That is an odd put up, however I figured I might share it anyway in case somebody goes by a thyroid difficulty and desires to see images of what to anticipate. Truthfully, it appears to be like worse than it’s. I used to be anticipating a scar, after all, however there have been another adjustments, too.
Anyway, right here goes. Beginning with a few “earlier than” images, so you may see the massive lump in my neck. At that time, I had no thought it was a mass. I assumed it was an enlarged thyroid–something that I might identified for 20 years. It obtained a lot greater fairly shortly, although, which is why it wanted to be eliminated.
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| That is after I actually observed the dimensions improve. I had been taking a photograph to do a Wednesday Weigh-In (which I by no means ended up doing) and was somewhat surprised to see my neck. (My neck was not the explanation I did not do the weigh in; I simply did not get round to writing it.) |
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| I used to be taking a pic of my earrings (simply to ask somebody a couple of smaller stud size) so you may’t see my complete neck, however this actually reveals the dimensions from what you may see. |
After that is after I had the biopsy, which was terrible. You possibly can examine that on this put up.
It is a hematoma that shaped in the course of the biopsy. I felt like perhaps I made an enormous mistake in doing the biopsy (though it was essential)–my signs worsened and it seemed horrible. It was very painful, too.
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| A hematoma is mainly a pocket crammed with blood. Since there is no such thing as a incision for the blood to get out, it swimming pools beneath. |
I did not understand how critical a hematoma in your neck is till after I obtained house from the biopsy and it was getting even more durable to swallow. If it continues to bleed, it will probably shut off your airway–so it is necessary to go get checked out. They did not actually do a lot on the ER (and even my in a single day keep) however they mentioned it was good that I went in. If my airway closed, not less than I might be on the hospital.
The doctor assistant who did the biopsy advised me that I “could have a small bruise that may go away in a few days”. Effectively, right here is the timeline for my biopsy bruise… the bruise was there for 2 and a half weeks. The images make it look not that unhealthy, but it surely was very noticeable. I saved forgetting about it till I observed individuals taking a look at it whereas I used to be out in public.
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| Within the hospital after eradicating the bandage. The swelling had already gone down a noticeable quantity. |
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| Three days post-biopsy |
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| 5 days post-biopsy. The little dot is the place the needles have been inserted; I believe there’s one hole needle after which six smaller needles have been handed by that to gather samples. Or perhaps I am simply making that up? I believe that is what I used to be advised. |
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| 9 days post-biopsy |
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| Eleven days post-biopsy |
In the meantime, I additionally had a CT scan and noticed simply how big the mass was. It was about 5-6 centimeters, which is taken into account very massive (even the surgeons have been type of impressed on the dimension). It was urgent up in opposition to my esophagus (meals tube) and trachea (airway) and even my jugular vein and backbone. Because of this it was so arduous to swallow.
I even began to eat softer meals as a result of I might nearly choked a couple of instances. My voice had modified (the voice field is *proper* there and I used to be advised there was an opportunity my voice would change completely after the surgical procedure (triggered from a complication). I truthfully would not have minded! I do not like my voice and I type of appreciated the little bit of raspiness I might developed.
I believe the biopsy bruise was lastly gone after about two and a half weeks. Simply in time to get replaced by a scar! Hahaha. Fortunately, the biopsy got here again destructive for most cancers!
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| Twenty-four hours post-op. I used to be horrified after I noticed this. After eradicating the ACE bandage the next day, that is what it seemed like. The tape on there’s a Steri-strip and it meant to dissolve by itself. |
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| Simply one other angle at 24 hours post-op. |
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| The subsequent day, I felt prefer it simply obtained worse. I used to be relived to have the ability to bathe, although! The adhesive on my neck collected lint and dirt and it appears to be like gross, I do know. Showering was scary; I used to be frightened I used to be going to open my incision or one thing. |
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| Twelve days post-op. There’s nonetheless some residual adhesive, however touching it gave me the heebie jeebies, so I did not scrub it. |
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| 13 days post-op. I used tweezers to softly decide away the residue from the Steri-strip, and I felt prefer it seemed so significantly better after that! |
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| Precisely one month later, which is about six weeks post-op. |
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| One other angle. With out tilting my head again, you may see all of the unfastened and puckered pores and skin. I do not know if it will go away or not. It nearly feels just like the muscular tissues holding my neck pores and skin extra taut loosened up or one thing. |
The puckered pores and skin on my neck, together with the puckered pores and skin on my chin (which was from my jaw restore surgical procedures in 2010), my face is not trying too good nowadays, hahaha. They don’t seem to be hidden with clothes–even a turtle neck cannot cowl it up, so I simply need to be okay with it. The scar is not a problem for me, however I actually hate the unfastened pores and skin.
And as of this second, that is what my scar appears to be like like… not unhealthy in any respect!
The issue is that it solely appears to be like okay when I’ve my head tipped again. Once I put my head down, it appears to be like like this…
I do not need it to discourage anybody from getting the surgical procedure in the event that they want it, however I additionally wish to be trustworthy about what to anticipate. No one ever talked about something about my pores and skin (aside from a scar) so I used to be not anticipating this in any respect. I do not know if it is going to get higher over time, however I do not think about it is going to.
Apart from all the thyroid stuff, not a lot has been occurring. I am nonetheless not feeling higher mentally, however I observe up with my psychiatrist this month in regards to the new remedy, so I may want the next dose.
I have not misplaced any weight, though I do begin each day with the mindset of getting again on observe with not solely my eating regimen, however my life basically. I really feel overwhelmed; up to now behind on the whole lot. Together with e mail! In case you are ready for a response, I’m so sorry. I have been spending as little time on the pc as doable. I have been feeling actually nostalgic for the 90’s these days; I miss doing issues with out know-how in every single place. So I have been engaged on that lately.
And nonetheless stitching! I have been doing a variety of hand-sewing and hand-quilting these days. My put up about current initiatives is a couple of 12 months overdue now, hahaha. I simply haven’t got photos of issues, so I have to take the time to take some photos.
Noah resides at house once more, and I like having a buddy right here! Eli would not hang around with me like he used to, however Noah has been enjoying Dr. Mario with me (the old-fashioned Nintendo one–I’m *superior* at it, haha), chatting with me about his day, asking me to observe films with him, present him cook dinner issues, and many others.
I have been engaged on redoing my bed room decor as effectively. The infantile theme Jerry and I attempted out was enjoyable for a few years, however we have been prepared to maneuver on from the black partitions and ceiling! I’ve painted the ceiling white (and no, it wasn’t arduous to cowl the black–one coat of Kilz and two coats of Sherwin Williams paint) and the partitions a type of medium-navy. They don’t seem to be too darkish or too gentle.
My coloration inspiration really got here from a quilt I’m engaged on proper now (I swore I’d *by no means * get into quilting, but right here I’m). I purchased a bunch of fats quarters (1 / 4 of a yard of cloth) on Ebay–they are civil warfare copy prints and I completely love how the colours go collectively. (I needed to put a security pin in every of the 806 squares to carry it collectively whereas quilting, which is why I’ve this unfold out on the ground!).
I’ve a couple of extra issues to do to my room (together with ending this queen-size quilt!) after which I will put up photos. Rose (Noah’s “girlfriend”; they broke up but it surely was very amicable and they’re nonetheless shut pals) loves to brighten and he or she’s been serving to me with concepts. I am nonetheless leaving all of the cat cabinets up; the cats use them a lot that I will by no means be capable of take them down. Most of them are on the ceiling, although, so they do not hinder furnishings or something.
So that is the gist of what is going on on with me. As quickly as I am feeling higher, I’ll write a “actual” put up, I promise!
