Alabama Lifestyle Blog

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surviving surgery – with results update!

Recently the question I have been getting is one of concern.  Not only for my physical well being especially now that I am out of the hospital, but also for my emotional state.  With everything that has been going on, my general response has been a generic one since I have been filled with such a myriad of emotions that have been rather difficult to voice.  I can however say that in the midst of all these feelings, my answer to the question “So, how are you feeling?” can be simply summed into one word. Blessed. Completely loved, taken care of, and inexplicably comforted. Curious of course; wanting answers and learning patience in gathering them. Terrified quite honestly; I had no idea what to expect before the surgery, and even through the recovery process there are still moments of fear that come upon me. And large amounts of pain, naturally. But anger, not at all. Being angry for this experience would lessen the value of what the Lord has been teaching already me through it all. Especially when it comes to love and comfort.  To be surrounded by such amazing friends and family that have not only expressed their care for me with such incredibly sweet emails/letters and silly text messages/pictures, but ones who have acted on that by keeping us busy with dinners, events, and outings to show their support as well. To have a husband who not only has been by my side for countless doctor’s appointments, but one who has embodied the very meaning of unfailing love through this seeming time of “worse” by holding me close and never ceasing to show how much he cares for me even with the most gentle kiss of the forehead when I needed it most. I am simply just incredibly blessed.

To update on the timeline of recent happenings:

A few weeks ago (beginning of Feb), we discovered I had a large nodular on my neck and went to the doctor. He sent me for a thyroid ultrasound, then after they determined the mass was a tumor (2in x 1in x 1in in size contained to my thyroid), they sent me for a guided ultrasound and took a biopsy of the cells. The results from that showed that from the cells on the inside of the tumor (they could only test the inside and not the outside with the biopsy), the inside of it and those cells they took are atypical and that the inside of the tumor could be benign, but that the outside could be follicular cancer of the thyroid. So he told us to go to an endocrinologist and I will likely have surgery sometime soon after that to have the tumor removed and then depending on whether it is malignant or not, the stage, and whether it has metastasized or not will depend on further treatments. So there’s a bit of a process left.
After much researching, we skipped the endocrinologist and went straight to the surgeon. I meet with Dr. Heslin (Surgical Oncologist) at the Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham (end of Feb). I had a CT scan done first and then met with him to go over that and all my other records. He confirmed everything we already knew, and also was able to provide us with some new info. The tumor is contained to the right lobe of the thyroid and the left side looks normal. Which is great news! He also said that from what the scan showed, my lymph nodes look unaffected and that the mass has not gone below my collar bones which is good.
All that to be said, I had surgery (right thyroid lobectomy) on April 4th (this past Wednesday) at UAB with Dr. Heslin to remove the mass. There are so many good things and he is certain that how soon we caught it, my age, and that as the side issues (some fatigue & weight gain) have been minimal that even if it is cancerous (which is a low percentage about 20-30%) that we are in a good place.
There were a few ways this could go now that the surgery is over:
During the surgery, he removed the right lobe & they didn’t find anything else wrong with my lymph nodes or anything so that was great! They are currently testing the mass further, and if they find after testing that it is malignant, then I would go back and have another surgery to remove the other part of my thyroid and have meds to take daily. Still a good option. They then of course would check the rest of me to see if it has spread anywhere else (unlikely) so they would be able to take action in those areas as well. However, if they find that it is benign, I wouldn’t even have to take pills. Just check in every so often. This is obviously the ideal option 🙂 So far, it’s looking like the second of the two from what happened in the surgery and the small frozen section they did pathology with then, but we won’t find out complete answers until sometime next week probably. Right now I am just recovering (well trying to!) with a sizable incision wound on my neck, as well as stiffness, soreness and pain in my neck and chest.  It actually looks pretty good all things considered. Nothing a cute scarf can’t cover up! [I am not going to post a picture, however if you can’t drop by to visit and would like to see it, I will gladly email one to you:)]
This has been somewhat of a process trying to find answers and waiting for results, but it has been quite an encouraging one in actuality. Everyone at UAB was just incredible from the ladies at admission, to the nurses, techs, and all of Dr. Heslin’s surgical team.  It really was a great overall experience in regards at the hospital given the situation and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. We have been bathed in prayer and are surrounded by so many wonderful friends and family both at the hospital & from far away.  And having Glenn by my side through it all has been such a blessing.  He truly has been the embodiment of comfort and love and has just been the most incredible man through this all.  We are confident in the Lord’s plans and trust fully in His provision, comfort and peace. Prayers and thoughts are indeed welcomed as we continue the recovery process and await the final results! 
            
just some goodies & flowers from some amazing peoples 🙂
UPDATE:
Thank you everyone for all of the thoughts and prayers!  Our prayers have truly been answered in more ways than we could have expected!  We are so incredibly blessed.

Dr. Heslin called and gave me the results earlier this week.  He said it was follicular adenoma, which simply means that it is a benign tumor of the thyroid. 🙂  I won’t need an additional surgery. I won’t need to take any medication. Aside from check ups every so often, this journey is reaching it’s ending point. YAY BENIGN!! 🙂

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  2. Kelly says

    Like Courtney, I had no idea…but I'm so happy to hear about the results! Praying for a super speedy recovery and no more tumors..ever!