What a great way to celebrate national women physician day by saying thanks again to my PCP for picking up on my enlarged thyroid. What a great clinician SHE is! Ironically, I haven’t seen her since that first visit in October and the rest of my doctors have been all men. I actually remember thinking while laying on the OR table before I was given anesthesia, really? All the doctors are men? There were 2 ENT residents, 1 ENT attending, 1 anesthesia resident, 1 anesthesia attending and even the one med student was a guy. How in this day could there be no women physicians in the room? In that moment I wanted to band together with the circulating nurse and surgery tech since they were the only other women around. It was such an odd realization and thought to be going through my head before the procedure. My gender observations aside, I am very grateful for the outstanding surgery team, both men and woman, who took care of me so well last week.
That brings me to today, Wednesday, marking one week since the surgery, post op day 7. I have to admit I feel much better than I expected. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I didn’t expect to be this functional so quickly. The pain has been manageable with Tylenol and even that I have spaced out. I do find myself still getting tired a bit easily requiring an afternoon nap but still on the road to recovery. I will have my surgery follow up appointment on Thursday to see how things are progressing. My neck is sooo much better! The tape used to close the incision is visible but really not that noticeable and the bruising and swelling has disappeared. Em's advice to me is always, remember you are FEARLESS, in this case neck scar or not. (She even gave me a shirt to remind me.)
Now the most important thing I need to say is THANK YOU. Yes I mean to shout because I can’t articulate how touching, moving, and essential the support of my family, friends, friends of friends, physicians, and even strangers has been to my recovery. Not only my recovery from the surgery but coping with the diagnosis of cancer, even if it is “just papillary thyroid cancer”. Everyone has been there for moments to laugh with me, cry with me, distract me, and give me that all needed hug. (I am a hugger and believe a hug can make anything better, at least for a moment.) Special thanks go to my Mom, Dad and Em who made the trek to NYC to be with me. They made sure I was getting out of bed, made sure I showered, made sure I got out of the apartment for fresh air (but not for too long), made sure I was fed, made sure Morrie was fed, and were kind enough to document the whole thing! They were awesome, amazing, and couldn’t have asked for a better team! I love my family!
That brings me to today, Wednesday, marking one week since the surgery, post op day 7. I have to admit I feel much better than I expected. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I didn’t expect to be this functional so quickly. The pain has been manageable with Tylenol and even that I have spaced out. I do find myself still getting tired a bit easily requiring an afternoon nap but still on the road to recovery. I will have my surgery follow up appointment on Thursday to see how things are progressing. My neck is sooo much better! The tape used to close the incision is visible but really not that noticeable and the bruising and swelling has disappeared. Em's advice to me is always, remember you are FEARLESS, in this case neck scar or not. (She even gave me a shirt to remind me.)
Now the most important thing I need to say is THANK YOU. Yes I mean to shout because I can’t articulate how touching, moving, and essential the support of my family, friends, friends of friends, physicians, and even strangers has been to my recovery. Not only my recovery from the surgery but coping with the diagnosis of cancer, even if it is “just papillary thyroid cancer”. Everyone has been there for moments to laugh with me, cry with me, distract me, and give me that all needed hug. (I am a hugger and believe a hug can make anything better, at least for a moment.) Special thanks go to my Mom, Dad and Em who made the trek to NYC to be with me. They made sure I was getting out of bed, made sure I showered, made sure I got out of the apartment for fresh air (but not for too long), made sure I was fed, made sure Morrie was fed, and were kind enough to document the whole thing! They were awesome, amazing, and couldn’t have asked for a better team! I love my family!
Lunch with my beautiful Momma after our manicures!
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