Thyroidectomy for hypothyroidism

[Ptownbells]

Hello. I have Hasimoto's Diease. I have seen a endocrinologist surgeon here in California who is recommending my thryoid removed to help treat the auto immunity diease. Has anyone had their thyroid removed for hypothyroidism? If so, how are you feeling? Any advice?

[Clutter]

Ptownbells,

In the UK thyroidectomy is usually reserved for patients with thyCa or very large goitres, nodules or cysts. I'd be very surprised if a patient in the UK was able to have a thyroidectomy to eradicate Hashimoto's as very little credence appears to be given to the impact Hashi's has on patients here.

I was told my euthyroid Hashimoto's was asymptomatic and my symptoms (which GP suspected were hyperthyroid until results returned) were therefore non-thyroidal. I had hemi-lobectomy to remove a large nodule compressing my trachea and the tumour turned out to be malignant so I had completion thyroidectomy 3 months later.

I remained symptomatic after the hemi, but Hashi symptoms pretty much disappeared straight after thyroidectomy. Thyroid antibody tests 10 months later confirmed the absence of thyroid antibodies. Because I had cancer the surgeon removed as much thyroid material as possible leaving minimal remnant in the thyroid bed. I have heard of Hashi patients who were left with a lot of thyroid remnant continuing to experience Hashimoto's symptoms.

I recovered from both surgeries quickly and there was no damage to vocal chords and no loss or damage of parathyroid glands. I was recovering well on Liothyronine replacement for 3 months but became very unwell when I was switched to Levothyroxine. My endo wasn't helpful and after 15 months of declining health I self-medicated with Levothyroxine (T4) and Liothyronine (T3) until I recovered.

It was definitely a bonus that Hashi's cleared after thyroidectomy but adjusting to thyroid replacement was very difficult, took a very long time to optimise dose, and can't by any stretch of the imagination be considered as good as the thyroid function I had before I developed Hashi's. If I had the choice of thyroidectomy or tolerating the Hashimoto's symptoms I experienced I would opt for thyroidectomy but wouldn't blindly trust my doctors to get the replacement medication or the dosing correct and would take both into my own hands a lot sooner.

[humanbean]

It is having high levels of antibodies which makes Hashimoto's a roller coaster. As the antibodies gradually destroy the thyroid the damaged or destroyed cells from the thyroid release their hormone contents into the body. As the antibody levels wax and wane so symptoms, hormone levels and lab results fluctuate, sometimes really alarmingly.

To feel better you need to reduce antibody levels and you need to reduce or stop thyroid activity by taking sufficient thyroid hormones so that the thyroid doesn't have to do any work.

Many people manage to reduce antibodies with dietary changes. The most common change people make to start off with is to go gluten-free. Some people need to go lactose/casein free as well as or instead of going gluten-free. If you are interested in trying it, going gluten-free is usually the first thing people start experimenting with. It has to be done religiously. No cheating allowed. If you cheat you might as well not bother.

For more information on how to deal with Hashimoto's check out these links from Izabella Wentz :

thyroidpharmacist.com/

facebook.com/ThyroidLifestyle/

and read the reviews for her book

amazon.co.uk/Hashimotos-Thy...

Taking your thyroid out might be over-kill. You might actually manage to hang on to your thyroid by making the right dietary changes and taking some supplements and many people would consider that to be preferable to losing it altogether.

[Angel_of_the_North]

How much money will he make by removing your thyroid? Although it might reduce the antibody attacks (as there is nothing for them to attack), you'll still be hypo and still prone to other autoimmune diseases, so you'll need to work your way through that as well. You could end up worse off, not better, I'd do some serious reading before making the decision.