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Can I stay thin after my thyroidectomy?

Df
0 Recommendations

I have Papillary Thyroid Cancer. I am having a thyroidectomy next Thursday. First, I am relieved to learn that the cancer is not life-threatening. Now that I'm over the "c" word. I am scared to death about weight gain. I have always been thin, except for post partum periods, which I found to be extremely uncomfortable and depressing. I am terrified of gaining weight. I hate to sound vain, but I do not think I could handle being overweight. I am very active, exercise 5x/week and rarely sit down.

Please help, is there just one person out there who was an ideal weight before and maintained that afterward, or is every story one of weight gain and dispair??

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Cancer Surgery Pregnancy Synthroid Prednisone Thyroid cancer Depression Stress

7 replies

micli

I had a partial and didn't gain any weight after- it has been about 2.5 years since my surgery. I did become hypothyroid post-surgery and currently take Synthroid 50 mcg.

Df

Thank you so much for the reply. My doctor actually gave me a bit of a lecture for going to a website that he had not put on my "list" of approved sites. He said the reason why was so that I would not do just what I did, read blogs by people who are having a tough time. He said people who are fine don't blog so you don't really read about the success stories. I know I must seem horribly vain to worry about weight gain. I am not very tall so a little bit of weight on me, who has never been very big would send me straight into depression. I am also very active with young kids so I just don't have time to be tired. I'm so glad to hear that it is not impossible to just keep going on with life just like the cancer never happened. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I cannot tell you what peace of mind you have given me. I am currently 3 days post-op and I feel great. I went the movies with my family. I am on 25mcg of Liothyronine. I do not intend to sit down and do nothing and I refuse to become overweight. I have already had so called friends tell me I will gain about 45 pounds. Anyone reading this blog that has a loved one with thyroid issues, please, keep the negativity to yourself!
Thanks again!

Grizz

I too have the same worries about the weight gain and after being to a couple sites and reading stories am feeling doomed. I keep losing weight because of the hyper thryoid (graves). I don't want to keep dealing with the misery.I got graves after the birth of my son and I didn't lose pregnancy weight for that whole first year. I came home from the hospital about 10 lbs less and it stayed there. I felt awful. then when I went on the antithyroids it seemed to help a little. When I went into remission it seemed like I was losing more. It turned out I was hyper again and even on the meds now I am still losing. Even taking prednisone as well. I wouldn't call us vein. Before all this happened it was never a worry. You eat right and stay active, but know it just seems like after the surgery the odds are against us. I am glad you are feeling well. Can you tell me you would do it again at this point. I need success stories. I go in next friday!

Df

HI Grizz,

I am now 5 months post thyroidectomy. I am great! I had to go off the hormones for 2 weeks prior to having radiation and that scared the life out of me. The doctor told me that everyone handles it differently. Some can't get out of bed and pack on weight and some don't notice much. I told myself from the start that this was not going to affect me. I lost a couple of pounds off the hormone. My body slowed and my eating slowed with it. I in no way starved myself, but I recognized that I wasn't hungry and didn't eat as much. With Graves you probably won't have to do radiation, which is good.

I am the same weight and size I have always been. I've always worn a size 4 and still do. I'm also 40 which is another hit to the old metabolism! I am still active and haven't changed a thing. I did go on back to back vacations overseas and then Disney World. I gained 2 pounds. There is life after losing your thyroid and it doesn't have to a plump one!

I will add that my endocrinologist told me that a lot of people have problems because they bend/break the rule about not taking your hormone for 2 hours after eating or 1 hour before. This inhibits the uptake and affectiveness. Some forget it all together here and there. I have 2 alarms. One is set for 4am. I get up and take my hormone and go back to bed. This way there is plenty of time until I get up and want a cup of tea and breakfast without waiting. Also, it's the only thing I'm doing at 4am so I don't forget. Otherwise it's easy to get caught up in the morning activities of getting kids off to school and forget.

Good luck to you. I believe that thinking positive helps.

To answer your question about would I do it again? Absolutely! I am cancer-free and feeling fine.

Hope this helps. I hate to think people are out there reading through the doom and gloom looking for a ray of hope.

GoddessNV

Hello all,
I had a complete thyroidectomy in April of this year. I was hyper before and seemed to stay hyper after the surgery. I just returned from an incredible trip to Ireland, and just before leaving reduced my medication for the 4th time and now feel great. Walking has been the key to feeling good, and that's the marker I look for. Not the ups & downs of weight.

I'm finding eating smaller meals throughout the day helps keep me on an even keel. All the best and yes, if we are feeling good, we need to blog all the more.

Warmly, Kalena

Df

Kalena,

I completely agree about the smaller meals throughout the day too. I have always been more of a grazer rather than 3 meals. I like to have snacks sprinkled trhoughout.

I'm so jealous, Ireland? I went to England and Scotland, which was fantastic. I was smart enough not to ask what hagis was until AFTER I ate it. Let me just say, it was good, but I don't think I'll be having that again!

I also agree about the exercise. I have always done something 5 times a week, whether it be mowing the lawn, jogging or getting on the elipitcal after the kids are in bed. I just feel better when I do it. It's also such a terrific stress relief. We are getting a new puppy this weekend so walking is going to become part of the regular routine.

Can I ask what dose you are on? They put me on 150mcg after radiation. I am a touch hyper, but my doc wants me to stay that way to help prevent cancer returning. I know everyone is different, just curious.

Thanks for your response and have a wonderful Halloween.
Julie

jude0211

Hi, I am a 16yr survivor of thyroid cancer. I've always been thin, losing my thyroid did not make much difference in weight gain for me. I am always hyperthyroid as my cancer is aggressive and I need to be as suppressed as possible. I was on 150mg synthroid for many years, and recently my endo lowered me to 125. No diff in weight gain.. I am also in my early 50's and certainly not the same weight I was when i got married 34yrs ago.. lol..but after 4 children an menopausal,, i hover between 115 and 120.

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