Question about Hashimotos

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Question about Hashimotos
3
Fri, 12-03-2004 - 10:06am

Hi all:

This might seem like a crazy question, but when we know its Hashi, why do I have to continue on with a thyroid under attack until it ultimately its function is killed off? Why wouldn't they just remove it now and get me on a dose that I can take for life?

I was talking with an old friend from college whose wife had TC years ago, and she's been so stable since the thyroid was removed... he couldn't really understand why I can't get balanced. He asked me why don't they just take the darn thing out? At first i was appauled, like, yikes, that's drastic, but then I thought, hey, why not...? (is that nuts?)

Hope everyone is managing the holiday stress :-)
Dee

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2004
Fri, 12-03-2004 - 11:20am
My oldest sister did have hers removed a few years ago. I don't remember the circumstances why, but I do know she was hypo for years before that. She doesn't have any problems, now, but it does leave a nasty scar.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Fri, 12-03-2004 - 3:56pm

Hi Dee - I think it's misleading when people say that their thyroid gland is destroyed. At least for me, it's led me to think that eventually, one would have no thyroid gland. But that isn't the case. It's actually thyroid *cells* that are destroyed, not the gland itself. The end result is the same, though, not enough thyroid hormone being produced. But ... proper medication can slow this process or even halt it so it's not really inevitable. The way I look at it is the less invasive things that have to happen to my body, the better! LOL! I'm just a baby that way. Cathy :)

http://www.thyroid.ca/Guides/HG05.html - here's an article that says medication can slow or halt the process.

And here's another part of an article: In the case of thyroiditis, hypothyroidism is caused by destruction of the thyroid gland by an inflammatory process. When thyroid cells are attacked by the inflammation, these cells die. Without thyroid cells, the thyroid is no longer able to produce enough thyroid hormone to maintain the body's normal metabolism. Hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland results. This is the site I got it from: http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/thyroiditis.html

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2004
Fri, 12-03-2004 - 5:27pm
I had part of my thyroid removed about 25 years ago. The doctor put the cut where as I got older the cut has just naturally become part of the natural "wrinkling" process of one's neck. You can't even tell that I have a scar now unless I point it out. Of course, depending on what this latest scan shows and if the doctor decided to remove the remainder of my thyroid along with whatever the "complex mass" that's also growing is (I think it's probably another goiter, which is why the first part had been removed), I imagine I'll once again have a new scar that will eventually hide itself in the natural wrinkles of my neck as I continue to age. That's one thing I just haven't been able to stop doing! :)
Carole