im having tt this month due to non toxic multinodular goitre.

[sued007]

Gp says my thyroid is ok at moment but would like to be optimal when i have thyroid removed as will obviously be on drugs for life then.

I have had a low ferritin for years prior to a hyysterectomy and is still low despite taking 900mg ferrous glutinate daily at present.

I am a bad asthmatic and take all the usual stuff for this and am currently on 40mg prednisilone for 8days plus antibiotics a regular occurance of late- this could be caused by my goitre which is huge and has squashed my windpipe t the size of a straw and is down behind my sternum also. My chest consultent feels this is the main cause of my increasing Asthma symptoms,really breathless on bending forward and climbng stairs as well as walking on flat plus choking on everything, have a bad cough and bad snoring-he is hopeful that this will solve a lot of these problems once removed.

i have to have a thoracic surgeon also present when they operate in case they have to go in through my side/ribs if too large to come out via neck[ im really looking forward to this !!)

I was allso found to be very deficient in VITD but had a couple of injections and am now back in limits.

As i am a newbie to all this thyroid stuff and want to be prepared for optimal results after op i have posted my latest bloods/ranges and would be grateful for any comments you have to make on these,as i would presume this should be what im aiming for post op???

Also what vitamins etc would you suggest.

I m on choelstral tabs already and my BP is high. Im 55yrs old.

VIT D-81nmol/L- (50-75)

TSH-1.1 mU/L (0.27-4.2)

Serum free T4 level 17.0pmo/L (12.0-22.00)

Serum free T3 level-4.8pmol/L (3.1-6.8)

Serum ferritin 27 ug/L (29-470)

serum cholesterol 7.1.

serum potasum 3.2mmol/L(3.5-5.3)

Serum fasting glucose 5.6mmol/L(3.0-6.0).

AS i said i dont understand if these results are good or bad and what levels i should be aiming for pre/post op.

Also have any of you had the op and can you offer any insight good or bad of what to expect .and do you think from your experience the breathing etc will improve dramaticllyby having this procedure.

sorry this is so long and waffely but i am perified of what lies ahead and need to be prepared

thank you suexx

[Hidden]

Hi Sue

Never worry about posting long questions! This usually means that there is LOADS of helpful info in there and it will save people asking too many questions in order to help!

I HAVE, however, spread the post out a bit to make it easier for people to read!

Please confirm what other symptoms you are having apart from the breathing problems..

Thanks

L

x

[sued007 in reply to Hidden]

thanks for sorting out my e mail looks very professonal now.Lol x other symptoms are wieght gain- maybe beause of lack of excercise? very tired although cant sleep until early hours .Brain fog +++. very tearful .A recent symptom is terrible pain in my jaw dont know i f this is nrmal or perhap nerve pain- but pain killers dont touch it. I had terrible han shakes until about aa week ago- dont see as bad today. No energy or motivation

[Clutter]

I had a PT to remove a nodule pressing on my windpipe. Breathing was very much easier after the tumour was removed. I had to have follow up completion later but both surgeries were straightforward and relatively painless afterwards.

Yours is much more complicated and will inevitably be a longer recovery with more discomfort. My hospital didn't stint on pain meds on the ward and discharged me with lots of paracetamol, codeine and co-codamol.

Post-surgery you'll wake with a 'drain' attached to collect blood and fluid. It looks awful but helps reduce swelling and bruising and is usually detached before you're discharged.

Your current TSH, FT4 & FT3 aren't relevant to what they'll be when you're TT and totally reliant on Levothyroxine. It'll take a few months to stabilise your levels. It's often felt that TT patients do better with some T3 added to their T4. You might want to discuss this with your consultant at your pre-med.

VitD Optimal is 76-200 nmol/L. You are low in range and would probably benefit from further supplementation but NOT before surgery without discussing with your consultant.

Do you take vitC? This should help absorption of ferrous glutinate and will help absorption of thyroxine. I'd suggest this is the only supplement you should add pre-surgery. I take 1000mg daily. It can cause diarrhoea so you may want to halve the dose for a few days.

You didn't mention B12 and folate levels. B12 deficiency can cause shortness of breath among a myriad of other symptoms. Hypothyroid px are often deficient or low in range and optimally should be high in range. It's also worth asking for a coeliac screen to test for gluten intolerance, annuver thing hypo px seem to suffer.

Calcium will be checked before you are discharged as levels often drop temporarily.

I can't comment on your other bloods as I know nuffink about 'em.

I hope everything goes well and the thoracic surgeon isn't needed.

[silverfox7]

Hi Sue. I'm not going to attempt any thing re post op as never been in that position but many years ago had a cyst aspirated that was making swallowing difficult and that was fine after. So pleased though that they are making good preparations for your op just in case so that is brilliant so I'm sure they will look after that side of things very well. Do come back with how you are after and post any results and ranges.

On the vitamin side I've recently started on D and B12 and also supplement with selenium, zinc and magnesium and have noticed a big improvement! I suspect I am not converting the T4 to T3 well so that's my aim at the moment. Its a slow progress to find what works for you but plenty of help on this site so don't ever be afraid to ask.

[Hidden]

I have just had a partial TT 10 days ago. I did not come out of the anesthetic well. I was 2 hours in recovery wrapped in insulation blankets and forced hot air put into the bed. I was told afterwards my body temperature had dropped to quickly. I have looked on Internet upon my return home and this is quite a common side affect of the anaesthetic.

I could not speak afterwards only make a grunting noise. When I got back to the room the nurse stood at the door. did not come in and shouted "do you want any painkillers?' I could not answer so she said 'I will take that as a no then' and off she went! I never had any painkillers. Worth telling the nurses beforehand I will want painkillers just I case you can't speak.

My room was boiling and I could not get up to switch the radiator off. The sweat was pouring off me. My hair was stuck to my head. I think they must have thought I needed a burn up because of the Recovery incidence. Check radiators are off prior to leaving for surgery.

I had a very sore throat after the op that lasted about 48 hours. A friend phoned me a week later and I was laughing loads and I woke up the next morning with a really sore throat again that lasted again about 48 hours. Limit your laughter!

I was also very teary. Cried because the dog had not come up to see me in bed! The dog was being restrained downstairs. She had to be put on a lead with different family members taking it in turns to hold the lead in order to stop her scratching the paint off the doors such was her determination to get up the stairs!

Other people I have been in touch wih who have had problems breathing because of growth, and there was another lady on this site who is going through the same as you with asthma and a particularly large growth that appeared to be difficult to remove but turned out to be straight forward have all said how wonderful they felt afterwards. Their breathing was easier and their necks and chests felt lighter.

[Lynnnie in reply to Hidden]

Hi I had TT almost four weeks ago, due to almost identical circumstances as your own. No previous thryoid dysfunction just restricted breathing, coughing, stridor and feeling breathless on least exertion. The Surgeon came to see me after I had signed consent form for my op to say that they may need to break my sternum to get at the goitre, and cardiothoracic surgeon may be present - I was quite worried about this. Needless to say, this did not happen and I sailed through the op and recovery. Only a little bit sore for 2 or 3 days, but up and about xmas shopping within a week or so post op. Goitre removed was the size of large orange. Instant relief in all the symptoms you mention and never felt better for 10 years or more. 4 weeks later, I am happy, feel great, loads of energy, lost weight (2.5 kilos) and people are commenting on how well I look. Best thing that every happened to me. Back to clinic on Thursday and hope I will be able to stay on 150mcgm of Levo as it appeas to suit me. Only one nagging thing I can complain about is a pain across my lower back, but tbh think this is due to rather a lot of sitting down and general immobility over the Xmas and New year hols!!!, but back at work last week and getting better.

Very best wishes for a speedy recovery, I am sure you will feel much better afterwards.

Lynnie x

[Lynnnie in reply to Lynnnie]

Hi Sue

Sorry, got your message, but not able to see where to reply to on this site. In answer. I am 54. I was in hospital for 2 nights, felt well enough to come home and was told I could have gone home after one night, but became hypercalaemic and had to stay in whilst they checked this our. The scar is approx 5 inches long, tremendously thin and neat and hardly noticable at all, even at less than 4 weeks post op. They used one continuous stitch which was not dissolvable and me being a bit of a baby, was not looking forward to having it removed!!. However, I never felt a thing and had the stitch removed at 10 days post op as opposed to the advised 16 days post op as my surgeon was going to be away when it should have been removed. She decided at my clinic appt, that it was so well healed, it could come out then. I have had people ask me at work, when I am having my op and its great to tell them that I have and show them my neat little scar line. The surgeon advised me to rub Bio oil into after 4 weeks which helps the healing. A friend of mine who is into homeopathic medicine, advised local honey, but I think I will give that a miss, could get slightly messy!!!. By now you will have had your pre-op and I hope it went well. Please keep in touch and let me know how you get on. I know everyone is different, but for me its has changed my life and that of my family. I am a happier, healthier, easier to live with person and my dog is starting to get quite fed up with the amount of walks, I am able to now take her on without stopping the walk short due to breathlessness. I feel I have been given a second chance at life and I am going to make the most of it. I am carrying on with trying to lose weight, which I needed to anyway and am in the right frame of mind now to challenge anything!!!

Very best wishes. I will be thinking of you.

Lynnie xx.

[sued007 in reply to Lynnnie]

well it continues- went to pre op clinic and the nurses and anithetist admitted me straight into an emergency bed because of stridor and the fact that if i dont seep sitting up etc i cant breath. i thought great op early. but no sent home again last night to attend clinic tomorrow to disuss with surgeon. what a lot 0f upheavel they dont get it- the fact to even attend an appointment ecause i cant walk far due to breathing is hell in iself, needed a wheelchair when discharged (how embarrasing). im just holding on to your poitive outcome to keep me going but am getting low with all the messing about. imsure you must hve felt this at times also

[Lynnnie in reply to sued007]

Hi Sue - Oh poor you, how frustrating for you. I hated my hospital appts and always seemed to be late and like you couldn't rush due to breathlessness . Got very fed up at med students always called in to listen to the stridor. Try to stay positive Sue, I am sure they will get your op done soon. My surgeon forced me to have it done within a week or so of seeing me. I wanted to leave till after xmas, but I am so glad I listened to her as I would have only just been having the op now. Please let me know how you get on. I was back to clinic myself today for results, which were not available when I had my stitches out due to me having them out after 10 days. I have completely forgotten about the results as I feel so great. I saw a Sen Reg today and only remembered as I was leaving to ask bout the histology. You could have knocked me sideways when he looked at them, ummhed and aaahed a bit, then asked me to wait until he got the surgeon to speak to me. She came back in and told me than the histology showed papillary cancer in two nodes. I was gobsmacked as I was not expecting that. However, I am assured that there is almost zero chance of any spread or reccurence and some people live with this for the whole of their lives without knowing they have it. Was a bit hard to take it in for a bit, but then came home had a cup of tea and a chat to hubby and thought, well I am blessed. I have a new lease of life, a family who I adore and vice versa and I pushed any doubts and worries that I had to the back of my mind and thought I am a very lucky person.

Very best wishes Sue, do keep in touch. I know I will be reading your posts soon and that you too will be glad you had it done and telling everyone how much better you feel.

Much Love

Lynnie

[sued007 in reply to Lynnnie]

god that was a shocker hope your okay and stay poistive ps im not illiterate although seeing my typing you would think so o my sons girlfriend has put acrylic false nails on me and i cant do anything normal in them !! take care speak soon sue