Physical Therapy...new meds....more tests...oh the joy:

So I started physical therapy on November 6th.  Having four knee surgeries I had a pretty good idea what to expect.  I walked in and saw Joe (he was my therapist for one of the knee surgeries).  We chit chatted for a few minutes to get caught up and then the evaluation started.  He informed me that I was pretty tight (duh) and asked why I haven't done therapy before now.  I told him nobody suggested it and I didn't know I needed it.  I told him that my doctor who did the right neck dissection said I would have some problems but I didn't realize it would last this long or have this many problems. 

Joe did some tests and said that I have definitely lost some strength in my right arm.  He had me squeeze this dumb bell looking thing that measure the pounds your able to lift/squeeze, whatever it was.  On the left side I measured 52-54 pounds and on the right I measured 32-33 pounds.  Big difference.  So Joe said...we have some work to do.

My first real appointment was interesting.  Almost everything Joe tried to do hurt...he could hardly touch me.  At the time, I was glad that I was on the Lyrica three times a day.  It helped dull the pain a little, and by the time I got home from work I would be taking my pain meds.  There have been times I have gone back to work from therapy with a major headache and wishing I could just go home and go to sleep.  It has been such a slow process...well in my opinion.  I want a quick fix, I think we all do. 

Between the therapy and the Lyrica (new med) I was having a tough couple of weeks.  I'm almost embarrassed to admit this but I was at our WVU/OK State game and I was watching the pregame warm ups.  I was commenting on how I didn't like the the uniforms.  Then I realized my team was wearing the ugly unis.  I about fell over.  The person I was talking to about fell over laughing.  I couldn't believe that I didn't realize it was our team.  Well then we had a penalty called and I turned to my dad and said.....wait, better not post it.  Don't want to get bashed for not being "politically correct".  Just know it was funny.  I would go home from work and sleep...I almost fell asleep at my desk.  I was moody, confused, easily distracted (no comments needed)....it was just horrible.

I woke up one Sunday morning and told Paul (in tears) that I didn't want to take the pills anymore.  I didn't like the way they made me feel.  He said then stop taking them...I did.  I started taking them at night only just until I ran out.  I never refilled the prescription (plus my copay was $50 for them.  WOW).

So I have had eight physical therapy appointments and I can now turn my head to the right side and I have sleeping on my right side.  I haven't been able to do that since December 2008.  I am feeling so much better...until yesterday.  Boy, did Joe hurt me.  There are still some issues I'm having.  I still get this sharp pain in my neck that goes down my arm and three of my fingers still go numb.  Now the good news is that we seem to have been able to pin point what is causing it.  It is the nerve that had to be moved during the right neck dissection.  Now we have to figure out a way to fix it.

I know its been a couple of weeks since my last post.  So I'm not sure if you remember or not, but I had mentioned that the MRI detected some fluid in my saliva gland.  I went to my regular doctor and he ordered an Ultra Sound.  I had the test done on November 20th and for the most part it went well. 

The technician's student came to get me and asked if it would be alright if she could check my neck.  She informed me that the radiologist would be in and he would double check her work.  Of course I didn't mind, we all have to learn at some point.  He came in and then they started checking things.  First they checked the right side and she would identify what she was seeing, she took pictures, measurements, ect...then they started looking at the gland.  The gland itself looked great, then they looked at the ducts (I really hope I'm saying that right).  As they were looking they found a cyst in on of the ducts.  That would be the fluid that the MRI detected.  Then the technician decided to check the left side just to compare the two, well and so the student could learn more.

All the sudden it got quiet.  That's when I knew something was wrong.  As they were looking they discovered a couple of abnormal lymph nodes.  Apparently one lymph node is about two to three centimeters big.  They said with my history I need to have it checked.  NOT what I wanted to hear and of course with everything I have been through....I cried.  Going back to work after that was fun.  Everyone was asking how did it go, did they say anything, what did they find, ect...I would start to explain and cry.  All I could think was how frustrated I was.  It never seems to end.

You know, when I was first diagnosed all I heard was if you were to get cancer, Thyroid Cancer is the best to have.  It's the easiest to manage and cure.  Right now, in my experience it might be the best to manage but it seems to be the most frustrating.  When you first go through it your not told about all the post-cancer stuff.  I'm sure all cancer patients go through it but right now this is how I feel.

As soon as I got back to work I immediately called my doctors office and asked to be referred to either St Francis in Tulsa or OU medical in the city.  Thankfully I got in with Dr. Vasan at OU Medical.  He did the right neck dissection and I know he will take good care of me.