I Underwent Surgery To Remove My Thyroid

Some of you may have heard - from myself of others; some may have seen (some more unwilling than others, always ask for consent before sending gory photos of scars and bloody photos of organs); some may not have heard - which is the reason for this post.

TLDR: I underwent surgery to remove a cyst in my thyroid - along with it, the entire right thyroid.

Long version of the story:

July 2018

We noticed a bump in my neck. Just slightly above the collar bone. We decided to take precautions and go to the hospital for a scan.

Blood tests were done. X-rays were taken. It was a lump, a cyst by the side of one of my thyroids. About 3-4cm in size. Apparently, it’s common amongst young women. Apparently, it might go off on its own in a couple of months. No medications were prescribed, only some instructions to observe. 

Few months down the road, mother decided that it’s necessary to do another scan. What if surgery was required? We ought to do it before I left the country. Ample time is needed to rest. Blood was drawn, results suggested hormone levels were typical, no panicking necessary. 

We decided to leave it be, perhaps it would shrink while I was away.

Shrink it did not. Observe I did not either - for it did not affect my day to day function. I was ayyy-okayyyy.

Fast forward to October 2019

It’s been a year. I am back in Malaysia for a short period of time before I head off for the UK again for my graduation. We decided to go for a check up. Blood tests were done, X-rays taken. Apparently the little cyst has grown in size. Doctor suggested surgery. We decided a second opinion was necessary.

A second-opinion we headed for, Dr. Chong was his name. “It’s been feeding on your blood”, he announced, as he points out the blues and reds of the scans to my mom. We came to an agreement that surgery is what we shall go for. December 20th, the date has been set. Right after my graduation, after we enjoy and relax.

7th November 2019, Thursday

Thank God for technology, thank God that insurance agents are now just a call away. We found out there and then, that surgery can no longer wait. For the juvenile policy I was covered by, is due to mature, due to say good-bye. “What can we do?”, mother then asked. “The surgery would have to be next week”, was the answer.

I made calls, I made arrangements. I had to cancel appointments, request for early release from my part-time job. Explain to many people the situation, repeating myself like a broken record. How do I feel? I had no time to feel. I needed to pack, I needed to plan, I needed to get things sorted before the big day. At time point, I wish I could rhyme better.

12th November 2019, Tuesday

Before I knew it, I was making my way to the hospital. Before I knew it, I was being rolled into the operating theatre, my mother’s last words being: Jesus loves you, mummy loves you.

The ceiling is of a boring white colour, all I could do was watch the ceiling lights flash past me - one was busted. Soon enough I was being transferred to the operating mattress - whatever it’s called. I remember the doctor saying I was a cute one. Soon enough I took a deep breath and fell under the spell of anaesthesia. It happened, just like that.

I was shivering as soon as I left the operating theatre, was soon covered by four layers of blankets. Heard some discussions half-awake, “it was much bigger than expected,” Dr. Chong said - slightly bigger than the size of a golf ball, “what we’ve seen on the scan was just the tip of the ice-berg”, he added. “I’ll print you a photo!”, he announced. Printed a photo he did.

Post surgery

17th November was the initial date to fly, back to London couple days before my convocation - first with my brother and his fiance, joined later by mom and dad. Recovery was pretty fast, pretty steady. Then I felt sick the night before, stomach screwed to the floor - too little food and I walk about with jelly legs, too much food and I bloat like a pig. We decided that it would be safer to delay my journey, a few more days to lie down and rest; no need to puke through the 14 hours of flight. This is thus the situation Chloe is coping with.

Doctor said all will be fine - it's just been a bit of discomfort, a bit of nausea, a bit of car sickness, a bit of bruise (from the drips), a bit of a scar. All will heal in due time, and all things considered, Chloe is fine.

If you see me sitting by a pillar drowning myself in some fengyou (or if I'm feeling boujee, some essential oils), fret not, I am but merely recovering from some slight giddiness. I'm now slow to tilt my head and will usually have a scarf on my head. Most days I'll be home, taking naps and watching Little Nyonya. DM if you'd like a photo of the scar. All things considered, Chloe is fine.