Hey all good guys...otherwise I would not have had anyone to chat with :) Love you both. Keep Encouraged. Today is a new day 🙂 ... View more

Yep I agree! You need to speak with someone. Writing on this site is nice but not immediate. Know that I am praying for you and for your peace of mind. I know this is the hardest thing to relax and have faith you are being looked after. It helps to have something else to focus on. Take care xox ... View more

Hi Ann, I'm a little confused. I thought you only just had the surgery this September and was waiting to have the radioactive iodine treatment. Keep taking the Panadol for your pain even if its every 4 hours for a few days. How old are your children? I hope they bring you joy :) Cheers Christine ... View more

Ann be encouraged ... one day at a time ... look for a positive in each day 🙂 I assure you they do take it seriously but unfortunately we are not the only ones and whereas it is the only thing on our minds ... they probably have hundreds of patients thinking the same. I am so glad that finally you are getting the appointment you want. One thing I did learn though is that you do need to ring them. DO NOT WAIT FOR A PHONE CALL. When my specialist said that they would contact me to make an appointment that was not true -they were waiting for me to ring them so therefore...RING ... Not sure about the pain in your shoulder - what does your general doctor say? You can only treat the symptoms so plenty of Panadol :) Try and have a good day. I look forward to hearing how you go. Cheers Christine 🙂 ... View more

Hi Ann & Christyanne, Wonderfull about the massage. You need to have little treats whenever you can. I know I was terrified of my throat being touched and even just yesterday (almost 6 months after the operation) I accidentally hit myself in the neck when my hand slipped and still have a very uncomfortable feeling in my throat. So I thought I would update you both. In april I had the radioactive iodine treatment. Unlike either of you I did get the injections, 2 each day before the treatment. It is not a matter of money as it is all through medicare. I would suggest that you re ask your drs as to why they have not suggested this because as you have both said, the withdrawels of medication before this treatment is horrendous. The treatment itself, I found ok. There were no real side effects for me just very tired. I am surprised that they are suggesting 2 weeks isolation from your children because this is really overkill (i had read extensively on this). You are in hospital only 3 days. I went in on the Wednesday had the blood test to make sure all levels were ok to go ahead with the treatment. Then I was given the capsule at 2pm, in isolation till the Friday morning when they sent me for the body scan. I was out the door 12pm that Friday. For the next 2 days after coming home it is recommended you don't have physical contact with babies or pregnant women. After the 4 days from the initial taking of the capsule, really everything is ok as far as contact. Of course you take care because it is in your system for up to 6 months. Apparently we can set off the radioactive sensors at international airports...lol... I was very relieved when the radiologist at the hospital told me that my body scans showed the all clear because otherwise I would have had to wait another 2 months for results from the endocrinologist appointment. It was a relief to say the least. However, as I had moved to Tasmania, I had difficulty getting into an endocrinologist in tassie to take over my care and when I finally got an appointment and therefore cancelled further treatment in Sydney, they had cancelled my appointment and made it a month later. MAJOR STRESS as I wanted to know what sort of care would happen now. Things are supposed to happen every six months and it was getting closer and I wanted answers of course. I finally got into the endocrinologist late august. This specialist was very informative and certainly knew a lot. Apparently in Tasmania they are very used to thyroid cancers as it is very common there and she was also very experienced with the Hurthle cell and it is not the worst form of thyroid cancer there is one worse (don't ask me which on cause I was so relieved I did not hear the name). So today my medication has been increased because the boost received before the radioactive treatment lasts 2 months in your system and I was so excited as I was loosing weight (I am quite heavy) and then the last 5 weeks I started putting on weight again even though I had not been eating any differently and when I went to the appointment she said my levels were lower and this was why I was gaining weight. SO hopefully I will be on a better level (takes time to change in your system) and I will be able to loose weight again. Family can be a tricky thing. If you are positive they think you are casual about it and if you worry and are concerned they tell you you stress too much. Men don't really understand as they don't do 'sick' very well (or other people either like a mental illness if you don't look sick then you're ok). Children will find it easier to understand "mummy is just tired today" and "please help mummy because...". Of course if your children are under the age of 3 that's different. Because I ended up having 2 operations and the treatment all in 3 months, I was and still am very emotional at times (oversensitive) and find I get exhausted easily. I am not able to go for the walks I used to and I get physically tired easily. I have started a new job in july but just 2 days a week as a school chaplain. While I love this, I did not realise that walking and talking would be so exhausting. I do try and stay positive all the time but I do have some down times. These I don't really share, its usually on my own at night as my husband does not understand (I look well therefore I'm ok). Hearing from the 2 of you has been such an encouragement as I am truly blessed with good health. One day at a time :) Hope to keep hearing from you both. Cheers Christine ... View more

Hi Christyanne, I hope all went well for you. How are you travelling now? Cheers Christine ... View more

I am sorry to hear that you are so unwell with your cancer. Mine was 49mm and was not in the lymph nodes. You do have to wait about 6 - 8 weeks after final surgery before having the radioactive iodine treatment. May I ask your age? Did you have all your thyroid removed or only one side? Are you now on medication? It is only natural to worry...especially when you don't know anything. I drink plenty of camomile tea and I have a supportive family. It is scary but worrying does not help and can add to your symptoms. I am happy to talk anytime. I know for me talking helps a lot. Don't every feel silly asking questions. At the end of the day YOU are important and your state of mind is important NOT how you come across to others. Take care. One day at a time. Focus on the positives. Treat the symptoms - Panadol, nurafin, hot shower/baths for muscle pain and if you are a believer...prayer. I hope this has encouraged you. Try and have a great day. Christine 🙂 ... View more

I am sorry to hear that you are so unwell with your cancer. Mine was 49mm and was not in the lymph nodes. You do have to wait about 6 - 8 weeks after final surgery before having the radioactive iodine treatment. May I ask your age? Did you have all your thyroid removed or only one side? Are you now on medication? It is only natural to worry...especially when you don't know anything. I drink plenty of camomile tea and I have a supportive family. It is scary but worrying does not help and can add to your symptoms. I am happy to talk anytime. I know for me talking helps a lot. Don't every feel silly asking questions. At the end of the day YOU are important and your state of mind is important NOT how you come across to others. Take care. One day at a time. Focus on the positives. Treat the symptoms - Panadol, nurafin, hot shower/baths for muscle pain and if you are a believer...prayer. I hope this has encouraged you. Try and have a great day. Christine 🙂 ... View more

Hi Christyanne, When finally I saw the surgeon to talk about my options for my 'lump' there had been no talk of any cancer as the biopsy I had had showed up nothing. As the lump had grown in the 8 weeks that this whole process had taken place my DR sent me to the surgeon who recommended I may as well get it removed now because if I wait another 3 months for another biopsy I would still be in the same place. I had the surgery on the left thyroid as that was where the lump was. The pathology would take about a week after the operation to get any results .... what happened was they got a preliminary result which showed up as a cancer which they thought could be a capillary or papillary or something they were not sure it had to be reviewed by a specialist in Sydney BUT it did mean I had to go back and have the other half removed because it was cancer. So 4 weeks later I was scheduled back in to have the right side removed. When I saw the surgeon the week before the operation for test results and operation prep...this was when I found out that the cancer was not the capillary or papillary whatever but actually a hurthle cell carcinoma. Of Course it is a rare form of thyroid cancer only 3% world wide. After the 2nd surgery I was sent to an endocrinologist who would be taking over my care and I had to have radioactive iodine treatment and now it is regular monitoring. All the best for surgery. Cheers Christine ... View more