[love2cook]

#1018213

Hi. I am a newbie. Recently diagnosed. Have surgery scheduled for Nov. 29. Have been on ATD for about a 6 weeks. My T3 and T4 are in normal range. My TSH is very low. An endo that is covering for my very ill endo is saying I should be good for Surgery in 10 days. I haven’t heard from my Surgeon yet. I am concerned about Thyroid Storm. Can this happen when you have Thyroid Surgery? I have read that iit is rare. Do your levels help predict if you would be at high risk?
My TSI test was very high. 5725 standard range <150.Thyroid Storm scares me. Thyroid Surgery scares me a little to, but seems like the best choice for me.

I know there is no perfect solution. I appreciate any info. you can give me. Is it common to be diagnosed and have surgery 2 months later ? I feel that I had Graves for a couple of years but my Family Doc. didn’t pick up on it. A better question might
be dose any one know what your levels should be before you have surgery. My Endo is very ill and someone is covering. I don’t feel that she really knows me. In a recent conversation she said my levels were fine, however two days earlier she forwarded test results with a note that my levels were high. I questioned this and she reviewed my chart and adjusted my meds. I guess I just need reassured she isn’t green lighting the surgery for me because she knows that is what I want or to get rid of me for now.

Thanks for all your help.

[Ski]

#1063296

Hi there,

I see three posts with the same question here, so I’m going to delete two of them and answer this one ~ this way you’ll get all of your answers in one thread.

My understanding is that thyroid storm is extremely rare, and typically a result of untreated hyperthyroidism, so my belief is that you have little to worry about, having achieved normal thyroid hormone levels, and having also received the "blessing" of a doctor to proceed with surgery soon. Remember that doctors would be very careful not to "greenlight" surgery for a patient just because they wanted it, in the face of evidence that it might be dangerous for the patient. It’s not out of the question to get another opinion, of course, and the more information you get, the better you’ll feel about the surgery ultimately, so if you feel you need to get that for your own peace of mind, do it, by all means.

[Bobbi]

#1063297

Perhaps you would feel better talking with the surgeon who is scheduled to operate on the 29th, especially if the surgeon you have chosen does frequent thyroid surgeries. You could ask about any incidence of thyroid storm, in their experience; or you could ask whether they do anything routinely to prevent it from occurring.

[love2cook]

#1063298

Thanks. Sorry about the three posts. oops! I did talk to the Surgeons Nurse. I am taking SSKI to avoid Thyroid Storm and to quit down the Thyroid. Thanks Again.

[snelsen]

#1063299

Hi, it sounds like you are receiving very good care and preparation before your surgery. As Ski said, the incidence of thyroid storm is rare, but it is associated with uncontrolled HYPERthyroidism. YOurs is controlled, and you re taking the potassium drops pre-op. My experience was the same. If you want to ready about the post op experiences of people on this board, type in "surgery" or "thyroidectomy" in the search engine. There are some very helpful posts. Everyone has a different view on why they chose what they chose for managing Graves’. I was delighted with my choice of surgery. Glad you have gotten that far in your decision process, best wishes to you. Look forward to hearing from you again.
Shirley

[Krystal25]

#1063300

Hello there love2cook,

I just have a coupld of questions for you. You said your T3 and T4 are within normal but your TSH is still low meaning hyper correct? I am battling the same issue and am considering surgery. My question is even though your T3 and T4 levels are normal are you still feeling somewhat ill or why are you opting for surgery? I meet with my endo in Dec to discuss different treatment options as I am sick of feeling sick! Best of luck to you!

Krystal

[Bobbi]

#1063301

A low TSH — out of range low, that is — typically indicates hyperthyroid levels of hormone. But, when we first start on antithyroid drugs, or have RAI, there can be a lag between actual thyroid hormone levels and TSH. TSH acts sort of like a "running average" of our thyroid levels, so if we spent a lot of time hyper, or were VERY hyper, just getting the actual hormones into the normal range won’t necessarily move the TSH for a while.

As to not feeling well. Getting to normal levels of hormone is only the first step in our process. It is important. But it must be maintained. We have to be at controlled normal levels of hormone for a while for our bodies to heal. They do not start to heal until normal hormone levels are reached. So, even though you have normal T4 and T3 levels right now, you don’t "feel" normal because you haven’t healed yet. Think of hyperthyroidism as being a bit like a metabolic hurricane. Once the winds are gone, things don’t instantly go back to normal. It takes time to rebuild and repair damage. And that’s a bit like how it is with our bodies once we regain normal, controlled levels of thyroid hormone. It takes time to rebuild and repair.

Try to focus on progress. Wee steps that you can see that show that you are doing better. One day, you will indeed feel normal again. But for right now, focus on progress.

[love2cook]

#1063302

Hi. i would like to let you all know that I had my surgery this past Monday and all went well. I am home resting and wanted to say thanks to everyone for their kind words.

My diagnosis was a relief as it explained many things to me. I can look back at pictures and events and see that I was suffering from a hyper thyroid for a long time. My surgery was another step to my recovery. I feel much calmer as this is now behind me.

To Krystal who wondered why I chose surgery. My Endo explained my options. He did not favor one over another, said all were options and that I would most likely have strong feelings about what would be best for me. After considering my choices I would have to agree with him.

I had very strong feelings that radiation was not for me. I have friends that have had cancer and then years later had another kind of cancer due to the radiation that they had had. I also have a strong risk of colon cancer in my family.
I know it is a small dose and for many it may be a great option. It was out for me.

For some the antithyroid meds make sense as they may help you get back to a balanced thyroid. Remission would be great but for most it last for a while and then you are back at square one. Also the possible yet rare side affect of harming you white blood cells would be a constant thought in the back of my head. I believe this is very rare and usually will happen in the first few weeks of use, but it can and has happened out of the blue to people that have been on them for some time. Every cold would make me wonder if this med. is harming me more than helping me.

Surgery has a very small risk if you have an experienced surgeon. I felt it was giving me some control. I believe I have had Graves for some time and I am looking forward to getting my levels in the normal range.

I hope this helps you. This is a great sight. I also like thyroid.org There is interesting reading on radiation there.

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