Bare "bones" report from the doctor
Had a good doc's visit. I don't have the extreme signs of hypocalcemia which he tested me for...thumping your cheek in front of your jaw bone while you have your mouth open and putting a blood pressure cuff on your arm and inflating it. If you get big muscle movements, that's the more extreme case.
Me... my fingers and toes tingle/hurt/numb. Also, very, very temperature sensitive. If I cross my legs... my foot will fall asleep and I end up having it slap around for a while before it comes back awake. I had foot cramps on Wednesday night. You know the one where your big toe goes a different direction then the other toes. That happened 3 times during the night. Owie!
He ran blood work on both my calcium and PTH, as well as, my thyroid given that half of it is gone now. He'll call me Monday morning with the results. I am to take 1500 mg of calcium a day which is what I was doing anyway though I went lighter this week since I wasn't sure what he wanted me to take post the parathyroidectomy.
As to whether I need thyroid medicine, he said that we can medicate you and help the half of your thyroid that is still there get the job done. Or we can skip medication and just monitor it and make sure the remaining half gets the job done. If we do the latter, the thyroid will grow larger though at any point - if we introduce meds... it'll shrink back down. He said those are the choices. I looked at him for his medical opinion (aka leanings) and he said "Well, put it this way... I only have half a thyroid and I take medicine." 
I guess what works for him works for me. Plus I really do not want an overworked, less than optimal thyroid - don't want tiredness and weight gain. No way, no how. 
We decided to see what my labs show. But I'm definitely leaning towards meds. Though I have to figure out where to fit it in. No thyroid meds with hours of calcium or iron. Doh!
I took my steristrips off. Bad, Kathy! My wound is 3" long at the base of my neck. Feels like a fair amount of swelling there. Incision is scabbed over and is a pretty fine line. Not bad. Given my back surgery scar and lap scars on my belly (all 9 of them!)... should heal well.
Talked to my sister a few times this week. She had some doctor's appointments. Her mastectomies are Tuesday. She was talking about our family history which is now much clearer since Dad found my mother's mother and aunt's autopsy reports. Uterine cancer in both, breast cancer in one. We thought the breast cancer was secondary - but the reading my sister has done... cancer in the breast usually starts there. So big changes in family history. My father's mother also had uterine cancer but she developed it at age 95. I'm not kidding. Nice genetics, we got eh? Not to mention the diabetes (mom, dad's brother), high blood pressure (mom, me), cataracts (Pam had them at age 33 and so did I - mom had them late 30s/40ish), coronary artery disease (mom and her father), strokes (mom) and dad has prostate cancer and basal cell carcinoma. My sisters regular doctor told her that she got dealt some pretty poor genes.
I bring the family history up because my sister is debating on getting genetic testing done. In order for me to get it done, she has to do it first. If she is found to have the BRCA gene mutation(s), that ups the risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer by leaps and bounds. Obviously, she already had breast cancer. She said if she had the gene mutation and given uterine cancer on both sides of the family - she will probably discuss having a prophyllatic hysterectomy with a oncologist gyn which is what her regular doctor now wants her to see. She is already past menopause at age 48. I'm only 3 years younger but no signs here yet. Anyway, no testing in the immediate future but she asked the question, if we find out she had the mutation and so do I, what do I do? Do I just do what I plan on doing now which is having yearly mammograms reviewed by an oncologist or do I do prophyllatic mastectomies and even a hysterectomy. Then we had to discuss if we get the tests done and we have mutations, what does that do your insurability. How do you keep the results out of medical files and the insurer's hands? From what my sister understands though, some insurances will pay for a hysterectomy without a medical reason given the mutation. It costs them less to do that surgery then for you to develop cancer and be treated.
Anyway, obviously lots for us to ponder down the road. No worries now.
I know, too long and too much info. But it is what it is!
Kathy
I guess what works for him works for me. Plus I really do not want an overworked, less than optimal thyroid - don't want tiredness and weight gain. No way, no how.
We decided to see what my labs show. But I'm definitely leaning towards meds. Though I have to figure out where to fit it in. No thyroid meds with hours of calcium or iron. Doh!
I took my steristrips off. Bad, Kathy! My wound is 3" long at the base of my neck. Feels like a fair amount of swelling there. Incision is scabbed over and is a pretty fine line. Not bad. Given my back surgery scar and lap scars on my belly (all 9 of them!)... should heal well.
Talked to my sister a few times this week. She had some doctor's appointments. Her mastectomies are Tuesday. She was talking about our family history which is now much clearer since Dad found my mother's mother and aunt's autopsy reports. Uterine cancer in both, breast cancer in one. We thought the breast cancer was secondary - but the reading my sister has done... cancer in the breast usually starts there. So big changes in family history. My father's mother also had uterine cancer but she developed it at age 95. I'm not kidding. Nice genetics, we got eh? Not to mention the diabetes (mom, dad's brother), high blood pressure (mom, me), cataracts (Pam had them at age 33 and so did I - mom had them late 30s/40ish), coronary artery disease (mom and her father), strokes (mom) and dad has prostate cancer and basal cell carcinoma. My sisters regular doctor told her that she got dealt some pretty poor genes.
I bring the family history up because my sister is debating on getting genetic testing done. In order for me to get it done, she has to do it first. If she is found to have the BRCA gene mutation(s), that ups the risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer by leaps and bounds. Obviously, she already had breast cancer. She said if she had the gene mutation and given uterine cancer on both sides of the family - she will probably discuss having a prophyllatic hysterectomy with a oncologist gyn which is what her regular doctor now wants her to see. She is already past menopause at age 48. I'm only 3 years younger but no signs here yet. Anyway, no testing in the immediate future but she asked the question, if we find out she had the mutation and so do I, what do I do? Do I just do what I plan on doing now which is having yearly mammograms reviewed by an oncologist or do I do prophyllatic mastectomies and even a hysterectomy. Then we had to discuss if we get the tests done and we have mutations, what does that do your insurability. How do you keep the results out of medical files and the insurer's hands? From what my sister understands though, some insurances will pay for a hysterectomy without a medical reason given the mutation. It costs them less to do that surgery then for you to develop cancer and be treated.
Anyway, obviously lots for us to ponder down the road. No worries now.
I know, too long and too much info. But it is what it is!
Kathy 
Kathy,
I'm glad you are taking the "take the thyroid med" approach. I think you will be better off. I take synthroid and have never been told I have to take it at a different time then my iron and calcium. I guess I'd better read the info packet. I was recently on an antibiotic that had to be taken so many hours before and after calcium. It was very difficult to do that.
I have poor genes in my family too. I have never regretted not reproducing and passing this stuff off!
Lori
Lori,
Yes, thyroid meds shouldn't be taken within 3 hours of calcium or iron. Hard to schedule that, eh?
Of course, if Rich and I were to reproduce (fat chance at age 45.5) - we have my lovely family history plus his mom had breast cancer, diabetes and HBP. His Dad had triple bypass surgery, lost a leg to diabetes, diabetes, and prostate cancer. When bad genes, collide... WATCH OUT!
Hopefully, at some point, maybe we'll explore adoption.
Kathy
I'm such an info junkie...
How to Take Your Thyroid Medication
If you want to make sure that you are taking your thyroid medication properly, here are some guidelines to help.
Here's How:
Always check the prescription against what you receive. Don't allow generic substitutions.
Most doctors feel that taking thyroid hormone on an empty stomach allows for maximum absorption.
Many practitioners advise that you allow at least one hour before eating, because it allows for maximum absorption.
Be consistent about a high-fiber diet. If you start or stop eating high-fiber, get your thyroid rechecked, because it may change your absorption.
Many experts recommend you take vitamins or supplements with iron at least two to three hours apart from thyroid hormone. Iron can interfere with thyroid hormone absorption if taken too close together.
Be careful about taking calcium and calcium-fortified orange juice at the same time as thyroid hormone. Allow at least 2-3 hours apart, so absorption is not affected.
Don't take antacids within two hours of thyroid hormone. Allow at least 2-3 hours apart, so absorption is not affected.
Watch for interactions with antidepressants & thyroid hormone. Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac can make thyroid meds more or less effective. Talk to your doctor.
Don't stop taking thyroid hormone when you're pregnant or breastfeeding. It's necessary for you and your baby's health. Talk to your doctor about adjusting to the right dosage.
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