Is this 'normal' or is this just me?

Hi gardentree, 

I'm another with MTC, I think you helped me when I posted on here just after my op 6 months ago. Thank you for that.

Sorry to hear how low you're feeling but just know you are not alone. Yes absolutely I do have many days when I just cry, really over sensitive to things people say and just feel very low. I was never like this "before". And yes I agree it takes all my energy just to push through each day, exhausting. 

I too get anxious about when this will rear it's ugly head again. Many people around think oh you've had the op, must be better now. No idea what it's like with this constant threat hanging over us.

I know the advice is think positive, live your life, don't let it get you down etc but in reality I think that's hard to do. Some days you can but there are definitely days you can't. I guess do we just learn, each in our own way how to deal with these demons? Maybe just accepting those bad days? And as time goes on hopefully there's more good days?  

Maybe part of it could be the thyroxin not right yet? How are your TSH levels looking now you've been on it a year? I've also read just having this diagnosis in itself can also cause fatigue and of course the stress that comes with it. 

We'd all love to give up work, retire early and sod off round the world travelling or whatever we've always thought about doing but in reality I expect most of us have to slot back into family life, work, finances etc with this now added on top!

You're 6 months ahead of me so if you find any pearls of wisdom do please pass them on :)

Hi there

I have been recently diagnosed with MTC in  November and have just had my thyroid , lymph nodes and a 4cm tumour removed. Last Wednesday, so I am getting over the surgery . I now have to wait 4 weeks to find out whether it has spread to my lymph nodes , which feels me with anxiety.  
I don’t know what the possible treatment portions are if it has spread ? 
Have you are any treatment other than surgery ? 
Thank you so much for being in this community,,, it’s becoming a lifeline for me 

xx

Hi there, sorry to hear you've been diagnosed with Medullary cancer too. You're bound to be anxious while you wait for results to come in. It's a horrible in-between time.

I was "lucky" in that mine was at a stage that could be treated with surgery alone. It had spread to lymph nodes aswell but they took all that out in the one big op. Total thyroidectomy, bilateral neck dissection and chest dissection.

Did your consultant discuss any further treatment options with you or are they happy that the surgery alone would be successful? 

There's some info on further treatments for MTC on the Macmillan website.

How are you doing after your operation? X

Thank you so much for coming back to me. xx

to be honest it’s been the worst week of life. I was discharged from the hospital full of morphine and when I woke up at home the next day I started to vomit , next day I had stomach pains so bad I passed out . This was constipation, so I’ve had medication for and now have an upset tummy. Yesterday I had the shakes and then I found out my calcium levels are low so I am now taking calcium. Today is the first day of just be able to rest and sleep all day. Have started to eat small. I live on my own which hasn’t helped with the anxiety side of things 

thanks for replying …. Xx

Ohh you must've been very scared coping with all that on your own! I'm lucky to have my 20 year old daughter living with me and we just took it a day at a time but it was very scary in the first week home. Were you given a contact number or email for your specialist nurse? Mine was (and still is) a Godsend when I'm worried about anything.

I found recovery pretty tough if I'm honest and still have a few problems 6 months post op! I struggled to pace myself to start with as I was desperate to get "better" quickly and was the type of person who never stood still for long but you really do have to rest as much as you can. That's great you're eating small meals, I ate alot of scrambled egg and ice cream!  Take care. X

Thank you … i don’t feel so alone, knowing that others have got through this , it gives me hope. I just need to keep my fingers crossed for good results

I hope you enjoy the holidays and thank you again for taking time out to reply to me. Very kind

very best wishes and a big hug xxxx  

There's some really friendly people on the forum who have experienced the same or similar, so don't be afraid to ask. I've found it really helpful as I'm not on FB so don't have access to other forums. 

 Try and get as much rest as you can over Xmas, it's the best healer. Everything crossed for your results. Let us know how you get on.

Very best wishes.X

Thank you and will do 

Take care and keep well xxx