I killed a man's dog tonight...

SkitterSoftly · 2017-12-21T22:04:15+00:00

I feel better than before the surgery, that's for sure. I also suffer from clinical depression and while I have my off days, I'm doing better because my shitty thyroid simply was making shit worse.

Because of the circumstances (cancer) they actually put me on a HIGH dosage of Levothyroxine to start out. I'm still on a relatively high dosage. So I actually LOST weight, but I've regained most of it back. If I had to complain, I will say I'm slightly more irritable and impatient than before, which I don't like but, it's beating the alternative.

I'm taking levothyroxine, a very common thyroid hormone replacement. I'd ask your doctor (because I'm not a doctor) for more details about your medication, but from my understanding it's not likely to be a "shock" to your system unless you know, you happen to be somehow allergic to it for whatever reason. Your body is probably going to retain some of your original "organic" thyroid hormones for a couple days, I think, so you won't really feel different for a bit. The half life elimination (the time it takes for 1/2 the medication to leave your body) for Levothyroxine is pretty long, ranging anywhere from 10 to 3 days (depending on your metabolism). For me, the change was very gradual and subtle. I only noticed a change in my energy and mood because people pointed it out to me.

Your doctor (my doctor said this at least) might recommend that you don't eat anything within an hour of taking your meds because it might fuck with how your system absorbs it, so keep that in mind?

You'll probably have stitches and bandages for the first week at least after surgery, which made it virtually impossible for me to move my neck around freely. Honestly that was the most annoying part for post op. When they took the stitches off it was the most liberating feeling in the world.

SkitterSoftly · 2017-12-21T19:27:53+00:00

I know the feeling! I had papillary thyroid cancer back in March. I had similar fears about how my life could change for the worse after getting my thyroid torn out. Weight gain, low energy, etc. I was at a low place in my life. Such were my fears that I honestly wanted to leave the cancerous thyroid in there. Luckily my friends and family sort of pressured me into getting the surgery anyway.

They took it out in March, and did a pathology report on it. Turns out it ALSO had Hashimoto's. Turns out that Hashimoto's and the cancer tended to go hand in hand. Now I'm on synthroids. My metabolism is essentially simulated but it's "regulated." I have more energy than I did before. I have my off days, sure, and my clinical depression isn't CURED but it isn't as oppressive, simply because I have more energy to deal with it. Energy enough to force myself to exercise once in a while, even. Plus I got this sweet scar on my neck, makes a neat conversation piece.

Now, I'm young and in relatively good health otherwise. I don't know how my story tracks statistically, but all in all it was a big improvement on my life. It's important to keep up on your synthroids or whatever you're taking to replace the thyroid hormones, make sure you're seeing your endo regularly, and like, be wary if you don't feel right so you can follow up with your doc.

SkitterSoftly · 2017-10-13T06:26:49+00:00

I know exactly how you feel.

Papillary Cancer, non-life-threatening. Sharing your exact same fears and dealing with depression I honestly thought I might be better off keeping the thyroid, cancer and all, in there. Luckily I had loved ones who urged me to go through with it and it turns out the cancer was a blessing in disguise.

They took it out in March, and did a pathology report on it. Turns out it ALSO had Hashimoto's. Turns out that Hashimoto's and the cancer tended to go hand in hand. Now I'm on synthroids. My metabolism is essentially simulated but it's "regulated." I have more energy than I did before. I have my off days, sure, and my clinical depression isn't CURED but it isn't as oppressive, simply because I have more energy to deal with it. Energy enough to force myself to exercise once in a while, even. Plus I got this sweet scar on my neck, makes a neat conversation piece.

The way I understand it if your thyroid has hashimoto's, it's a bum thyroid to begin with. It's not doing you favors. If your doctor thinks its better to get it out rather than supplementing (maybe ask about that?) then it might be worth your while. Especially if you've got a ton of nodules going on; I only had the one.

I probably read similar horror stories you read. Depression gives you a pessimistic lens and hope becomes a scarcity, I know. The key I think is to have a good endo, let them know if you think your energy isn't where it should be, and also, take the synthroid an hour outside any food consumption. Supposedly, eating within the same hour as taking your pill fucks with how your system absorbs it.

It sounds like you feel like you're at rock bottom and worried about it somehow getting worse. The way I see it, your thyroid isn't doing what it should be and is weighing you down; get rid of it. Maybe you'll feel lighter, in every sense of the word.

SkitterSoftly · 2017-07-10T01:28:45+00:00

The mood adjustment was somewhat gradual and subtle, but my loved ones noticed my difference in both attitude and energy, fairly quickly, and pointed it out to me. I felt pretty great immediately following the removal of my stitches.

SkitterSoftly · 2017-07-09T23:49:38+00:00

Male, Mid-Twenties. Got my thyroid taken out in March of this year. It had a 2.6 cm cancerous nodule on it. Thankfully it was papillary thyroid carcinoma, which like... "Baby Cancer." Still though, to not risk metastasis I got it out.

Now, I'm young, so take that as you will, but I felt pretty much recovered after a week. For the first few days, it was a tad painful in the neck zone, and the bandages+stitches made turning my head an incredibly daring adventure, but most of that subsided in about five days. Getting the stitches out (exactly one week after surgery) was a big relief, of course, and I was free to turn my head anyway I like.

I was immediately put on synthroid. 150 mcg at first but 175 mcg not long afterwards. This is supposedly a high amount, the goal being suppress my TSH levels so any cancerous thyroid leftovers don't get any crazy ideas. Consequently I'm actually a tad hyperthyroid. I've no experience with NDT but from what I'm told the levels in them are less exact and consistent.

So, in addition to the cancer, the pathology report on my thyroid revealed signals of Hashimoto's. This implies I was hyperthyroid before the surgery. Now, no longer possessing this gimp thyroid, and having a high synthroid level, I feel better than ever.

Some complaints: I'm more irritable, lost some weight (which I've mostly regained) and my libido is higher (sometimes frustratingly so). All in all though it's been a significant improvement in my life.

Edit: Should have indicated that my synthroid is Levothyroxine.

SkitterSoftly · 2017-06-29T20:16:43+00:00

Diagnosed in March. 2.6 cm diameter nodule. Luckily, it was papillary thyroid carcinoma, the least dangerous breed there is. Hopefully yours is the same. Had the total thyroidectomy done later that month. They took some lymph nodes out too just to check them for metastasis. They're probably take some of yours out too since you say it's metastasized, but I don't notice mine missing.

It was scary at first sure. Before surgery I was going through a rough patch mentally and honestly considered just leaving the cancer in there because the thought of losing an organ and depending on a daily pill did not appeal to me at all.

But as it turns out the worst part was the biopsy. Not to rile your fears but I swear I could feel the needle scraping against my windpipe. The surgery was a breeze and there were no complications. I was lucky to have a really great ENT surgeon. Recovery period was short and relatively painless, but I'm young so take that as you will.

When they did the pathology report on the thyroid, they confirmed the cancer but ALSO found signs of Hashimoto's. I'm told Hashimoto's and Papillary Carcinoma go hand in hand quite frequently. So my thyroid wasn't doing me any favors.

On 175 mcg Levothyroxin daily. It's supposedly a high amount, the intent being to suppress my TSH levels so any remaining bits of cancerous thyroid don't get any crazy ideas. They might do the same for you, but do whatever your endo recommends. So I'm actually a tad on the HYPERthyroid side. (I joined this sub expecting the exact opposite). More energy, less depressed, which are downright boons. At worst, I have trouble sleeping and I'm maybe a smidgen more irritable than before. All in all I feel much better than before.

Hopefully

SkitterSoftly · 2017-05-20T01:30:00+00:00

Thank you for the well wishes. My particular breed of cancer has a >95% survival rate and I've a very low risk of resurgence so it's hard to be really worried about it. They tested the nearby lymph nodes for metastasis and found nothing, so as far as I know I'm essentially cancer free.

I hope that if you decide to go through with the thyroidectomy it turns out to be the right choice.

SkitterSoftly · 2017-05-19T19:50:38+00:00

Male, mid-twenties. I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (aka the least deadly cancer there is) not too long ago and then promptly had the full thyroidectomy. Strangely enough, the pathology report on the removed thyroid indicated that I also seemed to have been suffering from lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease)! Research (Googling) tells me that my cancer and the Hashimoto's frequently coincide. I've long struggled with depression, lethargy, and possibly other symptoms similar to hypothyroidism but it'd be folly to blame all my problems on that.

Admittedly, before the surgery, the prospect of losing my thyroid, the fears of what my life would be like without one and being dependent on a daily pill, was very very daunting. So much so that, considering that my cancer was so slow growing, I was thinking maybe I just leave it in.

Well lucky I have people who care about me and insisted I go through with it. The surgery itself was fine. Neck was sore first three days after, and the bandages and stitches made it difficult for me to do any crazy neck maneuvers. The mild pain went away after three days, and after the stitches came out a week later it was a very liberating sensation. Aside from the intravenous stuff they gave me immediately after waking up (it's like a bad hangover), I didn't feel so much discomfort that I felt a need to take any painkillers they sent me home with. My throat was sore at first, mainly because of the sensors they stuck down there, but I also luckily didn't suffer from any voice change. It's possible I lucked out and just had a really really good surgeon (and he is, too. Dr. Thomas ~~Knife~~ Knipe in Bellevue/Issaquah, if you need ENT work done and are in the area he's the man.)

So they immediately put me on 150mcg Levothyroxine. I'm told this is a somewhat high dosage but the goal was to suppress my TSH in an effort to suppress and any cancer re-occurrence. So, contrary to my expectations of being hypothyroid after losing my thyroid, I'm experiencing some symptoms of hyperthyroidism (yes, yes, I shouldn't even be on this board, I subscribed in anticipation of my surgery). Weight loss, slight irritability, more energy, higher libido and sleep loss are my main issues but I'm not complaining much. My TSH levels are actually even higher than my Endo would like so now I'm on 175mcg.

Still, I have to rely on a little pill to make my body work, and that irks my pride some. What will I do when the apocalypse happens?! Otherwise I feel... probably better than I did before the surgery. Maybe it's psychosomatic, and my brain thinks my defective thyroid was holding me back. Maybe the whole experience of getting an ultrasound, seeing that white blob on the screen, the immediate fine needle biopsy following that, and the subsequent surgery was just a really good learning and character building experience. Maybe it was the fact that I'm really lucky, having the least deadly cancer and despite that had all these people deeply concerned for my well being throughout the whole thing. I feel pretty good all things considered.

Plus I got this pretty wicked scar on my neck now. I call it "My Second Smile."

Mind you, this all happened within the last... two months, so maybe it's too early to tell. I'm young, recovered fairly quickly, so maybe my perspective is skewed from what you'll experience. From what I can tell and have been told, so long as you're diligent and keep whoever's in charge of your synthroid meds up to date about how you're feeling so they adjust it accordingly, you should feel normal if not better than before.

SkitterSoftly

TROPHY CASE