The Worst Week of My LIfe

Well, I have thyroid cancer and had to start a treatment plan. It all started on August 14th with the removal of my entire thyroid. Then on October 6th I stopped the temporary thyroid medicine (cytomel) and went on a salt free diet thinking this would be for two weeks. My TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone had to be at 50 points but after 2 weeks it was only at 32 so I had to go another week without good food and thyroid medication. Just think - the normal thyroid level is between .4 and 4.5 and I had to be at 50. That is near death. Finally the nurse called and said, "yippee" you reached the 50 mark. That was on a Friday and I still had until the next week on Thursday before I could start any thyroid medication. I was so weak and puffy. My eye lids were hanging on eye lashes and my cheeks were so puffy I looked like a chipmunk.
Then on October 25th I went in to take the big pill, the I131 radioactive iodine pill. I asked the technician and the doctor if I had no more thyroid how long before I would be on my death bed and they both gave the same answer, "about now."
I took an anti nausea pill then looked at the pill and said here goes and swallowed it. Then I rushed out of the hospital and Jerry drove me home. I ate some lunch and then started the salivary inducing pill which I had to take 3 times a day. I had planned to finish the binding on my bed quilt (2 sides left to finish.) I knew I would have to wash it when this whole thing was over. I got about 1 side done and broke out in a cold sweat and then just layed down on the bed and never got up again. Tuesday I went through the same thing, holding myself up in the shower to wash my hair. It had to be done 3 times a day. By 4:30 and 5 pills later of the salivary inducing pill, I was so sick, I was on the john with that problem, shaking uncontrollably and vomiting. I managed to call the doctor and he said to stop that pill, that it sometimes can make you sick and just suck on hard candy. He didn't want my teeth to rot. After throwing up I felt a little better but so weak. Then on Wednesday, I had the worst headache. I called the doctor again and was told I probably had malnutrition. Who wouldn't after throwing up everything I had eaten and so weak I could hardly put a spoon to my mouth. My dear cousin, Julie, told me to get a supplement like Ensure. That makes my IBS act up so Jerry found Boost which has proved good for me.
I started Synthroid on Thursday and now have been on it for over a week and getting stronger each day. But - my body went through so much stress that my mouth broke out with canker sores so I could hardly swallow water or food. But each day I am better.
Thank you to all the sweet sisters in the ward who brought me meals and words of encouragement. I do so appreciate you.
Now to build up my body until the next time in April or May. My body scan showed no thyroid cells any other places in my body except the throat which the doctors said to expect. Now hopefully, the radioactive pill is killing the cancer in my throat.