thyroidectomy

[clairemf]

anyone had this operation and conceived afterwards?

No experience in that area I am afraid, but thought I would bump the post for you

I've recently discovered that I'm hypothyroid, which could well have affected my fertility over the last four years.

My understanding is that as long as your thyroxine levels are adequately controlled, you should find it easier to conceive than with hyperthyroid (I'm assuming that's why you had it removed).

i haven't had it removed yet am supposed to be having a near total thyoidectomy on Monday. i do have 2 children. do you have children?

Yes, Claire, I do. They are 9, 11 and 13 years old, and I conceived them all very easily in my 20s. I've now been trying to conceive a 4th since the age of 35 (I'm now 39) and have discovered in the last month that at last my thyroid has packed in enough for it to show up on a test. Up till now my GP has thought I was malingering.

I suspected thyroid problems based on the symptoms I was having, but also because my grandmother had thyroid problems as well (in fact she had a thyroidectomy in the late 30s, in her late thirties) and lived on thyroxine (which you might have to take as well if they take too much out) for 50 years. As long as they get your dosage right, you should be absolutely fine, in fact finer than you are now, I'd imagine.

yes, my mom! she had her completely removed in her early twenties, conceived me, my sister and other 2 that ended up in termination (because sadly enough my father didnt want them).

duchesse- did they say you will conceive easily once your thyroxine levels are normal

I have had a partial thyroidectomy (ie just the left side removed as I had a tumour on it). Can't advise re conception but happy to have a chat about the op and recovery etc if you want. Good luck for Monday.

And you might be reassured to know my scar is now almost invisible.

To be honest, Claire, the specialist was more concerned about my TSH levels in light of the effect on any potential foetus. Anecdotally, many people have said I should get pregnant very quickly, and manage to stay pregnant (at the moment I tend to miscarry about once every 2-3 months, in the week after my period was due), once my TSH and T3/T4 levels are normalised.

Like Kbear, I had a partial thyroidectomy. I am now on thyroxine (and my scar has almost disappeared).
I recently found out that I am pregnant so it is possible to conceive after the operation.

sally10 did it take you long to conceive?

Yes it did take me a while - about a year. But I'm not sure that that had anything to do with the operation. The reason I had difficulties was because I was not ovulating so my doctor put me on chlomid.

sally10- did you put weight on after the operation?

I got pg with ds2 after 3 months of trying and I was very badly hypothyroid but undiagnosed.

Hope your operation goes well

sunnywong-did you put a lot of weight on because of your thyroid ?

No
One of the reasons I was undiagnosed/fobbed off for 3.5 years

Sorry for delay in replying. No, I didn't put on weight. In fact I lost weight - maybe because my thyroxine tablets stabilised things.