My Excessively Large Thyroid Problem

[ShadySmith]

To everyone who is either about to have this treatment (total thyroidectomy) or thinking about having this treatment, I say go full steam ahead. My problem was that I had an over active thyroid, with copious amount of TSH in my blood and excessive numbers of bone marrow cells. Heart rate was through the roof (literally, it went over 200), and I lost a heck of a lot of weight. NHS didn't help me one bit, if anything the Drug Treatment they gave me made it worse. Goiter was still as large as ever and my pulse still hadn't slowed. So I opted for the surgical option through private healthcare and that was one of the best damn decisions I had ever made. Sure the risks and the consequences shocked me a bit but I had a really capable surgeon who had been removing thyroid for a couple of DECADES. I was in the Hospital for a totals of 3 nights, 4 days and the fourth day was only because they couldn't get blood results on the weekend. You have to understand that risks of a total thyroidectomy (bleeding, infection, risk of your calcium levels get too low etc) are minimal with a good surgeon and a good consultant specialising in this area. I had a severe overactive thyroid which had to be sorted out quickly, incase it became life threatening, add severe Graves disease to both of my eyes, I had no choice. But after the total thyroidectomy, I was free of taking 10 tablets/ day +, free of GPs telling me I couldn't do the physical activities I loved most, free of being put on an excessively tight leash and having to miss work because of a problem that could get fixed. This all happened in the course of 6 weeks. At the beginning I was referred to a counsultant, who gave me the best possible advice. Well seeings as how drugs didn't work, and there was no way I was taking RAI (i'm a female - RAI stands for Radioactive Iodine Treatment), surgery was the only option left. I just had surgery on 27 Aug 2011, and I have never felt better.


This discussion is related to Recovery from a thyroidectomy?.

[Labreeze]

can someone advise me on what i should do. I went today and they said my thyroid is excessively large, i have trouble swallowing, whether it is drinking or eating. I have goiters on both sides one is further down than the other. the surgeon stated that he could not guarantee that it would help by having the surgery and that if i did i would have to take thyroid meds for the rest of my life.I have the most hardest time losing weight and i am not sure if i should have the surgery or not. i have the swollen eyes, insomnia. i was thinking that it was because i am 45 especially with always being hot... again please help with some advise or suggestions

thank you totally confused

[Totie]

I had graves/hyper and yep had your symptoms...dropped to 88 lbs & yes have thyroid eye disease. They tried the RAI, however I hit my second thyroid storm so no option but to have the TT.

Thas was almost 17yrs ago....Still work full time & do ALL my daily activities. I don't regret it. I am sure I have some bad remmants of the thyroid storm, slightly bulging eyes, & insomnia really bad, but all in all okay.

Funny, because I just had a co-worker ask me why am I so hyper all the time...