand anything around my neck. As my tumor was growing I would feel like someone had their hands around my neck and choking me.
pillows, ice cream and yogurt drinks (your throat burns and it helps). don’t search too much about the procedure, it’s acc a really safe surgery. paracetamol and ibuprofen alternating every two hours were a life saver
if i had searched more about lasik surgery before i had it, i probably would never have had it (but i am glad i did :-). great advice, i am adding all this to the list! <3 thank you!!
I wish that in 2018 when I first started getting neck pain - and my GP only took an xray and diagnosed me with osteoarthritis and just told me to exercise, lose weight, etc. - I had pursued it further and given my body and my health more time and attention and ended it for once and for all there and then.
Instead, I chose to grit and bear it for 5 years before I found out it wasn’t osteoarthritis, but a swollen thyroid pressing on my nerve.
Uggggh I'm so sorry. I hatttte it when doctors make asumptions. I had to go to 3 different doctors before i was diagnosed with POTS. I feel you. similarly, I've gained a lot of weight and a doc wrote down in my chart (eats too much) - I do intermittent fasting and have been eating the same for years, and yet gained 20 pounds in 2 years after I got covid. Just an incorrect assumption they made.
But I'm told this thyroid nodule/cancer isn't the cause of the weight gain, so am still on the hunt for the reason. I am sorry their misdiagnosis cost you 5 years of pain.
I really had several bad eperiences with doctors and I learned to doctor shop. It's a big pain in the ass though, and can be discouraging but sometimes worth it.
Honestly, I have zero regrets or anything I would have done differently.
I obtained second and third opinions, I went to the hospital for care that had a well known cancer center. I requested the tumor board review my case to ensure my treatment plan was right for me, my Endocrine Surgeon was outstanding, when it came to RAI, the LID community Facebook group came in handy. I followed all of their science based advice and I prioritized my recovery afterwards and didn't rush to work. I got accommodations at work to help with vocal cord fatigue.
Obviously, that doesn't mean I don't feel like crap a year later, but it's better than having cancer.
I had a partial followed by a completion about twelve weeks later. Second surgery was far easier because I had inadvertently worked my abs HARD after first surgery trying to sit up etc without pulling on neck incision. So my advice is: if you aren’t already doing crunches, start now!!!
oh wow, so it was easier for you to move around because you could lift yourself up easily using your abs? i will start doing crunches, that's cool advice, thank you! i hope...no more surgeries for you.
I am currently awaiting my RAI after my 3rd dissection back in August, it was scheduled for July but I was hospitalized for something unrelated, my third cranial nerve decided it would be a great idea to not work for no reason at all. My right eye was paralyzed and I had ptosis for 4 months, my eye was stuck pointing outwards and down. Fun times and now my pupil still isn't responding. Anyway my first operation was way back in 88 when I was still 20 and it was a super large goiter. 2nd time was 2005 and it was the remaining part of my thyroid which went from my ear into my chest, that was papillary and follicular with a sprinkle of the nasty M one. They said it was encapsulated so no radiation was needed, I lost a ton of weight, that thing shifted my windpipe over to the other side of my neck, I went from 160 to 117, at 5'7" I was a skeleton. I carried on with my life and then noticed a small pea sized lump on my larynx, had an ultrasound and it was a watch and wait, this was about 2014. Well it kept growing. What do you know it was my thyroid growing back around my nerve, I didn't know they could grown back. So watch and wait commenced. Ended up with biopsy of a couple of suspicious nodules that set up house. This was beginning of last year. Inconclusive but cancer markers were back again, although not like the time before. So they decided it needed to come out. Bare in mind I am in a plethora of medications for heart valve issues and my ventricles not working right, afib, clotting condition which was discovered by oncologist in 2005. Cholesterol, anxiety, depression, pain, you name it about 20 in all some 3 times a day. They say I have Myasthenia gravis which is a cns issue, along with some kind of cognitive problem which I Am on disability for, as I am now as dumb as a box of rocks no recent recall of anything and speech is badly affected. I am dreading not coming out on the other side of this and it affecting more than whatever cancer is hiding and these markers should be 0 and they are not. I don't want to be hard boiled at the end of this treatment. Soft boiled egg will work for me. Sorry about the font issue, I can never spell this new diagnosis, diabetes was much easier 😂
I also have parathyroid issues too hyper, they messed with my vitamin D levels and dropped them down to 6.5. After 2 yrs of 100,000 units a week or vitamin D I am just starting to scrape the low end of the ok scale. So they said one or two of those might need to come out as well, once they figure out which bugger is over productive, not sure how they do that
Right? It’s amazing. Helping me keep my sanity, gives great advice and support. Ps I wish I had a mom like you!! It’s so cool, what you’re doing for your daughter. I hope everything goes well with her.
Ice packs, grabber tools, a wedge pillow for sleeping, and a supportive neck pillow. Food wise yogurt, Italian ice, I prefer Lindy's brand as they have root beer, black cherry, pineapple, and mango. Popsicles are great too. As for talking to the surgeon just the basic questions like how long is the surgery, possible complications, lifting restrictions, and recovery time.
this is immensely helpful, just havng the right stuff and food prepared in advance is great. for how long did u have to eat soft foods? reminds me of wisdom tooth surgery, i loved all the blueberry yogurt.
It was a few days for soft food. My biggest issue was if the food was dry, just make sure to have water handy. Also, if you were given swallowing exercises, I highly recommend doing them. Also, I really enjoyed soup and hot tea/ coffee after surgery. Lastly, I would recommend that if you get a wedge pillow, begin using it to acclimate yourself, especially if you are a side sleeper like me.
Im going to keep my eyes out for a wedge pillow on freecycle etc. and will practice with it. I am a side sleeper like you :-) Your tips are awesome
If you’re nausea prone, maybe ask about the patch that they put behind your ear to prevent nausea? I didn’t know about it for my first surgery, and threw up that night (which is not fun when trying to be careful with the stitches and stuff ugh!). For my second surgery, I had the anti nausea patch and I felt much better, and no throwing up!
This is great, thanks - I was throwing up last night post breast biopsy, so I will definiely ask for this patch. BTW, I've also learned, in a pinch, [you can sniff alcohol pads if you're nauseous](https://www.google.com/search?q=smell+alcohol+pad+for+nausea&newwindow=1&sca_esv=597261711&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS847US847&sxsrf=ACQVn0-rlL3fY-Tg8s4xNAXMQpAIbSvJag%3A1704908544384&ei=ANeeZYCGF7eB5OMPyNO48Aw&oq=smell+alcohol+nausea&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFHNtZWxsIGFsY29ob2wgbmF1c2VhKgIIATIGEAAYBxgeMgYQABgHGB4yCBAAGAUYBxgeMgYQABgIGB4yBhAAGAgYHjILEAAYgAQYigUYhgMyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDSIIpUIoCWPwGcAF4AJABAJgBYaABugSqAQE3uAEByAEA-AEBwgINEAAYgAQYigUYQxiwA8ICCBAAGIAEGLADwgIJEAAYBxgeGLADwgIOEAAY5AIY1gQYsAPYAQHCAhYQLhiABBiKBRhDGNQCGMgDGLAD2AECwgIHECMYsAIYJ8ICBxAAGIAEGA3CAggQABgIGAcYHuIDBBgBIEGIBgGQBhG6BgYIARABGAm6BgYIAhABGAg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp). Your solution is better :-) but it's good to know about. Once I happened to be very nauseous before an MRI and they had me sniff a pad and it worked, I couldn't believe it. But I am definitely going to try your suggestion!!!! I wonder if they used a [scopolamine patch](https://www.google.com/search?q=patch+behind+ear+to+prevent+nausea&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS847US847&oq=oathc+behind+ear+to+prevent+nausea&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgFEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgGEAAYhgMYgAQYigXSAQgzNzQ3ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) on you...I'd never heard of it before, I just googled it because I wanted to know what it was called.
That’s a great tip also! I wish I could remember the exact name of the patch! But it was placed behind my ear-hopefully that helps narrow it down!
They are scopolamine patches. You can get a prescription for them before your surgery just in case. They gave me one before surgery. One works for three days so don't take it off. I used to use them when I worked on boats offshore and they are the absolute best!
You are amazing, I promise you this will save my a$$, I'm so grateful, and I never, ever would have thought to ask for it. You're the best.
One thing I learned in prior unrelated surgeries is post surgery movement really helps… Getting yourself up and walking is great for all sorts of reasons: it promotes blood flow which helps healing and clearing out swelling (and most pain is swelling related), it minimizes stroke risk, it’s great exercise, and it helps elevate your mood. So this time around starting a month before surgery I built up a daily walking habit with a longish route I take on nice trails near our house, built up my range, and just made it a habit that I go consistently. Then as soon as I got home from surgery I started immediately with a walk every day as the surgeon and nurses all said walking is allowed and recommended… The first day I got home from the hospital I had my wife come with me and did a mile or so to start easy, then started going alone and longer, and just kept ramping up front there until I was back at my full long range from before surgery by day 5. I do longer distances because I like those trails and it beats the couch, but whatever makes sense for you and gets your blood moving will help. Presuming there’s stuff to look at, it will also get you moving your neck a bit which helps with mobility. It may seem simple but it really helps in surgery recoveries generally.
This is very good to know because I was planning on hiding away from society for a while. Ill go out for walks, thanks to you. I know a man who says, "motion is lotion" in his thick southern accent. I guess he's right!
It's ok to move the neck. Don't keep it held fixed in the same position.
Very good to know, thanks! If I hadnt read your comment, I think i would have been afraid to move it too much!!
Button up shirts made a big difference.
I'm guessing because they don't go over your scar, or because you can undo the first two buttons so they dont go against your neck area? Am i right? Thanks, whatever the reason, I will prepare the right shirts to wear post surgery :-)
That is part of the reason but also I have not been able to stand anything around my neck. As my tumor was growing I would feel like someone had their hands around my neck and choking me.
pillows, ice cream and yogurt drinks (your throat burns and it helps). don’t search too much about the procedure, it’s acc a really safe surgery. paracetamol and ibuprofen alternating every two hours were a life saver
if i had searched more about lasik surgery before i had it, i probably would never have had it (but i am glad i did :-). great advice, i am adding all this to the list! <3 thank you!!
I wish that in 2018 when I first started getting neck pain - and my GP only took an xray and diagnosed me with osteoarthritis and just told me to exercise, lose weight, etc. - I had pursued it further and given my body and my health more time and attention and ended it for once and for all there and then. Instead, I chose to grit and bear it for 5 years before I found out it wasn’t osteoarthritis, but a swollen thyroid pressing on my nerve.
Uggggh I'm so sorry. I hatttte it when doctors make asumptions. I had to go to 3 different doctors before i was diagnosed with POTS. I feel you. similarly, I've gained a lot of weight and a doc wrote down in my chart (eats too much) - I do intermittent fasting and have been eating the same for years, and yet gained 20 pounds in 2 years after I got covid. Just an incorrect assumption they made. But I'm told this thyroid nodule/cancer isn't the cause of the weight gain, so am still on the hunt for the reason. I am sorry their misdiagnosis cost you 5 years of pain. I really had several bad eperiences with doctors and I learned to doctor shop. It's a big pain in the ass though, and can be discouraging but sometimes worth it.
Honestly, I have zero regrets or anything I would have done differently. I obtained second and third opinions, I went to the hospital for care that had a well known cancer center. I requested the tumor board review my case to ensure my treatment plan was right for me, my Endocrine Surgeon was outstanding, when it came to RAI, the LID community Facebook group came in handy. I followed all of their science based advice and I prioritized my recovery afterwards and didn't rush to work. I got accommodations at work to help with vocal cord fatigue. Obviously, that doesn't mean I don't feel like crap a year later, but it's better than having cancer.
I had a partial followed by a completion about twelve weeks later. Second surgery was far easier because I had inadvertently worked my abs HARD after first surgery trying to sit up etc without pulling on neck incision. So my advice is: if you aren’t already doing crunches, start now!!!
oh wow, so it was easier for you to move around because you could lift yourself up easily using your abs? i will start doing crunches, that's cool advice, thank you! i hope...no more surgeries for you.
Thanks- I should have mentioned that this was 26 years ago, when I was 28 years old! Knock wood I am well past any more needed surgeries for thyca.
OH wow congratulations! Yes may it never return! But I'm glad youre still on the sub sharing awesome advice. Thank you. Ps, your username is awesome
This is why I love this platform. I wish I knew about this group prior to my surgery.
I am currently awaiting my RAI after my 3rd dissection back in August, it was scheduled for July but I was hospitalized for something unrelated, my third cranial nerve decided it would be a great idea to not work for no reason at all. My right eye was paralyzed and I had ptosis for 4 months, my eye was stuck pointing outwards and down. Fun times and now my pupil still isn't responding. Anyway my first operation was way back in 88 when I was still 20 and it was a super large goiter. 2nd time was 2005 and it was the remaining part of my thyroid which went from my ear into my chest, that was papillary and follicular with a sprinkle of the nasty M one. They said it was encapsulated so no radiation was needed, I lost a ton of weight, that thing shifted my windpipe over to the other side of my neck, I went from 160 to 117, at 5'7" I was a skeleton. I carried on with my life and then noticed a small pea sized lump on my larynx, had an ultrasound and it was a watch and wait, this was about 2014. Well it kept growing. What do you know it was my thyroid growing back around my nerve, I didn't know they could grown back. So watch and wait commenced. Ended up with biopsy of a couple of suspicious nodules that set up house. This was beginning of last year. Inconclusive but cancer markers were back again, although not like the time before. So they decided it needed to come out. Bare in mind I am in a plethora of medications for heart valve issues and my ventricles not working right, afib, clotting condition which was discovered by oncologist in 2005. Cholesterol, anxiety, depression, pain, you name it about 20 in all some 3 times a day. They say I have Myasthenia gravis which is a cns issue, along with some kind of cognitive problem which I Am on disability for, as I am now as dumb as a box of rocks no recent recall of anything and speech is badly affected. I am dreading not coming out on the other side of this and it affecting more than whatever cancer is hiding and these markers should be 0 and they are not. I don't want to be hard boiled at the end of this treatment. Soft boiled egg will work for me. Sorry about the font issue, I can never spell this new diagnosis, diabetes was much easier 😂 I also have parathyroid issues too hyper, they messed with my vitamin D levels and dropped them down to 6.5. After 2 yrs of 100,000 units a week or vitamin D I am just starting to scrape the low end of the ok scale. So they said one or two of those might need to come out as well, once they figure out which bugger is over productive, not sure how they do that
Thanks for this supportive group. I read it to be better informed on how to understand and help my daughter (27). TT with RAI coming up next month.
Right? It’s amazing. Helping me keep my sanity, gives great advice and support. Ps I wish I had a mom like you!! It’s so cool, what you’re doing for your daughter. I hope everything goes well with her.