Pathology report

I figured that it was about time for me to start writing on the blog again. I want to thank my cute husband for making the last couple of posts when I was a little lost for words, and for explaining in detail what is going on with my health. I actually found myself reading his posts over and over again so that I could better understand my diagnosis and treatments. I'm so grateful that I have a medically educated husband!

As for me, I am slowly healing, and I say "slowly" because I am not healing as fast as I would like (I'm super impatient, obviously)! I kept hearing from doctors and others who have gone through this procedure, that is was easy and easy to recover from. Well, no offense, but they either have a very high pain tolerance, or they are full of crap! The neck is a super sensitive area that hurts every time I speak, swallow, breathe, eat, hiccup, burp, sneeze, turn or nod my head, cough, and much more. All I can say is OUCH! Big ouch! Also, another thing that I am healing from is the whacked out feeling that comes when you don't have a thyroid. I am currently on a medication to compensate for the functions of my thyroid, but it will not be properly regulated for at least 10 weeks. Plus, my symptoms are magnified because of the pregnancy. It's okay, though, because the cost of having the cancer out of my body outweighs both the pain of the surgery and the weird feeling from not having a thyroid. I am nothing but grateful at this point (seriously).

And speaking of "point," the point we are at right now is very positive! I recently received the pathology report from what was taken out of my neck, and everything looks great. The 2.1 cm tumor was cancerous (which we already knew), but the cancer did not spread into the rest of my thyroid, or to my lymph nodes (they removed 10 lymph nodes from my neck and all came back negative for cancer). Yeah! I will still receive the radiation treatment (radioiodine) because of the size of my tumor, but this is basically precautionary to make sure that the surgeon got out all of the cancer cells from my neck. And the radiation will be done after the baby is born and can be postponed as long as a year if I choose to nurse the baby that long.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you to everyone that has supported my family and I during this time. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for every large and small thing that has been done for us. It is so hard to find ourselves continuously in a...hmm...stressful (for lack of a better word) situation, and to be far away from family makes it even harder. But to know that we have those that support, carry, and provide for us from afar, and even close by, in a new town that we are still becoming familiar with, means everything. Thank you so much to infinity!

We're going to be alright and we'll get through all of our trying times. Because, despite everything we go through, we have wonderful, blessed, and happy lives. And, I know that "Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. [and] We can learn to love it." (quote found here).

Lots and lots of love!
-Kim

P.S - I would add a picture of neck, but it is not a beautiful sight right now (the incision site is a lot bigger than I would have liked). Scarfs are now my best friend and will be for the next little while! I've always wanted to be able to pull off the scarf trend, looks like I just got my chance.

Pfft...thyroid - shmyroid.

Tuesday morning, Kim and I arrived at the hospital just after 6am. We entered the surgical unit with a herd of other groggy, yet anxious, early-goers that would also soon be under the knife. After a bit of prep work, Kim was taken to surgery just before 8am, where she would spend the next 5 hours. Despite the narrow surgical area, a thyroidectomy takes quite a while because of the small and fragile anatomy of the anterior neck. The physician must be sure to avoid damaging important nerves, the parathyroid glands, or the "voice box". (I wanted to picture of a dissected thyroid, but Kim wasn't cool with that idea...you should google it though)

According to the doctor, the surgery went well and they were able to remove the entire thyroid without too much damage to the area. He did say that the parathyroid were "kind of beat up" in the process which is likely why Kim's calcium levels are now a bit low. That problem should be self-resolving with time. He also removed the lymph nodes in the area which will go to pathology and help us determine whether or not the cancer was outside of the thyroid. This takes 5 to 7 days.

After the surgery, she was taken to the PACU for the next 4 hours. That time line isn't typical, but there was no room at the University of Iowa inn. Eventually they found a room in the Burn Unit where she spent the night and was able to come home around noon this morning.

All things being considered, she is doing well, we are just trying to keep the pain under control. It has proven to be a very sensitive area, which is to be expected. Try talking, coughing, hiccuping, deep breathing, nodding your head, or turning your head without using any anterior neck muscles. It is tough.

Thank you everybody that has sent cards, boxes of stuff, called, texted, sent meals, Facebooked, or sent good thoughts and prayers in any other way. If we haven't responded back we apologize, we've just been a bit busy but we are very grateful for the sentiments.

Thank you,

The Scadlocks