Sqad...

[Elina]

A while back under another username I asked you this question regards thyroidectomy. You answered .. If you had a thyroidectomy, then you stand the same chance of getting an underactive thyroid later in life as if you had not had a previous thyroid op. http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Health-and-Fitness/Question811933.html

[Elina]

In a recent book I bought on the subject a doctor gives this view ....
My view is that as a procedure it should be the last resort only and not as so often & regrettably the case, almost the first option. Apart from all the normal objections to surgery, and a lasting reminder from the scar that one's had one's throat cut, the objection has to be the same as 'nuking' ( radioactive iodine) Can one make a good enough guess to make it right? ..

[woofgang]

but that is one doctor's view. if i was making a decision for myself or for a loved one, i would be looking for solid research evidence.

[Elina]

cont .. Well usually it isn't possible. Too little means the surgery may have to be done again, or suppressant drugs continued with, too much and one falls back on thyroxine replacement. Sometimes the abused thyroid tissue may recover some function, so that the result of an over - enthusiastic urgical removal may in time largely correct itself. But many patients who have passed through my surgery doors have found themselves underactive sooner or later ..

[Elina]

Hang on woof, I do take your point obviously. Not quite finished x

[Sqad]

Hi! Elena.

In the treatment of an overactive thyroid gland ( thyrotoxicosis) treatment plans haven't changed much since the 70's.

Options now and then:

1) Radioactive iodine.
2) Antithyroid drugs.
3) Surgery....partial thyroidectomy.

if you chose you surgeon carefully taking away too much thyroid tissue and causing an underactive thyroid, was not that common, but a surgeon who did few operations might well take too much.

For a surgeon it it better to take too much than too little.

If you had a successful partial thyroidectomy, then you might....just might develop an underactive thyroid..........but very rarely.

Has that answered your question?

[woofgang]

interesting....from reading the rest of your quote Elina, and from sqad's comments, it seems that the bloke who wrote the book has confessed himself not good at thyroidectomies......

[Elina]

Once again the patient is obliged to join the seesaw of more or less replacement therapy ever after, being told that they are perfectly well whatever they say since the blood tests show they are. Inevitably I have seen many patients who are hypothyroid in consequence of this treatment. They are told that thyroxine will solve all their problems resulting from now being hypothyroid.

[Sqad]

\\\\\\ being told that they are perfectly well whatever they say since the blood tests show they are.\\\

That is an interesting comment that you make and applies to all methods of thyroid treatment, over and underactive.

[Elina]

Hi sqad, yes it has answered my question. As an 18 year old at the time though offered only this solution, I've felt over the years it's quite a 'barbaric' way of trying to right the thyroid. I too joined post op the 'seesaw' of more/ less replacement therapy.

[Elina]

Thyroxine treatment is so unpredictable sqad.

[Elina]

Very knowledgable on the thyroid & how it works woof!

[Sqad]

Elina.......i don't know why you say that...............it treats successfully hundreds of thousand of patients and providing one gets a blood test back up, it shouldn't pose a problem.

[Elina]

Sqad, what chance did the average person have on the NHS in the 70s of getting a good surgeon who wouldn't take too much away?

[Sqad]

LOL.....LOL......I could mention one and quite a few others......but i admit, being in the "game" helped.

[Elina]

Would you say you feel o.k on your medication sqad? Are you satisfied it does what it should?

[Elina]

So a low chance then sqad?

[Sqad]

\\\\Would you say you feel o.k on your medication sqad? Are you satisfied it does what it should?\\\

Yes........totally.

[Elina]

Thanks sqadders! ;0)

[Sqad]

;-)

[shaneystar2]

My Mum had a thyroidectomy in the early 70's .She was about 71 I think .
She had a goitre and it was obstructing her windpipe .No choice but to have her throat cut .
Of course she was underactive after that ,she probably was before but stubborn ,wouldn't go to the doctor until I insisted .She then she lived for another twenty years quite happily on her medication which was always reviewed on a regular basis .
I have Hashimotos disease.I take 200mcg of levothyroxine a day and feel quite well .Go for my regular tests etc .Yes it was unpredictable until it stabilised .It takes a long time to get the levels right .It's not an overnight thing :)
Sorry but I would never read books about it .I prefer to rely on my GP.