Half my Thyroid due to be removed

[Lillywing]

I’m due to have half my thyroid out due to a 3cm nodule which has been identified as atypical cells. My thyroid is working fine. Super anxious about having the operation and also if it damages my health and turns out to be benign anyway!! Would love to hear from others about their outcomes and experiences.

[greygoose]

I'm afraid I have no experiences to share, but I would suggest that you get full thyroid testing before the operation, to give you a base-line that you can refer back to after the op. The remaining half doesn't always take up the slack very well, but doctors are often reluctant to give thyroid hormone replacement. If you can show them pre-op levels and say 'this is where I need to be to be well', they might be more willing to prescribe.

You need:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit d

vit B12

folate

ferritin

Doubtful that your doctor will be willing to test all that - he won't consider it necessary - so you'll probably have to test privately. Details here:

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

[Lillywing in reply to greygoose]

Ok thanks x

[bantam12 in reply to Lillywing]

I had half my thyroid out because of Graves when I was in my teens, absolutely fine afterwards, no meds needed, half a thyroid can work just as well as a whole one !

[Lillywing in reply to bantam12]

Thanks nice to hear a positive story!

[Lillywing]

Hope your ok now?

[Lillywing]

I just need to get on with it. It’s that awful waiting. And I think it’s because it’s my neck. Anyway I’m pleased your all ok. 🙂

[Nanaedake]

I had a little more than half a thyroid removed and cannot do without levothyroxine. My thyroid simply cannot produce enough thyroid hormone.

[Lillywing in reply to Nanaedake]

Are you ok with the hormones? Do you feel well on them? Hope your ok

[Nanaedake in reply to Lillywing]

I had trouble along the way because there was a problem with levothyroxine for a few years which is now sorted out. I also ended up low on calcium, maybe because I lost some parathyroid glands. Make sure your vitamin D levels are good. It helps recovery.

If you need levothyroxine then stick to one brand only. TEVA levothyroxine is known to be problematic for some people so start on something else and stick to it for at least a year until your levels are balanced.

Be careful how you take levothyroxine, keep it 2 hours apart from supplements or 4 hours apart in the case of calcium or iron and some other medications. At least an hour apart from anything except water.

Keep gut function good by eating probiotic food like naturally fermented foods and keep an eye on vitamin levels. You need hood vitamin levels for thyroid hormone, your own or tablets, to work well. Good nutrition may not be enough, you may need to supplement. Only blood tests will reveal if that's the case. Vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and vit D are the essential ones.

I take vit D and calcium (prescribed) , a good B complex, not prescribed, and my ferritin is naturally good. Also K2-MK7 and magnesium. Vitamin c when needed and eat prunes for boron.

[Lillywing in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks for the information. Hope you feel well now.

[Nanaedake in reply to Lillywing]

Yes, I'm well. I am careful to do all I need to stay well. I have to work at it and take supplements. Best of luck and come back here if you have trouble, we might be able to help.

[Lillywing in reply to Nanaedake]

I will. Thank you for answering. What a great site this is!

[Hay2016]

Hi. Had half removed and was back running in a week. Felt no side effects at all but as Has been said I’d get a baseline of numbers now so you can push for meds if needed. Xx

All the best.

[Lillywing]

Oh god 😵 I think I would freak 😅

[Lillywing]

I will thanks. Glad your fit and fine!

[Julesboz]

Hi there, I had half my thyroid removed last November for a large benign nodule. Firstly the operation is surprisingly easy and there’s very little pain afterwards, which is good news. You’re just likely to feel very very tired for several weeks so be kind to yourself and allow yourself lots of rest. As greygoose suggested I’d recommend getting a full blood panel before the op. I did this by going to to my doctor and asking outright for TSH, T4 and FT3 so I could get a baseline. Amazingly they agreed and it was done. If they don’t, a company like medichecks can do it.

Now some people’s thyroid recovers afterwards and some don’t. I didn’t have hypothyroidism before the op but my blood tests were never optimal, my thyroid was struggling. Since the op it’s been gradually getting worse, but my doctors won’t accept that I have a problem because, despite the fact that it’s getting worse, I’m still just in range. As a result I’ve been seeing a private GP who has a holistic view and does recognise that in range doesn’t mean optimal! I’m now feeling loads better on a variety of supplements (most of which I’ve been taking since before the op) and glandular support.

[Lillywing in reply to Julesboz]

Thanks for this information. What supplements are you on for this? I’m taking a few like vit D but would appreciate knowing what else be helpful.

[Julesboz in reply to Lillywing]

I take Metavive as the glandular supplement. I also take vitamin D3 & K2, vitamin B12, spatone iron, and a special thyroid support multi vitamin that my doctor recommended which has a variety of things in (vitamin C and a lot of the Bs and some other things - sorry not at home at the mo and can’t remember all of them). I also have natural progesterone as my other hormones are out of balance.

[Lillywing]

Just liked to say had my op yesterday and very little pain. Just sore throat and tired. Amazing really!! My thyroid was on the top end nearly over active so he’s hopeful the other half will take over. Let’s see!! And fingers crossed for results of the nodule.