Weight after surgery

[lawteddy]

I have my surgery scheduled for March 12 to remove my thyroid due to a highly suspicious FNA result for papillary carcinoma.  I have no other thyroind issues now and never have had weight issues with moderate exercise 3x a week and a healthy lifestyle.  I have read alot about weight gain after the surgery.  Any info on your experiences would be appreciated.  Will the thyroid medicine make my body function like it does today?  I am not hyper or hypo.

[utahmomma]

Nah, no question is too nosey on this forum!  :-)

I was doing okay with my weight after my 2nd thyroid surgery by watching my carbs very closely (diagnosed as Type II diabetic after thyroid removal).  I went through surgical menopause last year (ovaries removed for PCOS) and it was more difficult to control the weight.

I went on the LID diet in November and lost 7 lbs which put me at 130 which was nice.  After RAI my body really started craving carbs like crazy (not sugar - breads).  I've put on 10lbs since RAI (the end of November) and it's tough.  I'm now off the HRT (family history of breast and ovarian cancer - don't want to push my luck) and very hyper (0.06).

I've been trying to follow my diabetic diet but the hypo to hyper has worn my body out and it's craving comfort food.  :-(

I'm blaming a lot of it on being 40!  :-)

[lawteddy]

Thank you for your response.  You mention at the end of your response that you are another story with respect to weight.  How do you feel overall?  Do you have trouble loosing weight even when you try or are there other factors that play a roll.  If I am being too nosey, feel free to say so:)

[rayneweather]

Hiya, I have multinodular goiter as well as Grave's disease so I'm definitely hyper.  Since you have cancer and will be kept hyper (as Utahmomma pointed out) chances are that it won't be difficult for you to keep the weight off with your current exercise & diet habits.  My personal experience with being hyper is that weight loss while eating everything in sight is my first symptom that I'm hyper once again so hopefully this will be the same for you.  :-)

[utahmomma]

Welcome to the papillary carcinoma club.

After your surgery your doctors will want to keep you hyper to suppress any other thyroid tissue/cancer.  The only time they will take you off of your hyper status will be when you undergo RAI (I-131 radiation treatment) - for that you will need to be hypo but will be on a diet.

If you are working out now, keep doing it.  Your body will go through some changes after surgery (after all they thyroid controls your metabolism) but by being healthy and maintaining it you should be fine.  My sister is about 40lbs lighter now than she ever was before her surgery but she eats right, watches the carbs, and works out.

Now I am a different story.  :-)

So tell us your story - how were you diagnosed, what were your symptoms, what have your doctors said?