Post-thyroidectomy personality change?

[wolflover1202]

My boyfriend is having his thyroid removed next month.  A friend of mine keeps warning me that after the surgery, his personality is likely to change and he could get nasty and mean.  She says it's happened to two people who she knew.  Another friend who's a nurse is saying the same thing.  Is this a common side effect of the surgery?

[benjo211]

Yes, it is very possible for personality change post throidectomy.  My girlfriend had hers removed about five years ago and within two years, she became a nasty and highly anxious, depressed person.  However, the cause of this is usually that their bodies cannot convert their thyroid meds to t3, therefore they will experience many symptoms.  The only way to test for this is doing a full thyoid panel that tests Free T3.   Many doctors don't do this.  It may take many montths after your boyfriend's surgery for you to see any changes.  The biggest and most  noticeable thing is when the sex drive is gone.  Once that sex drive is gone, then you know something is wrong and you shouldn't take it personally.  This is when you need to get the right medication and dosaging and possibly switch to a Natural Dessicated Thyroid hormone or NDT which works a lot better.

[redheadaussie]

It does happen. It's hard when one minute you are fine then suddenly your whole world changes. Ask my friend, who tends to live with me, my moods changed, I got short tempered with everyone, he even said my body scent was different. Part of it is a grieving thing, the other is the surgery is pretty tough on the body, and the other is the medications take time to kick in....causes some problems for some people.
  The best advice is be the best support you can be..if he gets angry know it isn't about you, if he gets sad, give him a hug, if he is a lot different than normal, know it is only a passing thing.
Wish him good luck ,and I wish you all the best too.

[ChitChatNine]

I agree with Shannon ... I have become more well adjusted and more even tempered since mine is gone!  the meds keep me on an even level .. no ups/downs

Cheryl

[Peanut72]

What medicine are you taking my wife had her thyroid removed and got mean she don't desire sex and don't desire me. Email me at ***@**** so I can get her some I want my wife back and our life together.

[Peanut72]

What medicine are you taking my wife had her thyroid removed and got mean she don't desire sex and don't desire me. Email me at ***@**** so I can get her some I want my wife back and our life together.

[Peanut72]

What medicine are you taking my wife had her thyroid removed and got mean she don't desire sex and don't desire me. Email me at ***@**** so I can get her some. I want my wife back and our life together.

[shannon828]

I think what they are referring to is the adjustment period to finding the right level of hormone replacement therapy.  Apparently, in many cases, finding the right dose can be tough and leaves a patient Hypothyroid, of which the symptoms can be:  weight gain, dry skin, hair loss, fatigue, sleeplessness and a myriad of other unpleasant side effects.  I think anyone going through those symptoms might be a tad touchy!  It can take a while for the docs to find the right dose that gets the person back to feeling "like themselves" unless they are very fortunate and have very proactive Endocrinologists who really listen to them.

I just had mine removed 4 days ago and still have natural hormone in my body, so I feel about the same as I ever did, just a bit tired from surgery...