Shopsmith Forums

What, no "Today in the Shop" special for your surgery?

Glad everything went well and you're recovering well.

Here's to your speedy return to your shop.

Roy

There wasn't much of an announcement made here but more of a hint that things were happening on the unrelated thread that has been mentioned.

I was planning on on surgery here in Oct but then testing in Sept verified that what was first seen in Jun, high calcium levels were even higher. This is normally a parathyroid issue and more critical then what had been planned. Further testing in that area indicated an enlarged thyroid which was starting to press on my windpipe and causing some hoarseness in my voice. I will not go into all the testing but things did not go as planned on my first operation Monday. A second operation on Wed. was not a solution either.

Levels are better but still high. So while there has been improvements this issue is not yet solved. I get to heal up then they start looking for a parathyroid that is somewhere in my upper chest or it could be some gland that thinks it is a parathyroid. Since these glands are about the size of a grain of rice but can even be smaller it maybe very difficult to find. A 4-D scan will see what it can find, and if it can be found can it be removed without taking me all apart......... One step at a time.

Both thyroids are gone, so I'll be on medication the rest of my life, hey what is an extra pill a day now anyway. My big fear is what else they "find" that needs "repair" or removal with all the additional testing.

BTW the missing as in misplaced or additional parathyroid could have been a "birth defect" that is just now showing up causing trouble. This is a rather rare event so I am special, just how special remains to be seen.

Remember you ask. Had enough yet?

Also thank you for responses and "best wishes". And I will try and keep to the Dr. orders as best I can. It will not be a problem for the next few days but ones I'm feeling more recovered then it will be a lot harder. Have never been one to like to just set around, much rather be busy.

Ed

Keep us posted.

reible wrote:...BTW the missing as in misplaced or additional parathyroid could have been a "birth defect" that is just now showing up causing trouble. This is a rather rare event so I am special, just how special remains to be seen...

Ed

Ed
We always knew you were "special"!:D

Seriously glad to hear you are recovering and we all hope things will turn out okay.
Missed your wisdom and your step by step pictures.

Just read last night in a magazine that "Mr. STP Oil Treatment" damaged a thyroid gland in an Indy 500 crash; had to deal with that the rest of his life; but he didn't do bad!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Granatelli

Ed, sorry to hear of your health issues. Sounds like you've been through some tough experience. Your regular contributions here are one of the reasons this forum is such a great resouce. Hope you get to feeling good and back in the shop real soon!

Your regular contributions here are one of the reasons this forum is such a great resouce. Hope you get to feeling good and back in the shop real soon!

ditto that; glad to hear you are still kicking and looking forward to future postings. Take care, do what the docs say and get back to making sawdust soon.

Tomorrow brings operation #3 (3/11/2015). They think they have located parathyroid that is malfunctioning. They hope to get to it from the neck but it lower then normal so there is some possibilities they will have to crack my chest open... sure hope that doesn't happen.

So do I look at this as the third time is the charm or 3 strikes and you are out?

Anyway I'll be away from wood working for a while. Well that and most other things I would much rather be doing. That 5 pound rule makes sure of that.

Got to be up at 5:00, at the hospital by 6:00, get injected so they can take some gama ray pictures and still don't have the actual time of the operation. If it is the simple version I'll be back home on the 12th. If it is the other case then it is open ended.

Still feel fine, and I hope to again in a short while, have to as I have a lot to do.

Ed

Good to hear everything went o.k. I have found out that many times the recoup time is as important as the surgery it self. The shop will be ready when you are. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

reible wrote:Tomorrow brings operation #3 (3/11/2015). They think they have located parathyroid that is malfunctioning. They hope to get to it from the neck but it lower then normal so there is some possibilities they will have to crack my chest open... sure hope that doesn't happen.

So do I look at this as the third time is the charm or 3 strikes and you are out?

Anyway I'll be away from wood working for a while. Well that and most other things I would much rather be doing. That 5 pound rule makes sure of that.

Got to be up at 5:00, at the hospital by 6:00, get injected so they can take some gama ray pictures and still don't have the actual time of the operation. If it is the simple version I'll be back home on the 12th. If it is the other case then it is open ended.

Still feel fine, and I hope to again in a short while, have to as I have a lot to do.

Ed

Third time is a charm for sure! Praying for you!