Happytime

[Happytime]

I am happytime I have a goitre growing down in my chest may have a operation the Brest bone has to be cut some times to get to it has any one had this done I would like to know if it was a success thank you

[Hidden]

This sounds very unusual. I am not an expert by any means on goiters but I am sure someone with more knowledge than me will reply. My understanding as limited as it is is that goiters develop in the neck and the thyroid glad swells to try to produce more thyroid hormones. I have never heard of one being removed and I thought they had a tendancy to shrink back once hormones replaced.

[silverfox7]

im sure I have read about something similar. Have you tried the search facility?

[Tiredmum75]

Hi I had a goitre removed in February is it causing you discomfort I actually got mine down with frankincense oil before they took it out, doctor thought I had thyroid cancer it was Hashimotos it’s grown back to it’s original size so the operation didn’t work

[cjrsquared]

Thyroid gland growing behind the breast bone is called retrosternal and is a relatively common reason for thyroidectomy, as behind the bone the only way to expand is backwards compressing the trachea and oesophagus. It can be tricky surgery. I haven’t known anyone who has needed a sternotomy (cutting through the breast bone) but I’m sure someone who has will answer soon. Make sure that any surgeon you have is experienced in this type of operation. Good luck.

[Hidden]

I had my thyroid removed because the goiter was growing retrosternal i.e. downwards. My trachea moved across and I had problems with my breathing they usually pull it up and out somehow without cutting the breastbone. If the breastbone is cut it can and take months to heal.

The sooner you have your thyroid out the better. Please choice a very experienced thyroid surgeon to avoid problems.

[TSH110]

I believe my sister had this problem with her thyroid growing into the chest cavity and being grossly deformed despite it working properly. It was completely removed and was found to have several growths the size of boiled eggs which were cancerous/likely to turn cancerous so it was good it was not left in until it became inoperable. Not sure if they cut through her breastbone to access it though. My mother also had lymphoma of the thyroid and this type of abnormal growth I think it is called a poly lobed thyroid, but hers got so big (she went into denial and would not seek medical help) she had to have emergency chemotherapy but miraculously it did work. She died about 8 years later when it came back again. I am please to report my sister remains very well and has no problem taking Levothyroxine it must be about 20 years ago it was removed. The one problem she did have was the parathyroids were also destroyed but she was not given calcium supplements and became quite poorly but thankfully this was picked up on and she soon returned to full health with supplementation which she has to take for life with her thyroxine.

They pickled it and used it as a specimen for teaching purposes!

Hope that is reassuring to you.

[bobsmydog]

My mother had a goitre removed as it was pressing on her windpipe making breathing difficult. They didn't have to cut her breatbone though as it was just in her neck. She had thyroxine replacement for very many years which was then dropped so I assume the thyroid gland hadn't been completely removed and had grown back producing enough hormone. She lived to be 90 so I'd say yes it was successful!

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Happytime.

There are some posts on substernal thyroidectomy in healthunlocked.com/search/s...

[Clmueller1004]

Hello - I am sorry to hear this. I’ve never actually met/known anyone who has had this, so I’ll share my story. Five years ago, I had a very large substernal goiter with tumor that was compressive on my esophagus and heart and lung cavity. I had complained for years of shortness of breath and was told repeatedly that I had anxiety and/or acid reflux. After diagnosis, they told me I needed a sternotomy to have the goiter/tumor removed. They ended up being able to pull it all out from my neck incision and did not cut into my breast bone. They did damage all parathyroids in the process, one recovered. And apparently touched a nerve because I’ve struggled with autonomic dysfunction ever since. My advice would be to choose your surgeon wisely. And get on board with an doctor to treat your thyroid medication before surgery. My surgeon gave me medication the day after surgery and I became very sick. His response “I just gave her the dose I thought a girl her age should take”. I was grossly over-medicated and hospitalized for a week as a result. Good luck on your surgery!

[Happytime]

Thank you so much for answering I

I must say that l am very concerned about having the operation l also have a pacemaker that is a worry will keep you up to date