I have recurring thyroid disease from lithium therapy with a history of hypo and hyperthyroidism. The thyroid controls many processes in the body. It’s very important and you can’t live without the hormones it provides. My thyroid is toxic. It is located in the front part of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. According to my endocrinologist, it is “spilling hormones” making me very ill. So I’m having a total thyroidectomy to have it completely removed. I’m currently classified as hyperthyroid (which is bad). I also have multiple small nodular cysts on my thyroid gland. I’m having surgery in May. It will take about 3 hours. The surgery will be performed by an otolaryngologist, or ear, nose, and throat specialist. Once my thyroid is out, I’ll be placed on thyroid stimulating hormones for the rest of my life. It won’t be easy. It will consist of frequent blood tests and potential effects of trying to regulate the medicine. Rough stuff. Since I’m retired from the Marine Corps, my surgeon is a Doctor in the U.S. Navy and the procedure will be in a large Naval Hospital. I’ll be inpatient for a couple days. My surgeon knows of my health conditions. They are extremely complex. I have an autonomic neuropathy that makes me bladder and bowel incontinent. It effects many other systems such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and digestion to name a few. So it’s extremely complicated. I had to get clearance from all my physicians and a pre-op physical. My surgeon knows I’m incontinent. I asked her to not use a catheter during the procedure. I told her I use diapers and she said it wasn’t a problem. There is a small risk of complications. Some of these lie in the throat as it is full of nerves and it’s very vascular. The vocal chords are in there. If the surgeon makes a mistake, I could lose my ability to speak...permanently. Anybody else been through this?
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