Too Much on Our Plait: Like Mother

Like Mother - 32

Just got the word that Janina’s TSH is 38…which means that she’s more than ready for her radioactive iodine treatment. Poor thing has no thyroid and no thyroid replacement hormone which has resulted in major hypothyroidism. For most, this equates to a feeling of “looking up to the curb”. However, Janina has remained her cheery, helpful self, so it’s been hard to tell how bad she really must be feeling. Her voice has become much deeper and hoarse, somewhat reminiscent of a scene from the Exorcist, minus the attitude.

At any rate, in a final attempt to eradicate any and all stray thyroid cancer tissue and cells, she’ll take a whopping dose of radioactive iodine on Thursday and camp out in my basement for a few days to “deactivate”. It won’t be all that bad as we refinished the lower level a few years back. There’s a comfy bedroom (with an amazing pillowtop mattress), sitting area complete with two recliners, flat screen television, Wii game system, DVD and VSH players, bathroom with jet tub, and compact refrigerator. Not too shabby. She’ll be comfortable and safe surrounded by family – albeit a floor away. After 48 hours of hibernation, she’ll be allowed to circulate through the house, keeping a safe distance from others for a few more days. The worst part for Janina will be that she won’t be able to see or hold Marrin for five days. That was almost a deal-breaker for her; but like she always says, “ya gotta do what ya gotta do”. And so she will.

I’m still hanging around waiting for a call from my endocrinologist that my thyroglobulin shots are in. Two shots in the rear on two consecutive days and then radioactive iodine on the third. I get injections in exchange for having to go through thyroid hormone withdrawal. Not a bad deal. I don’t remember when I last had a shot in the butt…should be interesting.

Three days until Anna Marie’s surgery. I’m confident that she will have a perfectly uneventful procedure and recovery. I told her that I’ll bring my PJ’s to the hospital and we’ll pretend it’s a sleepover, except that she’ll be doing most of the sleeping. I’m hoping that all of our readers will keep yet another family member in their thoughts/prayers on Friday.

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by Adelina and Dori |

1 Comment

kpl110 on February 4, 2010 at 10:04 PM

I'll be thinking of Anna Marie tomorrow for her surgery. Hope RAI goes smoothly for you all. The isolation part must be so hard. :(
Take care,
Kim

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Like Daughter, Like Mother: Our Thyroid Cancer Journey

Behind the Blog

Adelina is a full-time wife, mother, practice manager, and medical transcriptionist. After receiving an ultrasound and countless biopsies, she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer on December 11, 2009. She successfully underwent surgery on December 29, 2009, and had her first radioactive iodine treatment in February 2010. Following treatment, Adelina now sees her doctor once a year for follow-up. She has been doing well, and refuses to let cancer slow her down.

Dori is 26 years old. She was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer at the age of 17 on June 1, 2006, just three days prior to her high school graduation. Dori endured two radioactive iodine treatments and two surgeries to remove her complete thyroid and 39 total lymph nodes from her neck. She is now under close watch by her doctors, and only time will tell if the cancer stays at bay.