Your thyroid is a small, bowtie-shaped gland in your neck. It makes hormones that regulate your metabolism, which is the process that converts food into energy to fuel your body.
The thyroid plays an essential role — yet millions of Americans live with thyroid disease, which includes hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiters, thyroid cancer, and more.
Thyroid disease can often be managed with medication and lifestyle changes, but sometimes, conservative care isn’t enough. If you recently learned that you need thyroid removal surgery, you’re not alone, and it’s normal to have questions.
Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, is a leading endocrine surgeon in the North Central Texas area, specializing in thyroid surgery at North Tarrant Health Providers in Fort Worth, Texas. Here, he explains when thyroid surgery might be necessary, what happens after surgery, and how you can live a normal, healthy life without your thyroid gland.
Although your thyroid controls an essential bodily function (your metabolism), it is possible to live without it. And sometimes, thyroid removal surgery is the best way to treat thyroid disease. Thyroid removal may be recommended for:
Goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. If you have goiter, your thyroid grows larger and it may create a visible lump in your neck. Goiter can develop with or without thyroid hormone imbalance.
A very large goiter can interfere with breathing and swallowing, and the effect it has on your appearance can impact your self-esteem. Dr. Sambandam may recommend surgery to remove your goiter, along with part or all of your thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism is a type of thyroid disease that develops when your thyroid makes too much of certain thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism can cause symptoms like a rapid heart rate, unintentional weight loss, and anxiety. Sometimes, hyperthyroidism also contributes to the development of goiter.
Surgery to remove part or all of your thyroid gland can reduce the amount of thyroid hormones your body produces, helping to control the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid cancer is the most common reason Dr. Sambandam recommends thyroid surgery. If you have thyroid cancer, removing your thyroid also removes cancerous cells and helps prevent the cancer from spreading.
Sometimes, Dr. Sambandam may suggest surgery even if you don’t have a cancer diagnosis. Some types of suspicious thyroid nodules are difficult to diagnose, and removing part or all of your thyroid can help you avoid cancer.
If you’re a good candidate for thyroid surgery, Dr. Sambandam talks with you about what you can expect from the procedure. There are generally two options: removing part or all of your thyroid gland.
Removing part of your thyroid gland can be an effective option for goiter and hyperthyroidism. Depending on how much of your thyroid we remove, the gland may keep functioning on its own. In these cases, you may not need to take medication after surgery.
For severe thyroid disease or cancer, removing all of your thyroid gland may be your best option. If you have your entire thyroid gland removed, your body can no longer make the thyroid hormones it needs to control your metabolism.
In these cases, you’ll need to take synthetic thyroid hormone medication for the rest of your life. Thyroid medication is generally well-tolerated, and with its help, most people recover and continue leading healthy, active lives.
Thyroid removal surgery may sound scary, but it’s often the best solution for severe thyroid disease or thyroid cancer. Find out more about your options with an appointment at North Tarrant Health Providers. Book online or call our office at 817-904-4165 to get started today.
