Update

Yesterday morning I had a return doctor appointment. It was mostly because I had spent the night Sunday in the hospital and the surgeon wanted to make sure everything is okay. I also needed a follow up from my last surgery.

The doctor appointment went well. He said all of my pain, stiffness, firmness in the neck, movement problems, and everything else is basically right on track. He left the steri-strips on the incision and wants them to stay on until they start to come off on their own. He told me to get Mederma to put on the scar and that it really is a great product. (Expensive, but great) I will just call him when I feel like I can return to work and he will write the release. He will also have to release me to go back to cardio-rehab. I still cannot drive, because I cannot turn my neck safely. That may actually take some time, so going back to work will mean I will have to walk...HA.

The best news came later. If you all remember, there is a blood test that is very specific to this cancer. It checks the calcitonen levels in your blood. These levels are usually very low and the only way they go up is if there is this particular cancer in your body. Before surgery my level was 1356 (normal is 5 or less) which, along with the biopsy, proved that this type of cancer was there. After the second surgery they took the blood test again, My number is 5 ! There is NO cancer, additional proof along with the lymph nodes that they got it all. This blood test will be checked for the rest of my life, because unfortunately, even without a thyroid, this cancer can return. As long as this level is low, they will not do anything, if it ever starts rising, then they will investigate. (kinda like a man's PSA test).

I am pretty tight and stiff today, I don't know if the way I slept last night aggravated it, or if this is normal.

What is normal, anyway?

I have been very busy today, I emptied the dishwasher, and made ice...whew! Need to rest now. I know that is tongue in cheek, but in reality, to empty the dishwasher requires a lot of movement and stretching to put things away that are on higher shelves. I think that is probably good for me to move my neck and try at lease to keep it mobile, but I realized that it is not easy to do right now.

A good friend is bringing me lunch today and staying for a visit. She offered to take me out to eat, but I don't think I am ready for that. She gets to take a long lunch today, so that works out well.
After that I may rest again or watch another movie.

My friend Reta gave me some good advice yesterday. She said instead of calling these "lazy days" I need to refer to them as "Healing Days" I like that, that is the purpose of being off of work. I am not home to just be lazy, I am home to heal. Thanks, Reta, I needed that.