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Sunday, January 13, 2008

Goiters Interruptus

Thanks again to the many, many folks who have written and called with thoughts,prayers, good wishes and dirty jokes over my Christmas week health issues. To bore everyone with an update on my health scare, I went to a head and neck guy last Wednesday who looked at all of the CT scans, the radioactive iodine scan, blood work and x-rays, and said he's 95% certain what I have is a sub-sternal goiter. I have a 4 cm "mass" on my left thyroid lobe, and then this massive blob down behind my sternum. Only surgery will tell if it's got any cancer in it, but he tells me that only a small percentage of goiters become cancerous. And even if they do, they are thyroid tissue and so react great to being nuked, since thyroid absorbs radiation like mother's milk. They should be able to remove the whole mess by slitting my throat from ear to ear (!) and not having to crack my sternum. They tilt my head back, and out it slips, like a life-size Pez dispenser.

So, we have a tentative sigh of possible relief, apart from the disquieting imagery.

Goiters are, in part, coaxed along by deficiencies in iodine in the diet, which iodized salt is supposed to solve. Which means I didn't consume enough salt before, and now I can't touch the damned stuff.

As for sleep apnea, high blood sugar, high BP, fluid in the lungs and the rest perhaps being affected, or even caused, by a thyroid gone mad? "Lose the weight and stop looking for external excuses," the doctor said. "Lose the weight and the rest of your problems will most likely go away in time."

So much for instantly absolving myself of blame. Again, if I can act as a bad example that encourages all of you to reexamine your waistline and personal dietary and stress-related habits, please do as I say, not as I do.

I chatted with a Masonic brother who has gout this week. I've got a goiter. All we need are two guys with the ague and lumbago, and for Alice to come down with the vapours, and we'll have a full-fledged panoply of Victorian ailments.

10 comments:

  1. Iam sorry to hear about the problems you have been having Bro. Chris but I wish you the best and I know everything will work out right in the end. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brother Chris,

    Don't forget to keep up with your citrus fruits or you may catch scurvy. Just wanted to throw in another potentially comical medical condition from the years past. My wife nearly force feeds me oranges to keep from developing scurvy and realizing my life long dream of high seas piracy.

    On a more serious note, I wish you well with your upcoming procedure and your recovery.

    Fraternally,
    Brother Charles

    ReplyDelete
  3. First guy who says "Goiters For Dummies" gets it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. They should be able to remove the whole mess by slitting my throat (!) and not having to crack my sternum.

    And it looks like they won't need to remove your organs, either.

    Best wishes, Chris.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wor:. Bro:.: I'll keep a good thought for your successful treatment and speedy recovery.

    Not wanting to "get it", bu how about "Victorian Maladies For The Woefully Uninformed"?

    (grin)

    Traveling Man

    ReplyDelete
  6. First guy who says "Goiters For Dummies" gets it.

    I believe Morris already wrote the Idiot's Guide ...

    ReplyDelete
  7. QUOTE
    They should be able to remove the whole mess by slitting my throat (!)
    UNQUOTE

    Brother Chris,

    I told you you should pay more attention to your E.A. Obligation. Now you gotta pay the price.

    Brother George

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good news. If you can steer clear of the gout (gout always requires the definite article...not sure why) and the dreaded dropsy, you'll be well on your way to feeling capital again.

    If your Dr. will allow it, try Atkins. It works.

    Best of luck to you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dropsy. I'd forgotten dropsy.

    And St. Vidas' Dance.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad to here that you are getting better, here's to a fast and full recovery.

    Wor. & Rev. Hank
    Amicable, Lodge
    Cambridge, MA

    ReplyDelete

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