Newbie ☺️

[jennyleex]

Hi I’ve recently had thyroid surgery, removing the left & middle part.....not sure what to expect next?

Follow up in 6 weeks and stitches out next Wednesday.....that’s all I know right now x

[Nanaedake]

What was the reason for thyroid surgery? The next steps will depend on reasons for surgery and pathology report. Ask for copies of all tests and path report, keep in a folder and take them to appointments. When feeling a bit better, if you live in UK, see if you can register for online access to test results at your GP surgery.

Make sure your vitamin D level has been tested and get copy of results along with the lab ranges. The recommendation here is to have vitamin D level of around 100-150 nmol. The is good research to evidence that good levels of vitamin D aid recover from thyroidectomy. Also check B12, folate and ferritin as low levels of these nutrients can hamper thyroid hormone from working effectively. Good levels will help to aid recovery. Magnesium is also important so ensure a good supply either in diet or take a supplement. If you need to supplement vitamin D then you should take its cofactors anyway which are magnesium and K2-MK7.

Ensure your GP keeps an eye on calcium and vitamin D levels. If you lost parathyroid glands or they were damaged you will need to monitor it into the future as a deficiency may appear later despite what the medics may say.

If female then calcium levels are most important pre and post menopause. Eat calcium rich foods at every meal.

Calcium deficiency does not always show in blood tests but causes a range of symptoms that may easily be misinterpreted. Keep a diary of any symptoms and a note of blood test results and the dose of Levothyroxine.

Do not intetchange brands of Levothyroxine if prescribed it, find one that suits you and stick to it.

[jennyleex in reply to Nanaedake]

Hi ya thanks for the reply, I had a nodule which showed follicular lesions so they have removed, just need to wait for result now, but haven’t been told to do anything, no advise on any supplements to take etc, suppose just need to wait for my follow up appointment to see what happens next, my friend recommended this site and now I’ve got the fear of god in me as I wasn’t aware how important the thyroid gland was and what it’s for, let alone what can happen with out part or all of it, I’m gathering it’s going to be a complete life style change to make sure things are stable/normal, not sure how to feel or what to think about it all of that makes sense! It’s all happened so quickly (lump noticed in March, removed Tuesday!) 😳

[Nanaedake in reply to jennyleex]

Well, you're in good company here as we've all got various kinds of thyroid conditions. I had a hemi thyroidectomy and isthmusectomy like you but over 10 years ago so keep in touch on this site and we will do our best to help and support you through the next stage. You still have part of your thyroid and should be able to get onto the right dose of levothyroxine and maintain a good quality of life without too much problem.

The doctors will probably test your thyroid function in 6 weeks time which will give them a good idea of how much thyroid hormone to replace. However, if you start to feel very unwell before your 6 week appointment then contact your consultants secretary and ask to speak to someone as you may need thyroid hormone replacement before then.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are constipation, exhaustion and stomach dysfunction, feeling unusually cold, foggy brain and other symptoms.

The majority of people on this site have autoimmune thyroiditis called Hashimotos. There are lots of similarities as both people who've had thyroidectomy and those who have Hashimotos have reduced thyroid volume leading to the need to replace thyroid hormone but both situations are different too.

At your follow up apt you could ask whether you lost any parathyroid glands in the surgery and if so what the symptoms of low calcium are in case they emerge in the future, which they can do (although this isn't generally acknowledged).

You could ask the doctor to explain the pathology report to you as that will indicate whether you need any further treatment or whether you are passed on to your GP to manage hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone replacement.

[jennyleex in reply to Nanaedake]

Ahhhh lovely thank you for the info, yes those are exactly the procedures I had.....lots of long words! Lol I will write it down so I remember to ask, do u think there is anything else I should be asking? This is so typical as I get married in May next year so I’m hoping things will be good by then!

[jennyleex in reply to jennyleex]

Also is it normal to have a lump feeling in your throat? I’ve been coughing lots too which isn’t normal for me, I’m just assuming it’s where they put a tube down my throat?