[nina]

in reply to: Total Thyroidectomy Scheduled 2/5/09 #1074001

Hi Karen, By this time you, no doubt, had the total thyroidectomy and are probably feeling well. I, too, am a RN — semiretired, so I was reluctant t o undergo any surgical procedures. I was able to avoid the orbital decopression surgery by having orbital radiation treatments (which seemed to have worked), but I’m experiencing dry eyes which I was told was a complication of radiation therapy. But, I knew in my heart that I had to have my thyroid gland removed. I had this surgery on Jan. 8. 2008, and, to my surprise, everything went well. I was only hospitalized overnight, so could go home the next day. I only had minor discomfort and no complications. I, too, had an older, very experienced surgeon (who I remembered from nursing school when he was a resident). I would say that I generally feel beter after having the surgery — my pulse rate has returned to normal, I’m not as nervous, etc. I was on both IV and oral steroids for about a year. The initial IV steroids were given when I was in danger of losing my vision because of the swelling behind the eyes. I am 68 years old, so am not a young person and do have some other health condtions such as moderately severe COPD — I never smoked, worked in a factory, etc. —I’ve been taking 125 mcg of Synthroid for about the last 8 months. My last TSH level was 0.4. It was 1.5 less than 5 months ago, so I;ve asked my endo MD if he feel other testing should be done. Hope you’re doing well. Nina

[nina]

in reply to: blepharotomy #1074289

Hi Diane, Thanks much for your response; it was great to hear from you as you were very helpful to me in the past when I was in a crisis. No, orbital decompression surgery is not being recommended at this time, as, other than the dryness, my eyes seem to have stabillzed. I’m not sure how long this will last, however. I still see the eye MD every 4 months or so. I would be interested in reading more about Acid Reflux and thyroid disease, but I’m not sure how to access this topic on this new bulletin board format. Are there some basic directions I could read re the new bulletin board? Thanks again. Nina

[nina]

in reply to: blepharotomy #1074287

Hi Everyone, It’s been almost a year since I’ve been on this bulletin board. I wish to thank everyone who helped me when I was in a crisis with my newly diagnosed Graves Eye Disease in Spring, 2007. Bilateral orbital decompression surgery was strongly recommended by my eye MD, but I opted to try oribital radiation treatments — a series of 9 or 10. They seem to have helped, but I continue to have very dry eyes — I’ve been told that this treatment has this side effect. I was on steroids for about a year and suffered mild side effects from this med. In January of 2008 I did have a total thyroidectomy — the surgery went well, but I know I’m "not out of the woods" yet — and probably never will be. My last TSH level was only 0.4 — I’m taking 125 mc of Synthroid a day. I would like a T3 and T4 test as I’m concerned that the TSH isn’t really a complete test

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I’ve been unusually tired and now have started to have a stomach condition called Acid Reflus and I had a very questionable colonoscopy last August which revealed an area of ischemic tissue. Can Graves Disease cause these conditions —- even though I guess I no longer have Graves Disease since I had the thyroidectomy. Any advice you could give would be most appreciated. It’s great to be back "in touch". Nina

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