Total thyroidectomy?

[Sarahlou63]

Has anyone here had one? I have multiple, large - but thankfully benign - nodules on my thyroid and my preferred treatment of radiofrequency ablation has turned out to be a non starter due to the number/size of nodules. I'm crapping myself about the op and hating the idea of daily drugs for the rest of my life so any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

I had one around a year ago. Mine was due to thyroid cancer, so mine was a bigger op as I had a one sided neck dissection as well.

I now take levothyroxine every day. It’s taken a awhile to get my levels right, but now I am through it I feel far better than this time last year. You may need to take calcium supplements afterwards, and maybe vit d as well.

The op itself was fine, and I have a barely noticeable scar now. Lots of moisturiser on it is key when it’s healing. You need to rub it into the scar when you’re allowed to, as it will help desensitise the scar.

Please don’t worry about taking the drugs. I have the Pharmacy2U app which works brilliantly, and levo is one of the most commonly taken drugs on the market. Just make sure you have extras just in case! Let me know if you have any more specific questions.

Thank you for your reassurance! I wanted to avoid the op as my thyroid is still somehow functioning normally despite it's massive unwanted guests. Going to ask the surgeon about seeing if he/she can retain some if it but your post has helped. Hope you are recovering well. X

In had half out as I had a large lump on one side that was starting to interfere with my swallowing. I didn't have it all out as I was worried about taking a pill every day etc. Well stupid decision. 9 month later I had a huge lump on the other side and had to go back and have a second surgery. Oh and taking a pill is easy. Keep it on your bedside table with a glass of water, take it the instant you wake up and then nothing to eat or drink for half an hour, a full hour if you can.

Had mine removed too due to thyroid cancer and can only echo what ihatesoddingcancer said , pretty much got my levothyroxine levels sorted straight away and can honestly saying, the op, the meds, the scar have never been a problem.
Hope it all goes well for you and happy to help if you need to know anything else

Honestly, I don’t even think about the levo now. It’s just become part of my day.

I would get it all taken out. You don’t want two ops if you can make it one! Not that they’re horrific, it just irritates the area every time it’s opened up. I’ve had four ops on my neck now and I’m really lucky my surgeon was such a pro because if not the scarring would have been horrendous.

When I was only 21, I had a lump which led to the surgeon removing 5/8ths of my thyroid, although my thyroid function was entirely normal. It turned out to be a benign adenoma.

I had my bloods checked annually but it was 10 years before I needed to take Thyroxine.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Will probably have the op early in the New Year which will be a good time to only be able to drink smoothies for a couple of weeks!

I ate fine from the following day. Spicy foods took a bit longer!

I was only 21 and back then they did a much larger incision on your neck, but I was operated on the Thursday morning and back in the pub on the Friday evening.

Gulp! Op booked for the 6th November! Better be recovered by the 29th as off on holiday for 10 days.

I think you’ll be grand.

Didn’t go quite as planned. Right side was very fibrous and complicated so took 3 hours to remove hence the left lobe (and nodules) remain. Maybe for the best as the thyroid is still functioning but the downside is a possible second op. Home now and very tired and frustrating not being able to speak in more than a whisper!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery,Sarahlou!