Hypothyroid after Total Thyroidectomy

[harreaza]

Is there an updated video of you? I want to see how the thyeoid replacement worked for you...

[gkygrl]

@harreaza you can look at any of my other more recent videos done within the last year or so. Not all puffy. Definitely a lot different than those shots.

[gkygrl]

@harreaza there is a video after bladder botox injections - September 2010

[omega4chimp]

take an iodine supplement.

[gkygrl]

@omega4chimp - my TSH is fine and my hypothyroidism was not a result of an iodine deficiency, it was a result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Very few in developed countries actually have iodine deficiency.

[taintedserenity69]

I had this surgery done. 3 months ago i have gained 40 pounds. My doctor at first said it was nothing now they have me on Glucophage to help me lose weight. I have been working out and eating just salads and drinking water. Nothing seems to be helping. I don't know???? But good luck honey and God Bless.

[gkygrl]

@taintedserenity69 - I understand about the weight gain. It's now 2 years later and I've lost about 20 lbs in the past 2 months with the help of dieting and a balanced thyroid and a change of diet. You can try losing all you want -- if your thyroid is not regulated neither is your metabolism. Don't give up and know that it isn't going to last forever. Metabolism takes awhile to kick back into gear. Hang in there and give your body time.

[HaileysKitties]

im hypo-thyroid. it sucks im looking on the inter net to learn more about it. im have has it for almost 4-years now. i'm 12 years old and starting middle school. i HATE going to my docter "dr.Brenden". i also live in North Carolina. gosh. my grandma, and great grandma had a thyroidectomy.

[HaileysKitties]

hey if u could reply tell me what u think that would be nice :)

[hamlinfan07]

I do take medicine after my total thyroidectomy. It's a generic brand of Synthroid called Levothyroxine, merely a replacement. Without it, I'd be a corpse. That goes for anyone who has their thyroid gland removed, they must go on a replacement/ suppliment. Talk with your doctor next time you see him/her. That's if you're that interested!

[hamlinfan07]

I've had mine taken out at 14 years old. You still look cute, hon!

[chinchonchinchon]

How do you function without your thyroid gland? I mean, do you take medicine or what?

[syrianguy20yrs]

hello thr i went 2 the doctor and i need a blood test and showed that my tsh is low. i always feel sooo wired. my symtomes are triedness, high blood prusser, feeling lazy, sleepy, headecs, neck and back pain. im a swimer and im not gaining anyweight. my doctor told i have low tsh. can u tell me u symtoms and what should i do??? thank u.

[gkygrl]

Hi there,

Low TSH actually means that you are HYPERthyroid. That is the opposite of me - my TSH was high. They will need to examine what is causing your TSH to be low. Graves disease (autoimmune) or something else. Depending on how it affects you they may do surgery or radioactive iodine to slow it down. Hyperthyroidism can be dangerous. I hope you get everything taken care of. Sending a prayer!

[TheMonaeva]

Hi,

Firstly well done!

This coming Monday Ill have a total thyroidectomy; I cant tell you how scared I am! Ive done plenty of research so I roughly know what to expect.Please could you answer me the some questions?

How did you feel in yourself after the op?

How quickly did you start putting on weight (thats if at all) and is that back under control?

How was eating after the op? How are you towards others now? I heard some people have mood swings and are emotional. Many thanks,

Mona

[gkygrl]

Hi Mona,

My Thyroidectomy was one of the easiest surgeries I have ever been through. I was eating the first day out of surgery. It was very easy.

I gained weight due to other medications (Lyrica). It took about 6 months to get my TSH under control and steady. I never noticed any mood swings, If you are moody, you can talk to your doctor about that and they can help. No reason to be afraid at all. Just listen to your body and get the appropriate blood tests as needed to balance the TSH.

[gkygrl]

I think you need to talk to a doctor about this. If you are hypothyroid, you will eventually begin to experience the effects of hypothyroidism. .025 is a small dose. Don't take it without the right lab tests and without a doctor's guidance ... it's not something to mess with and can be very dangerous (especially if it makes you hyperthyroid). Talk to a doctor.

[sHAd0W11591]

I have a question

I have to take 0.25mg of synthroid for a month

can i go through Withdrawal

if i stop taking it?

[topherlinc]

No, I started taking Synthroid when I was 8 years old. I stopped taking it when I was 14 and was on and off it through the years. I am 22 now and I plan on staying on it.

[polarhercules]

Before your operation how long had you been living with the enlarged gland? and how badly was your breathing or swallowing effected? HOPE YOUR MUCH BETTER NOW & GOD BLESS!!!

[gkygrl]

It was noticed on an MRI in 2004. I noticed collars getting tighter several years before. But it really blew up in 2007 and was growing down and out into my chest. One lobe was 10cm and the other 6-7cm. It was large and by the time I was getting it removed it was really pushing on my windpipe and affecting all of that. It didn't happen overnight. Actually, swallowing is still affected and related to MS (dysphagia). TSH is level and I feel a lot better in general.

[0ctopi]

hi diana, how long does the removal surgery take? and for how long will the the patient be unwell?

Bless you with full recovery.

[gkygrl]

Hi 0ctopi:  The surgery took somewhere between 1.5 - 2 hours. Recovery ... a few hours. I had a crackerjack ENT (specialized in the neck) who removed a very large thyroid from a tiny 2" incision. This is not the norm (incision size). This will affect recovery and pain. I left the hospital the next day. Regulating TSH has taken me about 1 year. I have MS too, so some of the symptoms overlapped which makes it more difficult. I was started on .50 mcg of Synthroid and am now to 150. Hugs!

[hpygal1234]

Hi Deanna, So did you have endoscopic surgery? Yours is the smallest incision I've seen. I will be having surgery in two weeks and am stressing about the large incision and damage to my vocal nerves. How was your voice after surgery and did it fully recover?

[gkygrl]

Hi there hpygal -- mine was not endoscopic -- it was just a very skilled surgeon. She is known for her small incisions. I have no idea how she got my large thyroid out of that small incision. Amazing!!!!! I've not encountered anyone with as small an incision either.

[gkygrl]

No, it isn't. You can end up being hyperthyroid which has it's own set of problems like fast hearbeat, agitation, and God forbid: thyroid storm. People used to take Synthroid to lose weight in the past. This is a bad use of it. If you suspect you are hypothyroid, you should see an endocrinologist and get your blood tested.

[sHAd0W11591]

Is it safe to take medication like Synthroid

even though you might not have Hypothyroid?

[mrsnetizen]

It's safe only with a endo's supervision. Some people are subclinical and need it, and the endo only goes by symptoms, so if you take it and have overactive symptoms, you shouldn't take it. Taking it when you don't have low thyroid can cause heart attack or symptoms like tremors, sweating for no reason, heart palpitations, diahrea, headaches, etc. The thyroid is the thermostat of the body. Taking unneeded thyroid is like turning on the heat in 90 degree weather. It's dangerous for your health.

[peepla7]

dont worry, weight will stabilize. i went from a size 6 to a size 20. now i am at a 16 and have been size 16 for 3 years now. I actually look good at this size so it dont bother me....at this point be aware that a sudden increase or drop in weight can signal a problem. eat when you are supposed to, if they gave you the food list, and theres stuff on there you dont like...eat it anyway. my left lobe is gone, i'm always cold, that wont go away but everything else can be managed. praying for you.

[kruseman44]

first off its .1mg and that is WAYYY to low of a dose. You need at least .2mg or switch to armour at about 2-4 grains you will feel good. Good god, find a better doctor. .1mg is a god damn joke.

[gkygrl]

I am taking 150 of Synthroid and my TSH is 1.6 -- perfect.  Feeling a WORLD better now. :)

[WildCherry7777]

I am being tested for hypithyrpid because I gained like 20 pounds in the past year since I had my baby. It just keeps cominh on no matter what I do!!

Are you stil unable to lose weight?

[gkygrl]

Losing weight has not been the easiest but is more doable now with my TSH under control. Exercise is vital. It takes time and I am just trying to remember to be patient. You should try to remember that you won't be hypo forever. You are on the right track.

[sashaporter113]

hey deanna, I had my thyroid removed due to pappilary cancer. I have not done the radiation iodine as of yet. considering not to. have you done the radation? if so . did you have to board your cat due to the radiation? and did you have cancer? if so was it pappalary?

[gkygrl]

Hi Sasha - I did not have cancer. I had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and the thyroid just grew and grew to the point of obstruction. I have heard that it is typical that if they use the radioactive iodine, they keep you in the hospital and when they release you, you should be safe around pets and children.

Best wishes and prayers,

Diana

[mrsnetizen]

Hi. A relative of mine had to have the radioactive iodine about 10 years ago. She couldn't be around pregnant women, children, or pets for about 2 months. A lot of her hair fell out, but after the 2 months it started growing back. She had nausea during that time. It was worth it to her because her overactive thyroid was easier to control.

[sashaporter113]

thanks for letting me know; I decided that the cancer that I had was the least life threatening and the radioactive iodine would not increase my survival chances and that I was not going to go through it.

[mrsnetizen]

The reason why it's less life-threatening is that it's easier to get rid of, and spreads slower from the thyroid. I hope you do eventually go ahead and get it removed, because it would be senseless to die from a treatable cancer. Once the cancer spreads, it's not so easy to treat. I hope you recover fully. Please remember to inform all your blood relatives to be tested for both low and high thyroid.

[LethalRain9]

You know what really frightens me??

All these videos of hypothyroid people here on Youtube, have the "myxedema" face...

I have a face JUST LIKE THAT.

And a bajillion hypoT symptoms.

[gkygrl]

Have you had your TSH and thyroid tested??? If you are experiencing hypo symptoms, you should get it taken care of. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are also other symptoms as well.

No need to be too frightened, just work on getting to a doctor who will listen to you, most likely an endocrinologist.

Best wishes,

Diana

[thomasbhunter007]

Be happy with your small scar - mine runs nearly from ear to ear.

[gkygrl]

I am very happy. I have no idea how my doctor got a thyroid that was 10 cm on one lobe and 7 cm on the other out of that tiny little scar. She is known for her good work. An artist for sure. Thanks for stopping by. - Diana

[LethalRain9]

No I haven't been tested yet, I'm forever waiting for my mother to call and make an appointment ... oh wow, high blood pressure/cholesterol? I'm only a teenager! =(

Thanks a lot for the info though, really appreciate it. I hope yours will get better too.

[sashaporter113]

Hey, all of my (3) TSH tests were normal. then I found to use a mercury thermometer ( i guess digital will work) before your feet hit the floor in the morning, put it under your arm pit for 10 minutes. if your body temp is higher or lower than 98.6 . then you might have a problem. mine was 94.2 i was hypo (low) for 2 years before they finally found the reason.

[Cacamamy18]

Hope you are doing well!

I had a total thyroidectomy in 2002, followed by three years of radiation for Stage III thyroid cancer. I was kept extremely hypothyroid to aid in my radiation treatments. I gained 110lbs over those three years...going from a fit athlete to overweight and dealing with the issues that being hypothyroid bring.

I am three years cancer free, and have been battling my weight since all of this started. Lost 50lbs, put back on 20lbs, but it's a long journey.

[wellychic]

thanks for the video I am 3 weeks post surgery for total thyroidectomy - I am soooooo tired....cant wait for that to pass.Take care from New Zealand

[goodear123]

I know what you are going through, I am having a tough time, making the adjustments. My entire thyroid was removed a year ago, and although, some of the symptoms of Grave's disease have subsided, I wander how I will deal with the NEW symptoms that haven't.

Stay strong I'm trying. I'll pray for all of us to make it through with ease.

God Bless and thanks for your video.

[gkygrl]

Goodyear, thanks for the note. I am on my way to a more normal TSH (I posted a new video today). Slowly, but surely.

Stay strong and realize that once they even things out (or get closer to it), you will have reason to celebrate. I almost don't recognize myself in that video.

Hang in there!!

Diana

[hunkadamson28]

hi i've watch your video and we can relate coz my mom just been found via ultrasound of having a multiple nodules on her left thyroid.she have hyperthyroid and undergone surgery of thyroidectomy successfully about 10 years ago but then right now we are worried that the nodules could be cancer although its not yet diagnosed if it is cancerous or not.we are so afraid of what will happen next coz we loved our mom so much...

[gkygrl]

I am sending prayers for your Mom and family. The good news is, most nodules are benign.

Best wishes and stay hopeful.

Diana

[NickyVert]

I had my thyroid destroyed in 2003 with Radioactive Iodine. I know what you are going through. I have gained 30 pounds since I was treated but I now know what needs to be done to lose weight. The biggest battle is avoiding the foods I love and having the energy to exercise. The most popular brand of noni juice helps me with energy and avoiding simple carbs and goitergenic (look it up) foods is key. I feel better five years later and have just begun the process of regaining a normal weight.

[ale140488]

i need to talk with someone.

[NickyVert]

fell free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

[AnatomaniaK]

40?! Wow! I hope you get well. Hang on, maybe we will be able to transplant thyroid gland some day.

[xrayxl]

gkygl i had thyroid surgery a thyroidectomy for follicular thyroid cancer i take hormones for life too yes boy do you gain weight i do because my thyroid used to make metabolism now i have no metabolism i eat so much yes you are sensitive to heat and cold i am too your thyroid maintains your bodies tempature and calicum so the synthedic hormones replace what your thyroid use to make if you dont take them you will get very sick even slip into a coma so take the pills

[berner]

Hey congratulations on making it through alright. I've been going on for 2 years now since I had my thyroid taken out myself and boy... I know how you feel about the cold, weight gain and metabolism 'cause we all go through the same thing. The best suggestion I could give you is to keep on the hormone and pills as best you can 'cause when you feel it, well... yeah you really feel it, especially if you neglect your calcium, ow. But over all, as a fellow survivor you have my support :)

[gkygrl]

Thank you Berner -- I am taking an increased dose and looking forward to feeling like myself again.  Thanks for the encouragement!