Saturday, October 7, 2017

Got a phone call from the surgeon’s office yesterday afternoon. My blood calcium was a touch low so I have to take three Ultra Tums a day for two weeks. They have 1,000 mg of calcium in them. Simple fix!

The nurse also told me I had a cancer in my thyroid. It was very small and not one that would have been detected unless the whole thyroid had been removed. Feeling very lucky I had an allergic reaction to iodine years ago so the best option to treat my thyroid was to remove it instead of the radioactive iodine treatment. That treatment may or may not have killed the cancer.

I will find out in three weeks if any other treatment will be required and exactly what type of cancer it is. They may be able to monitor it through blood levels and do nothing else. As my cancer marker was high I am not totally surprised they found some. I may have to do a Radioiodine treatment but maybe not as it was so small.

Feeling very lucky today! Something told me I needed my whole thyroid removed and I was relieved when that was what the Endocrinologist first suggested I do. If one has to have cancer this is the type to have as it rarely is aggressive and mine was caught very early.

My headache came back yesterday afternoon. Took another pain pill and it went away. Probably from the low calcium level. Trusting the Tums will bring my calcium levels up quickly so the headache won’t come back again.

Got the second panel knitted on the baby blanket I am working on. Gives me something to do while I rest.

Had several strong storms move through last night. I left a window open and had to mop up the bathroom floor during the night. Haven’t noticed any wind damage yet. Didn’t get lots of rain out of it all but what I got was very welcome. It is in the mid 50’s this morning. Almost time to turn the fireplace on. Bright blue skies and windy yet this morning.

Kathy took off early to get things set up for the Festival at Pioneer Bluffs. It will be a long day at home for me as I decided not to go. I’m feeling really good but don’t want to over do. I’m a bit likely to pick up a cold or the flu right now and don’t want to expose myself to getting the crud. Not what I need right now.

Learning to take my thyroid medication at least 30 minutes before I can eat each morning. It will be something I will have to do the rest of my life. I’m not a good pill taker so this will be a new adjustment for me. Maybe I can teach this old dog a new trick!

The swelling is not as bad this morning as it was yesterday. I keep getting my chin stuck to the incision site when I look down as the incision site is swollen. Gives new meaning to the term rubber neck. I will ice it again every hour today and see if I can keep the swelling in check today. All in all my recovery is going very well. Grateful I have not had much discomfort or pain.

Beautiful day on the prairie today. Go to Pioneer Bluffs Festival and eat some Surly Mermaid. It starts at 2:00. All is well!