Thyroidectomy 4 days ago. Guess now it's "Welcome to Your Life in the Completely Opposite Direction!"

[Arrigo]

Hello all, happy new year! So... Did it. Not to scare anyone, but ran into complications with the left RLN being traumatized during surgery, which led to unilateral larynx dysfunction, and the urgent need for an extra procedure post-thyroidectomy that was... well... if I never have to see that team again, it'll be too soon. Now hoping and praying the nerve damage is temporary only, because the extra procedure is not a permanent fix. If anyone has run into this and has feedback 6 months out or so from this type of complication, it would be greatly appreciated. If you're considering TT, please don't let this deter you: the risk is very small. I just drew the short straw.

That aside, I am today on thyroid hormone fumes only- the surgeon does not start me on the 88 mcg levo till 5 days out. Feeling OK-ish, defo calmer, looking like hell tho. Bit tired, bit woozy. But felt well enough to do ~20 min of upper body exercises with some puny weights today.

Here's the crux of this post: I've read enough to know that I will try every meds titration, every meds combo, and every vitamin trick till I am optimal, not just 'normal', and I'm willing to push back on the endo as hard as it takes, because while it might be his lab tests, it's my body and my life. That said, I understand that the #1 thing to keep in mind is that for labs, TSH should be close to suppressed, and fTs in the high side of the range, esp. the fT3 level. I understand why that is. Now, if you are in the same position - have done TT - and have any tricks to share, from how to take the meds to any highly important nutrition info, anything really... and you understand why the tricks you bank on actually work for you, I'd love to hear from you about them.

Thank you- and here's to health.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Thanks for the informative post - and wishing you well in your recovery.

[Arrigo in reply to helvella]

Thank you! I forgot to mention- had a slight tingling in hands/feet today, tho all parathyroids intact (guess they are still in shock, poor things ! "OMG, our mom is gone!!" ). Took couple CA carbonate pills (equivalent to Tums) and tingling subsided.😑

[Lora7again]

I wish you a good recovery and a lot of people without a thyroid do well on NDT.

[Panda_26]

Hi yes a TT here after a papillary cancer in 2003. Their suggestions of T4 only worked ok for a while but I soon realized that NDT would suit me much better . This makes sense to me as rather than just replacing one hormone you are replacing all that your .natural healthy thyroid would. Good luck with it all, and finding your balance, we are all different , but you'll find what works best for you !

[Arrigo]

Thanks all, really appreciate the support! They let me go 5 days without anything because the Ts were somewhat above the range going into surgery- despite efforts to lower them- so the surgeon said I'd still have some in my system even after the thyroid was removed. I had TT for Graves, and I do know that people with cancer have to be handled differently in terms of TSH immediately post-TT. I felt OK up till the evening of Day 5, at which point I started feeling horrific, I can't even explain: but it was clear my body had depleted the Ts and had none to go on. Started the T4 this AM, and have done a lot of research to see what supports conversion (Zn, Se, vit C, anything that supports the liver and kidneys, where a lot of the peripheral conversion occurs, etc.) I am willing to give the T4 mono-therapy a shot and see how it goes. I will DEFINITELY state to the endo at the first appt. (coming up in 2 weeks) that I need to know how long exactly before it can be determined that the T4 and its current dose is working or not. After that, I am willing to maybe up the T4 dose once- but will not stand for labs that look 'fine' to him while knowing I do not feel optimal. So if that means the T3/T4 synthetic, or NDT, or T3 only, whatever it takes in my case, that's what I'll need, ATA guidelines notwithstanding. He's unwilling, I'm changing docs. We are highly complex human beings, healthy human thyroids do not automatically produce T4 at 6 am daily, it's a delicate feedback loop, etc.... So- I will do whatever necessary to get to optimally euthyroid status. VERY grateful for the support and info on this site. It's the difference between going by labs only vs. triangulating information from actual folks going thru similar battles, and their own experience with what works/what doesn't. Wish everyone much luck on the path to great health!!

[Arrigo]

They did 3 Ca tests over the couple days I was in the hospital- all in range. It was day after I got back home that the tingling happened, but taking the 2 pills was all that was needed. And defo just like you say, the parathyroids seemed to be acting up then quickly backed off. ...which is amazing, considering what they've just been thru. I must say that this Graves journey has 100% increased my respect for the complex machine the human body is... So I hope this newly found respect will help me with the willpower to fuel it with nutritious and useful foods!