I went into thyroid surgery last Friday expecting 3+ hours and the very real possibility of losing my voice. Because of complications during my first surgery in 2006, the surgeon was concerned about the laryngeal nerve taking shock or damage. I was expecting to be voiceless for a period of time, including the risk of permanent voice loss. (Hot Pocket said maybe I would just be a normal volume.)
Thankfully, after two hours, I emerged groggy but my normal, boisterous self. (Really. Ask Growler, who was with me the entire time. Or the multitude of nurses who seemed to want to hang in my room and chat for an inordinate amount of time.)
Now I have to adjust to life with no thyroid gland and a new dosage of replacement hormone. The surgeon told me to expect to feel "like crap" until the hormones normalize and the dosing is stable.
He wasn't kidding.
I am an emotional wreck.
At my post-op appointment today, he said I'm healing perfectly. (Yes, Stephanie, that giant lump on the front of your neck will go away eventually.) It's also okay that I'm crying and cranky all the damn time.
Yippee.
Mainly I wanted to update you guys with my recovery. Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and well wishes and prayers. Special thanks go to Growler and Big Cexy for taking such great care of me for the bulk of 72 hours. Also, thanks to my mom and stepdad for taking care of my boys while I was in the hospital and in early recuperation.
This is also your warning that I'm likely about to start an emotional rollercoaster here at Muchness and Light. It's my outlet, certainly. I hope someone other than me gets something from what I write. Either way, settle in—it may be bumpy for a while.
Or I could wake up tomorrow, happy as a lark. There's always hope!
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