Radioactive Iodine......Treatment, finally

Two surgeries, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and the Cotton Bowl is over.  Time to get ready for treatment.  The appointment was made to meet with my oncologist...I went in and he checked the scar, went over the paperwork and said I could get things started.  Finally!!!

I went and met with my oncologist to get the process started.  I did blood work and got my list to follow.  First step was to be taken off my Synthroid.  Ugh, never do this unless you have to.  I had to in order to get my TSH  levels where they needed to be for treatment.  The side effects of going off Synthroid are crazy...headaches, fatigue, emotional, lack of appetite, ect.  I was told the symptoms are similar to being pregnant and it was horrible.  I was off my medication for about three or four weeks and those were the longest three or four weeks of my life.  It was so hard working, going to church, being with friends and family.  I would take short naps at lunch, would get off work go home and take a nap before bed.  I also went in weekly to have blood work done to see if my levels were high enough yet.

My bosses at the time was awesome (I have since changed jobs).  I don't think I could have worked with and for better people.  They were so understanding...I missed so much work because of the surgries and what trying to get ready for treatment.  Things got so hard while I was off the Synthroid...it got to where I was having a hard time getting out of bed for work and couldn't wait to get home so I could get some sleep.  I would cry at the drop at a hat and then turn around and be mad.  My husband threatened to start sleeping in the car.  He said he he never knew what to expect from me from minute to minute.  There wasn't much of a difference between work and home...nobody knew what to expect from me.

I finally went and talked to my direct supervisor and our Director about changing my hours until I was finally able to have treatment and go back on my medication.  Getting up and working eight hours a day was getting so hard.  Just as we set up my new schedule I got the call from the Cancer Center.  My TSH levels were finally high enough.  I was finally able to have treatment.  Time for the low-iodine diet and treatment.

Awe yes, the low-iodine diet...no salt, sea salt, iodine, red dye, six ounces of meat a day, nothing processed, no dairy, no soy, ect...UGH.  I quickly learned how to read the labels on food and over the counter medicines.  Yep, I even had to change some of my medications.  Had to change my allergy medication, vitamins, ect.  I'm tell you...it was so much fun (total sarcasm).  Actually, you don't realize what all has iodine, red dye, salt, ect.  It was eye opening.

I was going to be in complete isolation for a week while going through treatment.  I also had to "treatment proof" the house.  I had to saran wrap the key board, house phone and cell phone.  Put the remote controls in baggies, buy paper products so I could throw away my plates, spoons, forks, ect.  I was told to flush the toilet twice after I used the restroom, wash out the shower after I showered and at the end of the week I had to wash my clothes and bedding three times.....Paul also had to leave the house for the first four days.  We had to make sure he wasn't exposed to the iodine radiation and that everything was decontaminated when he did return, we didn't want to take a chance in ruining his good thryoid.

Treatment was scheduled for February 13th.  Yep, totally messed up Valentine's Day.  My Pastor and Charlie came by before I left for the hospital to pray with me.  You know, I couldn't have asked for a better support system through all this.  Pastor was at each surgery, pre-treatment, my church family was awesome, family and friends.  I love each and everyone one of them.  Pastor and Charlie left, I got Paul up so he could get ready, pack his bag and then I left for the hospital.  Paul had decided to go to Norman for a few day to stay with a buddy of his, since he couldn't stay at home.

I checked in at the hospital, registered and went to the waiting room.  My name was called and I went back and met with the doctor who gave me the pills.  I took the two pills and was quickly escorted out of the hospital.  I called Paul to let him know that I was on my way home and he asked me to drive around and waste some time.  I had no idea why but I did.  He called and told me I could come on home.  When I got there I found a single red rose and a huge teddy bear with a card waiting for me.  Even though Paul couldn't be there for Valentine's Day he wanted to make sure I had something special.  I fell in love with him all over again.  Before he left, my parents had shown up.  I sat in the dining room and my parents and hubby were in the living room.  We chit chatted for a few minutes and they all left.  I was home alone in complete isolation.

That was such a lonely time.  I hated it.  My Aunt Kim did stop by...she bought me a card, called me and had me come to the door so she could show me.  Then she took off with the card...don't ask why, I have no idea.  There was another night that I was on facebook and feeling pretty down.  I got to chatting with my cousin Cheryl.  She really helped me so much.  It was getting late and I told her we could talk later and she wouldn't let me go until I was better.  She said that a friend needed her more at that time....I realized she was talking abou me.  I really feel that during that time my cousin and I really bonded and became closer.

The first day wasn't so bad.  The second day was horrible.  I woke up that morning and couldn't get out of bed.  It took so much energy to get up out, go to the restroom then to the couch.  I basically lived on the couch for two days.  I didn't even want to fix me anything to eat and I really didn't want to shower either (I know, tmi)  Paul and my mom called (no not at the sametime), and I couldn't talk, had no voice.  Paul said I sounded like I had been to multiple football games and lost my voice.  So, on top of having no energy, not hungry....I couldn't talk and felt horrible.  After two days alone and with how sick I was, Paul decided to break the rules and came home.  He felt it was wrong for me to be by myself...how would anyone know if something bad happen?  He came right home.  He slept on the couch and I was in the bedroom.  He sat one side of the house, I was on the other.  When I showered, I washed it out after like I was suppose to and he would clean it again before he would shower...just like he would clean the toilet before he would use it.  We couldn't take any chances.

The end of the week couldn't come soon enough.  And it came with drama.  I had to do a whole body scan (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/thyroid-scan) and after I could finally eat some real food.  I got to the hospital and recieved a call that my grandpa was being taken to the ER.  I met and waited with the family until my appointment.  When it was time for my scan, I left and after the scan was over I found out they were in the process of moving grandpa to ICU.  I was also starving, so I called Paul and he brought me Subway.  I have to say, that is one of the few times I felt bad eating in front of people.

The scan is over...now we wait for the test results and pray that grandpa would get better.