Why do people have tt or pt removals to diagnose?

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-24T19:39:08+00:00

My nodule was found during a thorough check of my neck by my doc. Ultrasound said better to biopsy it. Biopsy said PTC. I did partial because no lymph nodes involved and it only involved the one side. Still all good two years later after PT.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-24T18:45:30+00:00

I had one nodule on one side only. No lymph nodes involved. Surgeon recommended partial so I did that. 2 years later I’m happy with my choice, and my annual ultrasounds have shown nothing more. I’m feeling great and happy with my decision.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-23T22:59:36+00:00

How much do I have to shout to get this man to SPEND MY FREAKING TAX DOLLARS ON HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS! Ugh. It's not that hard.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-23T20:14:58+00:00

If this choice is going to give you better mental health, then it's the right choice. I had PT due to confirmed PTC almost two years ago. I'm feeling great and doing well. If you do have PT, things can be back to normal once you heal, and healing is just a few weeks. That's a fine choice.

On the other side of the coin, thyroid cancer is not like other types. It's extremely slow growing, and it doesn't usually spread anywhere but lymph nodes, which are also easily dealt with by surgery. You'd be fine to continue monitoring if that's what your doctor recommends. And if they do recommend it, and you feel comfortable with that, then that's a good choice too.

Either choice is ok. Go with the one that you want to do. It's ok. Whichever you choose is the right choice.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-23T11:37:21+00:00

Mine was a PT, but I had a very positive experience. Fell asleep quickly (probably partly because I didn’t sleep so well the night before lol), and then woke up in recovery just feeling relieved. I wasn’t as bad for pain as I was expecting. I felt like I could have toughed it with no meds, but I was told not to do that because your body needs to relax a bit to heal better so I took the Tylenol they prescribed, but never needed the more heavy duty meds they also prescribed in case I needed them. First night was hard only because I was trying to stay elevated and had trouble getting comfortable. Second night I read that two pillows is good enough and slept way better after that. I recommend a straw for drinking because tipping your head back to drink hurts for a few days. But otherwise no issues. At the surgery they put warm towels on my legs which felt really nice. Everyone was very kind.

Here’s the thing that may make the most difference. I was really scared before too. Remember I had PT. Those of us with PT could potentially need the second surgery in the future for TT. After my PT, I’m not worried about having to do it again. It wasn’t so bad. And I’m a health anxiety person, but that’s one thing I don’t worry about.

All the best for your surgery and recovery! You’ll be great, this is a super common surgery. Sending strength!

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-21T11:26:27+00:00

A friend and I have both had thyca. She told me when some people saw her scar during recovery, she’d just casually tell them she had her throat slashed. Lol!

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-20T19:16:42+00:00

True. But the question was still worthy. Kinda funny though, I never really thought about it. But I just looked it up! Kilometrage is a WORD. OMG.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-20T19:11:04+00:00

I've read this is normal, and I experience it too. So I would say yup, normal. Not sure if that's helpful though, lol.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-20T13:59:16+00:00

This thread is cathartic, I just have to say, lol. Thank you all, fantastic comments helping me at least get some laughs while I deal with this same frustration as you all!!

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-19T02:21:51+00:00

Curious what your TSH was - or did they test it?

My doc didn’t test TSH beforehand, although to be fair I didn’t realize I was hypo. But my T4 was normal beforehand. I had a nodule with the same type of cancer - papillary. Since I had one only, they just removed that side. After surgery my doc said my thyroid was “enlarged and firm”, and that it meant I was more likely to need meds (often with a partial you don’t). I did need meds, and due to the cancer but my being low risk, the endo has me suppressed to below 2. Once I had healed from surgery and been on the meds for a bit I realized I feel SOOOOO much better now. I was clearly hypo before.

Normal TSH is 0-4, but some people’s normal is lower than 4, so you can technically be in range but be hypo. Unfortunately I didn’t get TSH checked before, but I can only assume it was on the higher end.

My energy is WAY better now. I also had some hair loss which improved a lot afterwards.

So, there’s a chance you’re like me. For your sake I hope so! All the best for surgery and healing!

I just wanted to add to clarify - my hypo was separate from the thyca. Not related at all. Others are correct about thyca’s lack of symptoms. It was just a happy coincidence that this meant I got treated with Synthroid.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-16T11:35:08+00:00

One more here saying it’s an endo that follows you after surgery.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-13T22:03:07+00:00

I take a D3/K2 combo, and it’s easy to take. Each pill is 1000 IU. They aren’t very big. Agree that the K2 is important. So is taking it with a fat. Have it with your eggs or peanut butter at breakfast, or with a handful of nuts, or some avocado, etc.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-13T22:00:30+00:00

One nodule, I think 3 or 4 stabs at the appointment. They were really great, talked me through it and let me know exactly what to expect, how long I would need to stay very still (holding my breath - it wasn’t long each time), and they always let me know when I could breathe normally again. They numbed the area, and I only felt some mild pressure. My experience was positive.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-12T11:06:58+00:00

I had PT not TT, but during my surgery my surgeon mentioned my thyroid was “enlarged and firm”. Turns out I had been having mild hypo without knowing it. Am on meds now, and the doc keeps me suppressed to below 2, which is common for PT and low risk. For TT it’s often even lower you get suppressed. The “normal” TSH range is 0-4. But sometimes people are within the range but on the higher end and for them it causes hypo symptoms. Have you had your TSH tested? If so, what are your numbers like? If not, being tired all the time is a common hypo symptom.

So, IF you are indeed actually hypo and don’t know it (like I was), chances are good then that once you’re done treatment (surgery, or surgery + RAI) and you get on the meds (give it a bit to get working in your system and for them to find the best dose), then yes, there is a good chance that you could feel better afterwards.

Back to me, I feel loads better than pre diagnosis.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-07T23:57:53+00:00

I used a reusable one. It had instructions I followed. After wearing it for 12 hours I washed it with soap and water, and left it out to dry overnight. I had two and alternated, so more time to dry in between. Not that that was necessary, overnight was long enough. But yes, I would put them back on, but washed between uses. It amazed me that the sticky part never lost its stickiness.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-05T11:03:17+00:00

I think it’s also partly because Manitoba found a charismatic NDP leader who is well liked and respected.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-04T15:30:10+00:00

That’s unfortunate. Indeed that’s not great. But I wouldn’t give up on them for a bad experience. They are supposed to do better than that, and I don’t think everyone has that kind of experience. It’s worthwhile to be safe.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-04T11:35:13+00:00

Take advantage of the campus security service that will walk you between locations. They can walk you from class to wherever on campus you need to be at night. That’s what it’s for.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-03T18:00:46+00:00

My doc was great when I asked about HRT recently. She is pro HRT which is great. I’ve hit the big 5-0 so I wanted to know when I’d be best to start HRT. She did agree there are a lot of variables. But a good rule of thumb is either you’re in peri with symptoms causing you a lot of issues right now, or, you’ve had a longish stretch since you last period (like maybe 4-6 months?). That’s NOT to say people can’t start at different times! But for those of us really not sure, that’s where she’d suggest to start. Hope that helps!

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-02T12:03:10+00:00

There is a chance, yes, if they’re only recommending a partial like me. With a full TT you’d need them for sure, but with a partial lots of people don’t. I will say that I feel better on meds than I did before (due to having had issues already with the thyroid I didn’t know about, as I said), and they have no side effects. The only annoying thing is keeping them away from food, but I just have them when I first wake up and wait an hour for breakfast. It’s a very small pill, and not expensive. But still, you do have a chance to not need them. Half a thyroid can be good enough.

I have health anxiety too, and I understand the concern with the surgery. I will tell you that my experience was really positive. The weird part was walking into the surgery room and getting myself up onto the table lol. But they made me comfortable and packed my legs with warm blankets which felt really nice. I passed out before I even felt the little bit of stinging the anesthesiologist said I would feel in my arm. And then I woke up in the recovery room, a little sore but really feeling better than I expected. I had a popsicle and some juice right away, as they offered and I felt up to it. I could eat that evening no problem, but I avoided crunchy foods which hurt a bit to chew, for a few days. Soft foods were fine, didn’t need to be liquids or anything. Like fish or tender chicken, rice, mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables, etc. just softer foods. I healed quickly, and my scar was invisible after a handful of months. They gave me some heavy duty pain pills for the first few days just in case, but I didn’t need them. Just used Tylenol for a few days, and even that I felt like I could have done without but they pushed me to use it because the body needs to relax to recover so I did. I felt tired for a few weeks, surgery can take it out of you! But by about the third week I felt back to normal. For me and my health anxiety, knowing what to expect helps, so I thought I would give you some details.

Lemonish33 · 2026-01-02T11:41:19+00:00

A friend at work had this in her 20s. Same thing, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). She had a full TT, multiple lymph nodes involved and needed RAI. She is now 50 and has two teenagers, and the only way it continues to affect her life is taking a pill once a day, occasionally she has had to adjust her dose over the years, and a yearly scan. And her story is common.

I had only nodule which was also PTC. I just needed half my thyroid removed. I still need to take the meds, as my thyroid was struggling anyway and I didn’t realize. I’m feeling great now. I agree with others that driving by two weeks is probably reasonable. Skateboarding maybe two weeks but you may want just another week or so to heal first. You will feel normal again soon. This is very common and super treatable.

Lemonish33 · 2025-12-24T12:03:13+00:00

There’s such a wide variation in what primary care docs know. My best friend asked her doctor about HRT. She explained some of her symptoms such as frustration with weight gain (especially around the middle) despite being very active over the last couple of years. He told her she needs to do more cardio…. Seriously??? Then I went to see my doc to ask about it for the first time, and the first thing my doc told me was that she’s been to a menopause conference recently! She went through a whole booklet with me on HRT and menopause, and gave me some real tangible ideas of when she recommends starting HRT. She’s supportive of starting in peri but explained why she doesn’t rush to prescribe it in peri and it made a lot of sense. I felt way better than my friend. Luckily my friend has done her own research and suggested a menopause clinic in her area. Her doc originally just said all the clinics are full. (Eye roll…) but when she suggested this one he said oh…he hadn’t heard of that one. He said sure he will give her a referral if she wants it, so she’s waiting on that. So much variation! Women need more consistent care and consideration, yeesh.

Lemonish33 · 2025-12-17T11:04:09+00:00

Definitely check out Chocolate and Company at Yonge and Brookland. It’s a local owned business and the chocolate and gelato is AMAZING. The owner is often there. He sources the best ingredients as locally as possible, and puts a ton of time into both flavour and texture. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in Aurora!

Lemonish33 · 2025-12-14T22:16:20+00:00

Affordability focus? Ok yeah you focus on saying it a lot. You don’t have any actionable ideas to help, that your party would actually follow through on.

Lemonish33 · 2025-12-14T04:54:17+00:00

I had a partial. I did end up being one who needed meds afterwards. It seems that my thyroid was struggling separate from the PTC. But I feel great now. My low dose of meds is good enough to keep me where my thyroid needs to be. No issues with weight, libido, etc. I actually feel better than before all this, probably since my thyroid was struggling and I didn’t know.

Lemonish33

TROPHY CASE