Expert: Eric Brandt - 1/14/2010

Question
When I was 21 I had a partial thyroidectomy. For several years I did not have to take any thyroid medication. About 10 years ago I started having trouble with my eyes (double vision and enlarged right eye). I was again diagnosed with Grave's disease and started taking Tapozole. I was in remission for aboout a year and then had to start taking medicine again.

My thyroid gland is now enlarged and I need to decide whether to have surgery or continue on the medicine for the rest of my life.

I eally do not want to have the surgery and have been reading a lot about this disease. I want to take the medicine to regulate my thyroid because I do not want to suffer all the problems that come with having my thyroid removed.

If I had the surgery I would prefer to only have a partial again so as not to remove the entire thyroid gland. The surgeon I talked to would not do that because she thought there would be too much scar tissue.

I would be very interested in your thought on this.

I really do not suffer with any of the bad symptons of hyperthyroidism.


Answer
Hi JJ.
I too would be having a lot of thought about removing an entire organ. Once it is gone you can not get it back. If total thyroidectomy is the only option then thyroid replacement therapy is possible, inexpensive, and effective. However I would seek a second opinion from another surgeon just to make sure that there are no other option.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.sc. Pharm