Consultant Appointment

I’m sorry I can’t really offer much help. Do you have a Maggie Centre near you? They can offer great support and it might help just to sit and talk to somebody.

Do you trust and like your consultant? I have had a surgeon who I will hopefully only see one more time, but my main contact is a nuclear physicist consultant. I am fortunate that I like both of them. Who is it you go and see and do you like and trust them? If you are unsure about them this could be part of your problem. 

I have been told that I won’t get another scan but will be monitored by bloods, unless the blood results through something up. I was given a scan pre RIA and just after my RAI before discharge. This is the way my local hospital works, and I have to respect there knowledge and experience. 

Best of luck on Thursday and I hope it is a positive appointment 

Hello Oban27, just wanted to add a bit to Runner25's excellent reply .

Do u have a cancer nurse specialist u can speak to?

Failing that, there are also local Macmillan centres to go n speak to someone or the Helpline on 0808 808 0000, 8am to 8pm 7 days a week.

Good luck for Thurs

Thanks for the reply Runner25, I’m actually feeling much better today, back at work and less time to think. The vertigo is also easing, which makes me feel so much better. 

I am just going to head to my appointment on Thursday with an open mind, and will take it from there. 

thanks again 

Thanks buttercup01

Feeling more positive today, I think the vertigo knocked me for six again, now it’s eased I feel a lot better. 

Will just take Thursday as it comes, 

Thanks again 

Heya Oban, 

Hope you don't mind me adding in my two penneth.... 

I remember when you were going for your op, I think, and one of the things that helped you go for just the half was we told you to ask how you were going to be monitored because the usual blood tests wouldn't really work. The answer was you'd get yearly ultrasounds, and that was what helped put your mind at ease and decide the lobectomy was all that was needed.

I'd ask the consultant why they think an ultrasound would only raise more questions than answers. I'd have thought they'd compare the one this year with the one you had a year and a half ago, to look for changes. So rather than having someone looking at you anew, it would be a straight comparison to see if anything had changed size, density, etc. That would only raise questions if changes had happened.

The worry that your nodules could turn nasty or are hiding anything nasty is an understandable one, especially when one did already. It's a worry every cancer patient has at least once, so you're in no way alone with those worries. It's perfectly normal. Which is why you're not bringing anything up again, it's a concern that's always going to be there, which is why there's always follow ups and checks for life after a thyroid cancer diagnosis.

I think with a better understanding of why the consultant doesn't want to give you an ultrasound, after you were told that would be your followup aftercare, then you'll be able to decide better if you want one or not. 

So ask lots of questions until you fully understand what's happening and how this consultant plans to monitor you fully. And don't let them palm you off, this is your health, both mental and physical, so you need to know what's happening, or not, and why. 

Lass

Xx

Thanks Lass

You are right, I’m going to go in, listen to what he has to say, if he’s not offering any ultrasound, then I’m going to ask. He is only using my thyroglobulin levels, which isn’t ideal in someone with half a thyroid. So with your words ringing in my ears, I’m going to ask questions   After all he didn’t want to take the first half out, I had to question that decision too. So glad I did ! 

Thanks again Lass

Hi Lass

Consultant appointment went well, it felt completely different, I’m actually wondering if that’s partly how I’m feeling now compared to initial diagnosis or whether it’s just taken a few visits to get used to my consultant. 

So, he’s happy with my bloods, which he wants checked every six months, before I see him. He noticed that I now have thyroglobulin antibodies, which he says only 10% of the population have, lucky me ! So says that will make watching thyroglobulin  for a trend will be more difficult. He also wants an Ultrasound, I didn’t need to ask, he suggested it. So I’m happy. 

Thanks again for all your advice Lass

All the Best