Thyroid nodules after surgery to lifelong medication?

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is usually required to prevent hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is very important to maintain normal metabolism and function. If hypothyroidism is not corrected in time, it may lead to fatigue, weight gain, chills, constipation and other discomfort. In severe cases, it may affect cardiovascular and nervous system function.

In this case, it is necessary to take medication for life, and it is necessary to regularly check thyroid function and adjust the dosage according to the results. If the thyroid nodule is malignant, that is, thyroid cancer, thyroid hormone suppression therapy and iodine 131 therapy may be required after surgery. The purpose of thyroid hormone administration is also to prevent hypothyroidism and inhibit recurrence and metastasis of thyroid cancer.

The length of time to take varies from person to person, depending on the type, size, extent of tumor invasion, postoperative thyroid function and other factors to decide. Generally speaking, it takes about 5 years to take medicine, but some patients need to take medicine for life. In addition, iodine-131 therapy is usually used to treat thyroid cancer patients at high risk of recurrence by oral administration of radioactive iodine-131 to destroy remaining thyroid tissue or remove possible metastases. It is important to note that the dosage and timing of medication after thyroid surgery should be strictly in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. Do not increase or decrease the dosage or discontinue the drug. At the same time, thyroid function, blood routine, liver function and other indicators should be regularly reviewed during medication, as well as neck ultrasound, thyroglobulin and other tests to monitor changes in the disease and side effects of drugs. For pregnant women, lactating women, children and other special groups, medication after thyroid surgery needs to be more cautious. The thyroid function of these people is very important for the development of the fetus or baby. The doctor will formulate personalized treatment plan according to the specific situation. In short, whether lifelong medication is required after thyroid nodule surgery needs to be decided according to individual circumstances and doctor's advice. Patients should follow the doctor's advice and take regular re-examination. If there is any discomfort or doubt, they should communicate with the doctor in time.