Saturday, July 9, 2011

Feeling Great Post-Thyroidectomy: Positive Thyroidectomy Story

I thought that it was time for an update of this blog.  I have been very busy and life is moving on even as I write. 

I just wanted everyone to know that I am still very glad that I made the decision to have my large goiter removed.  I feel better than I have in years.  I have more energy, I am sleeping better, I am finding it easier to control my weight and I am much more stable.  I used to have lots of mood swings as well as shifts in my energy level but for the past few months all of that has stabilized.  I feel happier and more stable. 

I am no longer coughing.  I can breathe and I no longer have a large lump in my throat.  I now have a small scar which is getting smaller each day.  I am doing my best to protect it from the sun but it is summer here and sometimes I forget.  I am also losing more hair than I had in the past but I've read that this can be a temporary symptom of the Synthroid. 

Still, I won't begrudge a small scar on my neck for all the health and happiness that this journey has afforded me. 

Since my surgery, I have continued to be active and even went on a camping and hiking adventure where I was able to keep up with most of the others.  It was sternuous physically and emotionally but was a perfect compliment to this journey. 

This week I see my endocrinologist to discuss my current thyroid levels.  I am hoping that my levels are within the normal ranges because I really do feel good.  I am a little concerned that she will decrease the levels and my energy levels will slip again.  I only think this because I have never felt so good, but I don't feel that I have any symptoms of hyperthyroid (besides potentially the hair loss) and so I hope that I am among the lucky few who are stabilzed already.  I will be sure to update this blog with the results of that appointment. 

When I started this journey I looked for blogs of people who had a thyroidectomy due to benign thyroid disease and I couldn't find any.  I was told that thryoidectomy was the treatment of choice for a large multinodular goiter and that the procedure was routine.  I was told that most people didn't experience too many problems post-op, however when I searched the internet I could only find message boards where people were still suffering.  Because of this I almost didn't have this surgery. Where were the people who had this "routine" procedure and moved on?   I was looking for their point of view.  I wanted to know that it was possible to have this procedure and not end up with all of the problems I had read about.  I don't discount those stories and I am glad that I have read them.  I know that I am lucky and that I could have had so many more complications or even cancer, but I didn't.   I know that a wide range of peolpe will read this blog but my hope is that I can help one person with benign disease know that there can be a happy ending.  I hope that others who require a thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease will read this blog to find a more positive outcome.  I know that everyone's experience is different but please know that sometimes a thyroidectomy really is the right decision and can move you forward in a positive direction. 

12 comments:

  1. Just wanted to thank you for sharing your story. I am in the same boat. I have been diagnosed with multinodular goiter (several small masses on the right side, one large mass on the left side). My endocrinologist recommended surgery to me today and I'm pretty nervous. Reading your blog has helped me a lot!

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  2. It warms my heart to hear that my blog has helped you in some way. Now I know that I did the right thing by writing it. I wish you all the best in your journey.

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  3. Thank you for your blog; it helped me during my "online research phase." I had a hemi-T three days ago for a suspicious nodule. Except for needing a nap each afternoon, this has been a fairly easy procedure. I don't have the pathology report yet, nor do I know if I'll need medication, but so far all of my fears about the operation were unfounded. My advice to readers is to seek out the positive and talk to actual people in person who've had TTs or partials. People who had negative experiences tend to post on the internet more. Sad but true.

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  4. Thanks for your positive story. I have a multinodular goiter too and will be having surgery in the next month. I m very nervous about side effects and going hypo, as my thyriod is working normally and my surgeeon thinks its most likely benign. I find comfort in your positive story, thanks

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  5. I'm so glad you shared too! I'm terrified of the weight gain that everyone seems to post about. I am 3 days post total thyroidectomy right now and my frozen section came back + for papillary cancer. I am loving your blog. Thank you!

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  6. I'm 25 and having a TT in three days. Thank you for writing this, you're very right about positive stories needing to be heard and told. There are so many horrible ones on the internet, ones that have made me sob because they are so terrifying. I too will choose to be a positive example after my recovery, assuming everything will go as planned. It's hard not to be afraid, but I know this is happening to me for a reason. Thank you.

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  7. Thank you so much for posting this. I have a benign MNG. I am having a TT at the end of this week. I am not hypo or hyper (according to my tsh). I'm am having the surgery because of compression symptoms, including a clicking or grinding in my throat when I swallow. It's really difficult to find positive stories. I'm already struggling with my weight. The thought of hair loss, depression and more weight gain have me reconsidering the TT.

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  8. I'm so thankful for your story. I have recently been diagnosed w/ thyroid cancer,and had a TT . I was in very good shape and very depressed when the weight started going up post op. I feel encouraged and.motivated knowing things will get better. 2 more weeks till radiation. then my hormones should get regulated,and I hope to get back in the gym and back in shape.

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  9. Thanks for posting such positive comments. I am having my TT on June 13th for questionable follicular cancer. The endocrinologist suggested that I have the whole thing removed after seeing the ultrasound herself. I am very nervous. I am only reading horror stories. I just googled positive stories and yours came up.I am a school nurse and worried about the recovery. I am hoping to bounce back soon. Thanks again.

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  10. Thanks a lot for this blog! ℓ̊ am 10 days post op TT, really anxious about how it feels to live without a thyroid

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  11. Thank you for a positive story. Having my TT in two days. I hope I am one of the lucky ones like you, with not having too many problems post-op.

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  12. thanks for your blog..just had mine out as well, same problem you had too!
    I was hoping to find others who have made the adjustment to life on synthroid with success.

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