newly diagnosed surgery is not scheduled until feb

My diagnosis is papillary thyroid cancer stage 2. I will be going to UNC for a radioactive iodide full body scan in Feb. I have to wait 6 weeks post op. After the scan, I will be given a dose of a radioactive iodide pill depending on what is found in the scan.

I took the earliest appointment my doctor had .... I wanted the cancer out of my body as soon as possible! For what it is worth, my surgery was a breeze! I had my entire thyroid plus 4 lymph nodes removed. I was in the hospital for 24 hours, got rid of my drain 4 days post op, and got my stitches out three days ago.

My endocrinologist gave cite thyca.org to look at.
Good luck to you!

Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed w/ Pap. Thyroid cancer Aug. 2011, Surgery Sept 29th 2011;total thyroidectomy and 1 lymph nod. Everyone says you shouldn't read what is online! it doesn't help with the stress! but is helpful knowing there are others out there with the same diagnosis. I was 39 yo. I preped with the low iodine diet. Completed the RAI Nov. 11th. The diet was okay the first week; however by week 2 1/2 I lost my mind! Full body scan 10 days after RAI. results uptake was perfect! I read online & asked my doc on the RAI pill I was very confused if I go into a hospital quarantined or home. I was set up for 5 days alone in out master bedroom. Hubby in another room w/ our son. I drove myself home after taking the pill. I had rubber gloves on, trash bag incase I puked. prepared low iodine meals and snacks; I had a mini fridge and mircowave in the bedroom w/ me. I drank soo much water! if you follow the instructions; you will be fine. I had zero issues w/ exception of peeing every hour the first 24 hours. I'm thankful for my family and friends for their support. speaking of support; I do suggest joining the Thyroid cancer assoc.
my labs came back today; my T4 levels are high. 2.3 I guess I'm hyperthyroid? Nurse/PA asked how I'm feeling. I feel fine. maybe bouts of heartbeating stronger than usual. I just thought this was hot flashes at the age of 40!! she will relay results to my ENT doc. Synthryoid to high?
good Luck Everyone!

I have been having troubles for a few years with my thyroid. I was diagnosed with hoshimotos thyroiditis. And when monitoring that they found a nodual on the left lobe of my thyroid. I received two fine needle biopsy tests and all the doctor said that they recieved traces of Hrthle cells. And that my cells were rapidly changing. So a couple days ago I met with a surgeon, they want to get it out as soon as possible because they were worried it's cancer. They wouldnt tell me much, they just said didnt want to confirm anything until it was out and they could test it. I am only 20 years old has anyone heard of this happening to someone so young and can anyone tell me how to stop stressing so much. I have high family history of cancer including thyroid cancer and this is really worrying me.

@Twinsie: If your doctor thought it was okay to postpone, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Most thyroid cancer is very slow growing and is actually caught by accident. In fact, most of the time, if you read the other posts on here, after they find the nodule it's a waiting game of ultrasounds and biopsies, often taking several months waiting for results or waiting for something to happen if things are inconclusive. Your case is actually pretty quick from diagnosis to surgery.

@Scottsdale: Glad things went okay with the surgery and the RAI. Personally, I found the info online made things less scary because I understood what was going on and what to expect. I think it depends on what kind of person you are. I like to ask a million questions and not just rely on what the doctor tells me.
If your TSH is 2.3, that's actually in the "normal" range for a "normal" person, but since you have a history of thyroid cancer, your doctor is going to want to keep it lower than that, into the low-normal to beyond low range of TSH. Remember that TSH has an inverse relationship to thyroid hormone. It's your pituitary gland asking for more thyroid hormone. If your TSH is high, you don't have enough thyroid hormone, so you are hypothyroid. If you have too much thyroid hormone, your TSH will be low, making you more hyperthyroid. A normal TSH (depending on what your target is) is called "euthyroid" (pronounced "you-thyroid").
It takes at least two months for your body to adjust to a new thyroid hormone dosage, so be patient in between changes. Also, make sure you are taking your pills at the same time every day, on an empty stomach, at least a half hour to an hour before eating, not within four hours of calcium or iron supplements or antacids. Consistency is key.
If your TSH comes back in the target range and you are having symptoms, please re-post on here with what you are experiencing and we might be able to suggest some things.