[Bobbi]

#1172219

Just make sure that the surgeon you go to does lots of thyroidectomies, with a very small percentage of complications (cut vocal cord nerve, etc.). Like everything else in medicine, the fellows with the most practice and the fewest goofs are the ones to go to.

[adenure]

#1172220

Yes, Bobbi, you are right! I’m hoping to hear from my mom soon. I think her surgeon will be my best bet. He does have a very good record, but also, being my mom, and the amount of time she’s worked in the OR. I trust her. She admitted she’s spoiled bc she really knows who to go to and how to assemble the ideal team of surgeon, anesthesiologist, surg. tech. just from spending 25 years working with them all. My dad is fortunate, as anytime he’s needed surgery, she’s made sure he’s had who she thought was best for the procedure. Not that anyone is perfect, and things can’t go wrong- that I know.

Alexis

[snelsen]

#1172221

Hi Alexis
I am pretty sure that the dose of thyroid replacement is not related to height and weight. Or at least I have never heard of that being considered when deciding the replacement hormone amount. It is determined by your labs, TSH, T3 and T4, plus how you feel and your symptoms. Probably the normal dose is dependent on that, plus I think most docs prefer to begin with a lower dose to see what your body requires.
I have heard of some docs who begin replacement within a week of the surgery.
One important thing to remember, is that an endo , internist or sometimes a family practice doc, manage your thyroid hormone dose going forward. Not the surgeon. They pretty much disappear out of your life after post op checks.
I think the most important thing for you to know, is which doc is doing the labs and deciding on replacement hormone, after your surgery. The surgeon is most interested in the surgical post op part of you. I am guessing your endo may be the person.

Re the decision of which thyroid hormone replacement to take, i think it is your choice. I chose Synthroid. It is definitely the most expensive for me, for my insurance prefers that I take the generic. I am sure it is fine, too. Consistency over time is the most important thing. That means taking it with a glass of water first thing in the morning, waiting 1/2 hour to eat, not taking supplements and vitamins (if you take them) for four hours after, and being patient about having labs. When replacement is started, it takes a while for the labs to reflect what is going on. From that time on, until you are regulated and back to your normal world, labs should be done at least 6 weeks (a little early) to 3 months.
Things need to be consistent to make good decisions.

I’d go with the surgeon you feel comfortable with, combined with how many thyroidectomies they routinely do. Then go for it!
Shirley

[adenure]

#1172222

Okay. I have a surgery scheduled for Friday, June 15th- 1st surgery of the morning with my mom’s surgeon. Phew. Now, I just have to pray that my thyroid levels stay normal until then; it’s been a month off the methimazole, so I hope I still have some time. This past Friday my TSH was 1.28 (normal .3- 4.0) Free T4 was .91 (normal .81- 1.54) I hope they will- 2 weeks needed to hold… We’ll have to travel to CT- probably the 13th. So, that is my decision.

Alexis

I asked my endo, for the levothyroxine to bring with me- we’ll see… Kaiser does the generic, so I’ll start with that and then go from there. If it doesn’t work for me, then I’ll talk with my endo. about what to do about it. But, I’m going to give it a go and see how it works I guess. Try to follow my endo’s advice on something, poor guy! I really do appreciate him.

[NLBatten]

#1172223

Alexis – glad you made a decision. Hopefully that was the hardest part. Not to confuse you any more but for what it’s worth, my endo said only to take Brand Synthroid and not generic. She said she had found the generics not to deliver as consistently. My insurance charges me a penalty because I am using brand (even though dr says “brand medically necessary”), but the cost isn’t too bad.

[snelsen]

#1172224

whee!!! Good plan. So glad it has been born. All your decisions sound like the very best ones.
Shirley

[catstuart7]

#1172225

Good luck to you Alexis, I’m rooting for you!

[adenure]

#1172226

Thank you all.

I feel pretty confident about the surgery- as confident as I can be. My endocrinologist is willing to prescribe brand name Synthroid (as opposed to the generic) 100 mcg. I kept going back and forth about Nature Throid vs. synthetic, but my endo. says he usually prescribes synthetic- so, I figured I’d give it a try and hope it works well for me. What are your experiences on Synthroid- those of you who are on it? I read a mixed bag online. My worry with Naturethroid was some people have hyper like issues because of the T3 I guess. So, maybe I’ll take my endo’s advice from the get go (for once!) and try the Synthroid.

I’m also really worried about gaining a lot of weight. I have to admit that is a big worry. I’ve always been fit, in shape, and a good weight. I used to dance professionally (for 6 years) before having my babies. Before I got sick, I worked out a lot, swimming, spinning, weights. The horror stories of people gaining 20-100 lbs freaks me out immensely. Vain and stupid no doubt, but still real for me. Then reading how no matter how much they exercise or how well they eat, they still gain huge amounts of weight worries me. Can anyone calm that fear for me? I’ve only read about a few people who didn’t gain much. My endo. is a good guy who is ready to order bloodtests and monitor me and work with me- so I am grateful for that. I just don’t want to balloon up.

Alexis

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