Will I Be Able to Lose Weight After Thyroid Surgery?

The thyroid is an important gland for regulating cell growth and metabolism in the body. This small gland is situated just below the Adam's apple (or larynx) in the throat. It is somewhat butterfly-shaped, consisting of two halves that are connected by a small piece of tissue called an isthmus.

The job of the thyroid is to absorb iodine and then convert it into two types of thyroid hormone: T3 and T4. These hormones are released into the blood and travel to every cell in the body, helping cells convert oxygen and calories to energy for use by the body. This entire process is controlled by the pituitary gland.

In the case of some people, the thyroid gland can become diseased, causing it to not produce enough thyroid hormones so needed by the body for its normal functioning. This is called hypothyroidism. 

Alternatively, thyroid problems can lead to the gland producing too much thyroid hormone, which is called hyperthyroidism.

Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include excessive weight gain, depressions, anxiety, hair loss and sexual dysfunction. Weight gain is one of the problems because the body is less able to metabolize energy and oxygen without the help of the thyroid hormone.

Meanwhile, symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include heart palpitations, inability to tolerate heat, breathlessness, and trembling hand - among others. Excessive T3 and T4 hormone on the blood can cause the body's cells to "speed up," making the heart beat faster and causing related symptoms.

When serious thyroid issues arise, your doctor may recommend that part or all of your thyroid be removed via surgery. Once the surgery is complete, your thyroid will no longer be equipped to produce the same amounts (or any) of thyroid hormone that it did in the past. At this point, you may ask, "Will I be able to lose weight after thyroid surgery?".

The answer is: yes, provided that you take the proper thyroid supplement and otherwise live a healthy lifestyle. A supplement is simply a synthetic thyroid hormone that is usually taken once per day before or just after breakfast. The supplement will provide you with the thyroid hormone your body needs.

If you have not already talked with your doctor about whether you will need to take a thyroid supplement after surgery, be sure to initiate the conversation yourself: taking responsibility for one's own health is always the best policy.

If you are currently overweight due in part to a thyroid problem, it is not the case that the pounds that you have been gaining over the years will just start to shed off immediately. That is because it can take some time for you and your doctor to find the right thyroid supplement dosage (e.g., 125 micrograms, etc.), which could take a matter of months. 

However, once the right dosage mix is found, your thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4) will return to the normal, pre-thyroid condition, levels. At that point, you will find it much easier to lose the pounds that you want to lose.

Facing thyroid surgery can be a little bit scary, but in actuality it is a common procedure that thousands of people undergo safely every year. If your interest is in losing weight after surgery, you will. Just give it time, take your thyroid supplement, and live a healthy, active lifestyle.

Get more thyroid surgery recovery tips and strategies at: Thyroid Surgery Recovery Tips. Find a surgery recovery GIFT for someone you care about at: Surgery Recovery Gifts.

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