Anybody had their thyroid completely removed, or know someone that has? My wifes' family has a long line of thyroid issues, and is now having hers taken out. I've read about what we can expect, but I just wanted to hear if you've had any experiences.
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I haven't, but a good friend of mine had hers removed twenty years ago. She is fine - takes her synthroid every day and lives a completely normal, healthy life. Best of luck to both of you!
Anybody had their thyroid completely removed, or know someone that has? My wifes' family has a long line of thyroid issues, and is now having hers taken out. I've read about what we can expect, but I just wanted to hear if you've had any experiences.
O No! gives good advice. The human body can do without a thyroid gland because synthetic hormone will replace the thyroid function that is essential to life and good health. Persons who take this replacement hormone should be monitored by their doctors so that necessary dosage changes can be prescribed. I have two family members who take "Synthroid" or levothyroxine,the generic equivalent (which is inexpensive) and they are doing just fine. There are some who contend that the synthetic hormone is not best and they prefer some other formulation, made from desiccated animal tissue. This can be a BIG mistake, as explained here:
"Levothyroxine therapy may also be indicated for patients with goiter, solitary thyroid nodule, multinodular goiter, thyroid cancer, thyroiditis, and hyperthyroidism treated with antithyroid drugs. In addition to the thyroid disorders listed here, some physicians have found that levothyroxine can enhance the effectiveness of certain antidepressants and use it temporarily to treat depressed patients.
Levothyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are the thyroid hormones that circulate throughout the bloodstream. The thyroid gland is the sole source of T4 . However, only 10% to 20% of T3 is made in the thyroid gland; the remaining 80% to 90% is produced when T4 is broken down into T3 by other organs in the body.
When a patient takes levothyroxine, the level of T4 in the blood rises and falls slowly. On the other hand, when a patient takes medications containing the much more potent T3, the blood level of T3 rises quickly to hyperthyroid levels and falls rapidly. Therefore, preparations containing T3 cause patients to become hyperthyroid several hours a day. Substituting one disease--hyperthyroidism--for another is not desirable."
If some naturopathic "doctor" or some other quack or anyone else tries to persuade your wife that she ought to take the "natural" thyroid hormone, check with your physician before you even consider such a dubious move.
Thank you for the replies.
They are right. It is an easy hormone to replace, much more so than others. Many folks have thyroid issues and when they are removed their symptoms improve with nothing more than supplemental hormone. Once the dose is regulated it is an easy fix. Just take the meds and be aware of the symptoms of either hyper (too much) or hypo (too little) hormone. your doctor will explain to you how to tell, and report to him or her your symptoms. They can easily check your levels and adjust your dose. It is truly a miracle of modern medicine that we can treat things like this which used to kill people or at least make them invalids.
When she starts on Synthroid, be sure to consult with Doc and Pharmacist about when to take. It's usually two hours before breakfast. Most patients are not in compliance with this (and I can't blame them), but if she can adhere to the optimum time, that would be great. Good luck!
I know several people who have had their thyroid gland removed surgically, and a couple who have had it "killed" by taking a radioactive pill. No one I know of has had a problem with either type of treatment, including my second cousin had hers out years ago. Wife had a cyst cut off hers when she was in High School.
Aside from that, i know a lot of people who have thyroid issues, and for some reason , most doctors don't seem to do the simeple checks to find out the problem, - and having thyroid issues can pretty much drive a person nuts, or make them vegetative .
My wife, me, my mother, my mother-in-law, my daughter-in-law, and my daughter all have or have had thyroid issues. it is a lot more common than you would thinl
Fire is right about supposed to take it on an empty stomach, but I take mind any time I think about it, usually after breakfast. My theory is that as long as the blood level checks out ok, it really dosen't matter how you take it.
When she starts on Synthroid, be sure to consult with Doc and Pharmacist about when to take. It's usually two hours before breakfast. Most patients are not in compliance with this (and I can't blame them), but if she can adhere to the optimum time, that would be great. Good luck!...............Good info on this, Fire. I have been taking Synthroid for years and can really feel the difference if I don't keep the schedule, which is way to often. Thanks to everyone who posted. 
