[genuinruby]

#1059024

Does anyone have any proof that a thyroid can regrow or regenerate after A thyroidectomy?

[Bobbi]

#1171628

I’ve heard people talk about this, genuineruby, but I know of no “proof.”

[Kimberly]

#1171629

Hello – There was a recent study out of University of Wisconsin that noted a recurrence of hyperthyroidism in 16% of patients who had a subtotal thyroidectomy, and zero percent for patients who had a total thyroidectomy.

I don’t know if there are other studies that have shown a recurrence after total thyroidectomy, but there is certainly a greater risk after a subtotal.

[PAT1953]

#1171630

How about it returning after RAI? Had RAI over 2 1/2 yrs ago and lately have been getting the strange hyper symptoms again. Had bloodwork done and tsh was .7 and free t4 was 1.50. Is this common. I adjusted my synthroid down a bit to see if I feel better. Is this common after this long. Thanks

[mvk]

#1171631

Hi Pat,

My circumstances are a bit odd but both my endo and the nuclear med dr. when I had my RAI told me that it was possible for my thyroid to regenerate because I had most of the disease on my right side of the thyroid. When you looked at the scan it was black on the right side and enlarged and the other side looked fairly normal. Hope this info helps. My guess is “yes”!

mvk

[Kimberly]

#1171632

Hello – If there is remaining living thyroid tissue after RAI, it’s rare, but the tissue *can* regenerate and cause a recurrence of hyperthyroidism.

However, the more common scenario is that patients find that their need for replacement hormone can change somewhat over time, so hopefully this dosage adjustment will give you some relief.

[spenanelson]

#1171633

From my experience, your thyroid can come back. I had RAI in 2005. In 2009, my labs came back with extremely hyperthyroid levels. We lowered my meds and I was good. 6 months later I went in for IVF and my levels were all over the place. So I went back for test and my thyroid was back. This was after two years of “remission” from Graves.

My Endo told me that is was very very very rare for it to come back. And it usually came back in the 1st year. My was 4 years later. We did a second RAI with double the RAI from the first one.

Three years out, still have not gotten pregnant, and still dealing with ever adjusting meds. But no thyroid! Just make sure that you communicate with your Endo. And re-test often.

[Author]

Posts