Just wanted to support you in the direction you are moving. Seeing your struggle on here (which I couldn't add any value to since O don't have my thyroid) I think you are right to try something new.

One thing I know - people do have children after TT. A thyroid supplement is as good in pregnancy as your own thyroid. People do have a bit of weight problem, but it is not written in stone. You will feel beter and then you will be able to exersise.

I'm watching this post like a hawk. I'm looking into the TT myself. So I can't answer your questions, but just wanted to tell you I'm with you! I have an appt with the surgeon on march 9th.

THANK YOU BOTH
Its been too long like this icant do this back and forth anymore i want a quality of life. My endo did say he wasnt goin to put me on sythroid had i choose to have it removed but he would put me on a t3 t4 combo drug
Please keep me posted on your app w/ surgeon I would love to hear what he says to you ..Im jst at the end of my rope here

Have you messaged Mandy and asked her? She seemed to do fine with it. I think he said t3 t4 combo because of the effects of your low t-3 had on your hair. Is that one drug? Interesting. My sis in law had a TT when she was 19. Almost was in thyroid storm I think.She is 60 and looks great,feels great and has been on a Synthroid type med all this time with hardly a dose change. Some do well with it,you won't find them on message boards, usually.

I think the scar they make is smaller now than before, it used to look like a necklace on her.They put it in a fold of your neck. A hairdresser I know had one. She was in her late 20's when she had it, now she's late 30's and looks great too.

I have a cousin who had one. It took her about 6 months to get her levels right but has little to no problems since and its been over a year for her. You cant even see the scar now.

What are you taking after your TT? Synthroid

Have they been able to level you out? Yes, it took a few months.

How was the surgery itself ? In the hospital overnight, no incision pain. A sore throat from the breathing tube.

Did you have any complications? none

Did you gain weight after surgery ? none, lost a few lbs.

Were you able to have childern? Only had a TT 6 months ago, not planning on another child for a few more years, but I have had a regular period ever since.

Did you loose your hair after surgery ? light shedding, but that was happening before the surgery as well. It stopped completely after about a month.

Is your scarring bad? Not at all. :) There are pics in my journal.

I'm dying to know the same thing! My endo wants me to go for surgery, but I've already had two bouts of RAI. From what I've read on here and researched, I've heard that you never are the same after surgery. I don't know if that's true, judging by these responses and people saying that they know people who have had their thyroid removed with success.

Have you been on both PTU and Methamizole? Or just one? What have your doses been throughout the 4 years? Have your levels fluctuated at all?

Listen everyone thinking of doing a TT that's it you can't go back....The synthroid can't keep your kidneys clean it can't keep your mind sharp it can't stop you from getting all kinds of problems. The best thing you can do is leave as much Thyroid Gland as you can. Have your Pititory gland checked. Look into alternative medicine like Iodoral theirs other things. You take your Thyroid away theirs no getting it back...Learn your own rythem check out hormone therapy but make TT and Radiation your last, last hole...The doctors will forget about you once you have TT...their job is done but your life is a constint fight weight gain medicine everyday challenges. Try to keep what you have and don't let the medical field make you think life will be easy without a thyroid really way off base it's real hard!

Debbie
those are my fears ..Im so confused to stay on atds and have them force me into hypo or jst have a TT done . I have NO life as of right now no QUALITY of life i am miserable and its been 4 yrs on atds and they cant keep me adjusted right IM MISERABLE and what youve said have brought some of my fears to light

Forgive me you shouldn't fear...learn to live with your disease this may mean learn why. A doctor doesn't have all the answers they are taught directly to follow protecall but they may have their reasons. At the same time your thyroid may have different reasons for reacting as it does doctors dont have time to explore every reason that your having the problem your having. Hormones may be one reason. Your heart is going fast, it's you...and even other diseases can cause your heart to beat fast. This isn't good but the answer isn't taking your Thyroid away that like giving a mental patient a lobatemoy....Find the reason that absolute reason and not the maybe don't give up whats precious to you for I think this is causing you this problem and if we take it out you will be well. NONONONONONONON.

I will tell you what my New Endo told me when I metioned having TT to her. She said that it wasn't her first choice for me, because with Graves' sometimes it still doesn't work, just like RAI doesn't always work. She said everyone is different, and that it may be an option, but there are a lot of risk, such as being on a respirator, losing voice, etc due to complications. She did say that I could get lucky and have it and in 6 weeks be healthy enough to have children!!!! I hope this helps!!!! I eill let you know more after she see's my labs and I have my appt with her on March 2nd to find out the results. She will decide what she thinks is best for me at that time! Good luck Jules!!!! Hang in there!!!!

I'm nervous about the "final" decision, as you can't go back. But, if you're going to be battling the right ATD level for years and keep going back and forth between hypo and hyper, you can only take it so long. I've read a lot of people say that they wish they would've done it sooner. I actually haven't read anyone say they regretted doing the TT, like a lot of people say about the RAI.
In my case, I've only been at this for 6 months but am already sick of it. I also have several nodules and have that fear of cancer in the back of my mind.

I can't help but think about it. You know how they suppress your tsh after removing the thyroid due to cancer? It is supposed to keep the cancer cells from growing back, right? I can't help but wonder what if my body started up this graves disease to suppress my tsh to keep the cancer cells at bay. and here I am taking ATDs and increasing my tsh. what if the antibodies are truly fighting something bad (like they're supposed to)? I know, its pretty crazy.

Within four days of having mine out I felt MUCH better. I was exhuasted after the surgery but could not be happier with the decision. The Drs got my levels right and i have been on the same does of sythroid ever since. I lost weight after the surgery but I am the .1% who put on weight with Graves even when I was extreme - gave me insane munchies.
I have very bad TED so was put on massive steroids after the surergy, these made me bulk up. But even with the TT and the steroids I felt way better than I had in years - my anxiety went away, my heart calmed down, my skin improved and I laugh, I am engaged with myself and those around me.
I have a scar an inch and half long, for that I had terrible post surgical bruising that went down every our and everyday. Give me the little scar and lots of bruising. Go with a surgeon who does loads of these procedures, the more they have done this the better. I could not be happier about having it out and would rather be on synthroid forever than ATDs. GOOD LUCK.

I usually don't respond to these things, but I have to say I have felt better immediately after my TT than in did in the year I had with Graves. It is not a choice for everyone...but research and get all your info yourself. The risk of vocal cord, parathyroid damage etc...with my surgeon was less than 1%. I am an intelligent person, and I do not make rash decisions. I am extremely happy and relieved with the outcome, and have had no issues because of it. I don't believe you are destined to a life of struggles and weight gain. I have had no problems with either of these, nor have the majority of people I "interviewed" that also had TT's before I had the surgery myself. Again this is not a decision to be taken lightly, nor is it for everyone. But....for people like me, it was an option I am grateful that was available.