My Thyroidectomy Journey

Day 1 After Surgery The morning after surgery, I felt improvement on my movement. I could start to move my head, even just a little. Yes, just a little because my neck was so stiff. But besides that, I still needed so much help from the nurse. High Care Unit almost felt like isolation room to me. There was only one bed, no one allowed to be inside the room but hospital staff. Unless of course during visiting hour. I got bored easily, I can only talk to doctors and nurses with my hoarse voice. Yes, hoarseness was one of the expected result from thyroidectomy. Before the surgery, I was told the hoarseness might take months before getting back to normal, or it could be permanent. I wasn't thinking much about this hoarseness. I was just hoping my recovery went well so I could get back to general ward. dr. Bayu did not able to check on me on Sunday (13/May) because he was out of town. Instead, one if his team member who was also a surgeon, dr. Oggy, came to visit me in the...

I was admitted to Mayapada Hospital Jakarta Selatan on May 11. Dr. Bayu ordered an ultrasound once again, and I also scheduled to meet cardiologist and anesthesiologist. Blood work, EKG appeared normal and I was declared OK for surgery. My parents came the night prior my surgery. I guessed it was because of their prayers I slept well that night. ... May 12, the D-Day Hubby stayed beside me in preparation room. dr. Bayu and his team came to greet me before the surgery started. "How are you doing?" "Nervous, doc," I replied. "Don't be, everything's gonna be okay," still with a big smile, he was. Around 9 AM, I was wheeled on a gurney into operating theater. Bismillah. ... I was still heavily sedated when someone tap my shoulder, "It's over." Feeling extremely nauseous because of the anaesthetic, I rolled over and threw up three times. I was then brought to High Care Unit for 24 hours observation. M...

On mid of April, I checked with oncology nurse when will the oncologist back from abroad. "You can expect to see him on May 8," she said. I took annual leave for May 8, because his schedule can be, uh, unpredictable. I was on my way home from work in May 7 night when I received phone call from the hospital. "Tomorrow Dr. Bayu will start from 7PM because he has surgery scheduled until noon. Would you still want to see him?" Said the nurse. Heck yes! I've been waiting to see him for more than a month! On May 8, my husband and I went out to see a movie, just to get my mind's off, before we headed to hospital. We got in around 9 PM. dr. Bayu, warm and friendly as usual, greeted us at the door. "So, surgery?" He smiled. "Yes, doc. As soon as possible. When will you be available?" "Hm, let's see... I'm available the day after tomorrow. How about May 10?" "Wait, does that mean I must ...

To receive the bad news myself was bad enough, I thought to deliver the news to my immediate family and people at office will be easier. Boy, I was wrong. I hate to explain my condition, which to me, was personal. But I could not get through this alone. The first person I told about biopsy result was my mom. She took it harder than I did. Well, because she's a mother. To think that I made my mom worry upset me even more. At the end of our conversation, I told mom not to tell everyone just yet. Then I told some people from office: people I work with, because I will be absent for some time; and HR people because I might need their help with the insurance. This was an emotional rollercoaster. Telling someone about this felt like I took the ride again. And again. I needed some time, and some space.