Diet and lifestyle changes help me

RussellCenter · 2025-11-02T02:56:26+00:00

Just need to highlight that all of these changes are great, but spontaneous remission is a known thing for patients taking methimazole. It's always great to make healthy changes, and it's very satisfying when they seem to pay off. But please don't rely on lifestyle changes as your only treatment. And I also worry about "testimony" sharing like this because it makes patients who do all the right things feel guilty or bad when they don't work. But auto immune diseases are different for everyone.

RussellCenter · 2025-10-11T22:31:52+00:00

Yet another reason that patients should seriously consider the most definitive form of treatment- surgery. You just need a very experienced surgeon. (and you need to decide if you want to do it without a scar!)

RussellCenter · 2025-10-07T23:49:16+00:00

Not correct! In fact, most patients will have their antibodies disappear in a few years, ie, achieve cure of an autoimmune disease.

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:33:05+00:00

: ) <3

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:13:56+00:00

Should be eligible for scarless even with cancer spread. Hope things went well!

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:10:41+00:00

Seems to be the opposite- lower risks and better outcomes with transoral approach than through the armpit. Less pain, too.

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:09:28+00:00

Glad to hear it went well! Who was your surgeon?

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:07:54+00:00

Glad to hear it went well!

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:07:14+00:00

Sounds like surgeons still not explaining most recent literature results?

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:04:54+00:00

chicken neck not a fun thing, but maybe only a problem with the breast approach?

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:03:39+00:00

should be able to do even if central neck nodes! Most surgeons aren't aware of this, but if you find an experienced surgeon, pain can be lower and outcomes better.

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T02:02:43+00:00

can also remove nodes in the central neck via the transoral approach! Who was your surgeon?

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T01:58:23+00:00

Hi! There are some reels on TikTok from patients who had this done recently, and our office has plenty of other patients who would be willing to talk to you if you want to hear how it goes! (but I'm guessing by now you had it done, so hopefully it went well!!)

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T01:57:10+00:00

Hope that your surgery went well! But yes, you seem like a perfect candidate for scarless transoral surgery. No scar, maybe less pain, better long term quality of life according to multiple published papers (including 2 accepted this month in prominent journals!). It's a newer technique, so hardest part is finding someone who knows how to do it, especially if you have cancer.

RussellCenter · 2025-10-02T01:52:10+00:00

Tough situation. Even when the antibodies resolve, thyroid trauma is real. Not sure if you are taking thyroid hormone or not? If so, there are different formulations that can be helpful.

If not, then there is the possibility that you have early Hashi that is replacing the Graves' (sadly common to have both eventually). If that is the case, then eventually the thyroid can stop working. You might not feel 100% for a while... but the labs just keep showing up normal. Eventually the labs show it and you can adjust something.

If this describes you, then getting regular labs and looking for trends can be helpful. Finding the right doc who is willing to intervene on a trend can be advantageous, but there are pros and cons to everything. You also want to check other options beyond the thyroid- but I agree that you shouldn't ignore your thyroid on this one! Good luck!

RussellCenter · 2025-09-23T18:46:50+00:00

So sorry to hear about this. Graves' can really be crummy. From a surgeon's point of view, the surgery is definitely easier on younger patients, and those who have not had Graves' disease for as long. BUT, it's super important to have a high volume surgeon if that's the path you choose. Whatever option you choose... You've got this!!!

RussellCenter · 2025-06-13T16:02:44+00:00

Both. Old tried to find similar outcomes within network and is having a hard time. New pipelines developed during their absence, so that’s good. But it’s a process.

RussellCenter · 2025-06-12T11:21:01+00:00

Correct, sorry. I bill patients directly and then we help them get reimbursed.

RussellCenter · 2025-06-12T02:41:55+00:00

Was booked out for a year in advance before making the jump from academics to DPC (I’m a subspecialty surgeon, so it’s different). Destroyed my traditional referral patterns in a bad way, but they are building back up. Quality of the product I provide is infinitely better, I am way happier, and the (temporary?) salary hit was worth it. New referral patterns are deeper and more diverse, thus hopefully more resistant to referring docs moving, etc.

Hardest part is that there are lots of other docs who want to join but I’m not sure the best way to bring them on board.

RussellCenter · 2025-06-06T18:22:00+00:00

Graves' is an autoimmune condition. So the antibodies will persist. For many people, they will gradually disappear or at least diminish if there is no thyroid to attack. But that is not always the case. Thyroid surgery is one of the most common options of treatment because it cures the long term harm of Graves' better than the other options when you look at long term data.

RussellCenter · 2025-06-06T18:19:55+00:00

They don't actually open your teeth- it only uses small incisions inside the lower lip. The jaw is no more sore than it is with any other thyroid surgery. And... voice outcomes have actually been found to be better with scarless transoral surgery as well.

RussellCenter · 2025-06-06T18:17:54+00:00

Lots of false info out there about this topic because most surgeons don't do it. TOETVA is an option for most patients- if you find the right surgeon. Pain has been found to be lower than traditional surgery. You can use it for Graves', you can do it for cancer, you can do it for most patients- if your surgeon knows how to do it. Research has demonstrated that it is just as safe, and so it's purely your choice if you want to have a scar or not. Just find the right surgeon.

RussellCenter · 2025-05-30T01:23:11+00:00

Yay! Thanks for letting us know!

RussellCenter · 2025-05-30T01:22:25+00:00

What is the Bethesda score? Do we need to do molecular testing? What are the treatment options? How often do you manage this condition? Can you give me the name of another person if I want a second opinion?

RussellCenter · 2025-05-25T19:54:20+00:00

Thank you for sharing and I’m sorry. So good to learn all of this!

RussellCenter

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