No Thyroid Gland

[sistermike]

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Have any of you ever come upon an individual who had a complete thyroidectomy and currently don't take any medications (absolutely nothing) and maintain a normal life?

I met a lady who had a complete thyroidectomy approximately 15 years ago, and her physician had put her on a synthetic thyroid medication, and approximately 6 years, she made the decision to go off of it. Her doctor advised her not to and told her she would probably be dead within a year, and she is still standing today. The only complications she has (according to her) -- her heart rate will speed out of control once a month or so, and her metabolism is obviously extremely high. She can basically eat what she wants and will experience no weight gain. Otherwise she said she feels fine.

Does anyone have any idea of what the long term effects will be? Has anyone ever encountered someone such as this?

 

[sistermike]

I thought I would give another few interesting points. Her thyroid was removed due to her hyperthyroidism and graves disease.

She said she will go in once a year to get her TSH levels and T4 levels. According to her labs, everything seems to be normal.

She saw a specialist a few years back who hypothesized that another gland in the body took over for her thyroid gland. According to her, she believes he had said her pituitary gland had taken over the functions of the thyroid gland.

Just curious what others think about this situation.

 

[fantasty]

Maybe ectopic thyroid tissue or incomplete thyroidectomy?

 

[gutonc]

Maybe ectopic thyroid tissue or incomplete thyroidectomy?

Or magic. Don't forget magic.

I can't decide if the OP is a pre-med or an orthopod.

 

[sistermike]

Or magic. Don't forget magic.

I can't decide if the OP is a pre-med or an orthopod.

Haha -- very funny. Magic? This lady I actually know very well -- she is a very close friend (much older than I am however), and I had never known this about her until she told me this the other day. I have always known about her Grave's disease; however, I wasn't aware of the full circumstances. In fact, the specialist she went to was a very respected doctor associated with Duke. Her husband has even showed me the medical records they have on her -- it was a complete thyroidectomy. The physician she had seen at Duke apparently has dealt with other patients such as her -- ones who have no thyroid and take no synthroid, etc. and lead normal lives.

And no I am not a pre-med, med student, nor am I a physician. However, I am in the medical field and am not a complete *****.

 

[gutonc]

Her husband has even showed me the medical records they have on her -- it was a complete thyroidectomy.

Do the records include the result of her full-body radioactive iodine scan? Just b/c they took out the big thyroid-y looking doohickey in her neck doesnt mean that she has no thyroid tissue left. Ectopic thyroid tissue can be found throughout the mediastinum, in many areas of the neck and pharynx and has been described in the eye and adrenal gland. The lack of a thyroid gland does not equal the lack of thyroid tissue.

 

[CaptKirk]

Do the records include the result of her full-body radioactive iodine scan? Just b/c they took out the big thyroid-y looking doohickey in her neck doesnt mean that she has no thyroid tissue left. Ectopic thyroid tissue can be found throughout the mediastinum, in many areas of the neck and pharynx and has been described in the eye and adrenal gland. The lack of a thyroid gland does not equal the lack of thyroid tissue.

Magic is more fun.

 

[gutonc]

Magic is more fun.

Agreed but I think it should be a diagnosis of exclusion, particularly since it's hell to bill for.