Thyrotoxicosis with diffuse goiter

[eggy123]

Hi there,

Having a TT on 25 April 2016.....my scan came back with a nodule of 7cm x 6cm x 9cm. I was wondering can anybody tell me what to expect. Never been to hospital before. I am a 37 year old female from south africa. Stressing alot!!!

[Barb135]

I don't know how big your scar will be; you'll have to talk to your doctor.  Perhaps the size of the scar depends on the doctor.  

[eggy123]

Thank you so much for replying. I know that there will be a scar but how big....we are one of the 'lucky" places where technology is still just something in a book hehe...everywhere i read the sizes vary so much...:-(

[Barb135]

eggy123... I've never had my thyroid removed, but my thyroid no longer works, so it's not much different from not having one.  

You probably won't have to be in the hospital very long, but you'll have to discuss that with your doctor.  You'll also get instructions on how to care for the incision in your neck, from the actual thyroid removal.  There "may" be some swelling/soreness at the site of the incision; you'll need to discuss that with your doctor.  You "may" be given pain medication when you're released from the hospital; that will be up to your doctor.  

Once your thyroid has been removed, you will have hypothyroidism and will have to take replacement thyroid hormones because you can't live very long without them.  Thyroid hormones control several body functions, including but not limited to, heart rate, metabolism and body temperature.  Your doctor should give you a prescription for the medication when you leave the hospital and tell you when and how to start taking it.

You will need to have periodic thyroid hormone tests to make sure your levels stay within ranges that you need them to be within... That will be whatever it takes to keep symptoms away.  You'll want to feel "normal" for you - neither hyperthyroid nor hypothyroid.

The tests you should have done on a regular basis are Free T3 and Free T4, along with TSH.  

If you have any specific questions you would like to ask, please feel free to ask them and we will do our best to provide answers.