Thyroid removal

[crashy]

Has anyone on here had their thyroid removed? I need to get mine removed but I have to do my homework before I do it so ......whats your story? Would you do it again? Would you have waited longer? Are you glad you did it? And most of all did you feel better after it was all said and done?
I am kinda scared, nervous, stuff like that.

[mommagoose_99]

Crashy , don't worry , have it done and go on with your life. My two daughters and myself have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Our thyroids are ceasing function on their own. We are all on various strengths of Synthroid. I was so sick until we found out I needed thyroid medication and now I am so much better. My one daughter's Hashimoto's started when she was pregnant with twins. My second daughter's thyroid is more slowly shutting down like mine. The daughter of the twins, mother in law just had her thyroid removed due to cancer. She is living her life just like before the cancer, now.
All that is required is a daily dose of Synthroid or Levothyroxin which is the generic for synthroid. Never skip a pill and you will feel great. The only side effect I have ever had was flushing like a mild hot flash when my dosage was increased too quickly. Some people experience palpatations for the same reason. If you feel flushed or have palpatations for more than one day , just call your doctor. He or she will probably tell you to cut your pill in half for a day and take the full dose everyother day.
Good Luck and please don't worry.
Linda

[Janossy]

I have residents that are 80 and older and been taking Synthroid for the last 50 or so years with no problems. Not having a thyroid, if controlled correctly, is no big deal. You will have to be conscientious and consistent about your MD appts. and meds.

[snowshoehair]

I've been taking Synthroid for the past 10 years. I have no problems with the medication and only have problems when I need to have an increase in my dosage. My thyroid has been declining in function over the years, so I've needed regular lab work and med adjustments. I think it's pretty much leveled off for now but I still need to pay attention to what my body tells me. Maybe half my family is on Synthroid.

The only real side effects of Synthroid are when your dosage is too high you will feel like you're on waaaay too much coffee. If that's the case, all you need is a reduced dose. Sometimes people need to stick to name brand Synthroid, and some do well with the generic. Very occasionally someone will be sensitive to a dye in the pill (each strength has it's own color) and they simply have to take the correct amount of mcg of the white pills.

Actually, if the doc is recommending that your thyroid be removed, it's going to be for a good reason. If you have nodules or some other abnormality... or a history of thyroid cancer, you are better off without it. A dysfunctional thyroid gland needs to be watched closely.

[suitcase_sally]

Some people are born without a thyroid gland.

[Bells]

Do it! I had thyroid cancer and wished I had done it sooner.

The operation itself isn't that bad. Be aware that you will move like a penquin for awhile (I think about a week) as your neck will not allow your head to twist. Not a big deal but if you are used to driving you might have to wait a bit. Buy a u-shaped neck pillow for after the operation. It helps w/getting out of bed - grab the corners of the pillow and lift your head.

[crashy]

I have been on levothroxine for a few years now she just doubled my dosage to 50 mg(?) I guess from my last ultrasound my nodules are getting bigger I have had a biopsy done a few years back but now she says the its either going to stop growing or will continue to grow. I am thinking I will wait and see what is happening I just got more thyroxine in my body I will give it time to adjust.
I keep thinking I should just go get it taken out but I am afraid of the after effects. I don't want to regret having something removed from my bod and then wish I never would have done it. I dont think they would put it back!!! LOL

[PNP Katahdins]

I had my thyroid removed in 2000 due to what turned out to be benign nodules. The biopsy was inconclusive so the specialist wanted to remove part of it to be safe. When I woke up, the whole thing was gone. He didn't want to tell me that ahead of time, which I resented because it wouldn't have made any difference to me. Very little discomfort or stiffness. I got a couple days off work then back to the grind. My generic levothyroxine works fine.

The surgeon did a fine job with the incision in a crease in the front of my neck. Other doctors have looked at it and say he did a good job minimizing scarring.

I wouldn't hesitate to go through it again. Good luck to you.

Peg

[tinda]

Thyroid surgery is not the first choice here. My Dr. recommends radiation therapy.
after being examined by a specialist, they either give you a "drink" or one pill and that is it. It kills off the thyroid gland. To me, it seems so final. I would be on medication the rest of my life, but then I am anyway.
I am hyperthyroid, the opposite to most of you, and take propylthuricil (PTU). I am having second thoughts.

[sss3]

My neice had hers removed a month ago; due to Thyroid Cancer. Was told her voice might change permantly; become raspy. That didn't happen. Was also told, that shape of her face would change. That didn't happen. The sad thing about this is, she had been telling her Dr. for 3 yrs about the lump in her neck. Obviously she will change Dr's after she gets thru this. BTW she's 33.

[Nellie]

I would encourage you to see a Doctor of Naturopathy, ie an ND. He would have a whole different perspective on it.

I went to a Medical Doctor to have tests run to see what was causing my severe exhaustion. She wanted to put me on anti-depressants right away, before testing anything. The tests showed my thyroid was low.

I went to an ND, and he ran a bunch of tests, too. We found out my Adrenal gland was barely functioning, and that is causing the thyroid to be too low. Also found out I have some major food allergies, which puts my whole immune system into panic mode, which stresses the adrenal and thyroid glands.

I'm doing better, and I'm not taking any drugs at all, just natural supplements.

I have no idea what your condition is, but again, I would really encourage you to get a different perspective of an opinion.

[snowshoehair]

Keep in mind that a dysfunctional thyroid doesn't get better. If it's starting to circle the drain now, it will only continue down that path and will not recover it's function. The nodules would need to be watched closely as they could turn cancerous.

But you are right in that you don't need to run out and get it "yanked" right away.

[uyk7]

While I'm sure most people on replacement therapy do fine, I have had about a three month period in the last 12 years where I actually felt good. Docs keep saying my level is fine or they adjust the dosage but I can't say I actually feel "good".

Hope it works out for you!
.

[home~girl]

Had mine removed a couple years ago.. nodules on thyroid and glands ... sometimes they have to remove it instead of the pill. My brother had the pill.

Either way, it's surgery, not fun, there are risks of course. I lost my voice and it didn't come back as soon as doc predicted. Thought I was going to have to see someone about that, but it eventually came back. I barely notice my scar, but my son joked after the surgery that it looked like someone had cut my throat.

The downside - you will have to take meds and go to the doc a lot to get your blood levels in the correct range, and you will always have to go pretty regular as the amount of meds you need changes. I can only use name brand synthroid for some reason, I can't keep stable on generic which sucks. ( dollar wise) .

I tried the armour.. totally didn't work for me, but works great for some people.

Either way.. get this done. They don't go in and take it out for no reason. If they can use the pill they will.So they have a reason. But not to worry... my growths were completely benign. Doc did say if you left them alone they could turn cancerous though. That's why it's best to just get it done.

I never wanted to be stuck having to take a pill everyday to live, but it is what is is. Your thyroid controls and influences so many things in your body, trust me, the sooner you get this done the better.

Now the good news.. even though the above sounds daunting... looking back it really wasn't that bad. Annoying not being able to talk, lol, but overall no worse than any other surgery and I'm glad I did it. I can THINK now, and remember things and I feel more normal :-)

[crashy]

Yikes!!! So many different opinions I still think I am going to give it a year to see what happens. Like I said I want to do some research on this and this has been my launching pad thanks for all your imput!!!

[kreddish]

This one I can relate. I am afraid as well. I have lived with thyroid deciase for the last 10 years, it started after I had my daughter.. and my DR says the thyroid looks like swiss cheese (over 30 nodules/goiters). My blood levels have been ok... and I have them checked every 3 months. My only option is the same as yours, total removal of the gland... but feel, if this is necessary... I will go thru it. I have been thru several biapsys.. w/o any anestecia (sp) or seditation, super painful, they had to turn my thyroid/neck around just to get the needle in... and yes, I walked & cried like a pinquin for two days. In my case, I face thyroid cancer if the levels come back unnormal. Very easy decision for me... but I've had ten years to think about it. Take care and keep us posted!!!

[Wendy]

I had a lump on the left side of my thyroid. A biopsy was incunclusive so I had half of my thyroid removed. It ended up being nothing. So, I have only half a thyroid. No meds for me though as my surgeon said the remaining half will usually take over for the other half which mine sems to have done. Good luck with it.