Surgery cancelled for now....

Went to PATS this AM.   They were really busy, but got everything done in a timely fashion.  I was scheduled for 11am, got there about 10:30 as I had allowed for traffic and there was none.  I got through the blood work, the x ray, the ekg, resp eval, nutrition eval.  I was 1/2 way through w/ the nurse eval when the doc came in so the nurse stopped her eval and let him do his thing.  He went through everything with me....and then dropped the bomb..... My throid is apparantly pretty low.  The hormone that is secreted to get the thyroid to work (TSH) pretty high; 27 when the normal range in 0.38-5  So I'm about 6 times higher.  That means my thyroid is working to a degree...but it is taking ALOT of the other hormone to get it to work.  They won't do the surgery because there is a possibility that my thyroid could shut down period with the stress of the surgery.  They needed me to follow up with my primary doctor. Needless to say...I had a bit of a melt down in the office.  The nurse came back in to find me crying and (he hadn't told them yet) asked "What did he say to you????"  She was sooooo nice.....she gave me a hug.  She would have completed her assessment, but I couldn't really focus on anything....so she offered to do it when they re scheduled me and said that would be fine. As soon as I left Barix, I called my primary doctor.  He was able to get me in today, so I left to drive back up here in order to get to my doctor.  My doctor  said that A)  He doesn't think it is high enough to cancel the surgery, but he understands why...B) He re-drew the level because he says he just wants to double check everything and make sure it wasn't an error because I have no symptoms and because my other thyroid levels are OK.  C)  He wants me to have an ultrasound of the thyroid to make sure there are no tumors on my thyroid (which he said is probably not the case as tumors on the thyroid make you have INCREASED thyroid function, not decreased which is what I have  D)  He started me on meds and I need a level checked in two weeks to see if it is working and if I need a higher dose. So...bottom line...I now need to get my throid level in order prior to surgery.  Of course I will have to wait for another date, and it will be a minimum of 2 weeks before I can even possibly have normal labs, with a more than likely 4 weeks before my levels even out. I was pretty bummed...but I know it will work out for the best an additional month or two is not going to be end all be all for me.  It also explains, by the way, why I haven't been able to loose any weight despite eating almost perfectly for awhile now. So...sorry for rambling.  Hope the meeting went well and I'll be around!! Pam

Pam, everything happens for a reason.  Give it the time it needs, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Diane, Thanks...I know...I've had time to think about everything...and there's a family history on my mom's side of thyroid problems...so...I get it...and I'll get through it...and using this time to learn even more and cut out the rest of my bad habits like grazing and having 2 cups of caffeine (crystal lite iced tea) and what not.  Hopefully the meds will help my diet plan and my body will be able to loose weight at a decent rate. Thanks again Pam

hi pam sorry to hear about your appointment -- but keep the attitude!! keep learning!! and do not stop taking your thyroid medication after surgery :) surgery does not help (or hurt) the thyroid -- my medication actually had to be raised after surgery --probably due to malabsorption -- who knows haha  shop rite also has their own store brand of crystal lite and they  have decaf iced tea that is pretty good -- i found it by accident and really like it -- and i'm FUSSY!!  i had to wait to have my surgery -- if it wasn't one thing it was another -- i ended up having it the day before thanksgiving -- i got out of cooking, cleaning, and more cooking!!  everything happens for a reason --you are already approved -- that was the hard part!! i'm pretty sure that approvals are good for 6 months :)  i'll be thinking of you and hoping everything is working out  Roberta

Thanks ;-)  You always have such a great attitude, I appreciate it! Pam

Pam, Crystal Lite makes a decaffienated Iced tea too, try to look for that one and you'll be one step ahead of the game already!  I know that A&P carries it.

Yes...I found it the other day.  Thanks!! Pam

Pam,I am so sorry about your setback.I'm sure you'll be on your way in no time.Best of luck with this whole thyroid thing.

Thanks for the encouragement and kind words...I'm sure everything will work out....Just took a little while to swallow that whole thing...but I'm over it now and continuing to work my butt off to do what I need to do. Pam

Hi Pam,  Sorry to hear about your setback.  I agree with the other posters just keep on learning, and it is true everything does happen for a reason.  You will have whatever it is you want, don't give up!  I wish you luck.  I will be praying for you.  Let us know what happens. Melissa