Call the day before the surgery

I was instructed that I needed to call the day before the surgery to find out what time my surgery was. So, I called. I need to arrive to the hospital by 8:45 am. Surgery will be at 11 am. Fasting after midnight tonight. I have to arrive with photo ID. And they told me where in the hospital to go for the surgery area.

Call from anathesiolgist assistant

I received a call this morning from the Assistant Doctor for Anathesiology. She was following up on some questions I answered two weeks ago. She focused mostly on my heart concerning an incident many years ago involving over use of caffeine drinks. I explained to her that in the years after that, I have jogged daily 5 miles a day (not anymore though), went to the gym and did cardio for sometimes four hours, and now a days I go to the gym almost daily and do cardio for 45 minutes. 

She asked if I had any problems opening my mouth or tipping my hea back, and I said I didn't.

And that was it!

Surgery is tomorrow so my wife took me out to eat for lunch. Most of our time today is to prepare the house for when I return, and figure out what to pack and take to the hospital (she is going to be in the waiting room during the surgery).

For me? This is kinda surreal. I don't think it has hit me that this is actually happening to me, not someone I am writing about on a blog. When I get worried, I think of all the stories I have read about all the people who have done this and were just fine. If they can do it? So can I!

Camping

I decided to go camping as my way of spending my last 72 hours with my Thyroid. This isn't rustic tent camping. It is more like four star hotel camping. There is a cabin in the wood with a large screen TV, video games, running water, and all the luxuries of home. But it is in the woods! And near an incredible man made lake. In a way, I am roughing it because there is no  Internet or cell service. I forgot how tied my life is to the internet until I spent several days without it.

The trip is to just relax and forget about the upcoming surgery.

Pre-Op Panic?

Maybe it was a panic because my surgery is in five days. But I read something on the Internet and I knew that if I didn't ask the doctor about it now, it would bug me for the rest of my life!

I read an article from four months ago that said encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma could be treated by removing the nodule instead of the entire thyroid.

It would be just my luck - I would have the entire thyroid removed only to discover in a couple of years that they don't do that anymore because they have a better treatment!

So I called and talked to the nurse. I apologized for the question I was about to asked and told her I was self diagnosing via Google. I explained to her what I had read and asked for an opinion and explanation.

She explained that in cases like that, they remove the entire thyroid, not just a nodule. She suggested I ask the surgeon about it on the day of my surgery to get a better explanation.

I sure hope they aren't going to cut out my Thyroid because that's just what they have always done. I am no doctor and I don't want to pretend to know more than The doctor, and I understand this is probably just pre-op panic, but I want to get an answer before my thyroid gets tossed into the trash. If it has to be removed? Fine, I understand it, take it away. But if it doesn't? I would like to know that as an option.

Third Ultrasound Today

My surgery is one week from today so I am enjoying my last week with a thyroid. I am expecting life to change quite a bit after the surgery but for now I can be worry free. I don't know if I should enjoy this week and eat and do anything I want to do, or, should prepare myself with a week of healthy eating habits and exercise. I recently returned from a great family vacation where, as I often do on these trips, put on almost ten pounds. I suppose the party time is over and I should get serious.

I had my third pre-op thyroid ultrasound today. The purpose of this ultrasound was to look at the lymph nodes to make sure the cancer hasn't spread. If it has spread, the lumph nodes will have to come out too. 

The ultrasound was at a different facility from where I have had the other two ultrasounds because this ultrasound was ordered by my surgeon and I needed to have it done at a facility within the surgeon's network. I was familiar with this facility because it is where I had my nuclear thyroid test two years ago.

Because the facility is within my surgeon's network, I arrived without a "script" from my doctor, which felt odd. I just had to hope and trust that I would arrive and they would know what needed to be done.

I checked in and was given a wrist band with my name. After a short wait, I was called back. The ultrasound lady asked me what was going on with the Thyroid, if I knew why I was there today, and if I had a needle biopsy done. I answered all the questions and she began the thirty minute ultrasound. It was pretty easy for me - just lay there and look at the ceiling while she ran the ultrasound device all over my neck from behind my ear to my collar bone. When told, I would turn my head to the right or left. 

Once the ultrasound was finished, I used a towel to wipe off the ultrasound gel and then I was finished. I was told it would take a couple of days to get the results.

I went across the hall to get blood work done. I was told I needed to get the blood work completed within 1 month before the surgery, so, 1 week qualifies! They found the surgeon's orders in the computer, called me back, and took four viles. I don't know what these tests are, but, they checked APTT, basic metabolic panel, CBC and differential, and Protime -INR.

I took advantage of the opportunity to ask about Thyroid Labs. I understand I may need labs done every six weeks, so, I want to learn what is involved. The technician drawing my blood said that thyroid labs require anywhere from one to three viles depending on what tests are ordered. She reassured me that three viles are not bad - she has sometimes needed to take 12 viles for other conditions.

Blood work and ultrasound are done. Check those off the list!

Tonight I get a hair cut because I don't want to have to deal with a hair cut while recovering from the surgery.

Health Care Proxy Form

I filled out my Health Care Proxy Form.

The health care proxy tells who is allowed to make medical decisions for me if I become unable to do so. While it is unlikely to need the form for a Thyroidectomy, A- everyone should have a medical proxy, and B - it is a good idea to have it in place when having a major surgery. 

The form allowed me to pick a primary and an alternative (should the primary be unable to fulfill their duty). So, I picked my wife as the primary and my adult daughter as the alternative. 

There was an area on the form where I can indicate my desires should I be incompacitated, such as, when to stop a feeding tube or artificial breathing. The form also included an area for organ and tissue donation where I can decide what I want done.

The form needed to be signed by two witnesses (who were not the primary not alternative).  Then I made several copies of the form. I gave each proxy a copy, put another copy with my important papers, and will give a fourth copy to the hospital when I check in. 

You can get a copy of the form here:

https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1430.pdf

Stay Organized

A thyroidectomy means you are going to get a ton of information, Doctor appointments, bills,  forms, and more. You don't want to forget something a doctor told you, or have to hunt around for that appointment reminder card. A great was to relieve stress is to stay organized! Staying organized does not have to be a huge task.

Go to the office supply store and buy a blinder that has a note pad and folders for storing papers. Keep all your notes on the notepad and date them. If you talk to someone on the phone? Jot down a short note. If you are in a doctor's appointment, take notes on everything you are told.

Take all the paperwork related to your thyroidectomy and put them in the folders. Include any important phone numbers you might need to have. 

Do this and you'll have a simple stress free way to stay organized.