If the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone then the body’s rate of working increases. This results in a fast heart rate, a tremor, a feeling warm and weight loss. This is often caused by the body forming antibodies to the thyroid and is a condition called Grave’s Disease, named after Robert Graves, the Irish Physician who first described it. The condition needs to be brought under control to allow the body to function properly. In the first instance this is with drugs, such as Carbimazole. Once it is under control the condition often remits and is self limiting, occasionally this doesn’t happen and then definitive treatment is needed. Definitive treatment for over active thyroid consists either of surgery or radioactive iodine.

Surgery

The surgery for an over active thyroid involves either taking the whole of the thyroid gland out or most of the thyroid gland out. Whole of the thyroid (total thyroidectomy), most of the gland (sub total thyroidectomy).

Pros and Cons to both approach

Total Thyroidectomy

This involves removing the whole of the thyroid gland. The advantages of this is that the over active thyroid cannot recur as there is no thyroid left. The disadvantage is that you would need to take Thyroxin life long.

Sub Total Thyroidectomy

This involves taking most of the gland out and trying to leave enough thyroid so you will have normal thyroid function. However it can be quite difficult to leave the right amount of thyroid gland.If too little is left the gland will be underactive and you would need thyroxine. If too much is left the gland will still be overactive. This wouild then require further treatment. The advantages are if it all works properly then you will not need to take Thyroxin for life.