should i have been put on medication?

[Annamaria]

when i had my subtotal thyroidectomy in 1990 i was not put on any medication. I have never met anyone else who had the same operation as me and not put on medication it seems to be the other way around, i was wondering how common it is?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Annamaria,

You are asking about something way outside my experience. So the best I feel able to do is post a link to a chapter about Graves (not certain of the cause of your hyperthyroidism). Specifically the bit headed "Course After Surgery", but it may be worth reading alll the way through.

thyroidmanager.org/Chapter1...

Not easy reading.

Hopefully others with direct expereince will be able to add comments.

All the best

Rod

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK]

Hi Annamarie,

I had a subtotal thyroidectomy and was put on way too much medication because they didn't realise I had been hypothyroid for many years.

In my experience, many people who have had subtotals are not put on medication. Some people are fine for several years but some become ill almost immediately.

You should ensure that you keep an eye on your thyroid test results (if your doc will do them). Keep a journal and if your TSH rises and your FT4 decreases and you start to get symptoms (if you don't have them already) then you should think about asking for treatment.

[Annamaria in reply to lynmynott]

thank you lynmynott, am on thyroxine 25mg since 10th and have not noticed a difference yet

[Barbara]

Hi Annamaria,

There is some information about thyroidectomy and follow up medication, at dundee.ac.uk/medther/tayend...

The relevant part is pasted below:

"You may require to go on thyroxine treatment following surgery, depending on how much of the thyroid is gland is removed. If all or nearly all the gland is removed, then you will need thyroxine therapy on a long-term basis. If you have only half the gland removed (the operation is called a thyroid lobectomy) then the chance of needing thyroxine treatment is about 5%. Some conditions of the thyroid gland may require that you go on thyroxine, but that would be decided on an individual basis. As we have already said, thyroxine is a natural hormone that replaces the function of the thyroid gland, and is not a drug as such."

[Annamaria in reply to Barbara]

thank you for that link Barbara i will take a look, I have had most of my thyroid removed.