It's Me! Your Medical Marvel, Phylicia

Phylicia Kara
Mar 31
4 min read

Wow, so much has happened since my last life update in 2023! I went from having a clean medical record to suddenly being on a first-name basis with surgeons—three of them, in fact—within a year and a half!

First up, in April of 2023, I underwent my very first surgery: a total thyroidectomy, after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. It was staged at pT3b. Fast forward to August 2024, and I’m officially cancer-free! 🥳🎉 Huge shout-out to my incredible endosurgeon, Dr. Kepal Patel, from NYU for guiding me through my very first surgery and this whole new journey dealing with cancer.

Then, in June of 2023, I had a total hysterectomy. Why, you ask? Well, fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and heavy menstrual cycles decided they wanted to make my life difficult. One of the fibroids was sitting uncomfortably close to my spine and had grown to the size of an orange! 😳 While this was a tough decision, I have zero regrets, even though the recovery was by far the hardest thing I’ve gone through. But I couldn’t have asked for a better surgeon—and GYN—Dr. Linda Nicoll from NYU. She’s truly a gem!

And last but definitely not least, in November of 2024, I underwent what I hope is my last surgery *fingers crossed*. I had developed pulsatile tinnitus in my right ear, and it started getting worse by the day. For those who don’t know, pulsatile tinnitus is a whooshing sound in your ear that’s oddly synced with your heartbeat. I also started having pretty bad intracranial pressure which felt like my head was trying to lift off of itself like a hot air balloon. For some, pulsatile tinnitus is caused by a brain aneurysm—where the blood tries to force its way through a narrowing vein, and you hear the whooshing sound from that restricted flow trying to force its way through. Turns out that’s what I had. Yep! A brain aneurysm!

I was incredibly lucky and blessed to find Dr. Athos Patsalides, a neurosurgeon who specializes in this rare condition. He’s not just an expert; he’s also teaching other neurosurgeons worldwide about the minimally invasive procedure he’s been using to treat it. His office and staff were top-notch, and I couldn’t have been in better hands from start to finish. Now, I’m the proud owner of two stents on the right side of my brain, plus blood thinners for a few more months. Talk about a whole new lifestyle! Add that to my list of never ending medications. 💊😆

The Importance of Being Your Own Advocate

I cannot stress this enough! Whether you're facing surgery or any big medical decision, always, always get a second opinion. If you’re ever in need of a biopsy, consider sending your slides to Memorial Sloan Kettering for a second opinion. It could make all the difference.

We’re all human, and it’s so easy for something to be missed or overlooked. YOU are your best advocate, so ask questions, do your research, and get that second opinion. That might mean having another doctor review your records, or even sending your biopsy or radiology slides to another expert for reading.

A Second Opinion Made All the Difference

Case in point: when I got diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I sent my pathology slides from NYU to MSK. They found cancer on both sides of my thyroid—something that had been missed on all my NYU scans and pathology reports. That second opinion changed everything. I was so glad my doctor recommended a total thyroidectomy, and not a partial one, because had I only had a partial and then found out later that cancer of a whole different variant was on the other side, I would’ve gone scorched earth! 🔥 It’s a good reminder that when it comes to your health, there’s no room for hesitation. Always get the answers you need.

Then, there’s the whole pulsatile tinnitus saga. My brain MRA, MRV, and MRI from Lenox Hill Radiology all came back clean, with no explanation for the whooshing sound in my ear. When I took those scans to Dr. Patsalides, he took one look at the same imaging and immediately pinpointed the brain aneurysm to my husband and I. It was a huge relief to finally have answers - and a life-saving procedure I never even knew I needed.

Reflecting

Looking back on everything that’s happened over the last year and a half, I’m just really thankful. Life can be unpredictable, but I’ve learned that with the right doctors, a little persistence, and advocating for yourself, you can get through anything. My experience really drives home how important second opinions are, and how crucial it is to have a medical team you trust.

If you're going through something similar, take this away: Always be your own advocate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek out other opinions. You deserve the best care, and sometimes that means digging a little deeper.

Here’s to health, healing, and facing whatever comes next with strength, hope, and faith. 🙏✨