The thyroid is the engine of the body. The thyroid hormones it secretes are essential for boosting your looks, intelligence, and propelling you to the peak of life! But once the thyroid is removed, the impact on the body...
Many patients are unaware of the consequences of thyroid removal. Combined with a lack of understanding about thyroid diseases, we often witness this both exasperating and amusing scenario in clinical practice:
(Doctor) You should go ahead with the surgery!
(Patient) I don't really understand, but if the doctor says I need surgery, then I'll do it.
That's exactly how it goes—patients are completely clueless, don't ask for clarification, and agree without hesitation to whatever the doctor suggests.
Next, let's look at a real-life case from our practice.
Ms. Gong from Longli, Guizhou, discovered a small lump on her neck in 2019. Lacking knowledge about thyroid health, she worried it might be cancerous and visited a local hospital. Tests revealed a 2.3-centimeter nodule on the right side of her thyroid and a nearly 1-centimeter nodule on the left. The doctor assured her they were benign, advising no immediate concern—just regular monitoring. He suggested removing them once they grew larger.
Still uneasy, Ms. Gong consulted Guiyang Thyroid Hospital. Specialists explained that while benign nodules pose no immediate health threat, they won't disappear on their own. Instead, they tend to grow slowly but steadily, potentially becoming malignant if given the chance. Given the 2.3 cm size—not insignificant for a nodule—ablation was strongly recommended as the optimal treatment option.However, Ms. Gong recalled her local doctor's advice that it needed no intervention and decided to wait and see.
In 2020, to her surprise, the nodule rapidly grew into a large mass within a short period, accompanied by severe breathing difficulties. She rushed back to her local hospital for a follow-up, where the nodule was found to have grown to nearly 4 cm, and her FT4 levels had dropped.Doctors advised surgical removal under these circumstances. Without hesitation, Ms. Gong underwent thyroid surgery.
Three months later, she experienced severe hair loss, feeling she was going bald, and her mood deteriorated significantly. A follow-up revealed elevated TSH levels and residual thyroid tissue with uneven echogenicity. Doctors diagnosed post-surgical hypothyroidism due to insufficient thyroid hormone production.This was utterly devastating for Ms. Gong. She had thought treating the nodule would resolve everything, never anticipating such complications. She deeply regretted her decision, wishing she had opted for ablation instead.
Ms. Gong consulted Guiyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Thyroid Hospital again, asking if her hypothyroidism could be cured.In reality, hypothyroidism caused by surgery, like Ms. Gong's case, requires lifelong medication. Regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels is also necessary to adjust the dosage. Hearing this, Ms. Gong felt devastated. Previously, she was told regular monitoring wasn't needed, yet her nodule grew larger. Now that her thyroid was removed, she still needed ongoing monitoring. When would this ever end?
What complications can arise after thyroid surgery?
Thyroid surgery commonly causes hypothyroidism, potentially lifelong. Ms. Gong developed elevated TSH levels post-surgery. Without thyroid hormone replacement, symptoms include: - Weakened immunity - Drowsiness - Fatigue - Loss of appetite - Slow heartbeat - Arrhythmia Severe cases may experience fainting or life-threatening complications.
Symptoms vary significantly from person to person.
Guiyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Thyroid Hospital reminds
everyone: Surgery is no trivial matter. Never go under the knife without full understanding! You must clarify: Why is surgery absolutely necessary? What would happen without surgery? What are the potential consequences of surgery? Are there alternative, more suitable methods? Blindly removing the thyroid gland could lead to lifelong regret.