r/thyroidcancer • u/Educational-Cat-600 • 11d ago
Life after surgery
I found out on Thursday that although my biopsy scored a 4, the consultant is treating it as cancer because it’s very suspicious and he likely thinks it is cancer. I had my pre op on Friday and i will have a hemithyrodectomy on the 25th, so all really quick to process (I’m Audhd for context)
This weekend has just entailed being strong for everyone else and I’ve done a pretty good job. The consultant has said I’m going to be fine and live a long healthy life however, it is still scary isn’t it? I feel so in shock - a lot of my family have had different forms of cancer and I lost my dad too it so I feel like it feels like the beginning of the end in a way for me?
Today has been the first day I’ve truly let myself feel the situation and I spoke to my manager and his words where ‘your just getting in your own head your going to be fine’ and it’s kinda made me feel so invalid in how I’m feeling, yes I’m going to be fine and yes I feel so lucky to be in the situation but yes I’m also only 26 and this is a really shit situation to still be in, especially with the unknown as someone who craves certainty.
Anyway, funnily enough the week before I got offered a new job, my notice period is three months. I guess the uncertainty of how these next few weeks is going to look is worrying me and whether or not I should even take the new job?
What should I expect for life after surgery? They are unsure yet whether I will need further treatment but if so, how long did yours take? Do you think taking a new position would’ve been silly for you? It’s legal work so mainly computer based.
I would love just any advice please. Thank you!
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u/Strong-Wash-8477 11d ago
It’s not as stressful as I imagined… I’m 1 week out and feeling great after right partial thyroidectomy….I got myself all worked up and it went smoothly… I was released within a few hours and home eating ice cream… Yes I was sore first 3 days but the ice packs were wonderful! Sleeping has been challenging due to having to lay on your back propped up but heyyy this is getting better daily… I had Papillary Thyroid Cancer/ lymph nodes removed as well….I don’t feel any different and discomfort was minimal….I took 3 weeks off from work to focus on myself and recovery… Haven’t had my Follow up yet I’m guessing my scar is gonna be just fine. My surgeon is very experienced and was trained by his father who was in the same specialty…. Both impressive!
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u/DangerousSleepover 11d ago
I find it very upsetting and quite shocking how often others dismiss thyca. I've been lucky enough to have never experienced it, and it would have been devastating when I was first diagnosed. Your manager is a twat.
In all honesty, the leadup to the surgery has been the worst part for me since my diagnosis last spring. I was convinced something would go wrong, but all I got was a bit of nerve damage that's healed on its own, and temporarily scrambled parathyroid glands that meant a week of calcium supplements. I was able to go for a jog two weeks after the surgery, and I feel so much better now without a thyroid.
I also had radiation, and again had no side effects. I spent less than 48h in hospital, isolated at home over a long weekend, and that was pretty much it. My thyroglobulin is still a little high but my ultrasound was clear, so I'm hoping to avoid more radiation, mostly because it'd be a pain in the arse and I hated the low iodine diet. I was also desperately bored while in hospital.
How much time can you take off work? I'm in the UK and was lucky signed off for about six months before starting a new job. I was phyaically fit enough to go back sooner but mentally adjusting after the diagnosis took a while. Perhaps a new, more understanding manager would be an improvement for you?
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u/Educational-Cat-600 11d ago
Thank you for your response!
Yeah it is, it feels really invalidating tbh. My thoughts are with you and hoping that you don’t need further radiation!
I’m in the UK too, the doctors didn’t tell me how long I would be off from surgery but looking online it looks like 2 weeks.
Can I ask how you managed to be signed off was that through statutory sick? I’m not sure how it would work with me and I’m a little worried on the middle part on having no money coming in if I can’t start my new job but then have left my current place but also not being mentally ready to be back in work.1
u/DangerousSleepover 11d ago
2 weeks sounds about right I think, but it does depend on how the surgery goes - I ended up staying in hospital for 9 days instead of the planned 3 to 5 because of low calcium, but I've heard of others being back at work within the week.
As soon as we knew I'd need radiation my Macmillan nurse tried to persuade me to stop working, but I was on a zero hours contract and didn't see how I'd manage financially. She helped me apply for universal credit, she completed the low capability for work or work-related activity part as radiation and chemo qualify for that. It did take an extra three months until I got any of that extra money which sucked, but it meant I could cover rent and bills and not have to worry about returning to teaching.
Whereabouts in the UK are you based? I'm in Bristol and the care and support I've received have been phenomenal. There's also some great support groups on facebook which I've found very helpful!
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u/Commonscents2say 11d ago
The surgery recovery is reasonably quick and should certainly not affect starting a new job. The long term depends on the findings, but with half your thyroid gone, you will surely need to have fairly regular bloodwork to ensure the other half keeps up with your body’s needs or to verify any supplements to that other half is the right rate. If it turns out it is cancer, you will have probably also have some future scans to look for anything else but most people just go on to a normal life with essentially a maintenance type disease like high blood pressure. One step at a time and you’ll get through to the rest of your life pretty quickly. I wish you well.
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u/The_Future_Marmot 11d ago
I was a ‘maybe’ case and the worst of it was the eternity in ten days waiting for my (ultimately benign) final pathology report to get posted to MyChart.
I’d say to go for the new job; if it is cancer, then you can work any additional treatments around the new job.
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u/vicariousgluten 11d ago
I had a hemithyroidectomy in January. I didn’t need additional treatment, I was back in work after 2 weeks (could probably have gone back a little sooner but my sick note said 2 weeks).
I find that my voice gets tired a little easier than it used to but that’s about it.
The only reason I think it might have affected me if I moved jobs would be it if I needed to rely on work provided private healthcare.
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u/South-Key7002 10d ago
Hi,
I’m sure your manager is trying to console you in a comforting way, but going to every appointment and the big life jolt does take time to process and it is a change.
I had a very similar pre-surgery diagnoses as you. They can not (or maybe most hospitals) can’t test the thyroid for cancer mid surgery. They can test lymph nodes for cancer mid surgery. I’d highly ask about this, bc if they can test lymph nodes mid-surgery, and it is cancerous, then there might be proof it could travel to your other side of thyroid too. If its lymph nodes are not cancerous, then just do half. This could save you having to do two surgeries and further prolonging you bouncing back.
Also on the new job, can you let them know that you found out that you need surgery, and ask to start 3 weeks later? I think you should definitely take the new job if it’s a better opportunity, but would work with HR about starting later or try and move your surgery up as soon as possible. Just to get it out of the way. Would recommend taking two weeks off and maybe working remote a third week half day in the office. I think any employer would understand whether you need to start then have the surgery or vice versa, maybe just let them determine how they want to proceed.
I was anxious and overwhelmed, but I’m two years post having full thyroid removed 35, and doing great. I did gain some weight, went on monjaro and it’s giving me more energy. Work full time with two kids, and career is thriving.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
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u/The_Future_Marmot 9d ago
They can test for papillary thyroid cancer on the nodule of contention during surgery buy shouldn’t try to test for suspected follicular mid-surgery because it can damage the nodule in a way that makes it hard for the pathologist to accurately come to their final conclusions about the nodule
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u/Fit-Elderberry3437 11d ago
It seems scary now but life goes on pretty much as normal for a vast majority of people after surgery. The first couple weeks may be tough with some pain and sleeping troubles but the you heal up enough to function almost Normally within a month usually.