Living without a Thyroid Gland

[sophiesudane]

Good afternoon. This is my 1st time on this site.  I had a total thyroidectomy 3 weeks ago.  They suspected cancer, but It ended up being benign.  Yeah.  

To back up a bit, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at the age of 22 and then figured out the cause of the hypothyroidism was Hashimoto Thyroiditis at the age of 28. Well, over the years nodules were found on both sides of my gland and were monitored. About 6 months ago during my annual exam they noticed my gland was extremely enlarged and my nodules were abnormally large. Well, we ran all the tests and did a needle biopsy. The report came back as suspicious. At that point I met with the surgeon and the rest is history.

I am pleased to be through the scare, but now need to find out about living without the gland.  Over the last 3 weeks I have found myself to be very weepy and emotional. I am also very tired during the day, but struggle to get a good nights rest. I have also woken up with the feeling of panic attacks. My guess is that my dosage is off. Right after the surgery they put me on the same dosage of thyroid replacement medicine (150 mcg) I was on prior to the surgery. I have 3 weeks to go until I have my levels tested.

So, I am 31 and struggling with all the chemical changes in my body.  Sometime I feel as if I am going crazy with all the emotional lows I have. I should be elated that I am cancer free and able to move on with life as normal. But I do not feel that way. Help.

Can anyone offer me tips on how to cope and any suggestions on a healthy lifestyle (diet/exercise) regimen I can incorporate into my life. Any idea of some the hurdles I might need to prepare myself and my loved ones for??

Thanks

[gimel]

What was the reason given for dropping your dosage?  Was it based on TSH test results?  Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.

[meme199]

I had my thyroid removed 10 years ago after having problems for 30 years. It was cancer at the time I weighed 199 pounds and 5 weeks after having it removed I weighed 246.5 they put me on synthroid 200mcg and have been on same doseage. I have been losing weight and was down to 190.5 pounds on 2/11/13. On 2/13/13 about an hour after taking it at 5am about 6:30am I woke up having trouble swallowing it cleared up but happened again on the 14th but worst. Went to the doctor same day my weight was back up to 199 had blood work done they called me and said I needed to drop my doseage to 175mcg and not to take it on the 15th but start new synthroid on the 16th. Started it then and am down to 191 but feel sick on my stomach and am having chest pains every time I eat.Help Please.

[jewel229]

Hi Leannazuk. I got my thyroids removed in May 2011. I had thyroid cancer and nodules on my left thyroid. I went to Atlanta to a doctor that does endoscopic thyroid removal. The surgery went well and I've been cancer free for almost two years. My advice to you is to get on vitamins with your thyroid medicine. You have to wait 4 hours after you take your thyroid med before you can take vitamins. I've researched these vitamins but make sure you check with your doctor as well. The vitamins are:
Calcium 600mg chewables (2 daily)
B Complex
Vitamin E
Biotin
Prenatals because this vitamin gives you all vitamins needed for women
Men should take a multiviatmin.
Papya Enzymes (chewables) Enzymes helps to digest your food properly
Coconut pills
Please check with your doctor before you take extra vitamins. But I can a difference with my skin, my hair has never fallen out after radiation.
Good luck to you.

[gimel]

This is a very old thread and I doubt that you will reach Metrogrl.  So let me try to substitute.  

Since you had a semi-thyroidectomy, it is very likely that your symptoms are related to being under medicated.   If you will please post all of your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report, and tell us about your medication and dosage, members will be better able to assess and advise further.  

[nobody321]

I was reading these comments and saw yours, i'm 16 and had half my thyroid taken out last year because of a nodule, and when i had the biopsy done it came back inconclusive too, all ended up coming back benign. Anyways, my question is, almost a year after, did you ever end up having pain quite a bit above the scar? And I feel breathless all of the time, plus I've gotten bad anxiety... Don't even get me started about the mood swings. Did you ever figure out if something else was wrong? Or did/do you have these symptoms too?

[Danniabg]

Ok I see 'stop the thyroid madness' got blocked out. :(
You can google it though of course :)