Body scan ....clear, hurray!!!!!!

News I have been waiting to hear for a year and a half. My body scan taken on Monday, May 14th came back clear!!! The doctor called this morning, he said he would call on Tuesday, didn't sleep much all night because I didn't hear from him. I am so relieved! Thank you to all of you that have kept me in your prayers, encouraged me, supported our family through the past year and a half. That is why We have gotten thru this. My faith in God's healing touch has sustained me and given me hope. I will do my best to adjust my life to a less stressful agenda and focus on helping others the best I can. Spending more time with family and friends. Thank you, thank you! Love, Martha, Joe, Kevin, Andy, Holly, Tess, Mia, Laura, Cal, Nora, Katie, Sam, Lorilie, Severn, Scott and Jack

"one hot Mamma".

I am radio active now..... I had residual thyroid tissue so that required the radio active iodine therapy. I swallow a ed a pill then sent home to be in isolation for three dayes. Joe is staying as far away from me as possible. He did take me, but I sat in the back seat on the opposite side of the car. I am glad he drove Because I didn't feel well. There was some nausea so I took Compozine which made me very sleepy. By Saturday afternoon I will be out of isolation. This is not easy for an extrovert. I like being with people. If I felt better I would be busy cleaning out closets, painting, playing my cello, guitar,sewing,etc. All those activities I like to do..... Maybe tomorrow. Joe can't eat food I prepare so cooking is not an option either. My birthday is tomorrow, alway good to celebrate birthdays, and Mother's Day is Sunday. Happy Mother's Day to all you mom's. Give your children. Spouse , grand children a big hug. Celebrate each other! Live Strong ( Lance Armstrong got it said just right). Love, Martha

Next step

I am waiting for the next step in the thyroid treatment. On May 8 and 9th I will receive radio active iodine treatment. This week is the 6th week since surgery. I have been without thyroxin or medication since then. The thyroid glad regulates body temperature, weight, hair nails, energy levels. consequently, I am very cold, low on energy,etc. I will start back on the medication next week so I should feel a lot better once I resume the medication. once I get the radiation, I will be in isolation, can't been near anyone for 3 to 4 days. Joe and I will be in the house together but not near one another ........ That will be difficult and interesting. I am on a no salt, no iodine diet and can't eat in restaurants during this time....cooking again. My voice is slowly coming back. It is higher pitched, soft and fuzzy. When I sing I have about a 5 note range, very weak sound. I saw the surgeon last week. She admitted that she was worried about my voice because she had to work around a nerve, which has affected my voice. I hope it returns back to full sound. It has been very frustrating being heard, especially in a group setting. people look at me and just say, "what did you say?" Thanks again for all the support. I hope that this Spring and Summer we will be at the lake, golf course, and enjoying family and friends, not in doctors offices and hospitals. Love, Martha

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter to everyone. Spring is in the air. After a nice warm beginning to Spring, we are having beautiful cooler weather. The trees and flowers are a bit confused I imagine. We had a light frost last night. The tulips by our back door have survived as we all hope the fruit trees and other plants will make it thru the cooler nights.

It is been about two weeks since my thyroid surgery. I saw the surgeon last Friday. My voice is horse, but getting better. If I use it a lot it goes. I can understand and empathize with people with hearing loss or the inablility to get words understood. It is very difficult to speak in a crowd.... just impossible. Joe can't hear me if his back is turned to me. I have to get in his face for him to know I want to say something.

The explaination for this is: There was scar tissue from a previous thyroid surgery, 28 years ago. The surgeon said that there was thyroid tissue on that side that she had to work it out.... so she was working around a nerve. She feels it was damaged during surgery. I know she was concerned because she called me a couple of times to see how I was doing. She said she thought about me over the weekend, called me on Monday and consulted an ENT doctor before I came in for my appointment. I see her in a couple of weeks to determine if I need to see the throat specialist. I am hoping that because I have impovement every day that it will heal on its own.

I am off my thryoid medication so I am feeling sluggish. After the radioactive iodine treatment, I will resume the medication and should get energy back.
I am looking forward to becoming a golfer again this summer.

Our internet service has been down, that is why it has taken me a couple of weeks to write in the blog. Happy Spring, and a blessed Easter. Martha

Hurray!

Tonight I am recovering from thyroid surgery at St. Joe's Hospital. All went well. The pea sized tumor was incapsulated so no cancer spread...... Good news. I will go home tomorrow, Wednesday morning. In six weeks I'll take a radioactive iodine pill. The scanners at the airport will probably light up when I go through security. Thanks again for prayers and healing thoughts. Unfortunately, Joe missed playing golf with his friends on a beautiful first day of Spring day being the great support to me today. MarthA

Spring is here

As I write this update I am hearing a very happy bird singing a song thru the open door. We have one daffodil and about 20 blooms of Spring flower in the garden. We are all enjoying an early Spring. Last Thursday a tornado destroyed many homes in Dexter, Michigan several miles from here. I was with my daughter in law and grand children in Saline. We went to the basement as there was a tornado warning for their area. My family lost our home to a tornado on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965 so I do go to the basement or safe location when told to. The people of Dexter were all safe because of a 20 minute warning to take cover.

I will post the results of my thyroid surgery as soon as possible. I saw the surgeon last week, and also an ENT doctor who checked vocal chords. I check in at 10a.m. for 12 o'clock surgery this Tuesday, March 20th. I will spend the night and come home on Wednesday. I pray that the surgeon and staff attending the surgery are guided by Gods healing touch.

Martha