Do you think Surgery is the right decision?

[viddey2]

I understand only 10% of people who experience thyroid storm survive.  I am one of those people.  I have had Hoshimoto,s Thyroiditis for 10 years. My family Doctor never recommended an Endocrinologist.  I had a nodule on the right side of my thyroid and was given more synthroid to trick my thyroid to shrink the nodule.  This worked for 8 years. The nodule then grew to a 3cm benign tumor.  I had the right side removed surgically.   6 months after the surgery I started to feel terrible.   The left side of my thyroid began to grow.  I went to my family physician and he immediately sent me to the Surgeon.   Labs and ultrasounds were completed and I was told my T4 is elevated but everything was OK.  My T4 was always elevated due to the increased thyroid meds I had been on for the last 10 years.  I continued to feel horrible and had multiple symptoms I disregarded due to working the night shift.  For instance, swollen ankles, fatigue, eyes swollen.  In addition, I have asthma, so when I started experiencing shortness of breath I ignored it.  I am a fitness instructor 3 times a week at the YMCA in addition to my full-time job on nights.  I started to lose muscle mass and was unable to keep up with the cardio sections of the class.  I vomited on 2 occasions and had diarrhea. I had terrible tremors but still thought I was ok.  Now, I must add that this was over a period of time so it was a gradual discomfort of all my symptoms.  2 months ago I started having episodes of heart palpitations.  I then could not take it anymore and went back to the Doctors.  He took me off synthroid and told me if I experienced the heart sensation, I needed to go to the Emergency Room.  Needless to say, 10 days later, there I was in a bed at the ER.  My heart rate was just over 200.  I was sweating profusely.  My blood pressure was sky high.  I was shaking all over.  After hearing my history the ER Doctor gave the diagnosis of Thyroid Storm.  I spent the next 6 days in the Cardiac intermediate Intensive Care Unit.  OMG, I SURVIVED A THYROID STORM.  I now see an Endocrinologist and was given 3 options.  #1 stay on Methimazole and have a 50% chance of my disease go into remission.  #2 Get radioactive Iodine to kill the thyroid or, #3 surgically remove the Left Thyroid.  I made the decision to get elective Surgery. In your opinion, do you think I made the right decision?

[Totie]

I have had two thyroid storms. One before being diagnosed with graves/hyper/goiter & one after my RAI.

I eventually had to have the TT. All ended well.

[tweetygirl1969]

My opinnion, I think surgery was a good chose.  I had cancer of the thyroid.  removed 1/2 of the thyroid.  I get checked every year, physical and blood test.  

[blsdnsvd]

Honestly....if you have a goiter or nodule on the left side, i'd consider removing it instead of RAI which is mainly recommended when the thyroid is hyper and not working properly. Considering either or would give you a chance of feeling better (without) a thyroid verses having lots of issues with one.

Have you vistited a Cardiologist for the heart issues although they are probably due to the thyroid disease, but monitoring is key as well.