I had a partial thyroidectomy nearly 15 years ago due to a multi-nodular goitre. The only time my thyroid blood test results dipped away from normal was when it was severed! I didn't have a single symptom other than the huge lump in my neck. Two thirds of my thyroid was packed with nodules and two fine needle biopsies proved inconclusive. I was 22.
After the op my surgeon told me he'd left my remaining lobe just under my sternum. I asked him how I would know if the nodules came back and he said he considered that very unlikely, but as I'd asked, there was no way of me knowing. I've had my blood tests checked every year and they are on the lower side of normal but not low enough to make my doctor refer me, despite changes to my sleeping patterns, huge weight gain and lethargy in the last year.
I have now set about a fairly radical thyroid diet in an effort to fix myself, or at least aid the little lobe that is predicted to fail in the next five years, but I can't help feeling there has been a distinct lack of follow up. My doctor knows little or nothing about the thyroid gland (none of my GPs ever have) and not even my very well-regarded endocrine consultant at the time was really able to tell me what had happened to cause the nodules. He'd sent my case off to a leading specialist who'd written back to say he thought I'd had a case of thyroiditis with no symptoms. My consultant gave his letter a very dour look and said it was little more than a guess. It left me in no doubt as to what he thought of the specialist's view, but still he discharged me after surgery with no further advice than get your blood checked yearly. And a lot of good that's done me!
Do you think I should pursue referral? Have you seen any success with thyroid diets? What is your experience post partial thyroidectomy?