Joining in on the convo. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in late 2010...hence my joining the boards, leaving, and coming back. I kinda became a bit anti-social after everything happened.
Long story short, I was diagnosed with nodules and hyperthyroid back in 1992. I had numerous biopsies and was put on synthroid, and then in 2009 and 2010, the nodules that were drained kept redeveloping fluid and upon testing, I was told there was a 20% they were cancerous, so I agreed to have my entire thyroid removed. I underwent radioactive iodine treatment in early 2011. I've been clean since then, except for some enlarged lymph nodes that I have monitored via ultrasound every two years. And of course the removal made me hypothyroid and I'm on levoxylthyrine for life.
Not only did the entire experience change me mentally--it gave me a new perspective on life, and taught me who my real friends/family are, but it also has changed me physically. I'm on top of my game medically, where I try and take care of myself the best that I can and monitor my levels on the regular, but am living a new normal where I just don't feel 100% at all anymore. I also feel that my health has deteriorated--on top of the typical hypo symptoms, I also have two other acute conditions--sinusitis and TMJ arthralgia. It gets me down sometimes, but hey, at least I'm still here!
Just thought I'd share my story. Glad to have found this thread and to know that I'm not alone!!