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can anyone who has had the throid surgery give me heads up on thier experances really want this done asap don’t want to wait for RA to take effect what do you all think?????cb
I did not do surgery, but someone else, who has, will undoubtedly come here to give you some information. Also, you can search through posts to see what has been said on other threads. We’ve had a lot of discussion about surgery recently.
What I wanted to respond to was a sense I got from your post that you are viewing surgery as a "quick fix." I may have gotten the wrong idea, and if so I apologize. Surgery does remove the thyroid in one swoop, so in that sense it is quicker than RAI to bring about normal levels of thyroid hormone. But if you are assuming that, as a result, you will be feeling normal again right away, you are not quite correct. There is no quick fix for feeling normal again. It takes months at normal levels of hormone for our bodies to heal after being hyperthyroid. How many months depends upon how long someone went undiagnosed/untreated. Someone who spent a long, long time hyper, will take a longer time to heal.
I mention this not to discourage you. We do get well again. But there are many people who expect to feel normal again as soon as they start taking replacement hormone (or the ATDs) and when they do not, they panic or fret, thinking something went wrong. So think of it this way, please: if you had been run over by an 18 wheeler, would you expect to feel well again as soon as you recovered from surgery? Or would you expect there to be a long recovery period for the broken bones, etc.? Being hyperthyroid is — to our bodies — like being hit by a metabolic 18 wheeler. Just getting surgery (or doing RAI, or starting ATDs) does not fix things overnight. It STARTS our recovery. But there is a recovery period involved.
I do hope you are feeling much better, and soon.
Hi Cynthia,
I had the surgery, feel it was the best choice. I can see you you think it is faster than RAI. I thought it was, but certainly Bobbi has some relevant and useful information for you. In my experience, I became euthryoid (normal levels, felt great, no hyper or hypo symptoms) for over 30 years. Then began Sythroid when a little hypo.
If you go to Search, and put in "surgery-yikes!" you will seem many many posts from someone who struggled with her decision, but decided on surgery. She had it about three weeks ago. I think that thread is a very interesting one for to read, since her experience is so recent.
Shirleyyou were right I did think I wouls be much better quickily don’t know how I will manage this to much longer feel like I have the flu most of the time sick to my stomach, can’t stand or walk with out feeling like I will fall over and most important can’t rest am sooo tired but can’t sleep or really rest!!!! is surgery quicker than RA???? thanks for your responce and time have a great day cb
Hi Cynthia, I had at Total Thyroidectomy on March 1 and personally for me after weighing out the Pro’s and Con’s of each the surgery was the best way for me to proceed and to this day I have zero regrets. I feel so much better than I did prior to the surgery, the heart palpitations went away, my eyes felt better because I have a touch of thyroid eye disease. The tremors stopped, I stopped losing hair. I have had my medication tweeked twice so far and haven’t gained any weight which was a concern for me. The surgery was a walk in the park for being my first surgery, I was out of the hospital within 24 hrs with no damage to my vocal cords or parathyroid glands. I had sterile strips placed of the incision which was closed with some sort of adhesive glue. Best of Luck with which ever path you choose.
thanks Kristi can you give me more info were you put out ???? did a specialist do surgery or did a general surgery dr. do it ???? not worried about pain just need to not feel so bad were you having problems sleeping????? thanks for your time cb
Hi Cynthia — I am the person mentioned above ("Surgery tomorrow–yikes!") and you should search for my posts via my username (lhc11) to find the history of my recent diagnosis and decision-making process. It’s been almost three weeks since my June 9th surgery and I’m doing great–but I had an expert thyroid surgeon at a university hospital, as you’ll see from my posts, and that helped a lot in making my decision. I would write more now, but I’m running late to a yoga class (proof of how well I’m doing!). Almost everything I have to say is in the various posts/updates I’ve written, but feel free to ask more questions here or message me privately with more. It’s a very hard decision but as everyone on this board said to me, ultimately you will make the choice that is right for you–I promise!!
lhc11
Once again ~ all three treatment choices can bring us back to health, and none of them will leave you feeling awful for months and months before making any difference. ATDs can bring your levels down rapidly. Surgery brings your levels down rapidly. RAI brings your levels down rapidly. Adjusting afterward is usually the part that is a little complicated, but still, remember that feeling better starts right away with all of them (after the excess thyroid hormone has left your bloodstream, which can take up to six weeks no matter what you choose).
Hi Cynthia, I was put out under General Anesthesia they used Propofol. I remember going onto the table and asking what I was being "knocked out" with and when they told me that I said "Oh the Michael Jackson Drug" Lol and thats all I remember and the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. I had a wonderful surgeon who specialized in Thyroidectomies and my scar is healing quit nicely. It was about 2inches long. I did have trouble sleeping before surgery and to be honest sometimes I still do but we are still in the Midst of finding my "sweet spot" for medication and what works for me and its been tweeked a couple of times but the way I feel now is so much better than the way I was prior.
Similar to LHC and Kristi, I had a thyroidectomy on May 26th after being diagnosed very HYPER in February. I also weighed all my options and for a variety of reasons chose the TT. I also had an uneventful surgery and excellent recovery. My surgeon was a general surgeon who now only does thyroids, which I think is the best kind of surgeon to get.
I felt OK on ATDs but the first one (PTU) was damaging my liver and I knew that there was a possiblity of that with others as well. It’s been a month since surgery and I will tell you that I am feeling great. I have occasional fast heart rate but not nearly what it was, I am also still losing my hair (not horribly) but I also haven’t had my synthroid changed at all yet. The biggest difference for me has been working out and running. I have been a runner (ok, a jogger really) for the past 10 years or so. When I was HYPER I couldn’t run, even on meds I was able to run but very slowly and it was taking a long time to get back into the swing of things (understandably so and I was definitely giving myself a break). But now – I am back to doing my long runs and getting faster every week. I know that strength training and slowly building back muscle is important since we lose a lot with Graves’. Mentally, being able to run again has really helped me.
I know that we all have different experiences with all aspects of this disease, from symptoms to treatments to post-treatments so I guess all of these answers are relative! But it’s nice to know we are not alone and nice to know someone else’s experiences! Best of luck to you!!
thanks all for info great my only problem is that i can’t wait until surgery I feel horrid sick to my stomach feel pregnant again ugh!!!!! called endo yeterday will call me back this am don’t think I can do this much longer so weak tired and sick can’t sleep how do you all do this????? am I a wimp!!!! am due to have my 4 grandsons next week and don’t know wha t I am going to do????? I get them once a MONTH for week , AT MY REQUEST, love being with them but so sick!!!! been in and out of bed for a month mostily in can’t stare at the walls anymore am so glad when daylight comes hope all are feeling great cb
Hi Cynthia – You shouldn’t feel like a "wimp" — when we are hypER, our bodies are truly under assault. Is there any way you can get some help caring for your grandchildren…or perhaps postpone their visit for a little while? Right now, it’s very important to limit stressors and take care of YOU…and not feel like you have to take care of everyone else!
Also, you mentioned stomach upset…are you taking the methimazole on an empty stomach? When I was first starting, I found that I did better taking it with milk or with a little bit of food. Hopefully, your doc will have some additional insight on this.
called endo yesterday she increased my meth. to 20 mg am and 20 mg pm said this would stop my throid in i’s tracks she also feels that current nausea and loose stools are not reglated to hyperthroid this is a puzzle where all my diseases( diabetes and RA) are mixed together……still looking forward to my surgery when ever that will be….. hope to start on reglan for stomach self dx. ha ha willl see cb
When I was very hyper I had a lot of trouble with my digestive system. Had heartburn, acid reflux, stomach pains, bowel issues as well. It could be related for you as well. Once I was regulated, on anti=thyroids at one point and then after my RAI all that went away. I ate coconut macaroons when I had loose bowels and they helped a lot. An old folk remedy from The People’s Pharmacy folks. Might work for you too. Hope you feel better soon.
ewmb
Cynthia-Hi! I have recently been dx and am hoping to be regulated by meds but if not then I’d opt for surgery vs RAI. I dont have some of the symptoms you do and hope you feel better soon. I had a friend who recently had surgery and she was back to work after 4 days. Her surgeon did an awesome job and hardly no scare. I’ve never had surgery so its a little nerving. Feel Better so you can enjoy those grandkids!!
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