Scarless Thyroid Lobectomy - My Story

There could be millions of people around the world with thyroid nodules at the moment but only a fraction of them knows that. Some might be wondering if they should remove the nodule or not, but for a few it is not a choice.

My story begins 4 years ago at the 6 week checkup after delivering my son. Dr. Watters could feel a lump in my left thyroid and referred me to an ENT, Dr. Johnson. He ordered an ultrasound followed by an FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration test) because the size of the nodule (2.4cm) was non-negligible.

The FNA was no fun. I had to patiently wait until someone poked my thyroid nodule with a long thin needle 3 times. When the pathology report arrived, it indicated the nodule was benign, so, no worries. Dr. Johnson, however, ordered another ultrasound to be done a year later to monitor any future growth.

After a year, I got the second ultrasound done and the nodule had not changed in size. The doctor was satisfied with the reports and I was told there’s no need to worry about it anymore unless it becomes bothersome in future. Apparently, the nodule has formed during the pregnancy, which is common, as I was told, and is not growing now. I was happy hearing this as it sounded like the end of an episode.

Then I hardly noticed or felt my nodule and there were times I completely forgot I had it. We had even moved to another state during this time and had not been in touch with my ENT. After about 3 years I thought I feel something in my neck and realized that’s where the nodule was.

So we had to search for an ENT in the area and it was time for another ultrasound. Getting all the old reports from my previous doctor was a nightmare as they wanted release forms signed by me and we no longer lived there. Fortunately, our friends over there helped with that. The new ultrasound report showed that the nodule has been growing. It was 3.9 cm and this time the ENT recommendation was to remove the left thyroid lobe.

The ENT could do the surgery but we started searching for good endocrine surgeons as we thought its better to get a second opinion as well. I was concerned about having a thyroid surgery because for a few reasons.

1. Thyroid Lobectomy is said be one of the safest and common surgeries but it is still a surgery and I had not had any surgery before
2. It would be hard for my husband to take care of our 4 year old and me with his work during my recovery. We didn’t have family nearby either.
3. There would be a cut in my neck and I get a scar for the lifetime.

So my husband Saliya was searching for a surgeon and he found about this scarless thyroid surgery, which is available in John Hopkins hospital. Dr. Jonathon Russell is the surgeon who performs this transoral thyroidectomy there and he is the most experienced surgeon in USA on this robotic surgery.

It is a 5hr drive from where we live to John Hopkins. However, we thought to go for it considering Dr. Russell’s and the hospital’s reputation and the scarless option as well. I was able to get an appointment in few weeks.

After meeting Dr. Russell I felt so relieved. He was willing to listen to all our concerns and took time to explain the options available for me. He told that I was a good candidate for the scarless surgery option as well. This procedure is relatively new but Dr. Russell has performed about 50 of them at the time. Considering many facts, we decided to go with the scarless option.

Dr. Russell explaining the transoral thyrodectomy

I was a bit nervous about the surgery anyway and we were trying to reach someone who have had this before. Fortunately, we found Sheri Caine, who had the same surgery but at University of Chicago Medicine. In fact, she is the first patient there to have done this (read her story here). Sheri was so helpful and shared her experience on what to expect after the surgery. She even sent us a few pictures. That actually made most of my worries go away and that’s what motivated to me to write my experience as well.

Finally, it was the day of the surgery. We had rented an Airbnb place near Baltimore to stay during my recovery. My brother-in-law, Jaliya, flew all the way from Seattle to help us, which a huge relief for all of us.

Just a sample image

The surgery went fine and it took about 1 1/2 hours. The whole team including nurses and anesthesia team was nice and kind. When I wake up in the recovery room, I had some tape around my neck and another bandage around the jaw and head. The nurse said it was to support the swelling in the neck. Dr. Russell talked to me and said the surgery went well. I felt pain around my neck and my face was swollen. However, I didn’t have much bruising around the chin.

I was discharged the same day and they prescribed pain medication and antibiotics. I could only take liquids that night. I was able to use straws but was not able to chew anything as the area under the chin was painful. I was nauseous for a day or two but that stopped when I started taking Tylenol instead of the prescribed narcotic pain medication (oxycodone). Moreover, I was a bit weak as I didn’t have any food since the day before the surgery. Saliya had to assist me for getting up from the bed and walking for the first few days. I could eat some Jello, soup and mashed potato on the day after the surgery and my apatite improved slowly.

I removed the bandage supporting the jaw the next day. The tape around my neck had to stay for another day. When it was removed, my neck didn’t have any swelling but the face was still a bit swollen. I had to rinse my mouth with salty water after every meal because of the stitched wound behind the lower lip. That was comparatively less painful though.

Today, after a week from the surgery, I feel mostly recovered. I am happy that the surgery went so smooth. Dr. Russell and his team was amazing and I would not hesitate to recommend him to someone else!

During all this hectic time, there were many who went above and beyond their means to help us. When we were struggling to find a doctor to get the pre-op done, which happened during the Christmas holidays, our friend Dr. Shyama kindly helped us. Also, our families and friends, constantly helped us to stay strong. My brother-in-law who dropped everything and flew here for us, our parents who went to temples and wished well for me even during the surgery (it was mid night in Sri Lanka), our Sri Lankan neighbors who made us food and supported in many ways, my brothers and friends who always called and checked on me, and everyone else who wished and prayed for us made all this a success and a smooth experience. I’ll always remember it and keep this memory in a safe corner in my heart.

Trip to Glacier Mountains and Yellowstone

We, a group of 4 families visited Glacier mountain national park and Yellowstone national park in June, 2017. I have posted the details in my travel blog.