Partial Thyroidectomy

[Guest guest]

I just had a partial thyroidectomy on Friday.

Im not sure how much of the thyroid was removed as the Doctor didnt

think it is was important for me to know.

My heamoglobin level was really low as a result of the surgery so Im

on iron as well as calcium right now.

The Dr was very unhelpful with what I can expect and just said that

they will see me in a months time.

I really need some help here

Could anyone help me understand what to expect or share what theyve

gone through.

I ws hyperthyroid for over 2 years and things were not getting

better.

I opted for a subtotal rather than total thyroidectomy becuase it

doesnt feel so final.

I would really appreciated any advice or shared experiences

Thank you

Diane

p.s I alwasy seem to have a headache as well

[Guest guest]

Hi DIane,

I had a partial thyroidectomy in 1974. It was for a " benign thyroid nodule " and

followed two miscarriages. After I felt great, or thought I did and had three

kids. It seems what I didn't know was that all those subtle symptoms were

disguising Graves or, in the absence of that thought, Graves was precipitated by

RAI that I was ignorant enough to have twice in 2000.

At any rate it worked well enough that I was able to ignore a lot of symptoms,

or to assign them to some other cause for all those years! RAI precipitated

huge problems probably because, by its very nature, it increases the autoimmune

effect.

I have not been following the list carefully enough to know why you had this

surgery. It would be presumptive of me to hand out advice. I expect that you

will probably feel much better, at least for a while but it is disturbing that

your doctors have given you so little information. It would probably be best

for you to stay in touch with the list and keep us posted as you heal.

Best of luck,

Laurel

Partial Thyroidectomy

I just had a partial thyroidectomy on Friday.

Im not sure how much of the thyroid was removed as the Doctor didnt

think it is was important for me to know.

My heamoglobin level was really low as a result of the surgery so Im

on iron as well as calcium right now.

The Dr was very unhelpful with what I can expect and just said that

they will see me in a months time.

I really need some help here

Could anyone help me understand what to expect or share what theyve

gone through.

I ws hyperthyroid for over 2 years and things were not getting

better.

I opted for a subtotal rather than total thyroidectomy becuase it

doesnt feel so final.

I would really appreciated any advice or shared experiences

Thank you

Diane

p.s I alwasy seem to have a headache as well

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intended to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

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[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to the group!

You didn't say whether you are on replacement thyroid hormone yet. Did your

doctor prescribe any? Are you scheduled to get labs before the month? If

not, I'd be concerned about waiting a month before you see him again.

Depending on how much thyroid was removed (and since he didn't tell you, you

don't know - which also would worry me) you could become very hypo before

that month is up. If you become too hypo, you could go into myxedema coma -

and this is a life threatening situation! If you aren't on replacement

hormone yet, I would be aware the symptoms for hypo. There is an extensive

list of them at

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oHw6P8W3roIxmU5JNwD_keaq2q9CdzQcqDipJG10t_-vBD_

l8yd2q6N7WJv_iTmD3ZlHOj4O0qwVn3Mu/SymptomsList.txt

Pay particular attention to your resting pulse. If it goes below say about

60 beats per minute, that's a sign that you may be hypo. Go in for a Free T4

and TSH immediately! You will feel lousy if you are hypo and you want to

avoid that.

As far as recovering from the surgery, I understand from others here that

have had it that the incision will be tender and sore for quite a while. It

may be that you were left with enough thyroid tissue that you won't need

replacement hormone, but you just don't want to take the chance if you are

feeling hypo.

Good luck and take it easy after your surgery! Glad it went well!

Partial Thyroidectomy

>

> I just had a partial thyroidectomy on Friday.

>

> Im not sure how much of the thyroid was removed as the Doctor didnt

> think it is was important for me to know.

>

> My heamoglobin level was really low as a result of the surgery so Im

> on iron as well as calcium right now.

>

> The Dr was very unhelpful with what I can expect and just said that

> they will see me in a months time.

>

> I really need some help here

>

> Could anyone help me understand what to expect or share what theyve

> gone through.

>

> I ws hyperthyroid for over 2 years and things were not getting

> better.

>

> I opted for a subtotal rather than total thyroidectomy becuase it

> doesnt feel so final.

>

> I would really appreciated any advice or shared experiences

>

>

> Thank you

>

>

>

> Diane

>

> p.s I alwasy seem to have a headache as well

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Michele

May I ask why you chose a partial thyroidectomy? Did the ATDs not work at all?

I would love to know because I am considering a thyroidectomy (partial) if ever

I am not successful long term on ATDs.

Sittin on the fence

=============================

on

liz.jameson@...

Partial Thyroidectomy

>

> I just had a partial thyroidectomy on Friday.

>

> Im not sure how much of the thyroid was removed as the Doctor didnt

> think it is was important for me to know.

>

> My heamoglobin level was really low as a result of the surgery so Im

> on iron as well as calcium right now.

>

> The Dr was very unhelpful with what I can expect and just said that

> they will see me in a months time.

>

> I really need some help here

>

> Could anyone help me understand what to expect or share what theyve

> gone through.

>

> I ws hyperthyroid for over 2 years and things were not getting

> better.

>

> I opted for a subtotal rather than total thyroidectomy becuase it

> doesnt feel so final.

>

> I would really appreciated any advice or shared experiences

>

>

> Thank you

>

>

>

> Diane

>

> p.s I alwasy seem to have a headache as well

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

No Im not on any replacement hormones. Nothing was mentioned.

All Im was precribed was the Calcium. The iron Im taking on my own

initative.

Ive been feeling quite dizzy and my heart seems to race at times.

But that could be because of the iron?

I also dont have much of an appetite and dont feel quite right in

myself. But I would like to think that this is just part of the

recovery stage. Or am I being optimistic.

Thanks for the reply.

Diane

> Hi Michele

>

> May I ask why you chose a partial thyroidectomy? Did the ATDs not

work at all?

>

> I would love to know because I am considering a thyroidectomy

(partial) if ever I am not successful long term on ATDs.

>

> Sittin on the fence

> =============================

> on

> liz.jameson@p...

> Partial Thyroidectomy

>

>

> >

> > I just had a partial thyroidectomy on Friday.

> >

> > Im not sure how much of the thyroid was removed as the Doctor

didnt

> > think it is was important for me to know.

> >

> > My heamoglobin level was really low as a result of the surgery

so Im

> > on iron as well as calcium right now.

> >

> > The Dr was very unhelpful with what I can expect and just said

that

> > they will see me in a months time.

> >

> > I really need some help here

> >

> > Could anyone help me understand what to expect or share what

theyve

> > gone through.

> >

> > I ws hyperthyroid for over 2 years and things were not getting

> > better.

> >

> > I opted for a subtotal rather than total thyroidectomy becuase

it

> > doesnt feel so final.

> >

> > I would really appreciated any advice or shared experiences

> >

> >

> > Thank you

> >

> >

> >

> > Diane

> >

> > p.s I alwasy seem to have a headache as well

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > -------------------------------------

> > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only

and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new

treatments.

> > ----------------------------------------

> > DISCLAIMER

> >

> > Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the

endorsement

> of

> > the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to

emails.

> > ---------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

> ------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane

I hope you are feeling OK. I had a partial thyroidectomy in Oct 2000. It

went well even though I had 2 para thyoid glands damaged and had low

calcium levels for a few days. I was commenced on replacement meds

straight away and lots of calcium. I spent 4 days in hospital and then 2

weeks at home resting and 10 days relaxing on a beach holiday with my hubby.

My levels were checked twice in the first month and monthly for 6 months

(I fell pregnant in the first month) then 6 weekly. I then went on to 3

monthly. Fell pregnant again and tested more frequently during

pregnancy. Now get tested when I feel like it (about 6 monthly). My

levels have only fluctuated in the first trimester of both pregnancies

which is normal.

I have felt great most of the time. But the key is to make sure you give

yourself time to properly recover. You have had surgery and your body

needs to heal. Get tested and medicated properly. Free T3 & T4 tests are

crucial. My TSH is so variable sometimes normal, sometimes low (who

cares!!!!!). Medicate according to the FT3 & FT4. I sometimes get a sort

of spasm in my neck near my scar if I yawn or turn my neck a certain way.

I hope you are able to rest and get good medical follow up. If your

doctor is not communicating with you - can you get another - or do what

I had to do once to my endo - just sit until he answers your questions.

My endo had the habit of getting up and ushering you to the door when he

was finished. I wasn't finished so I just sat there. He got the message

and sat back down and listened to me and then answered my questions. I

think sometimes they can get so caught up in their own agenda that lose

sight of the patient.

Don't let your Doctor not give you information. Make a list of what you

want to know and ask him.

Your headache may still be your body getting over the operation and also

you said your haemoglobin was low. This can certainly cause headaches

and fatigue.

Take Care

Caroline