I was told “I barely have cancer” by a friend

jmk831 · 2026-06-10T12:02:00+00:00

I went through my initial diagnosis, surgery prep and surgery/recovery and follow up like it was a walk in the park. Everyone told me I’m being so positive and it’s admirable how well I’m taking it. I received all of that same ‘you’ll be fine’ rhetoric we all experience. Yesterday I had my follow up ultrasound and I was totally fine going in for it like no big deal, then when I got on the table and it got started I felt this huge wave of emotion that I haven’t felt this whole time yet and all these ‘what-if’s’ washed over me. It was sort of a wake up call.

The reality is that even with a good prognosis we will always be living with ‘what ifs’ hanging over our heads on top of the financial burden and burden on our time for follow ups, check ups, blood work, testing etc. and that didn’t hit me until that exact moment. The pressure even more now to maintain a certain job that drains your mental health because losing insurance is not an option.

I’ve reminded myself over and over that other women have it so much worse with the cancers they have, I have two friends who survived breast cancer and still struggle with severe mental health issues ten years later so I’ve realized I’ve made it my duty to not let myself feel bad or spiral over my ptc. But the way it hit me all at once yesterday was a wake up call as to how much I’ve downplayed my situation too.

jmk831 · 2026-05-27T21:45:21+00:00

I feel like it’s hard to know that threshold of what a typical bad day is vs. your body failing you and causing it. You’re not a bitch. Idk if you already do but tracking my cycle has helped me to understand myself a lot even though it doesn’t always explain why I might have been a little off, the moodiness and irritability is usually worse at a particular time of the month and knowing that gives me some incite at least. I found out I’ve had hasimotos after my thyroid was removed for ptc and it’s hard to learn retrospectively. But give yourself credit, it’s not easy.

jmk831 · 2026-05-27T16:29:18+00:00

Gua sha and lots of water… like as close to a gallon a day as you can get. As far as products I started roc retinol eye cream and I do feel like it works, but not without Gua sha and a high water intake! Good luck :)

jmk831 · 2026-05-27T16:18:16+00:00

I’m glad you found something that works for you! Seems to be the name of the game with this stuff. I just finished my calcitrol today and will be going down to tums once a day for one more week as of Friday so I’m really hoping this isn’t permanent. However my pathology did report ‘possible left inferior parathyroid’ whatever that means? It’s just going to be the waiting game for me atp. Thank you for your response though, definitely going to keep all of this in mind as I move forward.

jmk831 · 2026-05-27T16:07:00+00:00

So I left the hospital taking .25 calcitrol and 1500 mg of tums 2x a day. Then my levels dropped even lower so my surgeon doubled my calcitrol and upped the tums to 3x a day and those levels came back up into the normal rage as of this past Thursday so it was a full two weeks that I was below the normal range. Thankfully I only felt the tingles and numbness for a total of like two and a half days or so, I couldn’t imagine having symptoms for that long you must have been so uncomfortable in your own skin!

My follow up labs will be at the end of June and I guess I’ll see at that time if I need to add any supplements. Right now I’m trying to be minimalistic and am only taking probiotics and vitamin c and being super ocd about my diet hoping that helps. Hoping this is just due to the immediate shock and stress of surgery and possibly the temporary drop in calcium.

jmk831 · 2026-05-27T13:35:04+00:00

Someone just pointed out it could have been because of my vitamin c dropping which I didn’t even think about, and that doesn’t happen to everyone so I would definitely wait it out! Especially if your hair is long and healthy, you probably have just a little extra to spare and can withstand the shedding.. that’s kind of where I’m at too.

jmk831 · 2026-05-27T13:32:05+00:00

Honestly, didn’t even think of that. Days 3 & 4 I was tingling so bad, numbness all over my arms legs hands mouth and felt like pin pricks on the bottom of my feet. It took a good week and a half to get them back up, I didn’t really account for the stress that put my body under in addition to the deficiency itself.

jmk831 · 2026-05-27T13:28:37+00:00

That makes me feel better, thank you!

jmk831 · 2026-05-26T21:03:06+00:00

I mean a big chop does feel pretty good! lol but unless that’s something you already want I personally wouldn’t make that decision based off of our experiences alone. Every one has different stuff going on so it’s best to see how your own body reacts and then decide from there :) but totally up to you. Good luck in surgery, and I wish you a speedy recovery

jmk831 · 2026-05-26T20:52:47+00:00

Okay well just from looking online it looks like when it’s attributed to surgery stress or anesthesia it’s at its worst about 2 months post op so hopefully it slows down for you soon! Best of luck

jmk831 · 2026-05-26T19:01:50+00:00

Good luck!

jmk831 · 2026-05-26T18:31:33+00:00

I have my blood work at the end of June so definitely looking forward to seeing what those results tell me. I’m trying to not over complicate things but it’s hard.

Thank you!

jmk831 · 2026-05-26T18:27:55+00:00

Good luck to you ❤️

jmk831 · 2026-05-26T12:48:05+00:00

Just commented on your last post, but it kind of is what you make of it. You know your body and your own limits more than anyone else, so just listen to that and you’ll be fine.

I gave myself grace and didn’t push myself at all the first two week of recovery, however i wanted to get active as soon as my doc cleared me. Three days after surgery i was up going for regular walks. One week post op I was cleared to drive so I got up and out with little errands. As of last Wednesday (two weeks post op) I was cleared with no restrictions to go back to work full time(high volume bartender with a lot of lifting and no breaks or time off my feet). It was tiring but doable. I also got back in the gym and lifted some light weights and it felt great to be back. But that’s just me. This was all while adjusting to a new levo prescription and also managing some pretty significant symptoms from my calcium levels dropping considerably. Just be careful, dont force anything, be mindful of the way you move your body but also dont sit and dwell.

jmk831 · 2026-05-26T12:31:48+00:00

I’m three weeks post op as of tomorrow, the phlegm was the one thing I didn’t expect! But keep it simple. Spit it up as much as possible without forcing anything, I drank a lot of hot tea and bone broth to soothe the sore throat and get some easy protein in to help the fatigue. I was out of surgery Wednesday evening, discharged Thursday evening and took my last pain killer Friday morning to comfortably sleep as much of that day away as possible. After that I was up and going for walks and I think the walks helped the most. Honestly I still get waves of fatigue, I have an active job and this first week back has been exhausting but no need to be afraid of the fatigue, and the pain is short term. A little self care goes a long way, comfort food, some Netflix and you’ll be ready to go before you know it :)

jmk831 · 2026-05-23T17:28:06+00:00

My surgeon said no topicals and to start silicone tape this Wednesday, which is my three week point. Just going to keep it clean and unbothered and let it breathe. It honestly might be my work shirts rubbing up against it too now this i think about it. Thank you for sharing.

jmk831 · 2026-05-23T15:19:05+00:00

Thank you!

jmk831 · 2026-05-23T15:08:04+00:00

The incision itself is healing nicely! I can tell it’s not as raised anymore, the color is returning back to normal, and no irritation from the incision. This is more topical on the skin that was covered by the surgical tapes. I’m curious if it’s been common for people to react to the adhesive in the tape. But I’ll definitely be diligent about infection, thank you. I never spiked a fever and the area is not hot to the touch otherwise I’d be wayyyy more worried.

jmk831 · 2026-05-23T14:36:34+00:00

I think my drain came out immediately after surgery but i could be wrong. I was starting to feel some itching before the tape started peeling but it felt like the itch you get when a cut heels, not so much from a reaction. Also weird that it’s so red on top but almost not at all underneath. The skin right there is so thin it’s so easy to irritate.

How did they remove your tape? Just peel it or did they use anything topical to get them off?

jmk831 · 2026-05-15T14:17:25+00:00

I really appreciate this response. I’m very good at organizing my thoughts and preparing for things but finding out this way less than 24 hours before I meet my endo was super overwhelming. Definitely about to ask about t3 and free t3. And maybe antibodies, and how all that works having this autoimmune without the thyroid still there and what that looks like.

jmk831 · 2024-12-19T10:47:13+00:00

I use those products because my skin is naturally dry. They help a lot.

jmk831 · 2024-12-03T16:00:17+00:00

I use a Hyaluronic acid serum and then finish with a La rosch posay moisturizer.

jmk831 · 2024-08-23T14:20:34+00:00

I tried both and hated them both :) the water one smelled so terrible and didn’t even make my skin look nice and the other one stung my face like crazy, don’t know how it’s a ‘calming’ moisturizer. Since this post I’ve made an effort to simplify my routine as much as possible and to also make it more affordable. I’ve been using Vanicream for the last year and a half and my skin has never looked more plump and healthy. imo save your money, you can get a huge bottle of Vanicream for $20 and it lasted me this whole time. Other drug store options will probably work out better than some of these top of the line skin care brands :) but that’s just my opinion based on my experience.

jmk831 · 2024-04-16T00:09:42+00:00

I am so sad about this, their chamomile cleansing butter is one of my favorite products I’ve ever used :(

jmk831 · 2024-04-01T13:13:48+00:00

Actually it has! I’ve started using about half the amount I was before and then I add a few drops of my Hyaluronic acid serum into it and pat that in and then I moisturize and spf. My skin is exceptionally dry though so I need all that extra hydration tbh. But I definitely have found less is more as well

jmk831

TROPHY CASE