What to Expect After Thyroidectomy: 5 Things You Should Know

[shaws]

This is a link that may be informative for some who've had (or going to have)their thyroid gland removed.

restartmed.com/thyroidectom...]

[Mamapea1]

Yes shaws, useful information for everyone, in fact. I had Hashis [actually Ords] with a very high antibody count, but by the time I had been tested and diagnosed correctly, I was told that my thyroid had no output at all (!) and "it was like it had been removed". I remained seriously symptomatic for many years until I sorted out my depleted nutrient levels and took T3.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Mamapea1]

I'm glad you've been able to restore your health.

The majority of people who're diagnosed with a dysfunctional thyroid gland would most likely have no knowledge of what the purpose of a thyroid gland is.

It is only when we are finding it difficult to restore our health with an inappropriate replacement and search the internet that we may find Healthunlocked and get help/advice from members who've gone through similar episodes themselves.

For those who cannot recover their health on T4 (levothyroxine) I hope they get an option of T4/T3 or T3 alone.

Also we have to make sure our vitamins/minerals are also optimum.

[Noodibranks-7]

Oh blimey. Happened to mention to my South African optometrist the situation in this country with thyroid meds, he couldn’t believe it!!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Noodibranks-7]

Neither can the UK residents believe it as they cannot trial what they'd like to and therefore are stuck due to not being able to trial an option unless they have a private prescription.

Patients for years were prescribed NDTs (natural dessicated thyroid hormones) that suited many people. This was withdrawn without any notice and caused havoc amongst patients who had been well.

They also withdrew liothyronine (T3) due to its cost - which was astronomical but have now reinstated it but only if an Endocrinologist gives permission.

[Noodibranks-7 in reply to shaws]

Yes I am also in UK just happened to see a SA optician when I went for my eye test. I have had recent total thyroidectomy so no doubt will suffer problems with meds at some point. Great!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Noodibranks-7]

Through having a thyroidectomy, I do hope the Endo will be kind and also prescribe T3 to T4 or T3 alone if it enables you to recover your health and enables you to be symptom-free.

[Lucycatlover]

The clip is certainly applicable to me but I don’t think it’s the full story. I have a friend who had her total thyroid removed 25+ years ago due to hyperthyroidism. She’s on 100mcg T4 but unlike me on T4 and T3, she is full of beans! At 76 she does a weekly 5k fun run as well as workouts and weights at the gym. She’s slim and has a full thick head of hair! She’s totally adverse to supplements and eats her own veg grown at her allotment. I would love her to do a full set of thyroid and vitamin blood tests to compare to mine but her doctor only does the TSH. I can only conclude it must be down to super adrenals and digestive function. Obviously people like her have no need for our forum so we don’t see this side of the picture.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lucycatlover]

I also met an elderly woman at hospital who was slim, active and had no symptoms on levothyroxine. Whilst I had out of the norm awful palpitations that even the cardiologist couldn't fathom out and was contemplating putting an implant into my heart 'to see what was going on'. Just then T3 was added to T4 and it was amazing the relief it gave . Eventually I took T3 alone and palpitations stopped altogether. I have been well on T3 alone since.

[shaws Administrator]

I am always amazed that some people do very well on levothyroxine alone, but there are thousands it would seem.

Some people have 'unexplained' weight gain when on levo and are puzzled but that can be common with hypothyroidism as our body's energy is too low as we aren't yet on an optimum dose of thyroid hormones. I think the majority of GPs still blame the patients who complain about weight gain without a change of diet.