Wednesday, June 30, 2010
RAI date moved up to tomorrow - July 1, 2010
Got a call from the Radiology dept to see if I could come in for my RAI therapy tomorrow (Thursday, July 1) instead of on Friday (July 2). She said if I couldn't make it, then it would be pushed back a bit. I called my vet to make sure they could board the two dogs (the cat was already going to be taken in for boarding tomorrow) at the end of next week when my parents are out of town (I probably should not be feeding pets even a week later), and they were very accommodating. So, I'm going in tomorrow. I checked my TSH level results and they were twice what they needed to be (67.4, but only needed to be 30). I was concerned about some food I had earlier this week since it was processed in a facility that also processed milk, eggs, soy, etc. The Radiologist said that would be Ok, and my ENDO said it was more important that I avoided seafood/sushi. So, I guess I'm good to go.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Labs
I thought I was only having my TSH level taken, but blood was also drawn for my Thyroglobulin level (Tg), which I believe is the tumor marker for thyroid cancer. Little surprised that a Thyroglobulin antibody test (TgAb) was not also part of the blood work taken, although perhaps it is something that will also be analyzed along with the Thyroglobulin level. Or maybe not - further research on the TgAb indicates that I would have been told to fast for several hours before the test, which I was not told to do and was not asked about when I checked in at the lab. I hope I didn't botch up my labs!
Just days away from my RAI therapy dose, and I noticed that the TJ's blue corn tortillas I've been eating are processed on machinery shared with soy and dairy products. Great. Could I be botching up my chances for a good RAI therapy and whole body scans?!? I know I need to stop stressing, but I'm starting to get worried about how good I've been about following the low-iodine diet (from hell) these past couple of weeks and that my TSH and Tg levels are where they need to be. Argh!
Just days away from my RAI therapy dose, and I noticed that the TJ's blue corn tortillas I've been eating are processed on machinery shared with soy and dairy products. Great. Could I be botching up my chances for a good RAI therapy and whole body scans?!? I know I need to stop stressing, but I'm starting to get worried about how good I've been about following the low-iodine diet (from hell) these past couple of weeks and that my TSH and Tg levels are where they need to be. Argh!
Endo says... - Part 2
Got a response from my Endo:
1) I can have my TSH level taken at any lab within my medical group. Lucky for me there is one about a mile away from my house. Everyone at the ThyCa meeting last week suggested that I always get my blood work for my thyroid tests done at the same lab every time, so I guess I'll be going to my local lab for everything going forward.
2) As for my HCC not taking up the radiation iodine therapy, he said that in some advanced cases of HCC it doesn't take up the iodine, but he believes mine will because I was diagnosed under the age of 45, and I should continue to hope for the best possible result. I have to say that from everything I have read in my books and on the internet, I have been glossing right over the age correlation, so it was never clear to me how or why it was known that the RAI didn't work. See the other quirky thing about HCC is that it usually shows up in people over the age of 45. So now it makes perfect sense to me why it doesn't normally take up RAI. When I first learned that I had HCC, I always wondered how it was that not only did I get the not so common variant of the second most common thyroid cancer, but also how on earth did I get the thyroid cancer reserved for people over the age of 45 when I just turned 40 when the lump on my left thyroid was discovered. Why me?!? Well, maybe I now have the answer to that question: Because I truly am lucky that it was found as early as it was and that I did something about it when I did. I'm not home free just yet, but I feel so much more positive and at ease about going through RAI now. This is very encouraging news!
Otherwise, today (Monday, June 28) was pretty exhausting, which is why I am posting this after midnight. My dad's post-stroke appt with his Cardiologist was at 9:30am. He had yet another reason to feel discouraged about his health situation since we were told the clot that caused the stroke may have been from his bypass surgery since he had atrial fibrillation during his surgery. This is why he has a very high risk of having another stroke within in the next couple of months. So, he was taken off Plavix and put on Coumadin, which requires weekly blood tests and a heart monitor. His doc did mention that he should be walking every day. So we need to include that as a daily activity for him in addition to his PT exercises. I remember it took me a while to get past the 'Why me' phase even before I found out I had HCC, so I just keep on reminding my Dad that these are all just minor set backs, that he is very lucky, despite these two major health events he has experienced within weeks of each other, because the outcome could have been far worse for him. Daily encouragement is what I have for him, and I pray that my dad will once again feel good about where is and where he is going with it.
1) I can have my TSH level taken at any lab within my medical group. Lucky for me there is one about a mile away from my house. Everyone at the ThyCa meeting last week suggested that I always get my blood work for my thyroid tests done at the same lab every time, so I guess I'll be going to my local lab for everything going forward.
2) As for my HCC not taking up the radiation iodine therapy, he said that in some advanced cases of HCC it doesn't take up the iodine, but he believes mine will because I was diagnosed under the age of 45, and I should continue to hope for the best possible result. I have to say that from everything I have read in my books and on the internet, I have been glossing right over the age correlation, so it was never clear to me how or why it was known that the RAI didn't work. See the other quirky thing about HCC is that it usually shows up in people over the age of 45. So now it makes perfect sense to me why it doesn't normally take up RAI. When I first learned that I had HCC, I always wondered how it was that not only did I get the not so common variant of the second most common thyroid cancer, but also how on earth did I get the thyroid cancer reserved for people over the age of 45 when I just turned 40 when the lump on my left thyroid was discovered. Why me?!? Well, maybe I now have the answer to that question: Because I truly am lucky that it was found as early as it was and that I did something about it when I did. I'm not home free just yet, but I feel so much more positive and at ease about going through RAI now. This is very encouraging news!
Otherwise, today (Monday, June 28) was pretty exhausting, which is why I am posting this after midnight. My dad's post-stroke appt with his Cardiologist was at 9:30am. He had yet another reason to feel discouraged about his health situation since we were told the clot that caused the stroke may have been from his bypass surgery since he had atrial fibrillation during his surgery. This is why he has a very high risk of having another stroke within in the next couple of months. So, he was taken off Plavix and put on Coumadin, which requires weekly blood tests and a heart monitor. His doc did mention that he should be walking every day. So we need to include that as a daily activity for him in addition to his PT exercises. I remember it took me a while to get past the 'Why me' phase even before I found out I had HCC, so I just keep on reminding my Dad that these are all just minor set backs, that he is very lucky, despite these two major health events he has experienced within weeks of each other, because the outcome could have been far worse for him. Daily encouragement is what I have for him, and I pray that my dad will once again feel good about where is and where he is going with it.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Last two days my energy level has been all over the place. I definitely needed naps both days. I decided to drive myself to the ThyCa (Thyroid Cancer Survivor) meeting Thursday evening, but yesterday I had my mom take care of the driving for me.
My chiro told me about an article he read that THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol, which is found in the cannabis plant) was able to stop cancer cells from growing in certain cancers, particularly one type of thyroid cancer, BUT, he couldn't remember which thyroid cancer it worked for. Interesting. I remember when I found out I had two flavors of thyroid cancer that my younger sister asked if that meant I could get medical grade marijuana. I chuckled because I said I wasn't in any real pain from my cancers. But, you never know. Since the HCC doesn't generally take up the RAI treatment, and if my tumor marker (Tg) showed that I still have cancer lurking around my body after the scans, I wouldn't be opposed to trying anything to stop it from growing more. I suppose that would mean participating in some sort of cancer treatment trial, even if it were for THC.
Anyway, I'm down to six more days on the low-iodine diet from hell and my therapy dose. I emailed my Endo to find out where I need to go on Tuesday 6/29 to have my TSH (thryoid stimulating hormone) level taken. My TSH level has to be at 30 or more in order for me to be able to get the RAI next Friday 7/2. The thyroid cells that are left in my body need to be awake, cancerous or not, so they will be ready to take up the radiated iodine. In the email, I also asked my Endo if I'd be getting any other types of scans due to the fact that HCC doesn't normally take up the iodine. Just asking.
Need to start preparing for my 'isolation' days. The cat will be boarded at the vet. I think the two dogs will be Ok since both have specific places in the house where they like to sleep, which isn't in my tiny bedroom. I've been told that I should throw out my toothbrush after RAI, so I'm thinking I should probably also buy trial sizes for toothpaste, face creams, shower gel, etc. as well so I can throw them all out afterward. I still need to find some sugar-free lemon drops (to keep my salivary glands flowing). I will pick up my first round of Levoxyl (my prescribed thryoird hormone replacement) on Monday 6/28. I start taking that 48 hours after RAI, so on July 4. How ironic that I start taking my thyroid hormone, which I will be dependent upon for the rest of my life, on Independence day.
For anyone watching the World Cup, the US is still losing 1-0 to Ghana and it's 15 or so minutes into the second half. Hopefully we can score two goals to stay alive in this round. Go USA!!!
My chiro told me about an article he read that THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol, which is found in the cannabis plant) was able to stop cancer cells from growing in certain cancers, particularly one type of thyroid cancer, BUT, he couldn't remember which thyroid cancer it worked for. Interesting. I remember when I found out I had two flavors of thyroid cancer that my younger sister asked if that meant I could get medical grade marijuana. I chuckled because I said I wasn't in any real pain from my cancers. But, you never know. Since the HCC doesn't generally take up the RAI treatment, and if my tumor marker (Tg) showed that I still have cancer lurking around my body after the scans, I wouldn't be opposed to trying anything to stop it from growing more. I suppose that would mean participating in some sort of cancer treatment trial, even if it were for THC.
Anyway, I'm down to six more days on the low-iodine diet from hell and my therapy dose. I emailed my Endo to find out where I need to go on Tuesday 6/29 to have my TSH (thryoid stimulating hormone) level taken. My TSH level has to be at 30 or more in order for me to be able to get the RAI next Friday 7/2. The thyroid cells that are left in my body need to be awake, cancerous or not, so they will be ready to take up the radiated iodine. In the email, I also asked my Endo if I'd be getting any other types of scans due to the fact that HCC doesn't normally take up the iodine. Just asking.
Need to start preparing for my 'isolation' days. The cat will be boarded at the vet. I think the two dogs will be Ok since both have specific places in the house where they like to sleep, which isn't in my tiny bedroom. I've been told that I should throw out my toothbrush after RAI, so I'm thinking I should probably also buy trial sizes for toothpaste, face creams, shower gel, etc. as well so I can throw them all out afterward. I still need to find some sugar-free lemon drops (to keep my salivary glands flowing). I will pick up my first round of Levoxyl (my prescribed thryoird hormone replacement) on Monday 6/28. I start taking that 48 hours after RAI, so on July 4. How ironic that I start taking my thyroid hormone, which I will be dependent upon for the rest of my life, on Independence day.
For anyone watching the World Cup, the US is still losing 1-0 to Ghana and it's 15 or so minutes into the second half. Hopefully we can score two goals to stay alive in this round. Go USA!!!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
USA!...USA!!...USA!!!
So stoked that the US team made it through to the 'Round of 16' in the World Cup. It was a nail biting game as we kept on knocking on the door (including yet another disallowed goal) the whole game, so it was such a relief when Landon Donovan scored a goal in the 91st minute to win the game and move on to the knockout round. Beautiful!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Who is that guy?
...I'm just asking myself that question.
Anyway, I had an acupuncture appt this evening. It was too cold in the room for me to get comfortable enough to relax after she put the needles in, but I think it still worked. I've been feeling relaxed since my treatment.
Went to Whole Foods afterwards to get some organic chicken breasts for dinner, then TJ's for more stir fry mix and corn tortillas. For dinner I stir fried some chicken with zucchini, yellow squash, and quinoa in olive oil, garnished with green onions, and topped off with some lemon juice and salt. Delish!
Anyway, I had an acupuncture appt this evening. It was too cold in the room for me to get comfortable enough to relax after she put the needles in, but I think it still worked. I've been feeling relaxed since my treatment.
Went to Whole Foods afterwards to get some organic chicken breasts for dinner, then TJ's for more stir fry mix and corn tortillas. For dinner I stir fried some chicken with zucchini, yellow squash, and quinoa in olive oil, garnished with green onions, and topped off with some lemon juice and salt. Delish!
Monday, June 21, 2010
How does my neck look? 6/21/10
Been waiting for the remaining tape on my incision to peel up, but nothing yet. The sharp pointing thing on the right side of my incision seems a little less pointy/sharp than it did last week though. I keep on forgetting to email my surgeon to ask what I need to put on the left over tape so it will come off. The area right above the incision area looks a lot less puffy than it did a couple of weeks ago, but it is still numb.
So, how does my neck look?
So, how does my neck look?
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