Posted on 01/17/2013 11:29:59 PM PST by cva66snipe
My wife was diagnosed a few months ago with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Cancer is never good news but I understand this cancer is the one to have in the way of recovery and cure. She had her Thyroid Gland completely removed in November and underwent I-131 treatment Wednesday morning. A low to moderate dose we were told.
She does have concerns about me which I feel are minimal risk issues but would like some help answering. First of all many if not most of the precautions she was supposed to take herself she can herself not do. She is a quadriplegic although she can use her arms and hands well aka incomplete quad. I had to drive us home and for her safety securing the wheelchair she was about 3 feet away beside me and to my back for about 25 minutes. As well I had to lift her and put her in bed when we got home. This obviously involved more exposure to her neck area. Another isue involves her being a Colostomy/Urostomy patient. IOW I handle the fluids, waste, change flanges and bags etc. She's very worried about the ill effects it could have on me short term and long term.
Plus even though our dogs are being cared for out of the home for seven days {next Wednesday afternoon} she is worried about poisoning the dogs when they come home. One is about Chihuahua size a Toy Ratty {Ten pounds} which is her companion and slept with us. Any experiences, professional experience, knowledge would be appreciated. Her prognoses is real good according to Endocrinologist, surgeon, and our doctor. Thanks.
BTW I’m in East TN. Been through your area many times many years ago truck driving.
Sir about 8 years ago I went through the same procedure your wife has, I certainly didn’t have the special needs she does and was lucky my wife was also a nurse. It sounds like your doing everything right and I would continue for a few more days. Papilary Cancer is one of the easiest to isolate and remove, full recovery and cancer free is the norm. her recovery should be quick and the swelling will go away quickly and expect full range of motion in a few months. Due to her condition I would suggest one thing and you may already be doing it, help her out of bed by rolling her on her side first so she can lift her head with the muscles in the back of her neck. if she tries to raise up while on her back the muscles in the front of her neck will be used and it’s very painfull. Keep her comfortable and all should be fine, I was back at work in 5 days. prayers for both of y’all!
She's got her range of motion back for the surgery. She had it in late November. A string of calamities including specialist availability to determine right radioactive treatment dosage had put off the iodine treatment till this week. Specialist said her numbers were OK for therapy. She started the replacement hormone pill yesterday evening.
I'm kinda trying to figure out what is a must and what isn't. For example doctors never mentioned low Iodine diet before this treatment. I called the doctors office to find out if she needed to restrict fluids the night before and office workers said just maintain the low iodine diet before treatment. I said what diet? Then I read where low iodine diet had proves not to be a factor in the absorption process.
Husband has had an ileostomy for about 30 yrs. now; and handles it like a champ. He did have to get a clothlike, leak-proof liner for the bed for the occasional leakage. Had a major surgery on Sept. 11th (a bad idea on that date!); touch and go, but the Lord was good to us and he has done well. - I don’t know a thing about the questions you raised; but just do the best you can and take it a day at a time. (I’ve had to learn that “a lick and a promise” method of doing a lot of things is good enough.)
For my wife the ileostomy put the brakes on UTI's and expelling cathaters faster than I could put them in. The colostomy was a quality of life enhancing addition done at the same time since they were already cutting in there. She has no regrets about that nor do I. It makes things more predictable and allows a lot more freedom. UTI's in her case can turn into Pneumonia real fast and one time even reversible CHF.
The pain I was refering to was from the surgery, lifting my head while laying on my back was the most painfull. If I rolled over to my side and then raised up it took the strain of the muscles in the front of the neck.
I use a nebulizer. Goes into the dishwasher. Rinseing will not kill all of the germs let alone any radiation residue.
I use a nebulizer. Goes into the dishwasher. Rinseing will not kill all of the germs let alone any radiation residue.
I cannot answer your technical questions but join with all the others here praying for your wife, you and all the loved ones, including your companion animals.
We have two spare kits so I reckon I'll toss the mouth piece & hose when this is over.
Thanks. Animals keeping me hopping for now LOL. My Mom has them and is about half a mile away. We got hit with snow and black ice yesterday. So I’m running down to her house for their outside duties till this stuff melts.
May God bless you in all this care giving, dear cva66snipe!
Prayers lifted....
Thanks.
Prayers said. God bless!
I had two thyroid biopsies, which turned out to be fine, and was happy to hear that if one does have thyroid cancer the success rate is 95%.
There's was just a lot of adaption and work around trying to limit exposure time. But as I read in one Nuclear Medicine website if the patient is a real risk radiation wise they can't leave the hospital to start with.
“..I read in one Nuclear Medicine website if the patient is a real risk radiation wise they can’t leave the hospital to start with.”
That certainly makes sense.
Best of luck to both of you. God bless!
So they said to continue precautions and try the scan again Sunday morning. The scan was just showing large clusters where the stuff had accumulated which doesn't mean cancer as such as I understand it. I have a feeling her urinary and bowel bypasses likely factor into the rate of which it can leave her body as well. My Mom gets to dog sit four more days.
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