As I now only have my left thyroid, will i have to be put on tablets to replace the right side,

[greeneyes22]

[Jackie]

Hi It is usual to always leave a bit of the thyroid anyway. of course, you will be unstable for a while. However, the norm is to need treatment for Hypo. I am sure if it is soon after your Op the hospital will be watching for this from your bloods. Always ask for a print out + vital ranges and make sure you have FT3 done Also make sure you have plenty of repeat tests.

Best wishes for a good recovery,

Jackie

[greeneyes22]

Thank you for your answer. I have to wait for 4 weeks for my thyroid lobectomy results. This is so worrying as I have cancer in the family.

[Jackie in reply to greeneyes22]

Yes, that is a worry, statistics do not help when it is you.They can usually tell if it looks alright, I am sure if it is very bad they will let you know as the biopsy is done it takes just over a week.to analyse it.

Incidentally, to reply to someone, press the reply button immediately under there posting, otherwise usually, we do not know.

Jackie

[ThyroidThora]

Hi Greeneyes22,

I had the right lobe removed for suspected thyroid cancer and it came back positive for follicular variant papillary thyroid cancer. Four weeks is along time to wait for the results, I got mine 2 weeks after the operation and my surgeon told me day he removed my right lobe that it was definitely cancer but could not say if it was malignant or not, I had a large calcified nodule.

Anyway to cut a long story short I now need to have Levo because I am hypothyroid but the specialists are hopeful that they got all the cancer and they are just monitoring me with regular check ups and blood tests. However, my hypo symptoms aren't improving even though they are slowly increasing my meds (started levo in April at 75mcg and now alternating between 100mcg one day and then 125mcg the following day). If you had cancer then they more than likely will start you on Levo if your left side is not producing the hormones. They have to make sure that your TSH is very, very low and nearly in the hyper range to stop the cancer returning.

I hope this information is of some use and try not to worry; I'm sure the specialists will help you.

Good luck.

[greeneyes22 in reply to ThyroidThora]

Hi ThyroidThora,

Sorry to hear that yours was cancer. I had my staples removed on Wednesday and boy did it hurt. Anyway i have a large lump going across the scar and it feels very numb. The problem is it is also across my windpipe. i am worried about this. The nurse who took out the staples said it would be fine, but i was not told this would happen. I have made an appointment to see a Doctor on Tuesday. It feels heavy when I sit up or stand up. Good luck with the treatment.

[ThyroidThora in reply to greeneyes22]

Hiya,

It will be a bit across your windpipe because they have to remove the connective tissue along your windpipe that connects the right and left lobes of your thyroid gland. My scar felt a bit lumpy and took quite a while to settle down. I had one continuous stitch held in place with metal clips and plastic beads at either end, and the scar on the right side of my neck is a little thicker because the surgeon made two incisions around the actual calcified nodule so he could remove it. The heavy feeling is normal, I was the same and I'd wished they would have provided a neck collar to reduce the feeling and discomfort, but I suppose, they need to keep the scar free so that it dries out and doesn't get infected. I had my surgery in February and with time it will ease although I do still have stinging from time to time. My endocrinologist said it can take quite a while recover and to not worry about it.

Good luck with your appointment on Tuesday and try not to worry. I know it's easier said than done but I'm sure they will look after you. I was just thinking, that perhaps they left your follow up appointment for 1 month so that when they see you they can test your thyroid hormones. You'll need a blood test and they send this to pathology to see what your TSH, Free T4 and possibly Free T3 levels are. If your TSH is not within range they may wait a little while or start you on Levothyroine to bring your TSH down, especially if your right lobe is cancerous. They need to suppress your TSH levels as low as possible to stop the cancer coming back.

Also, they will test your blood for the presence of cancer cells and if they think there is a high risk that you will develop cancer in the left lobe they will not start you on Levo but schedule surgery to remove the left lobe and any parathyroid glands or other glands in that area that could develop cancer and then they start you on Levo.

I know this is a lot of information to take in at this time but sometimes it's better to be informed before you see the specialists so that you can think of any questions in advance and make sure you get the answers you need to calm your mind.

Good luck and if you need someone to talk to then don't hesitate to message me. Thyroid cancers are so rare that there's no one to talk to in your hour of need. Everyone knows about breast, prostate, liver, lung and bowel cancers but no one knows about thyroid cancers.

Helen

[Laura82]

I just had my right side removed 2 days ago! I have been told that the left side should work fine by itself but will have tests in 3 weeks and 3 months! I didn't have thyroid problems beforehand, my nodule was found during a scan for something else!

[Bucki]

I have it on my left, now i have been told it is on my right, how the how can this happen?