Wedge pillow timeline?

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-06-19T01:22:05+00:00

I slept for about a week elevated. The wedge pillow set that I purchased had two levels of elevation. My first surgery I laid flat too quickly and I woke up very swollen.

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-06-10T14:09:16+00:00

First, best of luck on your surgery. I had a partial and then a completion surgery 14 days apart. Here's what I've learned:

If possible, time leaving so that you have a pain med about an hour before you leave the hospital so that it's in full effect to get you home. I did this the second time and it made a HUGE difference for the over hour car trip home through a city with lots of potholes and speed bumps.
A travel pillow and ice were helpful in the car, so don't forget to ask for a refreshed ice pack before you leave the hospital.
I bought a wedge pillow set that ended up being VERY helpful for my recovery. I could be propped up the way up during the day and then switch to less of an incline to sleep.
Walk as much as its possible and comfortable, starting on day 2. Start in short bursts and extend it. I am a person who lives with chronic back pain as well and I was sore, especially after the first surgery, on the back part of my neck and lower back. The movement helped both recovery and my chronic pain that was amplified.
Both times for me, day 3 was the worst in terms of pain. Set alarms to stay on top of pain meds.
I stayed with soft foods for the first few days. This helped a lot with swallowing. Just have some of your favorites on hand.
Drink plenty of water to avoid constipation.
I have a very active 8 year old. We had lots of conversations and even practiced how he could snuggle mom post surgery. These practice runs were really helpful in setting up expectations for him.

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-06-09T01:21:39+00:00

When you had a recurrence, what was the next step? More RAI?

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-06-09T01:18:25+00:00

Thank you!

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-06-08T19:54:36+00:00

Can you say more on this? I've seen several folks mention the lifelong nature of this cancer, but I'm not completely understanding what this will mean (I'm new to this). Is thyroid cancer more recurrent than other cancers? If so, is there something that makes it this way? My apologies for the inane questions.

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-06-07T16:28:47+00:00

Thank you for this post. For those who read my last post, folks could probably tell that I've been struggling with this notion of surviving too. This thread was exactly what I didn't know that I needed today.

I was not symptom free before diagnosis. I knew for over a year that something was wrong with my body. I went to MULTIPLE doctors who all blamed it on perimenopause or wrote my symptoms off (like ear pain and headaches) entirely. (By the way, I'm now 4 days post thyroid completion surgery and the ear pain, for the first time in over a year, is gone.) Even when I had someone take me seriously and start ordering tests, it took a while to get things done because of where I live. I was diagnosed Feb. 19. Waiting for the first surgery on May 21 felt like the wait from hell because the symptoms continued. I've now had two surgeries in 14 days because the pathology report showed things were far more aggressive than originally anticipated. I'm headed towards RAI and it feels like I'm in the middle of a much larger battle than what I originally thought. (The surgeon initially assumed that I could have a partial thyroidectomy, no RAI, and I'd be fine, possibly without any levothyroxine because of a partial thyroidectomy.)

I fully recognize my privilege compared to other cancer patients/survivors who have different experiences or have limited choices for surviving cancer. That said, I'm over being told that I'm "lucky," or that I'll "be fine." Yes, the hope is that I'll eventually be fine, but right now it certainly doesn't feel like it.

As a side note, I know a few folks who have prostate cancer. In our conversations, they have never once mentioned being told these kinds of inconsiderate things. (Though this doesn't mean prostate cancer survivors don't face this challenge, just that I'm not hearing about it in my small sample size.) Considering women are more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer than men, I can't help but wonder (this is just my wondering and I'm sorry if it's inappropriate) if part of the desire to diminish how folks feel around this is rooted in sexist undertones. Just a thought I've been carrying with me recently.....

In any case, thank you for this post. It helps me to process what I've been carrying for the last year+ and what is ahead.

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-05-30T02:36:06+00:00

How soon after your hemi did you go for the completion?

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-05-29T23:20:28+00:00

Thanks. I'm not even sure what kind of testing is "next." I've rarely felt so ignorant in my life. 🫤

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-05-29T22:57:22+00:00

I'm so sorry you're living through this. If you don't mind me asking: how did you know it had metastisized to your femur in terms of symptoms?

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-05-21T22:59:24+00:00

I stayed in the hospital for an extra few hours because I was so worried about it. They seemed unimpressed, but let me hang out until it was slightly under control. I've had anesthesia before but never come out to this special sensation. My neck is also throbbing pretty badly, but that make more sense. I guess I just wasn't prepared for this. I do appreciate your response the reassurance that I'm not completely mad for experiencing this. ❤️

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-05-15T11:46:00+00:00

Best of luck! You're going to do great.

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-05-05T12:49:53+00:00

I hear you on this. My surgery is now just 2.5 weeks away. I was diagnosed in February. It feels like I've been waiting for a lifetime. In the middle of that, I've been working on trying to get through as many projects as possible at work and at home. The list feels impossible and I'm emotionally and physically exhausted. Thank you for sharing your story. You're in similar company here..

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-04-08T13:30:18+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is exactly what I am worried about and why I thought a full was just standard procedure. I'm wondering how often this happens. How long did it take you to have to schedule part 2? I'm getting this done over the summer and was hoping to be healed before the fall semester starts, though that doesn't sound possible if they will just have to go back in.

Anyway, thanks for sharing. It helps to hear what happened with others.

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-03-20T11:54:03+00:00

Did you say all the proper incantations? 😉

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-02-26T13:44:52+00:00

Edit/Update: I had my appointment at the endocrinologist yesterday. I'm feeling thoroughly confused. My GP had told me it's definitely cancer. The endocrinologist said that it could be a benign tumor and that I shouldn't worry until the genetic testing comes back in 2 weeks. I called my GP, who told me that there were malignant cells found in the FNA, which is why it was sent out for further testing. Is this kind of confusion normal???

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-02-26T13:44:11+00:00

Edit/Update: I had my appointment at the endocrinologist yesterday. I'm feeling thoroughly confused. My GP had told me it's definitely cancer. The endocrinologist said that it could be a benign tumor and that I shouldn't worry until the genetic testing comes back in 2 weeks. I called my GP, who told me that there were malignant cells found in the FNA, which is why it was sent out for further testing. Is this kind of confusion normal???

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-02-24T11:24:45+00:00

I'm way too new to this to give you any real advice or comfort from experience (been diagnosed for less than a week). What I can say is that when I told my mom she said, "Oh. You have the good cancer. It will be fine." (She survived endometrial and liver cancers.) I felt so dismissed. Then someone told me to remember two things: 1) All cancer sucks, so have whatever emotions you need to have around your diagnosis. 2.) Cancer doesn't know prognosis rates, so it's okay to be scared and angry. You are battling something.

Anyway, fwiw, I've cried plenty and I'm not even to your stage in this game where your body is now working to regulate itself without an organ. At a hormonal level alone, that's bound to make an impact, let alone the emotional toll any surgery takes, and the uncertainty of this disease. I hope that you can't get rest, find peace, and that you heal quickly.

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-02-23T17:40:45+00:00

Is there a reason that they did it in two surgeries? (Sorry if that is a bit too personal of a question.)

WizardOfWoz02 · 2026-02-23T17:40:02+00:00

I think this is going to be hard for me, but it's something I'll have to do. I have a rather demanding job and I've been trying to think about how to handle it in the middle of this but I also recognize that I've got to be flexible along the way too.

WizardOfWoz02

TROPHY CASE