Brief Radio Silence
Mar. 5th, 2008 07:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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
naominovik's books in with me. I know that she will help me through.
See you on the other side.
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
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
See you on the other side.
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Date: 2008-03-06 01:01 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2008-03-06 01:16 am (UTC)be sure to let us know if your pee glows in the dark
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Date: 2008-03-06 01:22 am (UTC)I'm hoping this experience will finally release my superpowers, and I can finally don the Radioactive Girl unitard in my closet.
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Date: 2008-03-06 01:25 am (UTC)on the other hand, i am so so so glad they got that thing out of you, and that you are on the way to being all better. ;_;
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Date: 2008-03-06 01:30 am (UTC)The intertubes would just make it any other normal long weekend. ;)
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Date: 2008-03-06 01:32 am (UTC)Thinking of you, love.
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Date: 2008-03-06 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-06 01:32 am (UTC)*hugs*
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Date: 2008-03-06 02:58 am (UTC)A random word of advice, from someone who has also been irradiated for medical reasons. A slightly gross word of advice... Eat things that are likely to be incredibly gentle on your stomach. I had digestive problems for a few months after I was treated for something with radiation. I wish someone had warned me. :) It's no big deal, but I just figured I'd tell you just cause, well, the more you know, right?
Much love!
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Date: 2008-03-06 04:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-03-06 03:03 am (UTC)Btw, I agree with you that a short hospital stay - as long as you're not really sick and miserable - does actually make a reasonable retreat. Not the most ideal location, but I still got a mental break in a lot of ways during my long-weekend stay in 2006. (The only real bummer was not being allowed to leave the ward, and thus walking around and around the ward multiple times to stretch my legs.) Btw, bring a spare blanket for your bed, if you have one you don't mind getting radioactive, and especially if you've been cold - hospitals get cold at night.
Hope all goes smoothly!
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Date: 2008-03-06 04:05 am (UTC)A week after radiation, they will give me a tracer dose of radioactive iodine, and then they will look to see if it's concentrating anywhere in my body. If it is, I need more radiation, or they need to look into where that concentration is. Because my nymph nodes all came back testing negative, there is no real suspicion that there will be any other surprise cancers in my system, but the likely stops are lungs and bones. Because the originating cancer is thyroid tissue, it will still behave like thyroid tissue, even in my lungs or bones, so it will be identifiable. If they identify more trouble spots, they will take action on them. Radioactive iodine treatments have been known to destroy even thyroid cancers that have proceeded to the lungs, it's very powerful and very targetted. Once I'm scanned and clear of any additional concentrations, I can start on thyroid hormone. My endocrinologist fully expects me to be starting on thyroid hormone in the 14th. My tumour was buried deep inside a calcified nodule on my thyroid, and with the negative lymph nodes, they're pretty certain I'm likely already cured, but the radiaton treatment will ensure and underscore that. Should all go well, of course.
I'm fairly confident all will go well.
I should be back to my regular self in about a month. Or, really, I should be back to better than myself. I suspect my thyroid has been underperforming for some time now. It will be nice if I get a good jolt of renewed energy out of this.
Thanks again!
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Date: 2008-03-06 03:10 am (UTC)Give us an update when you're back to the intrawebs, plzkthx.
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Date: 2008-03-06 08:34 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2008-03-06 08:34 pm (UTC)because i don't know what the hell else to say,
Date: 2008-03-06 03:46 am (UTC)Mi sheberakh avoteinu mekor habrakha l’imoteinu
May the Source of strength
Who blessed the ones before us
Help us find the courage
To make our lives a blessing,
And let us say: Amen.
Mi sheberakh imoteinu mekor habrakha l’avoteinu
Bless those in need of healing With refuah shleima:
The renewal of body,
The renewal of spirit,
And let us say: Amen
Re: because i don't know what the hell else to say,
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Date: 2008-03-06 04:18 am (UTC)I am totally a biological weapon! Beware radioactive libraries!
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Date: 2008-03-06 04:24 am (UTC)I spoke to someone once who'd had this same treatment--including the radiation and she was healthy by the time I met her. She said the radiation treatment wasn't bad at all--just weird being in isolation with only people in space suits coming in to see her! (And a strange lady who brought her an egg salad sandwich, ignoring the sign on the door.)
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