Cut Me, Mick
Tomorrow I go under the knife.
I have a nodule on my thyroid gland, which appears to be comprised of a murky blend of papillary and follicular cells. After undergoing a fine needle aspiration biopsy, the pathology report came back labeled 'suspicious.' The recommended course of action for suspicious cytologies is surgery - as 25% of these lesions turn out to be malignant. So, in the morning, my surgeon will remove the nodule, have a pathologist freeze it immediately and then analyze it under a microscope. If the pathologist concludes that the nodule is benign, then I'll simply get sewn up, stay overnight in the hospital and sent on my merry way. If the nodule appears malignant, then the surgeon will come back and perform a partial or full thyroidectomy depending on the size and location of the nodule. After this, I'll spend the night in the hospital and then take a course of radioactive iodine six weeks later.
If you have read this blog for any length of time, you realize that I don't discuss personal, non-wine issues. So why am I telling the World Wide Web that I'm getting my neck cut open in the morning? I hope to impress on anyone reading this, who, like me, has never really experienced health problems (I did get my tonsils out in the 4th grade - that's pretty much it), that it's important to see your doctor regularly. Annual physicals are important. And, if you detect any lumps/bumps/sensations, out of the ordinary, you should definitely see a doc.
Tomorrow you'll be in good hands as the WG will be posting a few tidbits. I'll be back, perhaps under the influence of strong pain medication, on Wednesday. It should make for some entertaining reading!
What, no live webcam in the O.R. so that all the Basic Juicees can follow along? Just kidding. Surgery is no fun, but I have confidence that you will be up and running in no time!
Posted by: WineGoddess | 12 December 2005 at 12:15 PM
Rachel and I are hoping for the best and praying for positive results for you. Be well!
Maybe you can somehow cleverly tie this to wine somehow... you've brought together seemingly disparate elements before in your wine commentaries before.
Posted by: Steve-o | 12 December 2005 at 02:42 PM
Beau...Nena and I will both be thinking of you tomorrow. Good luck and take care of yourself.
We'll all be here waiting for you when you return to the blogosphere.
Posted by: Lenn | 12 December 2005 at 05:44 PM
WG, S-o, Lenn -
Thanks for the well-wishes. I'm sure everything will be fine (except for this whole no-wine-for-24 hours-before-the-operation thing).
Posted by: beau | 12 December 2005 at 06:27 PM
Will raise a glass to your health tomorrow! (actually, I'll raise two, since you can't drink)
Posted by: Emily | 12 December 2005 at 07:05 PM
All the best mate......hope everything goes well.
I'll raise a glass to your health
Cheers
Dave
Posted by: D | 13 December 2005 at 01:33 AM
Wish you the best and I'll try to up my wine consumption in place of your hiatus! Hear from you soon,
Posted by: Ryan Opaz | 13 December 2005 at 01:36 AM
Hope all goes well! Look forward to your return.
Posted by: Ian Scott | 13 December 2005 at 05:28 AM
Good luck and don't stay too long at the hospital. Nice people who work there but too many sick people! Run out as soon as possible.
jens
Posted by: jens at cincinnati wine | 13 December 2005 at 07:13 AM
good luck, beau. i'll send out lots of positive thoughts!
Posted by: vanessa | 13 December 2005 at 04:48 PM
All the best, Beau!
My MIL had the surgery, and her recovery was quick. Hope you don't need it, but if you do it's not too bad.
Posted by: Seth | 13 December 2005 at 07:23 PM
We'll throw up a prayer for you as well, for discernment on the doctor's part and for fast recovery. Hope all goes well.
Posted by: Josh | 13 December 2005 at 11:43 PM
strength. I hope all goes down well and you are back soon beau.
Bill
Posted by: bill | 14 December 2005 at 06:02 AM