Any Thyroid Cancer People Out There? Posted: 02-11-07 21:31pm
I'm a thyca traveller and i'm hoping
others will join this thread. There's
lots to share.
Regards,
richard day gore
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needsinfo
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 1
Thyroid Cancer Survivor... Posted: 02-14-07 16:17pm
Hello, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer
in dec.2005...Had to have total
thyroidectomy and had radioactive iodine
treatment(not done correctly-long
story!)...Anyway, found wonderful thyroid
oncologist in lexington ky-dr.Ain...Long
story short...Found I still had same
thyroid tissue that was never killed off
the first time around so had to have
another radioactive iodine
treatment(higher dosage this time-the
correct dosage!) and I have been soooo
sick since having the treatment 2 weeks
ago!...Nausea, diarrhea, headaches,
horrible pain in my body, etc...I didnt
have this before!!!...Wondering if anyone
else has experienced becoming sick after
treatment...Not just the day after...And
not just the "sore glands, and loss of
taste"...Im talking feeling toxic and
sick!...Its not mentioned anywhere, not
even on thyca.Com! Only by a few other
people on there is it mentioned...Not by
drs. Though!...I would like to know if
there really is a sickness from the
radiation that is just not talked
about...We are swallowing radiation!
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malia3
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 4
Thyroid Cancer Survivor Posted: 02-19-07 18:14pm
Aloha!
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in
August 2003. Had total thyroidectomy and
radioactive iodine treatment 6 weeks
later. I followed a stict (no iodine)
diet 2-3 wks before treatment and drank
TONS of water before during and after
treatment. I was discharged from the
hospital 2 days after taking the
radioactive iodine pill as my "levels'
were low enough to leave the hospial, but
didn't see my kids for a week until my
levels were safe for them. I felt a
little nausaus but didn't know if it was
the treatment or all the water. Another
patient received her treatment at the same
time I did in the room next to me. She
got very ill during and after treatment,
but disliked water do didn't drink any.
Our doses were the same, yet I drank tons
of water and she didn't have any to flush
out her system. I may have been simply
our bodies reacted to the meds differently
and nothing to do with the water.
I'm feeling pretty good now, although the
first year w/out my thryoid and having my
meds adjusted were tiring! Gained 20 lbs
and have lost 10 yet still have 10 that
are difficult to lose. Have a "spot" on
my lympnode that's been there for a year,
but since it's not spreading the dr is
watching it before treatment.
I hope you feel better! Let your dr know
what's going on as maybe you have an
allergy to the iodine or something else
going on.
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Richard Day Gore
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 49
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 02-21-07 07:39am
Hi Needsinfo,
My second round of radiation hit me very
hard. It was a high dose. If you look at
the long list of possible side effects
from being hypothyroid and radiated, I
pretty much had them all with the
exception of "menstrual irregularities!"
Part of what you're feeling is the
radiation, part is from being completely
hypo. Everything hits you harder when
you're hypo. I believe one of the reasons
for the side effects being worse is this:
When you have a total thyroidectomy, they
usually leave in a small "tag" of thyroid
tissue to act as a target for the
radiation. But that tag isn't there by the
time you have rad again, so when you are
hypo, you are WAY hypo. It can be really
hard to sort out which symptoms are from
the radiation specifically, and which are
from being hypo. But being hypo ampilifies
the misery for sure.
All that being said, everybody's
different! I know people who have been
through the process and have suffered very
little. (lucky!) There are really no
ironclad rules for what does or doesn't
happen with radiation.
Anyway, all of this was well over ten
years ago and I'm alive and health forum.
Best regards,
Richard Day Gore
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curmi
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Europe
Re: Thyroid Cancer Survivor... Posted: 02-22-07 03:31am
needsinfo
wrote:
Hello, I was diagnosed with
thyroid cancer in dec.2005...Had to have
total thyroidectomy and had radioactive
iodine treatment(not done correctly-long
story!)...Anyway, found wonderful thyroid
oncologist in lexington ky-dr.Ain...Long
story short...Found I still had same
thyroid tissue that was never killed off
the first time around so had to have
another radioactive iodine
treatment(higher dosage this time-the
correct dosage!) and I have been soooo
sick since having the treatment 2 weeks
ago!...Nausea, diarrhea, headaches,
horrible pain in my body, etc...I didnt
have this before!!!...Wondering if anyone
else has experienced becoming sick after
treatment...Not just the day after...And
not just the "sore glands, and loss of
taste"...Im talking feeling toxic and
sick!...Its not mentioned anywhere, not
even on thyca.Com! Only by a few other
people on there is it mentioned...Not by
drs. Though!...I would like to know if
there really is a sickness from the
radiation that is just not talked
about...We are swallowing
radiation!
Hi I was diagnosed with
throid cancer in February 2006. Had total
throidectomy and had parathyroids removed
also. Had to have two doses of
radioactive iodine treatment also and had
nausea, diarrhea, headaches, etc also.
These lasted for about 2/3 weeks then
improved. When I asked the dr about it he
said you would get this because it was a
higher dose. Had a gamma scan a couple of
days after the treatment and throid tissue
seems to have all disappeared. I too
would like to know if anyone knows what
damage this has done to the body
|
Richard Day Gore
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 49
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 02-27-07 06:24am
"I too would like to know if anyone knows
what damage this has done to the body"---
I've had RAI twice--the most recent one,
several years back, being a fairly heavy
dose. Though it felt like it was just
killin' me at the time, several years
later it seems like the only collateral
damage it did (other than to kill the
cancerous tissue, knock wood) was to nuke
my salivary glands. This in turn has been
the worst part of the thyroid cancer
experience for me other than the financial
disaster caused by my being uninsured.
All those other hideous symtpoms subsided
and I am sure most of them were due to
being hypo rather than from the actual
radiation.
Regards,
Richard Day Gore
|
Larry D.
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 41 Location: ,
Posted: 04-22-07 06:35am
Good Day Richard......
First I want to thank you for your support
in other forums. You had responded to
another I have been following closely.
It's nice to see that people are
supporting each other from across the
countries.
I was diagnosed with capillary cancer in
march last year. Had a thyroidectomy done,
iodine radiation treatment, and am due for
my first yearly follow up in may. Lately I
found another lump. This time in my upper
left side of the neck. Don't know what it
is yet but will soon enough. Doc doesn't
seemed to be worried, so I won't !!
We always think of how it affected our
lives. Which is normal. But let me tell
you people, it sure brings our the tiger
in others lol. My wife had to put up with
all of the same I was. So hats off to all
the partners in your lives. May they all
have long lives.
Regards
LarryD.
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LuAnn
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 1
Dealing With Being "hypo" Posted: 07-05-07 21:54pm
I am a new member and have just gone
through the second LID process. My first
was in preparation for the surgery last
year. This time around I had a lot more
problems with mood swings, concentration,
blurred vision, extreme dizziness, abrupt
blood sugar level drops, and a very
swollen tongue. I got so bad I had to take
2 weeks off from work, one for the last
week before the scan and the following
week until my synthriod levels were back
up. My doctor advised me to stop driving
my car when I went in to tell her of the
severity of the symtoms. My childern, who
are grown up, tell me it is very difficult
for them to deal with the drastic
personality changes and this is
frightening to co-workers and friends to
see me in this condition. I got through
this with the help of a very good friend
who let me stay at her house because I
required 24 hour supervision due to the
severity of the dizzines and low blood
sugar. Has anyone else had this
complication and can anyone give me some
advise to help cope with this? I do not
want to be this sick again and put
everyone and everything I care about
through this.
Thankyou!
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Richard Day Gore
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 49
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 07-30-07 08:17am
Hi LuAnn,
I've had to go hypo three times and the
last time was the worst. All the symptoms
you described and then some, very severe.
Extreme fatigue, dizziness, uncontrollable
mood swings, brittle hair, dry skin,
swollen face and tongue, slurred speech,
confusion, significant weight gain, the
works! Complicated by my living in a 4th
floor walkup--and they quarantined me for
two weeks!!! I didn't have anyone to help
me through it, but I did get through it.
It gives you a good idea of how we can
take what life dishes out at us. We are
stronger than we think.
I hope you are doing ok.
Love and regards,
Richard Day Gore
|
LainieNY
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 31
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-02-07 10:00am
22 years ago, I was diagnois with thyroid
cancer. I had my entire thyroid removed, I
also lost all my parathyroid glands in the
process. Parathyroid hormone is the most
important endocrine regulator of calcium
and phosphorus concentration in
extracellular fluid. This hormone is
secreted from cells of the parathyroid
glands and finds its major target cells in
bone and kidney. My intake of calcium
tablets vary from 20-40 tablets a day,
sometimes more.
I get dizzy, I have always kept an eye on
my weight, so I have never gained alot of
weight. I also have lived a very full
active life. From being a disaster relief
worker, to mountain climbing. Yes there
are days I have no energy. I push myself
up & to get dress, tell myself it is
the complications of the cancer, and I
will not let the complications run my
life. It is hard. Takes a strong will
power. Will power is something that needs
to be develop & nurtured.
|
Richard Day Gore
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 49
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-03-07 09:27am
LainieNY
wrote:
It is hard. Takes a strong
will power. Will power is something that
needs to be develop &
nurtured.
Lainie that is so well said. We cancer
people hear all too often that we "just"
need a better attitude, as if you can
simply flip a switch and change your
worldview overnight. But willpower and
positive ways to look at life can be
developed with time. It's amazing what
extraordinary things ordinary people can
do.
Regards,
Richard Day Gore
|
ritapa
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 8 Location: ,
Been About 11 Years Now Since I Had Thyroid Cancer Posted: 11-27-07 06:59am
had a total thyroidectomy then some
radiation, was in isoilation for 3 days in
the hospital... the only problem i had was
gaining weight and being depressed for
about 7 years.. until i finally found a
doctor to switch my synthroid to armour..
o what a difference it made in my life. i
don't remember being sick from the
radiation or having any other problems
other than once when they took me off my
meds to test me to make sure everything
was gone.. eww. that was pretty bad. fell
asleep everywhere i went. i felt pretty
lucky to have a young intern at the time
who was curious. i had a biopsi and it
came back negative, so i let him go in and
he found it was cancer inside another
tumor. good luck to all of you in your
treatments, but check around and make sure
your going to the best hospitals that do
that kind of stuff.. and the doctors.. if
u feel uneasy about a place or situation
or person preforming anything on
you.........walk... it's your body and
your life. you only get one.
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ritapa
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 8 Location: ,
Thyroid Medication Posted: 12-19-07 05:48am
just a quick note on the tyroid
replacement. from what i've read and was
told by doctors being controlled by the
drug companies,,,,,synthroid was the
miracle cure.. i found alot of debate and
discussion on the internet and decided i
wanted to switch to armour. it was hard
to get a doctor to do that. but iwas so
tired all the time and depressed.. i was
told that i wasn't getting any younger...
i was only 38.. quality of life was not
so good.... when i got a nurse practioner
to switch my meds the doctor called and
tried switching them back......all i can
say is the armour works better for me.
not tired, lost weight instantly.. not
depressed.. so if your feel the same as i
did might i suggest trying to get a change
in drugs.. good luck.. and if you do,
every two years they will tell you that
armour is not going to be in production.
pay no attention to that.. good luck and
let me know what you have tried..
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gingerelizabeth
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 79
Posted: 01-03-08 21:35pm
i have been looking for a place like this
for a long time!
i was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when i
was 10, 8 years ago.
im going for my cancer scan in february
everyone has been clean, but its very
nerve racking.
if anyone needs to talk, im pretty much a
pro!
goodluck
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Larry D.
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 41 Location: ,
Posted: 01-06-08 06:58am
Hi gingerelizabeth
You know as humans we always feel our own
issues are always worst than the others. I
had my cancer at 43 (2 years ago) and
still adapting. My heart goes out to you.
10 years old is in deed very young. Makes
my issues even smaller. However, I do
agree with you that it is very nerve
racking. Home, the doctors usually see
their patients every 6 moths or so. For
some invisible reason they want to see me
every 4 months. Always that little fear
that it's not going to be ok one of these
times.
Hang in there.......
Larry
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Richard Day Gore
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 49
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-29-08 11:37am
Gingerelizabeth--10 years old?? You're my
new hero! Please let us know how the scan
goes.
Regards,
Richard Day Gore
|
sengli
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1
Hope someone can help me! total thyroidectomy for cancer... Posted: 04-21-08 19:51pm
Hi: I'm having a total thyroidectomy on
May 5th due to thyroid cancer and need
help understanding some things. Hope
someone can help me! I will be having RAI
2 mths later for sure and it will be the
same week I am supposed to leave for a 2
week trip. The Dr. said if I go on the
trip, he will have to start me on
Synthroid instead of Cytomel (T3) if I
wait to do the RAI until I come back.
Should I cancel my trip and do the T3
which I understand is a temporary
treatment for thyroid cancer patients who
are preparing for radioactive iodine (RAI)
therapy. Any advice? What are the benefits
of doing the T3 vs. the Synthroid?
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Tasman Bay Butterfly
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Posts: 7
Posted: 04-22-08 15:58pm
Hi, there. To continue on with your trip
or cancel depends on personal preferrence.
It won't make much difference on getting
the treatment after you get back, but you
may want to go ahead and get it over with
so that you can move forward. They have
to make you hypothyroid for the RAI.
First you take synthroid or Armour Thyroid
(which many people do better on because it
contains all 9 thyroid hormones instead of
T4 only which is what Synthroid is), then
they wean you down to Cytomel before total
hypothyroidism because it has a very short
half life. You only take the Cytomel for
1 to 2 weeks. Then you're off all thyroid
hormone completely in preparation for RAI
and it's mainly for the Thyroglobulin
test. This will be a very hard time for
you fatigue-wise and will be why the Dr.
doesn't want to wean you down to T3 only
if you're going on a trip.
