Mom's Treatment

So for those of you who didnt know, my mom was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid in November at her annual check up. She has a family history of thyroid issues (at the time of her diagnosis, her mother Laurel, her niece Alyssa, he sister Carolyn and her sister-in-law Lisha have all had thyroid issues) So with testing and a family history of thyroid issues, they decided to remove her thyroid. This was done January 2, 2009. While they were in surgery to remove it, they did a biopsy of nodules in the thyroid and the results were cancer. They are pritty sure they got it all, but to be sure, she will be getting at least one round of radioactive Iodine treatment.

She has been on thyroid medication for the past several months and after a bit of trial and error, got a good dosage level. Recently she had to change to a day-to-day medication so that when it came time for treatment, she would be totally off of all thyroid medication.

She had her blood taken yesterday for blood test. The results will take a few days (she is going to call this afternoon to make sure they got the blood sample). If  by the results of the test they determine her body is at the proper stage of craving iodine, then they can schedule her radioactive Iodine treatement. once she has her treatment (via IV i am pretty sure) she gets to come home, but cant be around kids for 5 days. she will be at home, but in the basement so that the dog cant lick her, because that would be bad for the dog. (they recently had cable TV set up in the basement so she has something she can do.) but i dont think she wants to have visitors, especially young kids or women of child bearing years.

So it all depends on the results we are waiting for from the blood test. if she isnt craving iodine yet, then they will take another blood test to check her level in a few days.

Iodine is in alot of foods so the past week and a half or so she has had to eliminate it from her diet, which has also eliminated some of her favorite foods. (she cant have any cow milk or cow milk products, non-organic chicken (there is sodium in the broth that non-organic chicken is injected with) , anything with red dye #3, most salt (she had to get salt without iodine in it for seasoning her food) you would be suprised at what has iodine in it.  By not having iodine for this period of time, her body will begin to crave the iodine. this is a good thing because then when she gets the radioactive iodine as her treatement, her body will more readily take it.

She (and we all) hope that this only takes one round of treatment. having to limit her diet and not being on her medication has left her extremely tired.

So wish her luck and keep our family in your prayers.

** I am not a medical professional. I may not have all the terminology correct, but this is how i can explain it so that it makes sense to me.