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Potential cancer when pregnant life after thyroid lobectomy

Aqua_Maria
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Hey everyone, heres my story so far I am looking for ladies who have had partial thyroid removal and what life has been like afterwards.

I am 35 years old and it took me and my partner 3 years to conceive we have had many losses on our journey where some needed medical intervention whereas some didn’t. This is my 3rd baby but my partners first.

I found a lump at the base of my neck in February 2021, after mutiple ultrasound scans and fine needle aspirations the results are that the nodules are atypical, look suspicious (on scan) and the cells have certain characteristics that cancerous cells have my ent consultant said I had been put down as a 5/3/A (not 100% what that means) 

I have decided to have surgery to remove my left thyroid gland. I will be over 26 weeks pregnant when I have the surgery and I have spoken with my consultant (for pregnancy) and a local anaesthesist about surgery and what effects it would have on baby etc. 

My major worry is what my life will be like living with one thyroid gland. I have been told I won’t need medication and my remaining thyroid gland will take over and do the job that both previously did is this true? I am not great on medication (always seem to get the WORST side effects) so I would love to hear from ladies who have had a PT and what life has been like living with one thyroid gland and what changes (if any) they have noticed.

Thank you for reading I know it is a long post ️

  • Offline

    Hi Aqua_maria

    I had a lobectomy 6 days ago and I know it's early days but I have been told by all the healthcare professionals that I don't need medication as it's only one side removed.

    I had mine removed as the gland had enlarged into my chest causing compression on the vascular system and displaced  my trachea. 

    I feel so much better for having it removed fir first time in a long time I feel healthy. My body is still in recovery mode but by all indications you will not need medication with only one side as it produces enough hormone for the missing one.

    Wishing you well with the operation and the birth of your baby.

  • Offline in reply to Jbugs

    Hi Jbugs,

    Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to my post. Thats very reassuring to hear how was your surgery and how are you feeling now? I wish you all the best in your recovery.

    I am unsure if to go ahead with the surgery whilst pregnant as I feel my hormones will be all over the place at the moment, some others peoples experiences have said they needed medication about 2 years after some maybe more. They got told that medication will be needed at some point after a lobectomy but maybe it's different advice in different countries as I think some of them live in America. 
     

    It can flare up and I have difficulty swallowing but it calms down too so its hard to gauge and also I am thinking maybe I should ask for more tests to confirm or deny whether it is cancer as I think this will help me make my decision.

    Thanks again and I wish you all the best for the future.

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