[Bobbi]

#1075353

Your thyroidectomy cured your hyperthyroidism — or should have. That was what was making you ill. If sufficient thyroid tissue was removed, you should not have to worry any longer about the antibodies causing an overproduction of thyroid hormone to make you ill again.

But, it is true, that the treatments do not eliminate the antibodies. As a result, some folks argue that none of the treatments "cures" Graves. I consider that a quibble. What was making you ill is gone. That sure sounds like a "cure" to me.

Could you develop thyroid eye disease at some point? Yes, but it is not necessarily "likely". The eye disease is a separate autoimmune issue — at least it is now thought to be separate. It has also been shown to occur in patients who have never ever been hyperthyroid (i.e. with Graves), but have had some other thyroid malfunction. I don’t know if any studies have been done looking at thyroid removal and later development of the eye disease.

I hope this helps. And, I hope you are feeling better soon.
Bobbi — Online Facilitator

[bosslady]

#1019974

I had a total thyroidectomy on November 4th due to Graves and a suspicious nodule. Praise the Lord, I don’t have cancer, but I wonder, am I cured? This may seem like a dumb question, but as I understand it, the thyroid is removed because of the potential for the damage it can wreak on the rest of body. I also understand that the immune system is the actual cause of Graves, correct? So, am I cured or not? Do I still have to worry about thyroid eye disease since I don’t have a thyroid? These are questions I didn’t think to ask the doctor, and way my memory has been working, Iwill forget them by my next appointment.

Thanks for your input

[npatterson]

#1075354

True, the offending organ is now gone. You will be on replacement medication. Because the antibodies are unpredictable, you need to remember that you have Graves’ disease (as opposed to primary hypothyroidism).
So far as the question of eye disease: I get calls with regularity with statements of "I had my thyroid treated, or removed, years ago. Now they are telling me I have thyroid eye disease". You need to be aware of this, but somehow not worry about it. That suggests to me that you get an ophthalmologist to evaluate your eyes with the knowledge that you have Graves’. That would include baseline measurements, visual field, and other baseline information. In that way, you will have things that can be reffered to in later times, if you begin to have what might be symptoms of thryoid eye disease. Once you have done all you can do (like the eye evaluation), you need to not constantly worry about it. There is a big difference in worry and awareness.
Take care,

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