The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and secretes thyroid hormone, which is responsible for controlling the body's metabolism. When the thyroid gland is removed, a patient will have a lack of thyroid hormone and will be hypothyroid. This results in symptoms that can affect the patient's day-to-day life and lead to complications. Hypothyroidism is treated medically with levothyroxine, which is a synthetic thyroid hormone. A patient without a thyroid should be aware of possible problems he may face.
Constipation
A patient without a thyroid gland may experience constipation, states Medline Plus, of the National Institutes of Health. This occurs because thyroid hormone, produced by the thyroid gland, has effects on the gastrointestinal system. Specifically, thyroid hormone helps a patient have regular bowel movements. Thus, when little or no thyroid hormone is available in the bloodstream, a patient will likely become constipated. The treatment for constipation is levothyroxine. If a patient is still constipated after synthetic thyroid hormone replacement, she should discuss other medical options with his doctor.
Fatigue
MayoClinic.com states that an early problem of living without a thyroid is constant fatigue. Thyroid hormone helps a patient to have the appropriate levels of energy required to perform daily activities. Without a thyroid gland, thyroid hormone levels decrease as well as the patient's energy levels. This can cause a patient to fall asleep frequently during the day, feel sluggish at work or irritated around other people. The treatment for fatigue is thyroid hormone replacement with thyroxine. Fatigue should improve as a patient begins medical therapy for fatigue. If not, he should make an appointment with his doctor to have other causes of fatigue appropriately assessed and treated.
Weight Gain
Medline Plus states that a patient without a thyroid may experience unintentional weight gain. Specifically, a patient may notice weight gain without a change in dietary or exercise habits. This occurs because thyroid hormone controls metabolism, which aids in the use of energy gained from eating foods. When thyroid levels are low or absent, a patient cannot effectively use energy consumed through food, and calories become stored in fat cells. Furthermore, fat cells are not able to release energy when needed if thyroid hormone levels are low. Thus, a patient without a thyroid should continuously monitor her weight. Upon treatment with levothyroxine, a patient's weight should normalize.
