Aa
opinions needed...
my mom had thyroid surgery due to a very large goiter, a nodule on the right side, and her right side was not functioning. her right lobe was removed.
the surgeon dismissed her and told her that she wouldnt need to take any meds.
upon looking at her bloodwork done by her pcp a month or so before surgery...all he ordered was a TSH and T4. her TSH (before surgery) was 0,455 / range of 0,450 - 4.500 and her T4 (before surgery) was 6.2 / range of 4.5 - 12.0.
i have seen my mother's health decline rather rapidly over the last year...but most of her health concerns seems to correlate with thyroid symptoms also (ie...extreme sensitivity to cold, hoarseness in voice, fatigue, muscle aches and just generally "unwell". i am wondering now if some of what she has been experiencing has been due to her not producing enough thyroid hormone due to the goiter and her right lobe not functioning properly and NOT related to arthritis and "old age" as her pcp keeps insisting is all that is wrong with her.
sooooo...since i am in the midst of trying to learn what i can about thyroid disease due to impending surgery myself for papillary cancer...i am now wondering if my mom should also follow up with an endocrinologist?
again, i apologize for my thyroid "ignorance"...still VERY new to all of this.
the surgeon dismissed her and told her that she wouldnt need to take any meds.
upon looking at her bloodwork done by her pcp a month or so before surgery...all he ordered was a TSH and T4. her TSH (before surgery) was 0,455 / range of 0,450 - 4.500 and her T4 (before surgery) was 6.2 / range of 4.5 - 12.0.
i have seen my mother's health decline rather rapidly over the last year...but most of her health concerns seems to correlate with thyroid symptoms also (ie...extreme sensitivity to cold, hoarseness in voice, fatigue, muscle aches and just generally "unwell". i am wondering now if some of what she has been experiencing has been due to her not producing enough thyroid hormone due to the goiter and her right lobe not functioning properly and NOT related to arthritis and "old age" as her pcp keeps insisting is all that is wrong with her.
sooooo...since i am in the midst of trying to learn what i can about thyroid disease due to impending surgery myself for papillary cancer...i am now wondering if my mom should also follow up with an endocrinologist?
again, i apologize for my thyroid "ignorance"...still VERY new to all of this.
How long ago did she have a lobectomy? The hoarseness could be caused by another nodule. There is a nerve that runs through the thyroid that controls vocal function, so if there is another nodule it could be pressing on it. I had that problem, I had four nodules, and I did have papillary cancer. I also had hot/cold sensitivity, night sweats, fatigue, joint pain. If she has not had bloodwork done since the surgery, I consider that malpractice...only 40% of the time does the lobe of the thyroid not removed produce enough hormone. Get her another ultrasound, demand it.
TSH just shows the hormone that is floating around in there, but not necessarily being taken up and used.
She really needs to have a free T3 and a free T4 blood test. These show how the hormone is being absorbed into our cells, and therefore, if they are being used.
How long ago did she have the lobectomy? and if it has been a while, have they repeated it to make sure the nodules are not reoccurring?
An endo is not always the best dr to help with thyroid problems, as most of us can attest too, but first things first. See if her dr is willing to work with her and go from there.
Your mom is blessed to have you in her corner!
She really needs to have a free T3 and a free T4 blood test. These show how the hormone is being absorbed into our cells, and therefore, if they are being used.
How long ago did she have the lobectomy? and if it has been a while, have they repeated it to make sure the nodules are not reoccurring?
An endo is not always the best dr to help with thyroid problems, as most of us can attest too, but first things first. See if her dr is willing to work with her and go from there.
Your mom is blessed to have you in her corner!
the surgery was just 3 weeks ago today. i am "concerned" because she has felt bad for quite some time and if she needs some follow up due to having one lobe removed...i want to get her in to see someone.
the surgeon is not in her area so i guess i will have to speak with dr stupid (ooops...i mean her pcp) and see if he has a clue about any of this and if he can recommend someone who does. i will tell him to do the freeT3 and freeT4. can you think of anything else that she might need to ck...i'll tell him to do that too.
thank you so much for your time and patience while i'm learning.
the surgeon is not in her area so i guess i will have to speak with dr stupid (ooops...i mean her pcp) and see if he has a clue about any of this and if he can recommend someone who does. i will tell him to do the freeT3 and freeT4. can you think of anything else that she might need to ck...i'll tell him to do that too.
thank you so much for your time and patience while i'm learning.
One thing I have learned personally is that when the thyroid is "messed up" for whatever reason, especially if it went undiagnosed for a long period of time is that it takes a while to get back to feeling even somewhat normal.
As to whether she needs any meds or not, that would remain to be seen. Especially if she continues having thyroid symptoms. She will need to have her thyroid levels monitored for quite some time to see how her body is reacting to the surgery, and if her thyroid has started functioning properly or not.
As to whether she needs any meds or not, that would remain to be seen. Especially if she continues having thyroid symptoms. She will need to have her thyroid levels monitored for quite some time to see how her body is reacting to the surgery, and if her thyroid has started functioning properly or not.
Hi,
I'm sorry I may have missed that you have papillary thyroid cancer? When is your surgery? I haven't been on the community in awhile and saw your post. I had micro papillary's removed 1/07 ... you've come to the right community where I'm sure you and your mom will get tons of support!
C~
I'm sorry I may have missed that you have papillary thyroid cancer? When is your surgery? I haven't been on the community in awhile and saw your post. I had micro papillary's removed 1/07 ... you've come to the right community where I'm sure you and your mom will get tons of support!
C~
i, myself, was just diagnosed about 2 weeks ago.
my mom and i both had nodules and had them biopsied at the same time. her right lobe was removed for the above reasons...i ended up with the papillary. neither of us had any known thyroid issues before all of this.
i am seeing a thyroid oncology surgeon at UAB this coming thursday (oct 7th)...so i'm not sure yet when my surgery will be.
my mom and i both had nodules and had them biopsied at the same time. her right lobe was removed for the above reasons...i ended up with the papillary. neither of us had any known thyroid issues before all of this.
i am seeing a thyroid oncology surgeon at UAB this coming thursday (oct 7th)...so i'm not sure yet when my surgery will be.
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