We woke up earlier than normal so that we could go grab free doughnuts from Krispy Kreme for Talk Like a Pirate Day. Delicious! I am
Here's a couple pictures for your enjoyment!
After Krispy Kreme, we RUSHED home and changed really quickly to drop the kids of at Sarah & Jake's house (thanks for watching them guys!) and RUSH to see Dr. Maggass. A Radiation Oncologist. I'll get to what we learned later. First I need to explain a couple things.
On Monday, I had my post-op appointment with Dr. Rothman (the surgeon who removed my thyroid). Everything checked out minus my singing voice. I have to give that another month before I can try singing high notes. But, he said that side effect is normal. The nerve that you use to raise the pitch of your voice is really close to your thyroid and more affected than the one you use for talking normal. So, that would be why I have trouble singing/why it hurts to try to sing high notes. Remember how I told you in a previous post that Dr. Rothman has a terrible bedside manner?!?! Well, I was almost in tears when I left his office. He's kind of a jerk, but the type of jerk that is good at what he does so you let him operate on your neck twice and just remind yourself that you don't have to be best friends. I just loved playing 20 questions in his office. "Where are you singing?" "Why do you need to sing?" "Why would you really need to sing?" etc.
Monday afternoon, I was driving home from the fabric store and had the thought, "I should call and schedule an appointment with Uncle Max. He might have an opinion about the whole thing or know someone who is good that I could get a 2nd opinion from." So, I made an appointment for the next day. (I really feel like it was the Spirit telling me to go see him). Uncle Max=Dr. Germaine a family doctor here in the valley. If you need a good family doctor, he's your guy!
Tuesday, I went to my appointment with my Uncle Max. I cried in his office. But, I guess that's okay because I've been under a lot of stress lately. He helped give me peace of mind, referred me to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, and gave me a big hug. He was awesome! As I drove away from his office, the tears ran down my face. This was yet another incident lately that showed me how much God loves me. Logically, going to a family doctor after already seeing several specialists doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it just felt like the right thing to do, and it was! I'm grateful for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, without them I don't know where I would be.
Wednesday, I stayed at home...finally! Jereld did go get our puppy (Pepper) her rabies shot and registration, but that was all that was out of the norm and it felt nice to have a little break.
Then there was today. I went to see Dr. Maggass (Radiation Oncologist). I'm sure it takes a special person to be an oncologist. Not really a happy, feel-good line of work I'm sure. In fact, there was a super grouchy guy in the waiting room that accidentally spilled his water on his shirt and then threw his water bottle cap. I'm sure he doesn't feel good having cancer and everything, but really!?!?!
Dr Maggass recommended that I go ahead with the RAI treatment. He said a scan would not change his opinion because the scans are not all that accurate. I found out that I can't be around my kids for 7 days (wish it was the 3 day quote I was given...that would have been so much better). I can resume life with Jereld as normal after 3 days so he suggested we leave the kids with someone and go on a little vacation for the remaining 4. He said my cancer is an odd case because they didn't find the source of my cancer...but I already knew that. He let me know that I will have to go off my thyroid meds so that I will be hypothyroid for a while before the treatment. I will also have to be on a low-iodine diet for about 2 weeks. I will get blood work done once a week until my levels of thyroglobulin are in the correct range and then they would pull the trigger on the RAI therapy. FUN! There was more discussed, but that was the gist of it.
Tomorrow, I go to MD Anderson Cancer Center for my 2nd opinion. We'll see what they have to say and if I like their plan better or feel more comfortable with them.
As of right now, we feel like we want to get the 2nd opinion and pray about things before making any decisions. Right now, I am recognizing more and more that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is incredibly important. I am realizing more and more that the ability to "always have His Spirit" to be with me is what I need. It's such a blessing.
1 comment:
My friend said the diet was the hardest part of it all, but she is a grandma and didn't have to farm out the kids. We left our kids for a week when they were little and they all survived. I think going somewhere fun would be a good way to get through it all. I see the surgeon next week to schedule getting my thyroid out. It is big. Good luck tomorrow!--love you all, Aunt Judy
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