Surgery for Graves’ Disease | UCLA Endocrine Center

Grave’s disease is when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This causes the gland to produce too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism). Without treatment, this autoimmune disease can lead to heart failure, heart irregularities and osteoporosis.

One treatment option for Grave’s disease or hyperthyroidism is medication, says endocrine surgeon Avital Harari, MD. If hyperthyroidism continues, treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) or surgery can help.

Surgery for Graves’ disease involves removing half or the entire thyroid (thyroidectomy). To qualify for surgery your thyroid hormone levels need to be under control.

After surgery, some people have a raspy voice, which can be temporary or permanent. It’s possible to have low calcium after surgery but taking calcium supplements can help. There’s also a risk of bleeding, which sometimes requires another surgery.

[loekchanmoniroth]

You give a very clear informations about the disease, treatment and side effects. As someone with grave disease, I would be so happy to have you as my doctor.
Thank you for the information

[kayanivannah]

I had surgery for Graves Disease many years ago. If I could go back in time I would have had the radioactive iodine treatment instead.

[amf]

New information suggests staying on low levels of ATD for 5yrs and supplementin with levothyroxine until trab are undectable..a lot of people achieve long term remission using this combination therapy. Surgery and rai are not a cure for graves as hyperthyroidism is only a symptom of graves.

[tishasg]

My symptoms are so severe idk what to do the methamazole feels like it is not working

[mixalis]

I am taking 3 days a week 150 micro grams of thyroxine, and 100 for 4 days.. If i increase it, will my T3 levels increase ?