11mos after Partial Thyroidectomy, Can the other side begin to function if it wasn't for 11 mos ?

[ChitChatNine]

I was wondering bcz suddenly I no longer need to take my Miralax for constipation (which was a part of my life for the past 2yrs ev. day since taking synthroid) I have been able to cut the dose in 1/2 and now suddenly I do not need it at all ????  (Consult with GI shows no reason for the constipation w/colonoscopy, etc. which is good news, of course ..but I see direct TSH #'s and constipation better/worse as hyper vs. hypo).

HISTORY:
I had a partial thyroidectomy Jan 07 ... 2 small papillary microcarinomas found fully encapsulated/no lymph node involvement .. orig 2 other nodules found were benign so doing supression as much as possible for Cancer found but cannot tolerate TSH < 1.0 due to anxiety.  My other side stopped functioning so would be on Synthroid anyway I was told.

My TSH a few weeks ago was 1.7 on 88 mcgs Synthroid .... I have been having some anxiety but not the same as on untolerated/unbearalbe 100mcgs (TSH 0.667) so not sure if it is just from school/holidays or from the TSH maybe going back under 1.0 which creates problems for me ........ I know the past few times my TSH was under 1.0 I was able to tell my Endo to ck. it bcz the constipation was better (sorry icky I know) so I wonder if my TSH has dropped bcz the other side maybe has decided to work ????? and constipation is now GONE for first time in 2.5 yrs ??

Maybe I'll see if the Endo can repeat the bloodwork if the anxiety persists after my college class is over ?  (Undergraduate Sr. Level course with mega work/oral presentations involved, etc.).

I took 1/2 a tranquilizer (ativan) last night for first time in a long time as I needed to sleep thru the night vs. some insomnia creeping in.

Any thoughts out there?  I guess main ? is if other side not working for 11 mos can it suddenly begin to function again or once dead it is dead forever?  BTW, I have 6mo serial ultrasounds done and both are fine .. I have a 3mm "stable" nodule on the intact side.

Cheryl
C~

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Hard to know the exact function of the other side, but it is not likely to gain function over time (but not impossible).  Would continue to keep the TSH in the low normal range (probably 0.2-0.8 range) and follow serial US studies as multifocal microcarcinoma is somtimes more likely to recur than a single focus -- this is a source of debate.

[ChitChatNine]

Just in case that has any bearing.

Cheryl