Thyroid removal

[MbjTampa]

My mother in law had her thyroid removed and is not on any replacement medicine. She is experiencing some dementia. Is this related to thyroid removal?

[redheadaussie]

Glad you found out that she did indeed have a partial. I hope all goes well for her now, and she can get the appropriate help. I hope it is not too stressful for you.

[MbjTampa]

Thank you all for your help. Upon research I found she did have a partial removal.

[Kristina538]

I would push for her GP to test her levels.   Whether it's a contributor to her mental problems or not, it would be good to get her checked.

[redheadaussie]

She may not have had a total removal, but a partial. Many people assume when they say they had their thyroid out they mean all of it, but in her case it seems she might have had a partial. No one without a thyroid totally will live beyond a few months without their medication.
  Alzheimer's is no fun, and I am sure you are worried about her as well.

[MbjTampa]

My mother in law HD her thyroid removed about 20 years ago. She did take synthroid at that time. She was diagnosed about ten years ago with alzheimers. I have just found out that somehow her synthroid has been discontinued. It appears that she quit taking it about ten years ago. I checked with her GP and he said at this point it wouldn't matter.

[Smilerdeb]

Dementia is where a part of the brain is dying off...brain fog is hypothyroidism from no thyroid hormone.
Confusion is also another symptom of Hypo.

Your Mother should be on thyroid medication as she is at risk of Myexedema Coma if she continues long term without thyroid medication with no thyroid whatsover.

Maybe posting a brief history would help others more to answer your posting.

[Barb135]

Did she have dementia prior to the thyroid removal?  Brain fog is a common symptom of hypothyroidism and can be eliminated with proper supplementation.

The thyroid hormones control many functions of the body, including metabolism, heart rate, body temp, etc......... a person can't live long without thyroid hormones, whether it be "natural" (as produced by the thyroid) or "replacement" (as in taking med).

Why is she not on replacement med?  

[Younique1]

I have also had my thyroid removed and you must go on replacement medicine.  Your thyroid regulates everything in your body and when mine is off, I suffer from itchy skin, foggy memory/dementia, intolerance to cold/heat, irritability, etc.  There are a wide variety of symptoms that she may experience.  Her doctor should put her on a replacement immediately.  If she only had a partial removal, then maybe the doctor is waiting to see what the part that is left will produce, but on a total thyroidectomy, you must be on something.