General surgery appointment pre-op for thyroidoctomy

[Kirstylstocks]

Hi everyone I cant sleep because all I can think about is my appointment I cant even think what questions to ask please help what should I ask?

[Gingersnap202]

Please tell us why you e having a thyroidectomy. ...If it's bcause of a nodule, nodules can resolve if you are treated with the right dose of hormone.

[Kirstylstocks in reply to Gingersnap202]

I have a swollen goitre which as spread all the way across far as I'm aware there are no nodules. I cant have the other treatment as I have small children I'm fine with having the opperation not everyone choice I know. I'm just unsure what i should be asking

[Gingersnap202 in reply to Kirstylstocks]

We know that losing something as important as your thyroid gland is is frightening. ... Best Wishes to you during your surgery and your treatment after,

[Kirstylstocks in reply to Gingersnap202]

Thankyou and yes it's very scary but it's for the best

[shaws Administrator in reply to Kirstylstocks]

You may sail through surgery and onto a dose of thyroid hormones (slowly increased) and you feel well again. Thousands do.

Any questions/queries you have members will respond willingly.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Kirstylstocks]

Thankyou I have wrote all those questions down. I have graves disease I'm thyrotoxic. And I'm having ot all removed there was no nodules upon a scan in February the results just showed I have swelling spreading across and it is getting bigger no quite glad I'm seeing my surgeon today I've seen my surgeon do a vain removel on TV on channel w my sister in law works in the hospital as a nurse she knows my surgeon and said he is a very good doctor.

[Lora7 in reply to Kirstylstocks]

I have a multi-nodular goitre and have had remission from this disease for 4 years and I am still hopeful it will happen again. You seem very young to consider having your thyroid removed when you might go into remission for years. After reading the struggle other members have had with their treatment for hypothyroidism I would only do this as a last resort because quite honestly Doctors don't seem to know a lot about thyroid disease. My goitre does sometimes feel uncomfortable and I have a fat neck (which isn't that bad unless I draw it to peoples attention). When I was in remission this resolved and the swelling went down. It is up to you but you do realise you will be taking medication for the rest of your life and having blood tests which some Doctors will only test the TSH and sometimes the T4 if you are lucky to monitor your condition. I have to pay privately to get a detailed blood test which is quite expensive. I don't really know about your personal circumstances but just read some of the members posts on here and you will get a good idea of some of the struggles they are experiencing with this horrible disease. Having said all that some people do very well on thyroxine and don't have to ask for advice on this site. If you go through with it I hope you are one of the lucky ones. This is just my opinion btw.

Good Luck

Lora

[Kirstylstocks in reply to Lora7]

Thankyou I'm hyperthyroid. I've had this disease on and off for 7 years now but thankyou I will think about what you have said but I do truly believe this is the best option for me

[Lora7 in reply to Kirstylstocks]

Ok, as I said good luck with your surgery. This site will help you if you don't get the support off your Doctor with your ongoing treatment afterwards.

[Maramonro in reply to Kirstylstocks]

I agree with Lora 7, do not remove it unless it’s life and death decision. Thyroid is the most important organ that regulates every function of your body, so no medication can replace it no matter what doctors said. I made a huge mistake by removing it and listening to the doctors who don’t care and honestly don’t even realize what consequences it makes. Please make sure, as it is a very important decision. All the best

[birkie]

Hi kirstylstocks

I had my TT may this year like you I was toxic probs had this illness(graves) for 5 or 6 years doc always put my symptoms down to the menupause..I did my own investigation in to my symptoms and knew it was my thyroid I was hyper my thyroid was being attaked by my anti bodies making it go overactive..I don't know how it has effected you but I was really ill especially in my last year when I was eventually diagnosed I could not take the anti thyroid meds as I had a bad reaction to them..I just wanted this little bugger removed as I knew it was making me really ill I had several admittance to hospital over my last year with thyroid Storm. I spoke several times to my surgeon asked several questions before I went ahead they tell you two weeks for recovery but everyone's different mine took over a month for the pain to subside and my swallowing to be normal my voice is still crokey I'm on 100mg levo but still have hyper symptoms my tremor is still their but not as bad as before its just a case of sorting the levo out....the question I asked my surgeon was..if my anti bodies are attaking my thyriod should we not be addressing the anti bodies? His reply was well your thyroid has gone toxic so it has to come out...ok I said but what about the anti bodies can they attack other parts of your body? He just skipped over that question but as graves suffers we have anti bodies that can attack parts of our bodies not just the thyroid...that's what I'm having now I'm scratching my skin till it bleeds it's on my joints they become itchy and very hot..I have an appointment in Aug with my surgeon and I will be telling him about this...if your toxic your thyroid will prob need to come out as it can make life unbearable it did with me sometimes we don't have a choice to keep the thyroid

Good luck with your app just remember your surgeon is their to help you mine was fantastic my scar is very thin and is fadeing nicely ❤️❤️❤️

[Kirstylstocks in reply to birkie]

Thankyou my surgeon told me 4 week before I could go back to work. He told me about the voice and that they look for the voice loves then protect them before they opperate he did say that I will find that my voice will do what you said. He did make me feel comfortable to be honest he as been doing this procedure for 30 years and only had about 4 complications in that time so I'm very confident

[jgelliss]

You got *Excellent* responses .The most important is that you feel confident in your surgeon and that you have a good repour with him/her . I would suggest that you ask your surgeon how he feels about T3/NDT too . When I had my TT my surgeon was very open to adding synthetic T3 to my T4 .

Don't push yourself after the surgery . Give yourself all the time you need to heal . Be Kind To Yourself . You'll Do Just Great .

Wishing you Strength and A Successful Outcome .

[Kirstylstocks in reply to jgelliss]

Thankyou

[Baggieswidow]

Hi, I had to have a total thyroidectomy because the nodules were affecting my breathing but now 3 years later I am not right. My levels are awful, I have to have T3 as well as Levothyroxine. I have put so much weight on, my temperature is uncontrollable and my moods are all over the place. If the doctor had treated my goitre nodules earlier, I don’t think I would be in this position, it’s crap!

[Poniesrfun]

Do ask about taking calcium - even the best surgeon can “stun” the parathyroids. Many surgeons prescribe calcium for a couple of months following surgery as a matter of course. Also ask when you will be started on thyroid replacement. Your levels may be high immediately after surgery but in a few days to a week of so you’ll be starting to need replacement.

For a couple of days you may want to sleep in a recliner or with extra pillows to help drainage. You can plan ahead for ice, warm compresses and some cold soft foods for a couple of days. I used it as an excuse for lots of gelato and ice cream though I didn’t have to compete with any kids raiding the freezer.

Confidence n your surgeon is correlated with better outcomes so you should be fine.

Patti In AZ.

[yesendi]

Hi Kirstylstocks, good luck with you surgery, I was one of the lucky ones I guess. I went about my life right after surgery. Nothing hurt, no funny voice, all felt good, went back to work in two weeks time and continue my exercise routine as if nothing ever happened. The only problem I had at the beginning was that my body didn't like the Levo I was taking due to lactose as one of the inactive ingredient but after a change on meds I got better.

Your Dr sounds like an experienced one.

Keep us posted.

[Kirstylstocks in reply to yesendi]

Yes he is very experienced 30 years he told me doing this procedure and he specialises in blood vessels removel of veins ect. He told me in the 30 years he as done this he only ever had 3 complications he said I take my time and I like to do things properly I have a lot of confidence in him plus I saw him on TV removing a vain from a leg I guess I'm lucky to have a good surgeon

[Lora7 in reply to Kirstylstocks]

Has he discussed what treatment you will get after surgery?

[Kirstylstocks in reply to Lora7]

Yes he did he said thyroxine vitamin d and calcium

[Lora7 in reply to Kirstylstocks]

Did he mention T3, because some people without thyroids need this.

[Kirstylstocks in reply to Lora7]

Yes he did he also said it can take about 6 month before they get the right doses for myself so it's a long process

[Lora7 in reply to Kirstylstocks]

That is good to hear because I do know someone without a thyroid and she is struggling to get t3 prescribed. When my mother had a lump removed from her thyroid years ago the scar was in the the crease of her neck and it healed really well and you could hardly see it. Luckily she never suffered with thyroid disease but unfortunately died from breast cancer later on in life.

[birkie]

Hi

I had vocal cord test before op.. But nothing after.. I can't shout and if I talk a lot my voice goes soft people can't hear me and I can't shout many mates and family have noticed this.. But my surgeons not commented on it.. I see him on the 19th of Aug I will be mentioning it.. 👍

[Kirstylstocks in reply to birkie]

My surgeon told me that this may happen.

[Baggieswidow in reply to birkie]

I had no camera before or after my tt and had problems after the operation. I had speech therapy for months and even now as soon as I get tired my voice goes, they don’t tell you this!