I've had a big thyroid for quite a while now but this summer I noticed it had grown much larger and I was starting to exhibit some not-so-fun symptoms, so we determined it was time for it to go.
When the surgeon said he could take it out on December 23, I wasn't real happy at first. Recovering from surgery over Christmas didn't seem like a lot of fun. However, with Holly being home it worked out really well. I not only had my own personal nurse, but she could also take care of a lot of the Christmas day preparations.
Here are some not-so-attractive pictures of me but I did want to record this for posterity's sake.
John took this right before we left for the hospital. One last pic of "Big Neck Hiemstra".
Took a selfie for my mom.
All ready to go!
All done!
This was my first surgery (except for having my babies) and I have concluded that I am pretty good at it. Slept through it all, don't remember a thing, and healed up nicely.
I got to go home that evening and was spoiled by my kids. Holly had washed my sheets and gotten my bed all ready and Sam had gotten me a coffee card and this balloon (which made me laugh despite my sore throat).
A week later I had the stitches out and I took this picture 10 days post-op.
I was sent home with a drain. Normally one would return the next day to have it removed however since it was Christmas Eve and I had some medical professionals at home, the surgeon said we could take it out ourselves. There might have been a little disagreement between John and Holly over who got to do it. I'll let you guess who won.
Sam wanted in on the action too so John let him cut off my hospital bracelet (for some reason he was wearing his sister's new pink robe).
All healed up now and good as new!
