Thyroid coming out June 27

[danie17075rm]

I met with the surgeon.  I went over every symptom I have had.  He said I can very well have a pituitary problem, but my endo needs to deal with that, as it is not what he specializes in.  The doctor was nice.  It's a teaching hospital so I also had to deal with students.  He said that even though I might have a pituitary problem, most of my tests and symptoms are completely consistent with hashimoto's.  I am positive for 2 types of antibodies (that was new information).  He said that the thyroid has to come out, even if I have other problems.  My thyroid is causing too many issues and he said it felt all rubbery.  He actually made all the med students come in and feel my thyroid as it is apparently the "perfect" text book hashimoto's thyroid.  You can even feel the edges of mine. YAY, at least my thyroid is good for something lol.  I said I'm glad it can be of use to someone and they said, "hey we will get to see it when it comes out too" lol.  He said that radiation would not have been a good choice for me.  My hashimotos is so bad that different parts of the thyroid uptake the iodine at different rates.  He said this would have been really bad for me, and surgery is definitely the best option.  He can just remove it, and I will finally have a steady dose of thyroid hormones.  He also said that I should not be too expectant that this will cure everything.  He said it plays havoc on the nervous system, and sometimes it doesn't get entirely better.  He is going to examine the parathyroids while he is in there, but he really wants me to try and raise the vitamin D before surgery.  They had an opening June 1 for surgery, but I really wanted some time to take this in.  My surgery is schedule for June 27.  A few weeks before that I have a pre-op appointment and a few weeks after surgery my post-op appointment.  He said since I have an autoimmune disease, getting rid of the thyroid doesn't always help the autoimmune problem.  UGH.  I'm kind of scared that it won't make me feel better after what he said, but I do know it will give me a constant flow of hormone rather than too much or too little.  SO, that is the news.  The thyroid is going bye bye.  I don't know how to feel about it yet. At least I have some time to think. I hope this is the right decision!

[Brucergoldberg]

Sharon,

Why dont you have a TT?  have you considered?

Danni,

May i ask how they performed the uptake?

I have never done this.  I am going to request this maybe on thursday.  I dont care anymore.  I feel so horrible on or off synthroid.  Swingin back and forth all day long.  Back and forth, back and forth.  Ears ringing and buzzing, burning off the hook one minute,  An hour later exhausted and cold.  

[danie17075rm]

Thanks, I know a lot of older people that have been just fine with it forever.  Thanks for the inspirational story lol, it's nice to hear them too!

Bruce- I used to have nodules.  They disappeared,  I now have just a large goiter.  I did have an uptake which verified I was hyper.

[SassySharon]

Okay, I have to post now!  My father had a TT many, many years ago.  He is now 85 years old and does not have a computer, so I will speak for him.  
It is amazing the difference between he and I.  I have hypothyrodism and Hashimoto's.  since his TT, he is only on Synthroid.  It never changes.  As long as he does not switch up the time he takes it and only takes it with black coffee and does not eat for 1 hour, His levels santaya constant normal range!  All of his thyroid labs..(FT3, FT4) are always right on target.  And he feels great now.  No Swings, No Hyper.  Nice BP and HR.  
I am more than half his age, and he does better thyroid wise then me any day.
He says he is thrilled with his TT.  Has no regrets.  He has had no problems whatsoever.

Danie, If this is what your surgeon is recommending, and this is what you are happy with, then I say go for it.  It is safer for you and your son than the RAI.


SASS

[Brucergoldberg]

Did you have a sonogram?  Any nodules?

[danie17075rm]

Fatigue is not my problem! If anything I don't have enough fatigue.  Heart racing and shortness of breath are my worst symptoms.  I only take 12.5 mg of atenolol a day.   I have only been hypo one time in the last year!  I tend to get palps when I am hyper.  I now mainly get them once a month, when everything is horrible. If I am hyper, I get them all the time.  My case is a little different than yours in that I am not hypo any longer.  I swing borderline hypo every now and then, but after my tsh shot up to 26, it went down to normal, and now hits me with spurts of hyper.  I do have hypo symptoms as well though.  If I was more hypo like you, I could definitely be on thyroid meds as I used to be.  Unfortunately, I am not in the same boat you are.  You are truly hypo, and I no longer am.  

[Brucergoldberg]

I did the beta blocker thing.  It just made me very tired.  It may be contributing to your fatigue.  WHat are you taking and how many MG?

you know there are other things you can take that may help you without having to take that route>?   you probably have palpatations because of the hypothyroidism.  When i got on HC (cortisol) the palps left immediately.  I got off the HC and they came back, but then i got on thyroid and they went away.  Seems like the only time i get them is in the morning.  i take the thyroid and they go away, but of course i have other misery that comes on (as you described above).

bruce