Hi,
My situation is a bit different. I am not the patient, but the mother of a 3 year old little girl with Graves’. She was just diagnosed in July 2008 and had a total thyroidectomy in November 2008. Since she is so young, many of the symptoms she has not "told" me about, but I have observed. I felt like those were the longest 4 months of my life between her diagnosis and surgery and so I cannot imagine what you have been going through all of these years. That said, her surgery was the best decision for her. I am thrilled we did it when we did. She had a large goiter (which was even larger than expected once they got in there to remove it). Her surgeon was amazing! He was the one I found when I searched for the best thyroid surgeon in the country and was also recemmended to me at the convention in SD by the keynote speaker! (Dr. Terry J. Smith, MD) (I was so relieved to find out that the Dr. she was scheduled with really was "the best". That gave me such comfort). My daughter had surgery on Nov. 19th at 1 in the afternoon at UCSF with Dr. Orlo Clark. THey sent her home the following afternoon around 3. She had no breathing issues after surgery. We came home and she rested for a couple of days. After the 3rd or 4th day, her energy was coming back and you could just tell she felt better. Trust me…I was an absolute wreck at the thought of someone taking a knife to my baby’s throat. But, I knew that she was in the absolute best hands and that it would make her so much better. She returned to preschool after 2 weeks and was basically back to normal. Her behavior has improved 100%…..it is like night and day. She can focus and is starting to learn to read! (Very exciting for me…I am a first grade teacher!) She is happy and full of energy. When she gets upset, it is "noraml" 3 year old attitude that we see now. Her voice actually was clearer after the surgery. She had gotten a bit raspy the last 2 months before the surgery and the surgeon said it was from the pressure of the large goiter. Oh, thank goodness we took that awful thing out! She still has the eye disease….it is too soon to tell with that. Her eyes improved a bit and now I feel like they are changing again. But, from what I understand, that is seperate from the thyroid and can come and go throughout your lifetime. So, I hope it doesn’t get worse for her.
It is important that you are in the hands of a skilled surgeon! That is what Dr. Terry J. SMith, MD (keynote speaker at the NGFD convention in SD, October 2008) stressed to us all. (also, it just seems obvious) He also said that he and his colleagues NEVER recommend medication longer than 18 months, period. He believes it should be used as a temporary solution until a patient decides on a permanent solution such as surgery or RAI treatment.
I know you must be terrified. But, if you have access to a highly skilled and experienced surgeon, I would strongly consider the surgery. I hope I have helped answer some of your questions. Good luck to you. I wish you the best.
” title=”Smile” /> I agree that you should try to give yourself a break if at all possible. You have a lot to manage! I also agree that you should really take your health into your own hands and read as much as possible about Graves’ and all of the treatment options. DO NOT let your Dr. rush you into a decision that you are not compfortable with. Just read a lot, talk to your doctor and follow your gut. Best of luck to you! 