Total thyroidectomy

My wife has just been told/recommended that she should have a total thyroidectomy. She has 6 growths in the thyroid (2 large, 4 small) up from just 2 large growth just 4 months ago.


An FNA 4 months ago showed that no cancer was present, however the doctor feels that due to some other signs of calcification, she is at high risk of developing cancer, so removal is the best way forward.


My wife is concerned over the side effects of the removal and having to go onto lifetime medication. She is 30 and very concerned that this will have a massive impact on her quality of life. She is in agreement that having it out is the best option and the safest but wants to understand the real side effects from people that have had this and living with no thyroid.


Any comments, advice or contacts that you may have, I would be very grateful if you can let me have those. If my wife could talk to a couple of people face to face then I know that she would feel much happier about this than just reading forums, which are normally only those that have had problems after the removal.

I had RAI eight years ago and now have no thyroid function. I am on life long medication but it is a non issue for me now. I am so used to waking up and taking meds I can do it half awake without water. I get blood tested once every 4 months to make sure i am on the right dosages. I have maintained my weight at my pre RAI levels. I would say it will affect your quality of life very little and in my case I was very sick before so compared to that taking tablets and getting bloods done is a walk in the park.