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Partial thyroidectomy or radioactive iodine therapy?

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Spidergran3 Wed 13-Sept-23 17:53:59

About two years I discovered that I had a multinodular retrosternal goitre about the size of a grapefruit. It isn't causing any symptoms yet and my thyroid function is fine. I’ve been given three options - wait and see, radioactive iodine therapy or a partial thyroidectomy. I’ve been having CT scans every six months and there has been a small increase in the size. I’m 75 so if I decide to have surgery then sooner rather than later is advised. I am totally at sea regarding which way to go. I’m expected to make this decision without any steer from my consultant. I feel pretty good at the moment despite other health issues and I’m quite anxious about becoming hypothyroid and struggling to balance thyroid levels. Can anyone share their experience of life post surgery or RAI?

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nanaK54 Wed 13-Sept-23 18:01:13

I had the radioactive iodine treatment (twice actually) many moons ago...this for an overactive thyroid
I now have an underactive thyroid which is controlled with thyroxine.
Not sure that is particularly helpful to you.
I wish you well flowers

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Farmor15 Wed 13-Sept-23 18:34:17

I had a multinodular goitre, also retrosterna

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Farmor15 Wed 13-Sept-23 18:36:48

Sorry - posted by accident! Mine was quite large and interfering with swallowing and breathing so surgery was the only option. Total thyroidectomy but quick recovery. I'm on 100 mcg thyroxine since and feel fine.

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Farmor15 Wed 13-Sept-23 18:38:18

Mine was overactive before surgery but controlled by medication for years.

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Sago Wed 13-Sept-23 19:42:31

I had a thyroidectomy due to follicular cancer 24 years ago.
The lump was growing at an alarming rate!
The surgery was fine, I had throat clips which looked ghastly, I had to hide them from our children.
I recovered quickly and the throat clip removal was painless.
My vocal cords were damaged during surgery but recovered after a few weeks.

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Spidergran3 Wed 13-Sept-23 21:46:24

nanaK54

I had the radioactive iodine treatment (twice actually) many moons ago...this for an overactive thyroid
I now have an underactive thyroid which is controlled with thyroxine.
Not sure that is particularly helpful to you.
I wish you well flowers

Thank you, this is helpful. Do you think the RAI caused issues in other parts of your body and would you say you are well on thyroxine or has it been a struggle to get your levels right? Hope you don’t mind all the questions!

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Spidergran3 Wed 13-Sept-23 21:52:19

Farmor15

Sorry - posted by accident! Mine was quite large and interfering with swallowing and breathing so surgery was the only option. Total thyroidectomy but quick recovery. I'm on 100 mcg thyroxine since and feel fine.

That’s really encouraging that you feel well on the thyroxine. I realise that if I have the RAI it will wipe out my thyroid function completely, whereas surgery will leave me with something for a while at least.

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nanaK54 Wed 13-Sept-23 22:13:52

Spidergran3

nanaK54

I had the radioactive iodine treatment (twice actually) many moons ago...this for an overactive thyroid
I now have an underactive thyroid which is controlled with thyroxine.
Not sure that is particularly helpful to you.
I wish you well flowers

Thank you, this is helpful. Do you think the RAI caused issues in other parts of your body and would you say you are well on thyroxine or has it been a struggle to get your levels right? Hope you don’t mind all the questions!

There was really very little choice for me as I was so unwell and I didn't want surgery, actually I don't think it was an option.
As far as I know the RAI didn't cause any problems elsewhere.
It does take some time to get levels right, my thyroxine dose has been changed several times. Currently I am taking 100mg on one day and 75mg the next and so on...just need to have regular blood tests.
I don't mind questions at all.

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