I had a recent diagnosis of a cystic nodule, benign, which stretches slightly into the chest but not much, removal is advised but what to do? Remove only the affected part or whole thyroid? Don’t really know where to start.
Do you still have a normal lifespan with no thyroid?
What are common side effects of the hormone replacement medication that you need to take for ever?
whats your surgeon say will happen if you dont have the op?
some people do get side effects from taking the hormones, but you really have to take into account that its not just side effects that are the issue. Some people cannot get a high enough dose prescribed, and some people cant a prescription for the specific hormone they need. There appears to be a shockingly low level of thyroid expertise in the worldwide medical profession.
Im just going by what I read though, and I'm sure someone with experience will be along in a minute.
If I don’t have it, it’s likely it will get bigger and it will be more difficult to remove (a more complex operation as they have to open up the chest when operating as opposed to a simple cut and remove)
You are right about the procedure - simple incision now versus breaking the sternum later. I know that was the case for an acquaintance here in the USA. Another case I know was my grandmother. She waited too long and her thyroid became so goitered it wrapped around her trachea causing breathing/lifting issues. She chose RAI to kill the thyroid but the goiter grew anyway. She should have underwent the surgery while it was smaller and less complicated. She had to use thyroid hormone replacement anyway.
Often times, until the specimen is sent to pathology and sliced apart, they cannot determine if there is anything cancerous.
Some people go on to live long, normal, uninterrupted lives. Others, like those of us here, have issues with conversion of T4 into active T3, can’t get the right levels, replacements, doses, doctors to help us. Best to educate and advocate for yourself about your options. Learn all you can, demand proper testing and treatment. These include always testing Free T4, Free T3, Tg, TgAb, TSH. Also sometimes include TPO, Reverse T3. Then, important to many people are the vitamin D, B12, folate, iron, etc. Also, if a person has thyroid-related autoimmune issues, test for genetic mutation MTHFR.
New diagnosis of Graves 
Help and advice on new diagnosis 
New Hyperthyroidism diagnosis 
New diagnosis of underactive thyroid
New hypothyroidism diagnosis 
