getting fat after thyroidectomy

[needhelp345]

what if i need  a complete thyroidectomy. will i get fat. i heard these things that you will have mood swings and gain weight and never be the same again . which is better synthroid or armour. please help me

[needhelp345]

thank you Totie i may need surgery for a peach pit size nodule on my thyroid. i am having another ultrasound of thyroid in aug.. it has grown 20 percent since 6 months ago. i will have to see how this goes. thank you for sharing your experience.

[Totie]

I had a TT almost 18yrs ago.

I think after surgery I was off for about 2 weeks but due to issues of thyroid storms. But I went back to work without any issues related to thyroid.

I have been working full time every since. Majority of people return back to work after about 10 days.

I did gain weight after TT (but needed to)...I am currently underweight so not everyone gets fat (unless you have a poor diet & aren't active).

Now this was almost 18yrs ago...

But like everyone says. Read up on it & ask all kinds of questions, there will never be any stupid questions....I currently take Synthroid. Everyone is different in how they rebound from health issues. Just stay positive...

[needhelp345]

i nominate you best answer. however i thank all of you for your responses i was helped by all

[blsdnsvvd]

Trust me, weight gain will be the least of your worries. I was concerned moreso of weight gain because i worked hard to keep it off before my surgery. I am at a steady weight without exercise and i am assuming it is because I try to watch my diet and do not overeat. I am post 2 1/2 yrs.

[danie17075rm]

I lost 30 pounds before my TT, but in all fairness I was hyper.  After the TT, I gained some weight (same diet).  I have been on a pretty strict diet for the last few months and have not lost an ounce.  In fact, I pretty much go back and forth between the same weight and gaining a pound.  It's frustrating.  I find out this week for sure, but I have probably gone hypo again.  As mentioned above, the key is to just keeping your levels normal.  Unfortunately that is the hardest part.  

[Brucergoldberg]

Personally, i never had a problem with my weight but speaking from my own experience -

I gained more weight over time before my TT because i could simply not get my symptoms under control.  After the TT, the first month I was fine, then as my levels dropped I seemed to gain weight very quickly, but once my levels started to equal out, they dropped very fast.

If you are thinking about a TT etc and have hypothyroidism, i strongly suggest you start thyroid replacement therapy prior to having the TT as this will give you a running start on your metabolism.  

I actually LOST more weight than I gained after the TT and now i seem to be leveled out at a 3 pound gain total over a 4 month period.  

Make sure you do your homework before the TT to know what to expect etc.  Most surgeons will tell you there should be no weight gain or issues and that you will be able to go back to work without any delays (but they tell this to everyone, afterall they make money by removing body parts)  however i have seen that most people tend to do better starting on thyroid replacement therapy (who need it)  Prior to the TT to give their metabolism running starts before the surgery.

Most people i talk to seem to do fine for about 30 days after the TT, and then need to make a dramatic adjustment in their hormone levels as 30 days seems to be the amount of time it takes before the bodies stored up natural thyroid drains out and then you start replying on the "take the pill once a day" replacement factor.

[goolarra]

Weight gain and mood swings, etc. are symptoms of hyopthyroidism.  If hypo is treated properly, you should not be left with lingering symptoms.  Read, read, read and learn to be your own advocate.  As with any other chronic condition, you know yourself best and are in the best position to advocate for yourself.

Some people do better on Synthroid (T4 only), some on synthetic T3/T4 combos (Synthroid and Cytomel, e.g.) and some on desiccated (Armour, etc. that have both T3 and T4).  All have their advantages and disadvantages.  If you look in the archives, you'll see many, many discussions on the merits of each.  Anyone advocating one treatment to the exclusion of all others is biased and should best be avoided.  Some of us have found success with each of those alternatives.