@ Meloncollie.. your mailbox is full.. else i woulda pm-ed

If you're willing to travel, and want a second opinion.
I find removal very drastic, but of course it can change your life.
I've heard that this woman is cool- and they even have an ultrasound system so that they can look at the bugger without opening you up.
Looks at blood values & symptoms, & speaks fantastic english.

Faulenbach Mirjam

Endokrinologie/Diabetologie, 2009
Allgemeine Innere Medizin, 2003


Praxis-Adresse
Gruppenpraxis
Ärztezentrum Täfernhof
Mellingerstrasse 207
5405 Dättwil AG, AG
Telefon: 056 222 54 58
Fax: 056 222 54 59

wow I guess I'm very lucky - no eye symptoms and when I was put on neo-mercazole, all symptoms disappeared almost immediately. T3-T4, which were very high indeed, were normal in matter of weeks. I feel totally fine at the moment. Of course, I've only been treated for a couple of months, so I might still get to hypo.

There is a reason why I'm considering surgery - I'm not that young any more, don't have children yet and the recommended lenght of treatment to minimize the relapse risks is 18 months. It is not recommended to get pregnant during the treatment. Trouble is that there is so much totally conflicting information from apparently credible scientific sources available. From "not a problem, just monitoring needed" to "serious life-threatening risks for both mother and baby". What do you believe?

I'll wait for the next blood tests and ask for a second opinion then as well.

If you are interesting in doing some reading, there is one book that has been recommended by a friend.

The Thyroid Solution: A Revolutionary Mind-Body Program for Regaining Your Emotional and Physical Health. Dr. Ridna Arem

Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Thyr...description-20

"It's sometimes called a hidden epidemic: One in ten Americans--more than twenty million people, most of them women--has a thyroid disorder. At any given time, millions of people have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder and experience a chronic mental anguish that almost certainly arises from the very same source. Yet many primary-care doctors still don't recognize the importance of the thyroid in mind-body health--and its especially crucial role in women's well-being.

The Thyroid Solution is a must-read for anyone who suffers from a thyroid condition. It's the first mind-body approach to identifying and curing thyroid imbalances. Written by a medical pioneer and leading authority in the field of thyroid research, this groundbreaking book offers Dr. Ridha Arem's practical program for maintaining thyroid health through diet, exercise, and stress control--and through his revolutionary medical plan, which combines two types of hormone treatments with astounding results.

Inside you'll discover - The thyroid basics--what it is, where it is, what it does- How thyroid hormones affect the brain and alter mood, emotions, and behaviorleading to brain fog, weight gain, loss of libido, infertility, anxiety, and depression- What tests to ask your doctor to give you--and what they mean- The vital connection between stress and thyroid imbalance- The benefits of antioxidants and essential fatty-acid foods and supplements- How to recognize and cure the deep and lingering effects of a thyroid imbalance Filled with remarkable patient histories and interviews that document the dramatic results of Dr. Arem's bold new treatments, The Thyroid Solution now gives you and your doctor the tools you need to live a life with peace of mind . . . and body."

Thanks for the link on the book, I have adapted my diet due to my lack of thyroid and this certainly helped me as it has definitely effected my metabolism.

Perhaps I can also use this opportunity to just highlight that if anyone experiences a nodule, go see your doctor to rule out cancer. Caught early it really does have a good chance of cure. And since "guys" are so bad at going to doctor's please check your husband/partner etc if he has or you spot a nodule. they are more likely to be nasty in men then women and MAKE them go see a doctor and make it early, no whimping out allowed

This is one condition you can take by the scruff of the neck and get rid of so I hope you forgive me to use this opportunity to make people more aware, it's worth it.

Just thought I should jump into this thread as it is a big topic in my life and I often blame how I am on my thyroid.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 11 with my blood work coming back off the charts. The doctor had to re-do my blood work as he didn't believe it. The reason I went was because my parents thought I was manic depressive ( I guess i was quite difficult to handle) and then my grandmother saw I had a goiter on my neck in my new passport pics and as always Granny was right.
My medication has increased over the years (dosage of 150 now )
I don't remember those days too much but I must say that in the last 10 years I definitely wonder how much is to blame on my thyroid. I am quite moody, have a very hard time losing weight despite my extreme attempts, dry skin/hair etc and this constant mild depression that is not severe but I must say it gets in the way of my marriage at times ... but the worst thing is a low sex drive. My gyno said it was the pill but I have a feeling its the thyroid. Is this common? My sister had thyroid cancer when she was 18 and had it removed as well as radiation to stop the spreading in the lymph nodes, she is always "low" because if it gets high there is the chance of the cancer returning. She says she has no sex drive.
Although my levels are fine when I get the checked (once a year) maybe there is something they are not checking? or could it just be what i have to live with?
BTW - Most of my family has a thyroid problem. I blame the water as we had it directly from the river but everyone I tell laughs at my theory...

Over the years, my research made me strongly believe in symptomes before blood test results. If you don't feel well despite your meds, it is because your meds don't do the job they should be doing for you. Go and see an other doctor. See as many doctors as necessary until you find one who listen YOU.

I have low blood pressure. Health care people tend to stress over it, but it is normal for me. The level I am is the level my body work with while it doesn't fit for the majority of the population. It is the same with TSH level. What is an average for normal people, it can be not working for you.

It is just a number, it doesn't tell you how you feel, that is what your symptomes are there for.

Since I change my meds for the natural t3 t4, I don't need to take a nap in the afternoon anymore. On very rare occasions.

My hair are growing back, my skin ain't itchy anymore and I am much more energy, more inspirations and aless foggy brain. I still have to lose my weight but the problem is water, if I can find what will work....

See an other doctor(s) until you get the best meds and dosage for you.

Best of luck.

So have been reading a lot. Basically, living with the condition during treatment (which is at least 1,5 years), one can have many issues and complications and even if it works, relapse rate is 50-80%. On the other hand, surgery carries different risks, including damage to vocal cords and parathyroid glands, plus the usual. Worryingly, it does not always work as expected, leaving the patient with antibodies in the blood, even though there is no thyroid. The necessary thyroid hormone replacement therapy afterwards does not always work that well either, could leave the patient with all the symptoms hypo people are complaining about here - well, with the difference of not having any natural thyroid function at all. Fun, yes?

But what I wanted to share - so you have read all this info, come to the conclusion that it does not look so good and then read that "It is important to ease stress. Taking a warm bath or walking might help to relax you."

Oh really, a bath you say? So that will help? Really?

Seriously, who writes those things?

Must have been the same guy who instructed us that in case the aircraft plummets and the oxygen masks drop down and we all think we're about to die, we should just "breathe normally"...

Sometimes it is very difficult to separate symptoms from our daily life. From experience I'd say that hair loss, tiredness, lack of sleep, etc, is pretty normal after having a baby, and even more so if combined with a major move abroad.
And pretty normal that those things improve once the move is over, the adjustment to a new climate and the baby 6+ months old. My daughter suffered from all those symptoms after the birth of her 2 little ones (without the extra stress of a move abroad or hypothyroidism) and they all got better within a year, as per normal.

I am so glad you are feeling so much better- but would still like to say to be careful with medication and keep it adjusted regularly. I would you know if it is time to cut down now your are not having the symptoms- in order to protect your thyroid from further damage? I know this is not what you want to hear, but I hope you will understand why I am saying it, for your sake. Bonne chance xx

Was your message for me?

I know you want me well Odile. The thyroid began way back, before my son and even probably before my daughter too when I think of it. My mother has hypo, my aunt had her thyroid out. So it is pretty much a family condition. I have hashimoto, which means my thyroid is attacked by my own immune system. Eventually, I may have no thyroid at all. So by taking care of it now, I slow down the process and maybe I won't have to get it cut off. Inshallah!

Since I am on the natural thyroid, I feel much better. I can't believe how much can be done when you don't have to take a nap in the afternoon.

Today, I went to the beach and had a long walk on the boardwalk. I came back home, did some stuff without feeling exhausted... I can't remember when was the last time I felt so energetic! Certainly not on Synthetic hormones...

Glad you realise my comment comes from the heart. What I am saying is that it can be difficult to assess the part of natural improvement almost a year after childbirth and a stressful move, change of climate etc and medication.

Because you condition is serious, it is important that medication does no risk making things worse in the future. Not easy, I know. Bonne chance xx

So it's the last week with my thyroid, total thyroidectomy next Monday. Have now also been, as Meloncollie said, up and down and all over the place and it's exhausting. Even if the replacement therapy after the surgery can be less than a perfect solution, it can't be much worse (or at least so I hope).

Now, any recommendations for scar treatment? That Bio-Oil any good?

Wishing you all the best, Ullainga.

Hope the surgery brings stability - and that you start to feel better soon.

first of all my best wishes for your surgery, I am sure it will run smoothly and you will quickly recover, sicne it is a routine operation. I was also very scared before but it went perfectly and I was working two days after (crazy anway, don't do it and let yourself be pampered, making the most of your forced break from everyday life!)
you will see that the medication, when adjusted, is perfectly unproblematic and you will be so relieved that yout life has become so much easier, besides probably wishing you'd done it before

as for the scar, I am personally a bit disappointed with mine, but I know people on whom who barely see it. I think it has to do with your genes, rather than anything else (a bit like with birth marks)
what certainly worked with me, having done it like you in the spring, ie going towards the summer with lots of sun exposure, was to absolutely block the part from the sun for the first 6 months with
A. TOTAL SUN BLOCKER STICK on the scar as soon as I got up in the morning (for fear I would forget it), eventually repeating during the day
B. wearing a scarf (I know, not a pleasure when it's hot)

what didn't work were some very expensive silicon plasters. admittedly it is a difficult part of the body, they won't stick so easily because it's not "flat" if you know what I mean.

today, three years later, it's enough if I cover the line with a normal cosmetic concealer (although at the beginning when the mark was reddish I put a specific scar concealer) and powder. but honestly, sometimes I can't be bothered and nobody ever asked me about it so I suppose I don't look like Frankenstein :-)

My best wishes and I am sure all will go well.

My own experience was feeling pretty knackered for a full week and also do not be surprised if you struggle to speak certain "letters" after the op. It took a few weeks before I could say the letter "b" properly and I also know a friend who had a husky voice for a few weeks. It may happen it may not but if it does do not stress out as it does resolve.
I found post op the pain was very little which is great but they do put in quite deep stitiches so I had quite an unusual sensation of deep tugging, not painfull but still quite strange.

As for the cream I had some great advice from the surgeons secretary and used a very simple cream that was high in Vitamen E. I used this for quite some months and now you really would not know I had a scar unless you looked very closely. people all heal differently but sun block and a good Vit E cream was all I needed and did the trick.

I did indeed wear a scarf for some weeks as like all scars they look fierce for a few weeks and I lost some sensation in the skin around the scar but that came back after a few months.

I hope my experiences are helpful, but as we are all different it may not all be relevant.

Will be thinking and wishing you a safe op and full and speedy recovery.

thank you for the tips, just bought some sun block.

What about weight loss after surgery? I've put on quite a bit thanks to the mediation and most of my wardrobe does not fit, very annoying. Internet is not very encouraging, because you only seem to find stories about people gaining weight after the surgery..do you find it easy to keep yours stable? Please PM if you don't want to discuss it in public.

ha! the question of questions!!!
that too is certainly a very personal issue and different for everyone.
what I have noticed for myself is that, although having still having variations in weight according to the usual factors (season, stress, amount of activity...) medication has given me a kind of natural limit, a sense of "fullness" which I reach very quickly. I simply cannot eat two plates of pasta, no matter how good, and cannot even finish my pizza any more.
alas, this doesn't mean I'm thin, just that I don't tend to overeat (a good psychological feeling, at least!)

I don't mind talking about weight publicly it comes with the territory of this condition

It takes me so much effort to maintain and lose weight, it is HARD work.

Before Christmas I sat myself down and realised I had to make some changes. But I do not believe on going on diets I wanted a change that could become a new way of living and one I could stick too.

I no longer eat bread , cracker bread etc is what I stick to now.
I eat no biscuits or limit sweets like cakes etc to very occasionally
I drink no soft drinks like coke, fanta etc. Even the sugar free variety I now realise trigger a "hunger" craving in me.
I eat mainly protein , vegetables, lots of salads and so on.
I eat slowly and eat soups and chose filling food in low Calories and not "empty" feeling calories e.g. Sweets.

I do exercise daily not always intensely say walk for an hour or I run for an hour it just depends how I feel and my energy levels.

I have lost 6kg in the last 3 months and would say I have another 6kg to go.

I also make a point of not stressing about this. I don't set a target of by when I want to get to my goal as this is a way of living and you must give yourself "permission" to enjoy life, get over the op and then gently just get on and achieve what you want to achieve.

I hope it will help you to know my mother who turns 75 next year has not had a thyroid in over 40 years, weighs the same as she did when she was 20, does cross country skiing and enjoys a full and healthy life.

I hope this helps,

Thanks! Well as long as you did not put on massive amounts after the surgery without any reasonable excuse, like I keep reading online, I'm fine with living with the usual struggle.

I was told that medication is pretty much supposed to take care of that and give you stability in every respect. so if you experience massive weight changes this means that medication must be adjusted (unless there are other reasons independent of thyroid). I would really keep that in mind. when I go for my regular checks the doctor always asks if I have noticed weight changes, it helps her see if the medication is ok (apart from the blood test of course)

I would strongly recommend you to find a doctor who believes in natural replacement thyroid. I am on Erfa (the Canadian version of Armour) and I feel great!! Even much better than on armour. And 1000times better than on synthetic thyroid like euthyrox and alike.