Thyroid removal?

[jbo939]

The Dr. wants to remove the complete Thyroid. It was aspirated and found to not be cancerous. The right Thyroid measures 6.4x4.1x3.6cm. The right Thyroid lobe is enlarged. It contains an echogenic nodule with internal cyst measuring up to 5 cm. The left Thyroid lobe measures 4.7x1.3x1.2. It contains a 6 mm hypoechote nodule with internal echotexture. The isthmus measures 3mm.

To avoid complications I would like to keep the left Thyroid intact. Any possibilities of this? I read nothing but nightmares trying to medicate balance after complete removal.

Also in the last month, drastic weight loss and adrenailne flushes all night.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[hope4thegoodstuff]

Out on this site, there are people with partial thyroids and whole thyroids and no thyroids...We all have our own set of issues and problems.  Some get along better than others.  So when you can...pop out here and give info like you did above and those who are way more expert than I am can assist you through your difficulties.  

I have had a total thyroidecotomy...I had cancer...Congrats...I am so happy for you that you do not.  

Without my thyroid, I have a lot less of the highs then lows...if you know what I mean..I used to go way hyper, then way hypo....within seconds it seems like.  
I'm more even now...unfortunately it's on the more tired side, but I'm just getting started...so I have a long way to go..

Good luck.  

[MANmom]

By the way, just because you have benign nodules doesn't mean you DON'T have cancer...I had four nodules, all were benign, FNA reported "benign follicular clusters",  I had cancer in the thyroid tissue itself.  I had the right side removed first, it had three nodules, including the biggest one, 2.1 cm.  All nodules were clear, two microcarcinomas (1 and 2 mm) in the tissue were found.  Endo did not want to remove the other side because both tumors were small, but all three surgeons said "TAKE IT OUT!"...glad I listended to the surgeons, they found the mother-lode in the other side with only one mixed nodule...a tumor 1.5 cm and another micro 2mm.  I am now awaiting Radioactive Iodine Ablation to kill off any remaining thyroid tissue and prevent spread,  Google all the words in your report, some together, do some research.  I poured over everything I could find,  and myself I put my odds in the 20 - 35% category, the surgeon could only give me a 5 - 15% chance of cancer.  Get a second opinion, but time is on your side.  thyroid cancer grows slowly if you have it, so waiting and watching is fine.

[skeeterknitwit]

OK, so you've had weight loss and difficulty sleeping.  Both are symptoms of hyperthyroid.  Is that the diagnosis?  Are the benign nodules hot, over-producing thyroid hormone?  Do you know your TSH, FT4, & FT3?
Benign means not cancerous.  It does not mean harmless if these are hot nodules.
I'm only guessing here, because there are just not enough test results to go on.
If they are in fact hot nodules, you really should treat them.  They rarely, if ever, go into remission.

[Smilerdeb]

I had NO nodules, but had cancer in the whole of the thyroid itself (tissue).
I had RAI last June 2008 and TT last september 2008 and I feel better now than I have done for 20 years being on a T4 med.
Taking replacement hormones is not he!! if you research all you can and learn your own body symptoms.
I was in he!! BEFORE RAI...not after.
I too was on a rollercoaster with hyper to hypo and vice versa and have never been back there since RAI.

The symptoms are 100% less severe and a lot easier to manage.
My levels have been normal for quite some time now.
Dont believe every 'nightmare' story you read as it applying to everyone because it doesnt. Some have problems, some dont...everyone is different.
I found peace of mind...something I didnt have before RAI.

[hope4thegoodstuff]

The surgery itself was a lot easier on me than I thought it would be...I pretty much went to sleep with a thyroid and woke up without one...there was some discomfort...don't get me wrong, but I hardly took any pain meds...often people get to go home soon after the surgery...they kept me over night as they ended up taking a lot of my lymphnodes that were reactive to the hashimotos disease and I was told that my thyroid was very attached.  Even with all of that...I was tired and scared of the future without my thyroid, but it ended up being much less difficult and less painful than I thought it would be.  Of course, I have a very active imagination.... ; O )