Tag: Hyperthyroidism

Post Surgery Update

Thyroid surgery was successful. My neck is still sore and I was on painkillers until Friday but I think I may be back to work by Wednesday.

Thyroid surgery was successful. I was scheduled for surgery on 17th Monday at 7:30 AM. The surgeons were concerned about my elevated heart rate and body temperature.

My surgery was pushed back while the surgeons conferred. I was moved to a monitoring room to monitor my temperature, pulse and blood pressure and put on beta-blockers to reduce my heart rate. I woke up in the recovery room.

My heart rate was still elevated, my surgeon had me stay in the hospital 48 hours for observation. My neck and throat area were in intense pain and my throat hurt. It is difficult to swallow solid food. My meals are soups and smoothies. But I am recovering quickly. I came home on Wednesday afternoon.

My neck is still sore and I was on painkillers until Friday but I think I may be back to work by Wednesday. I'm not allowed to drive until I can easily turn my head so I will most likely telecommute.

Update: I lost 20lbs in those two weeks. My clothes don’t fit.

Life has its trying moments.

Waxes and wanes

Ugh! One of the challenges I have with Grave’s disease is with the symptoms of the disease. The swelling in my neck and eyes caused by inflammation of the tissue. This is caused by antibodies attacking the tissues. The level of antibodies rises and falls causing the symptoms to wax and wane. Today has been a difficult day. My neck is swollen. It’s difficult to swallow or talk. The tissues of my eyes are so inflamed that the pressure is causing my eyes to water incessantly. There is nothing I can do about this. Nothing that alleviates the symptoms.

Puffy Eyes

Over the last few months, my thyroid had put my body through a Gina yo-yo. My body responded well to the methimazole. A little too well. I went to hypothyroid again.

Even though my dosage was half what it was when I went through this the last time, yet this new lower dose was too much. But we caught it early. I knew what the symptoms were and called the doctor. She ordered some blood tests which confirm what I was feeling.

She prescribed some new medication to help me recover from, but it went too far. I did not back have hyperthyroidism. I was to stop that medication and take the methimazole.

This morning I woke up and my eyes were swollen, the lymph nodes in my next and swollen and I generally feel terrible.

The doctors warned that surgery might be my only option. I may soon have a thyroidectomy and after that, orbital eye surgery.