Should I delay surgery?

[SPencak]

I have Graves Disease & have surgery (Total Thyroidectomy) scheduled for 3/31. The surgeon wants me to pay $1,000.00 up front before she will do the surgery because I have a $5,000.00 deductible on my insurance. In my current financial situation, I don't think I can come up with the money in time, so I will probably CXL the surgery & maybe have it in December or January instead, so I will be better prepared to pay the medical bills for this procedure. Do you think it is OK that I wait that long to have the surgery? I am currently taking 100mg of PTU daily & feel pretty much OK, and according to my latest blood test all my levels are normal. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you so much.

[GravesGirl]

HI! I haven't decided on a permanent soultion yet. I have a pretty mild case of Graves. I have high anti-tpo antibodies, so a permanent burnout of my thyroid by my body naturally can occur (Dr. Lupo suggested this) Then I would be on Synthroid. I know someone on another board who has been on tapazole 30 years, with no liver problems! I'm hoping(and praying) for a remission. I have heard the longer you are on the Tap or ptu the greater your chance of remission. They have done studies on this. It's the European first choice of treatment. Only in the U.S. is RAI the first choice.

[ChitChatNine]

I am so glad you found Dr. Lupo .... I didn't feel qualified to answer your ? on the other board but I totally agree with his suggestion!

Cheryl

[SPencak]

Thanks! I have been on PTU since december 2007 with no problems. My last lab was in February & all my levels were normal. So if I wait until Jan 2009 for surgery, then I will have been on PTU for a little over 12 months by then. Endo wants to see me again in 3 months...so he will keep an eye on me until the surgery. Have you decided on a permanent treatment yet?

[GravesGirl]

Hi! I've been on meds for over a year with no real problems. If your levels are pretty much in range  then there's no rush for surgery. My doc says you can stay on meds for about 3 or 4 years until you reach remission, or decide a more permanent solution. Just have regular labs.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

I cannot advise if waiting is appropriate for your situation - if you are stable, then a delay meay be reasonable as long as the PTU is tolerated and there are no nodules suspicious for cancer within the thyroid --- talk to your endocrinologist about this.