[whiskywitch]

in reply to: Choosing Thyroidectomy on Purpose #1075735

Hi crjszb,
I have never posted on a site before but you situation prompted me to. I too have been diagnosed with Grave’s disease and am due to have surgery on the 5th of Dec. I was diagnosed in May this year, 5 months after having my first child in Dec 2007. I felt terrible, not least because my endo wanted me to stop breastfeeding to start on Carbimozole. I read a lot at the time about breastfeeding and simultaneously taking drugs for controlling Grave’s but it all seemed quite frightening and a very controversial area. So I persevered until he was 7 months, taking beta blockers until I weaned him.
Since then I have been diagnosed with thyroid eye disease. This has removed the possibility of radio iodine at the moment as it can cause the eye disease to get worse. So I have the choice of waiting until the eye disease dies down, possibly as long as 18 months from now, and then having the radio iodine or having surgery now. I am keen to have more children and as I’m about to turn 36 in January I didn’t feel like I have endless amounts of time.
I suppose the logic I have ended with has been: it seems likely that even if I decided to get pregnant using the drugs the chances are pretty high that I could end up having surgery at some point down the line. Therefore why not have it now before pregnancy to ensure that I have reduced the health risks for both me and the baby (if I have my way 3 more babies) as much as possible. Plus, I will be able to breastfeed without concern. Not to mention not feeling as bad as I did with a toddler and new born!
Even the though the surgery is scheduled I am still casting around, reading everything, to be sure I am making the right decision. I am seeing my obstetrician on Thurs just to get his view on my current situation, drug regime and desire to get pregnant as soon as is safely possible.
Anyway, I just wanted to share and let you know I understand entirely the endless weighing up of pros and cons. In some sense, I’ve been thinking, it will be a relief when surgery’s over and I have no more decisions to make!
I really hope you’re getting some good advice.

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