we can resume something approximating our previous lives.
I do, in fact, have cancer. It is thyroid cancer. Good news: curable. Bad news: mets to the lymph nodes. Surgery is over. The thyroid is gone. Cytomel is not so bad. Calcium levels have stabilized, meaning that the parathyroids are kicking back in. Incision looks good and is healing well. Now we are getting ready for RAI (radioactive iodine) therapy. This will involve a few days of isolation, hopefully at the hospital. Strict isolation. In the mean time, I have started the low iodine diet: no iodized salt, no dairy (equipment is cleaned with iodine), no egg yolks, no seafood or seafood products. I am cooking beans in advance, so I can freeze them and have the ready to eat. I have made instant vegetable broth. This is fabulous stuff. It's even pretty. The recipe made over 6 pints. Used 1 tablespoon at a time, this could last for a while. It took about 45 minutes of actual work, and overnight to salf ferment. Basically with this diet, I cannot eat preprocessed foods, as I cannot positively identify whether the salt has iodine in it.
Why low iodine? Well, thyroid cells need iodine to do their job. So the theory is, go off you thyroid meds and restrict iodine as much as possible. The cells will be starving for iodine. Take the radioactive stuff, and whammo, the leftover thyroid cells drink the koolaid. With any luck, this will eliminate the chances of further tumors. From there on out, it will be managing thyroid meds and occaisional scans to ensure no recurrence. Keep your fingers crossed for me. If you want a real challenge, join me on the journey of this insane diet. It should be interesting. At the very least, read the labels of everything you buy at the store. Think about what is in your food. Mentally try to eliminate salt, dairy, eggs, and seafood ingredients. It's not easy, let me tell you.
On to brighter things:
We have a seen a video of grandchild #3 (sex as of yet undetermined). Baby looks great and is moving a lot. Long legs. Big ears (don't know where they came from ;) Knitting for this baby is waiting for identification.
We have pictures of grandchild #2 (due in Feb). Her name is Madelynn, although her parents aren't spelling it the same way yet. I'm sure they'll figure it out. Knitting for this baby has started. Baby surprise jacket needs buttons. Blanket done. Hat in the wings. Will post pictures soon.
I've had startitis lately. I spun the yarn for my first hanspun pair of socks. It came out a beautiful dusty rose. The fiber is merino from Sunset fibers. It was a dream to spin. Knitting up well. Also begun are the Butterfly Wings shawl from Goddess Knits, in Malabrigo Sock Abril and the Knitting Bag from Knitpicks. I also resurected a pair of socks in a Sivia Harding pattern. One done, one to go. Maybe that's tonight's project, while I cook. Although, I really should work on the shawl, as the temperature has dropped 30 degrees in a month and it is now cold when I come home from work in the mornings.
Speaking of work, I'm a charge nurse now. Translate: ringmaster of a 2-3 ring circus. We have another term for it at work. It's not bad. Not what I wanted to do, but in nursing, things don't always go our way. I am riding my bike, though. it gets me home so much faster than taking the bus.
Talk to you soon
BTW, if you order beneficial nematodes to help with the organic gardening, they are not the larvae that you think they will be. You will recieve a box of ladybugs, live frickin' lady bugs. Just sayin'.
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