Does Thyroidectomy Cure Hashimotos?
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| Mon, 05-15-2006 - 3:41pm |
My doctor is recommending a total thyroidectomy due to a large goiter that is interferring with my swallowing and breathing that may/may not be related to thyroid cancer (will find out next week) and is not responding to medication.
I have been suffering from severe Hashimotos for 10 years, and I was wondering if a thyroidectomy actually cures all of the symptoms of Hashimotos and thyroid autoimmune disease, such as lymph node swelling, cold & hot spells, weight fluctuations, radical changes in energy levels, etc.
I realize it does take time to find the correct thyroid horomone replacement dosage after surgery, however, without a thyroid will my levels be more consistent than they are now? Currently, my Hashimotos is causing my levels to be all over the map and my Synthroid dosage is modified month-to-month.
Looking forward to some relief from the surgery, but I'm not sure if I'm having false hopes or not.
Desperately need to hear from some Hashimotos/Thyroidectomy patients.
Thanks!

Hi Octorora,
To my knowledge, the surgery wouldn't "cure" the Hashimoto's.
Thank you for your reply. I did kind of figure I wouldn't be completely symptom-free since this is more of an autoimmune disease than a thyroid condition, but I thought I'd check with a few experts anyway.
They won't schedule surgery until I actually have the fine needle biopsy. If it is cancer, my endocrinologist believes it is an agressive one based on the severity of my symptoms. In that case, I will go for surgery soon after. However, if it is negative (which I really do believe it is), there is no immediate threat and I can schedule it at my own convenience. I'm really uncomfortable and am sick of wearing turtlenecks, so I'll probably do it as soon as I can.
At the risk of sounding overly-optimistic, I really don't believe it is cancer. I had multiple bouts with Hashimotos in the past ten years, which caused 4 miscarriages, a 30-lb weight fluctuation, and a host of other ailments. I really think this recent enlargement and thyroiditis is just my body's way of saying "Please take this thing out of me once and for all."
I have to keep joking or I'll cry.
Hi octorora,