ivyblossom | Mar. 5th, 2008

So. Here's the recap of the last few months of my life, in case anyone missed it: I had a total thyroidectomy a month ago, and it was rapidly determined that it was a darn good idea. Inside my thyroid they found a 1.5cm cancerous tumour. Thyroid cancer is curable, and I am now continuing on a recovery path that should lead me to total cure in fairly short order.

Cure, as it turns out, is a lot more involved than just plain having a non-invasive, asymptomatic cancer. But still, better out than in, and of course I'm happy to undergo whatever treatments my doctors consider necessary. The total thyroidectomy was the first part (ie, removal of the thyroid gland, which, in case you're curious, lies at the base of your neck and controls things like your body temperature, your energy level, your ability to digest carbs, sugars and proteins, your mitochondrial function, the condition of your skin, hair and nails, etc., and yes, I have a very large incision scar/war wound now), the second part was inducing a deep hypothyroidic state (not replacing the hormone that thryoids produce). The third part is radiation.

I'm currently pretty hypothroidish. You can tell by the 15 shirts I'm wearing under this blanket I'm wrapped in.

Tomorrow, I am checking into the hospital to be irradiated in isolation for three days, four nights. Everything that goes in with me will likely become radioactive, so I'm only taking things I don't like very much (old underpants, etc.), or things purchased specifically for the moment (ie, books!). They don't have the internets at the hospital, so I will go into radio silence. If you're used to seeing me on some form of IM, you won't see me for a bit. Since I haven't done so well at keeping up with my LJ, I guess a few days of no posts won't shock anyone too much.

For the most part I'm not too worried about the radiation. It's not done with a machine, it's just a couple of pills I take and then they lock me away in the attic. (Well, possibly it's not the attic, but I can't be sure yet.) The pills contain radioactive iodine, which I'm told will not hurt at any time, but will emerge from me out of my pores and through my pee. So my pee and my pores will be dangerous to others for a short time. I'm a bit worried about my kidneys and my bladder, but I guess the rule is, shower lots, drink lots, pee lots. That is my general plan. I'm bringing