And for me personally.
The last time I used the words “Bump In The Road For Feathered Photography” in the title of one of my posts was a year ago when I had back surgery. Now I have to go under the knife again but this time it’s for something entirely different.
Recently a fairly routine medical scan turned up a large “nodule” in the right lobe of my thyroid gland. A needle biopsy a couple of weeks ago was inconclusive for thyroid cancer because the type of cell involved requires a more complicated evaluation than can be performed on the tissue provided by a simple needle biopsy. That means the nodule and the entire right lobe must be removed so they can be tested more thoroughly.
The surgery is scheduled for this morning so I may be under the knife when you read this. Whether it’s cancer or not I may have to have a second surgery down the road to remove the left lobe.
My understanding is that it isn’t as ominous as it might sound. Even if it is cancer the most aggressive types have largely been ruled out by the needle biopsy and therapies and treatments for the types of thyroid cancer I might have have progressed by leaps and bounds in recent years. I may have to take a single dose of radioactive iodine and I’ll likely have to take thyroxin for the rest of my life but that’s no big deal. For various reasons both of my parents took thyroxin for all of their adult lives.
And then there’s the distinct possibility that it isn’t cancer but that could go either way. I won’t know for at least three days after the surgery.
Recovery from this surgery is relatively quick and easy compared to many other surgeries. I should be out of the hospital no later than tomorrow (Saturday) and pretty much pain free within a few days so I should be back to photography and blogging very soon if there are no complications. I should be able to monitor Feathered Photography from my phone while I’m in the hospital.
I don’t like to bare my soul about stuff like this in public but I saw no practical alternative. If I didn’t post to my blog for a few days without explanation it wouldn’t be fair to my readers who I imagine would wonder what the hell was going on. So here it is, for all the world to see. I’ll admit that it makes me a little uncomfortable but I can live with it.
I always try to include a photo with my posts, even the personal ones. But at first I was stymied – what bird photo of mine would possibly work with a post like this one?
Admittedly the photo I eventually chose is a bit of a stretch…
How about a “butcher bird” (Loggerhead Shrike) pulling meat off of a shrew’s leg it has impaled on a tree thorn? Notice the little foot sticking up directly above the thorn that we can’t see because it’s hidden by vole tissue and fur. In the world of butcher birds I guess this at least approaches a type of primitive surgery.
I just hope my butcher surgeon this morning is more gentle with me than the shrike was with this poor vole… 🙂
Ron
Late to the action, hope everything went well and your discomfort eases quickly. Love the butcher bird and the shrew foot.
Thanks for all the supportive comments everyone. I’m still in the hospital but I’m scheduled to be discharged later this morning. I can hardly wait to get out of this place!
I know that feeling, Ron. Blessings.
Get well soon, Ron! I’m wishing you a speedy recovery!
CRIKEY!!! Blast and drat. I’m hoping for an easy surgery, with no complications and a CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH afterwards! Let us know how we can support you from afar…
I’m so glad you shared this, because we would have worried at any unexplained absence. Best wishes for a quick recovery and a good prognosis.
Take care… sending lots of prayers your way.
I wish you well, Ron. Sounds positive even if you don’t like going “under the knife.’ May the birding and photography be a good panacea for the ills.
Ron, Best wishes! I hope that all goes well. I just started following your blog at the recommendation of fellow photographers, the Corsi’s. Your photos are outstanding and your explanations very enlightening especially for those of us new to bird photography. I look forward to more of your excellent work after you get over this bump in the road.
Oh no. Sorry to hear about this Ron. Fingers crossed it isn’t cancer. I had 1st stage cancer almost 3 years ago, and I am doing fine. So keep the faith.
Ron, best of luck to you. I hope the surgery was quick and the recovery will be swift. Thank you for sharing, and just think of us all as extended family who do care about your well-being, even if we normally just lurk and don’t say much. =)
Nose, nostrils, eyes, ears, arms, legs, feet crossed for you…had to have that diagnostic test,,,was terrified, but wasn’t as bad as feared…hoping you are as lucky…have taken thyroxine for many years…first thing in morning…❤️🍀👍
Last thing at night here. A few hours after dinner, and a few hours before breakfast. That nothing to eat or drink afterwards is a beast. I do like my morning cuppa.
Hope you’re back behind your camera with entertaining and cooperative birds in a flash.
Jerry and I wish you an excellent diagnosis and a speedy recovery. We enjoy your blog and recommend it to others who love birds and excellent nature photography.
Wishing you the best possible outcome, and a very speedy recovery!
Healing and kind thoughts your way, Ron. And like everyone else, I hope you are back out pursuing your passion in no time….take the best care of you!
Good luck, Ron. I hope you are out doing what you love soon.
The lengths some people will go to get a day off.
Sending oceans of caring your way.
And smiling at the butcher bird. Broadly.
What a slacker you are, that’s the most outrageous excuse I’ve read in years. Get back to work, soldier. And tell the surgeon you’re needed at the front so new screwing up or s/he’s busted down to private.
I’m among the legions here wishing you a successful surgery and minimal follow-up requirements. The birds are anxiously awaiting your return, as are we! But you take care of you, first.
Wishing you the best of news and a very speedy recovery! 💗💗💗
Best of luck. The little foot made me laugh. Apt comparison!
Ron. Keeping you in my prayers. Diana
Best of wishes for a speedy recovery and good test results. Take care and rest well.
Love the last sentence of your post!! A sense of humor always helps. Sending you healing energy and lots of best wishes for an uneventful surgery and speedy recovery as well as a benign diagnosis. Thank you for letting us know what is going on and allowing us to send our thoughts and prayers. Your emails always make my day!
Take care, Ron. Wishing you the very best possible surgery and outcome!
I love your openness and sense of humor when facing a threatening situation. Hope all goes well and you are back in the field soon.
Hey, Praying everything goes well with the surgery and diagnosis. You just rest and take time off for several days. Spring will be here soon. ( I hope) It does show up in my area later!
Never a dull moment for you Ron, hope all goes smoothly. Just this week there was a documentary type story done on our national radio service CBC on their series “White Coat Black Art” with Dr. Brian Goldman discussing the new findings and ways of looking at thyroid cancer – not as serious as once believed. Might be worth taking a look at the archived story on line.
Here’s to gentle surgeons! Sending you warm thoughts and hope all goes well.
My 54 year old daughter had this when she was 23. Doing great. She was very lucky to find a surgeon whose sole practice was malignant thyroids. I highly recommend it if you can find a highly specialized surgeon.
Charlotte
In this case, better out than In. Good luck.
Damn bumps… I went through this same scenario years ago. Mine turned out fine and so will yours. Still have your sense of humor with the loggerhead 😁
See you soon.
Bon courage! Best wishes for smooth healing and birds singing. What a web of appreciative people you have rooting for you and if they could I know many birds would too 🙂
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Ron. This sounds like a great excuse to indulge in additional chocolate donuts!
I’m gratified that you clued your posse in–when you read Lyle’s “punny”
note, I’m sure it’ll make you laugh–here’s hoping that doesn’t make your
throat/neck hurt……and the weather in northern Utah will be crummy for photography during
the next 2 days, anyway–a little consolation ?
Be well and get well soon Ron. Best wishes!!!
It’s certainly not a stretch to say you have a sick, macabre sense of humor; and we’re stuck in the internet waiting room trying to occupy our minds reading magazines we have no interest in why we wait….
it better be a quick, uncomplicated procedure, with minimal pain, short recovery, and yield either a benign or easily treatable result. Because, you know, FP withdrawal is a pain in the neck.
Well HELL! Hope it goes well….. Butcher Bird fits! :D! Thx for sharing – we all “worry”…….
Ron, you will be in my prayers for a speedy recovery and no cancer. Best wishes.
You are right that the most common types of thyroid tumors are more amenable to treatment. Wishing you a successful outcome. Hope the surgeon is not dressed in black and gray!
Wishing you the very best results. You will be missed, but, hopefully, not for long.
Awesome photo! Wishing you a smooth procedure, speedy recovery, and a good outcome.
Wow Ron – I’ll be praying for you for a positive result. Several years ago my Primary Care physician felt nodules on my thyroid & sent me to an excellent Endocrinologist. He actually did a needle biopsy in the office & then sent it to a special lab that did a new procedure to reduce the need for surgery since there were too many surgeries when the nodules were not cancerous. The results came back – no cancer!! He follows me for other health issues so he sees me every 3 months. Sorry you are needing the surgery & hoping it’s not cancerous. One good thing (so to speak) – if it is cancerous – it’s a much better cancer to treat than others I could name. You were right to tell us because we definitely would have been worrying – especially with the new blog problems you’ve had to deal with. The absolute important thing is to take care of YOU!!
Good luck Ron! I am sending lots of prayers to you.
Wishing you the best results! Don
Sending well wishes from Rhode Island Ron !! Your voice is heard round the world, so get well soon and get back to what you do best. Teaching us photography and alot about our “feathered friends”…….
Love and prayers for you speedy recovery.
Prayers and good thoughts being sent to you today!
Thank you for sharing this Ron! I love your posts and would certainly have noticed if they suddenly stopped. I hope you heal quickly and fully recover. And are back to clicking your shutter in a few days.
Ron, Sending prayers and good wishes your way.
God Bless Ron. Hope all goes as planned and wishing you a speedy recovery.
Best of luck with your medical procedures. We are fortunate to live in a time when medical procedures can successfully repair health issues, that were not so long ago, end of life issues.
Be well, Ron. And thanks for sharing. We are all (more or less) there with you.