Hemithyroidectomy in November

[Julesboz]

Hi all, I’m having a hemithyroidectomy in November to remove a single large nodule which is becoming obstructive (believed to be benign). The surgeon has told me that I’m likely to be tired afterwards while my thyroid recalibrates itself and that 10-15% of people end up on thyroid replacement hormones but most are fine. Im currently not diagnosed as hypothyroid but have always suspected my thyroid is sluggish, despite the fact that doctors tell me my levels are ‘fine’. My TSH hovers around 2.5. I’m just wondering if anyone has experienced this op and if it did or did not affect their thyroid function?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing now and repeat test 2-3 months after the operation

Looking at previous posts many of your symptoms already suggest hypothyroidism and especially Hashimoto's

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's )

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water . This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.

So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Julesboz in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you! Yes I’d like to get all of those done but my daughter isn’t getting married this month and funds are tight. I’m seeing my doctor on Friday about something unrelated so I’ll see if I can persuade him to order some blood tests.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Julesboz]

Ask for both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies, TSH, FT3 and FT4 testing and vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

You might get most done. Extremely unlikely to get FT3 tested or TG antibodies tested if TPO antibodies are negative.

[Julesboz in reply to SlowDragon]

Will do thanks!

[Hidden]

I had that op back in 1989 for similar reasons - extreme fatigue , difficulty breathing to the extent of not being able to say an entire sentence without taking a breath. Also had several bouts of pneumonia, so I would highly recommend that you regularly take deep breaths and keep yourself warm at all costs.

I was off work (an office job) for 3 months as the remaining tissues failed to restart quickly and when they did restart I had to limit it to 3 days a week for 4-5 weeks.

After that life returned to normal, no problems at all, no medication. 14 years later that all ceased as the benign goitre returned with a vengeance as a multi-nodular goitre for which I had, eventually, a total thyroidectomy and RAI after which I felt absolutely wonderful on levothroidectomy ....................for a month or 2, after which the real problems started...............now on NDT!

Recommend you do NOT start taking levo until you are absolutely and totally convinced that you MUST take it! That would, I feel sure, hinder your ability to regain full health, perhaps effectively ruin the chances of your remaining thyroid from ever fully recovering, the one thing you must avoid at all cost.

[Julesboz in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much for that! Yes I’m hoping to avoid taking hormones unless I really have to, I’m just a bit nervous about the recovery time and how tired I’m likely to be. Luckily my nodule isn’t too obstructive at the moment, just causes minor breathlessness, aching if I speak for too long (my husband just says stop speaking :-)) and just a bit of general discomfort. However the surgeon said once they get to 4cm they tend to really grow quickly and mine’s just under 4cm so I’ve decided to get rid of it before it becomes too much of an issue, seeing as I have quite an active life. It’s good to hear about other people’s experiences to find out what you can sometimes expect.