Thyroid Discussions

Hi, my name is Kristin and welcome to my blog! I recently underwent a total thryrodectomy (surgical removal of my thyroid) due to hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' Disease (an autoimmune disease). After hours of research and finding such a limited amount of information on the subject, I decided to share my story in the hopes that it may help someone know what to expect.

My journey began in Fall 2017. I decided it was time to get a routine check-up with my doctor, as it had been 3 years since my last one (which many young women are now told is the norm). My TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) levels were 0.01. Basically, my thyroid was so overactive, it was difficult to even get a true reading.

I then had to go to an Endocrinologist who put me on Methimazole (a type of suppressant for the thyroid) in order to get my numbers more regulated. After nearly 1-1/2 years of not being in a normal range for any length of time, my Endocrinologist and I decided it was time to discuss the next steps, which included either radioactive iodine (RAI) or a total thyrodectomy. (More on these later, as well as the reason I chose surgery.)