Need people's own experince of their pro & cons having thyroid removed

[michlogsdon]

Hi ...today the doctor finally decided to remove my thyroid. Both lobes are over the 5cm and I have over 5 nodules various sizes. The have never been able to regulate me and I feel worse and worse as the years go by. My ultrasound showed that it hasn't changed in sizes at all from last year. They have never done a biobspy because they said it was too hard with so many??So my question to everyone who has had it removed is what have you experienced from it and what am I to expect. And about how long does it take to recover for most people. I am estimating around 4 weeks? I don't necessarily expect to get better but I don't think I can get worse...if that makes any sense. I just feel like I will be able to get regulated easier. So any responses would be great! Thxs!

[worriedinmd]

I had a partial less than a month ago because of a large, benign adenoma (3 inches) that had replaced one lobe and pushed my windpipe off-course. My doctor gave me the choice both of having a biopsy pre-op and of having the surgery. Given the size of the tumor, I thought it best to remove it. I was out of work a week after surgery. The first week back, i was tired. By the second week, I was going full speed again.

Best of luck. Let us know what you decide to do.

[dscoochie]

I had a partial two weeks ago yesterday (April 7th) and I went back to work yesterday (two weeks post op).  I am tired but coping. I would say three weeks off would have been ideal, but I've also heard people say they went back to work after one week and felt fine!

Good luck!

[Thypatient]

My dr didn't do a biopsy on mine either.  Maybe there's just a point when they say 'no more looking, it needs to come out.'

I agree with pep88, the meds are the bigger part of all this.  But it sometimes seems better than dealing with taking those and having a bad thyroid inside at the same.

It's not been a cake-walk but I'm glad my thyroid is gone.

[michlogsdon]

I have Hashimotos disease and Hypo ): very annoying.

[898]

According to the blood test , are you hypo- or hyper-  ?

[nissah46]

I don't understand why they can't do a fine needle biopsy.  I had 5 growths, the largest being 4.8cm., and they did a FNA.  The TT was fine, no pain meds. Had low calcium which kept me in hospital for 1 week.  RAI was done 5 months later, with a few side effects, but nothing compared to cancer. Good luck!

[pep88]

Well, I had mine removed in Sept. '07.  My FNA was suspicious for papillary cancer.  Unfortunately, it was cancer.  So I had the RAI to contend with after the surgery (Nov. '07).  All in all, I don't think it was that bad.  I was able to function almost immediately after getting out of the hospital with almost no pain meds.  

Others may disagree, but my take is that the meds take longer to get up to speed with than any of the recovery from either the surgery or RAI.  But you stated that you have been unable to regulate as is.  I would get it out, get it over with, and get on with your life, rather than spend your life feeling crappy.   But hey, again, that's just me... Cancer was a speed bump in the road that is my life.  I headed straight for it and went over it with as much grace as possible, and now I am getting on with the rest of my life.  Meds for me now, are just the stops at the gas station... a necessary evil trying to find the right tank level in the gas tank...  :-))  

I wish you luck with your decision and I know others here will have lots of encouragment as well.