Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsSpecial ConsiderationsEffects of ThyroidectomyFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Special Considerations
Effects of Thyroidectomy
FAQ
If you have no thyroid, you may have symptoms like those ofhypothyroidism, and your treatment may be similar to the treatment for hypothyroidism as well. Still, your thyroid hormone levels and medication doses may be unique.This article discusses some things to keep in mind if you don’t have a thyroid gland.1:24How to Work With Your Thyroid Medical TeamWhy Some People Don’t Have a ThyroidThere are a few reasons why you might be missing your thyroid gland. The most common ones include:Treatment forthyroid canceroften involves removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.4:10Thyroidectomy Recovery Stories From 3 Different PatientsSometimesthyroid nodulesor an enlarged thyroid need to be removed. Agoiter, which is abnormal growth of the thyroid, may also need to be removed. This is usually because the growth affects breathing or swallowing.Rarely, an enlarged thyroid may be removed for cosmetic reasons.A toxic nodule is a growth that produces thyroid hormone. Some people with a toxic nodule, a goiter, orGraves' disease, havehyperthyroidism. This occurs when your thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. One treatment for this type of hyperthyroidism is removal of the thyroid gland.A small number of people are born without a thyroid gland. It is also possible to be born with a malformed thyroid. This condition is calledcongenital hypothyroidism.Thyroidectomy: Everything You Need to KnowThe thyroid gland may also have poor function even if it is not completely absent. This can cause underactivity that is worse than typical hypothyroidism.These conditions can cause poor thyroid function:Radioactive iodine (RAI)treatment for Graves' diseaseis also calledablationtherapy. RAI greatly reduces your gland’s ability to produce thyroid hormone. It may also destroy the function of the gland. This leads to hypothyroidism.Hashimoto’s diseaseis anautoimmune condition, in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue. When you have this condition, antibodies gradually destroy your thyroid’s ability to produce hormones.Medications like Lithobid (lithium) can also damage your thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone.Verywell / Emily RobertsWhat Are the Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid?An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) happens when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. Most people with this condition have a thyroid gland.If you don’t have a functioning thyroid gland at all, you will also have the typical symptoms of hypothyroidism.These include:Weight gainCold intoleranceFatigueSleep problemsTrouble concentrating, or brain fogDepressionDry skinMuscle crampsYour symptoms may change if you used to have a thyroid gland but do not have it now.How to Tell the Difference Between Hyperthyroidism and HypothyroidismThese symptoms usually get better with treatment. If your medication dose is too high, you may have opposite symptoms, like heat intolerance or weight loss.Symptoms do not always go away completely with medication. Sometimes you need to make other life changes. Extra sleep, skin moisturizer, and heavy clothing can all help you cope with your symptoms.Special Considerations if You Don’t Have a ThyroidYou also need to consider other factors that are unique to your condition. Some of these are actually easier to manage if you do not have a thyroid gland than if you simply have hypothyroidism.TSH Level MaintenanceHypothyroidism is monitored with a blood test that checksthyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) levels. This hormone tells your thyroid to make thyroid hormones. High TSH means you need a higher dose of thyroid hormone replacement.Thyroid Blood Tests: Types and What Results MeanEven an underactive thyroid gland can sometimes produce thyroid hormone. But the amount of hormone it makes can fluctuate unpredictably. This can make it harder to maintain regular thyroid levels with medication.If you do not have a functioning thyroid gland, you won’t have these fluctuations. This makes it easier to keep your TSH levels where they should be with a consistent medication dose.Medications After Thyroid Cancer RemovalYour situation is unique if your thyroid was removed because ofthyroid cancer. Your doctor will give you “suppressive” levels ofthyroid hormone replacement medications.This is done to preventcancer recurrence.Suppressive levels of medication keep your TSH levels low or even undetectable. According to the waythyroid lab testsare usually interpreted, you would be considered hyperthyroid.Because you do not have a thyroid gland, though, you still need to follow the advice for managinghypothyroidism.Symptoms of Thyroid CancerWhat Are the Long-term Side Effects of Thyroidectomy?The long-term effects of thyroid surgery can vary somewhat depending on whether the thyroid was partially removed (thyroid lobectomy) or completely removed (thyroidectomy).About 64% of people of people who have a thyroid lobectomy later develop hypothyroidism. In most cases the hypothyroidism is mild, and normal thyroid function completely recovers within 12 months.On the other hand, people who have a thyroidectomy require lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy to prevent hypothyroidism along with the complications it can cause, including high cholesterol and liver dysfunction.Other possible long-term effects of thyroidectomy include:Voice changesSwallowing problemsPainFatigueAnxiety over the appearance of the scarConcerns about weight gainSummaryYou may be missing your thyroid gland because it was removed, or because you you were born without one. You may also have a thyroid gland that doesn’t function at all.When you don’t have a thyroid, you will have symptoms of hypothyroidism. These usually get better with thyroid hormone replacement treatment.You may have an easier time finding the right medication dose because you won’t have fluctuating thyroid hormones.If you had your thyroid removed because of cancer, you will need to take a “suppressive” dose of medication to keep your TSH levels low. This helps prevent the cancer from returning.Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, they do. Congenital hypothyroidism needs lifelong treatment, but it should not cause a shortened life expectancy overall.Yes, people with hypothyroidism should limit or avoid soy. Soy can interfere with thyroid medication. They should also avoid eating large quantities of raw cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, and avoid taking kelp supplements.Congenital hypothyroidism occurs in approximately 1 in 3,000-4,000 children.Thyroidectomy: Before, During, and After
If you have no thyroid, you may have symptoms like those ofhypothyroidism, and your treatment may be similar to the treatment for hypothyroidism as well. Still, your thyroid hormone levels and medication doses may be unique.
This article discusses some things to keep in mind if you don’t have a thyroid gland.
1:24How to Work With Your Thyroid Medical Team
1:24
How to Work With Your Thyroid Medical Team
Why Some People Don’t Have a Thyroid
There are a few reasons why you might be missing your thyroid gland. The most common ones include:
4:10Thyroidectomy Recovery Stories From 3 Different Patients
4:10
Thyroidectomy Recovery Stories From 3 Different Patients
Thyroidectomy: Everything You Need to Know
The thyroid gland may also have poor function even if it is not completely absent. This can cause underactivity that is worse than typical hypothyroidism.
These conditions can cause poor thyroid function:
Verywell / Emily Roberts
What Are the Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid?
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) happens when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. Most people with this condition have a thyroid gland.
If you don’t have a functioning thyroid gland at all, you will also have the typical symptoms of hypothyroidism.
These include:
Your symptoms may change if you used to have a thyroid gland but do not have it now.
How to Tell the Difference Between Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism
These symptoms usually get better with treatment. If your medication dose is too high, you may have opposite symptoms, like heat intolerance or weight loss.
Symptoms do not always go away completely with medication. Sometimes you need to make other life changes. Extra sleep, skin moisturizer, and heavy clothing can all help you cope with your symptoms.
Special Considerations if You Don’t Have a Thyroid
You also need to consider other factors that are unique to your condition. Some of these are actually easier to manage if you do not have a thyroid gland than if you simply have hypothyroidism.
TSH Level Maintenance
Hypothyroidism is monitored with a blood test that checksthyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) levels. This hormone tells your thyroid to make thyroid hormones. High TSH means you need a higher dose of thyroid hormone replacement.
Thyroid Blood Tests: Types and What Results Mean
Even an underactive thyroid gland can sometimes produce thyroid hormone. But the amount of hormone it makes can fluctuate unpredictably. This can make it harder to maintain regular thyroid levels with medication.
If you do not have a functioning thyroid gland, you won’t have these fluctuations. This makes it easier to keep your TSH levels where they should be with a consistent medication dose.
Medications After Thyroid Cancer Removal
Your situation is unique if your thyroid was removed because ofthyroid cancer. Your doctor will give you “suppressive” levels ofthyroid hormone replacement medications.This is done to preventcancer recurrence.
Suppressive levels of medication keep your TSH levels low or even undetectable. According to the waythyroid lab testsare usually interpreted, you would be considered hyperthyroid.
Because you do not have a thyroid gland, though, you still need to follow the advice for managinghypothyroidism.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
What Are the Long-term Side Effects of Thyroidectomy?
The long-term effects of thyroid surgery can vary somewhat depending on whether the thyroid was partially removed (thyroid lobectomy) or completely removed (thyroidectomy).
About 64% of people of people who have a thyroid lobectomy later develop hypothyroidism. In most cases the hypothyroidism is mild, and normal thyroid function completely recovers within 12 months.
On the other hand, people who have a thyroidectomy require lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy to prevent hypothyroidism along with the complications it can cause, including high cholesterol and liver dysfunction.
Other possible long-term effects of thyroidectomy include:
Summary
You may be missing your thyroid gland because it was removed, or because you you were born without one. You may also have a thyroid gland that doesn’t function at all.
When you don’t have a thyroid, you will have symptoms of hypothyroidism. These usually get better with thyroid hormone replacement treatment.
You may have an easier time finding the right medication dose because you won’t have fluctuating thyroid hormones.
If you had your thyroid removed because of cancer, you will need to take a “suppressive” dose of medication to keep your TSH levels low. This helps prevent the cancer from returning.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, they do. Congenital hypothyroidism needs lifelong treatment, but it should not cause a shortened life expectancy overall.Yes, people with hypothyroidism should limit or avoid soy. Soy can interfere with thyroid medication. They should also avoid eating large quantities of raw cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, and avoid taking kelp supplements.Congenital hypothyroidism occurs in approximately 1 in 3,000-4,000 children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they do. Congenital hypothyroidism needs lifelong treatment, but it should not cause a shortened life expectancy overall.
Yes, people with hypothyroidism should limit or avoid soy. Soy can interfere with thyroid medication. They should also avoid eating large quantities of raw cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, and avoid taking kelp supplements.
Congenital hypothyroidism occurs in approximately 1 in 3,000-4,000 children.
Thyroidectomy: Before, During, and After
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.Goiter.Stanford Medicine.Congenital hypothyroidism.Salman F, Oktaei H, Solomon S, Nyenwe E.Recurrent Graves' hyperthyroidism after prolonged radioiodine-induced hypothyroidism.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2017;8(7):111-115. doi:10.1177/2042018817730278Shine B, Mcknight RF, Leaver L, Geddes JR.Long-term effects of lithium on renal, thyroid, and parathyroid function: a retrospective analysis of laboratory data.Lancet. 2015;386(9992):461-8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61842-0National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): symptoms.Biondi B, Wartofsky L.Treatment with thyroid hormone.Endocr Rev. 2014;35(3):433-512. doi:10.1210/er.2013-1083American Thyroid Association.Clinical thyroidology for the public.Al-Janabi G, Hassan H, Al-Fanham A.Biochemical changes in patients during hypothyroid phase after thyroidectomy.J Med Life. 2022 Jan;15(1):104-108. doi:10.25122/jml-2021-0297Alyousef M, Ghandour M, Al-Mohawes M, Alnwaisir M, Islam T, Qahtani K.Long-term quality of life (5-15 years post thyroidectomy) of thyroid carcinoma patients in two tertiary care hospitals.Cureus. 2022 Feb;14(2):e22005. doi:10.7759/cureus.22005Paloma Health.Can you live without a thyroid gland?Bajaj J, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: A review.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092Healthychildren.org.Congenital hypothyroidism in infants.Additional ReadingGao L, Jiang Y, Liang Z, et al.Cervical soft tissue recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma after thyroidectomy indicates a poor prognosis.Int J Surg. 2017;48:254-259. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.09.013Mamlouk MD, Yu JP, Asch S, Mathes EF.PHACE syndrome and congenitally absent thyroid gland at MR imaging.Clin Imaging. 2016;40(2):237-40. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.11.007
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.Goiter.Stanford Medicine.Congenital hypothyroidism.Salman F, Oktaei H, Solomon S, Nyenwe E.Recurrent Graves' hyperthyroidism after prolonged radioiodine-induced hypothyroidism.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2017;8(7):111-115. doi:10.1177/2042018817730278Shine B, Mcknight RF, Leaver L, Geddes JR.Long-term effects of lithium on renal, thyroid, and parathyroid function: a retrospective analysis of laboratory data.Lancet. 2015;386(9992):461-8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61842-0National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): symptoms.Biondi B, Wartofsky L.Treatment with thyroid hormone.Endocr Rev. 2014;35(3):433-512. doi:10.1210/er.2013-1083American Thyroid Association.Clinical thyroidology for the public.Al-Janabi G, Hassan H, Al-Fanham A.Biochemical changes in patients during hypothyroid phase after thyroidectomy.J Med Life. 2022 Jan;15(1):104-108. doi:10.25122/jml-2021-0297Alyousef M, Ghandour M, Al-Mohawes M, Alnwaisir M, Islam T, Qahtani K.Long-term quality of life (5-15 years post thyroidectomy) of thyroid carcinoma patients in two tertiary care hospitals.Cureus. 2022 Feb;14(2):e22005. doi:10.7759/cureus.22005Paloma Health.Can you live without a thyroid gland?Bajaj J, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: A review.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092Healthychildren.org.Congenital hypothyroidism in infants.Additional ReadingGao L, Jiang Y, Liang Z, et al.Cervical soft tissue recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma after thyroidectomy indicates a poor prognosis.Int J Surg. 2017;48:254-259. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.09.013Mamlouk MD, Yu JP, Asch S, Mathes EF.PHACE syndrome and congenitally absent thyroid gland at MR imaging.Clin Imaging. 2016;40(2):237-40. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.11.007
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Penn Medicine.Goiter.Stanford Medicine.Congenital hypothyroidism.Salman F, Oktaei H, Solomon S, Nyenwe E.Recurrent Graves' hyperthyroidism after prolonged radioiodine-induced hypothyroidism.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2017;8(7):111-115. doi:10.1177/2042018817730278Shine B, Mcknight RF, Leaver L, Geddes JR.Long-term effects of lithium on renal, thyroid, and parathyroid function: a retrospective analysis of laboratory data.Lancet. 2015;386(9992):461-8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61842-0National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): symptoms.Biondi B, Wartofsky L.Treatment with thyroid hormone.Endocr Rev. 2014;35(3):433-512. doi:10.1210/er.2013-1083American Thyroid Association.Clinical thyroidology for the public.Al-Janabi G, Hassan H, Al-Fanham A.Biochemical changes in patients during hypothyroid phase after thyroidectomy.J Med Life. 2022 Jan;15(1):104-108. doi:10.25122/jml-2021-0297Alyousef M, Ghandour M, Al-Mohawes M, Alnwaisir M, Islam T, Qahtani K.Long-term quality of life (5-15 years post thyroidectomy) of thyroid carcinoma patients in two tertiary care hospitals.Cureus. 2022 Feb;14(2):e22005. doi:10.7759/cureus.22005Paloma Health.Can you live without a thyroid gland?Bajaj J, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: A review.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092Healthychildren.org.Congenital hypothyroidism in infants.
Penn Medicine.Goiter.
Stanford Medicine.Congenital hypothyroidism.
Salman F, Oktaei H, Solomon S, Nyenwe E.Recurrent Graves' hyperthyroidism after prolonged radioiodine-induced hypothyroidism.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2017;8(7):111-115. doi:10.1177/2042018817730278
Shine B, Mcknight RF, Leaver L, Geddes JR.Long-term effects of lithium on renal, thyroid, and parathyroid function: a retrospective analysis of laboratory data.Lancet. 2015;386(9992):461-8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61842-0
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): symptoms.
Biondi B, Wartofsky L.Treatment with thyroid hormone.Endocr Rev. 2014;35(3):433-512. doi:10.1210/er.2013-1083
American Thyroid Association.Clinical thyroidology for the public.
Al-Janabi G, Hassan H, Al-Fanham A.Biochemical changes in patients during hypothyroid phase after thyroidectomy.J Med Life. 2022 Jan;15(1):104-108. doi:10.25122/jml-2021-0297
Alyousef M, Ghandour M, Al-Mohawes M, Alnwaisir M, Islam T, Qahtani K.Long-term quality of life (5-15 years post thyroidectomy) of thyroid carcinoma patients in two tertiary care hospitals.Cureus. 2022 Feb;14(2):e22005. doi:10.7759/cureus.22005
Paloma Health.Can you live without a thyroid gland?
Bajaj J, Salwan P, Salwan S.Various possible toxicants involved in thyroid dysfunction: A review.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Jan;10(1):FE01-FE03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/15195.7092
Healthychildren.org.Congenital hypothyroidism in infants.
Gao L, Jiang Y, Liang Z, et al.Cervical soft tissue recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma after thyroidectomy indicates a poor prognosis.Int J Surg. 2017;48:254-259. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.09.013Mamlouk MD, Yu JP, Asch S, Mathes EF.PHACE syndrome and congenitally absent thyroid gland at MR imaging.Clin Imaging. 2016;40(2):237-40. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.11.007
Gao L, Jiang Y, Liang Z, et al.Cervical soft tissue recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma after thyroidectomy indicates a poor prognosis.Int J Surg. 2017;48:254-259. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.09.013
Mamlouk MD, Yu JP, Asch S, Mathes EF.PHACE syndrome and congenitally absent thyroid gland at MR imaging.Clin Imaging. 2016;40(2):237-40. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.11.007
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