Iodine drops prior to surgery are important to minimize the bleeding before total thyroid removal.  Here is my story describing the experience of miscommunication between doctors and the surgeon. I am nervous, to begin with feeling a severe amount of anxiety. Thyroid removal is not the route I want but now the plan is in action.

The surgery is scheduled for June 10, 2020, and three weeks beforehand I have an appointment with my surgeon. He seems knowledgeable and pleasant. Ironically, I am not his first scared patient but to me, I must make him understand how a meltdown is around the corner!

Doctor Mckee reassures me that I will feel so much better after the procedure is over. My thyroid levels have increased and decreased drastically over six years. Just back and forth coping with multiple symptoms creating chaos in my life! It is time Trudy!

Apparently, potassium iodine drops are used to reduce the bleeding for patients undergoing thyroid surgery. I am supposed to start the drops ten days before the surgery. Three times a day I will use a syringe to place three cm of the Potassium Iodine drops into water and drink it. Oh my, now we have complicated on top of all my other medications.

Off to the drug store, I go to, and with COVID 19, I am waiting outside on the sidewalk for the pharmacist to give me instructions. If matters do not become even worse, she explains how potent the drops are. I must be extremely careful not to take too much. No one explains what happens if you take too much but I knew to be alert when incorporating my schedule for medications.

Finally, I make it home and decide to let the endocrinologist know when the surgery is scheduled. Now the fun begins! Iodine drops before surgery become the topic of crisis in place because one doctor decides to upset the applecart. I am the one going under the knife so let us get things together here!

The endocrinologist tells her assistant to give me a call and inform me to increase the dosage of methimazole, (my thyroid pill), from ten mg to 20 mg. I am feeling skeptical because in less than two weeks I will not be on this medication. I decide to call the surgeons office to make sure this is proper protocol.

Endocrinologists like to see thyroid levels close to normal as can be before surgery. It is Saturday now, and I am out doing errands. After I get home, a message is on my answering machine from the surgeon stating this is fine for the increase in medication but please make sure to take the Potassium Iodine drops as scheduled. Great! I am back on track now.

Sunday, May 31, 2020, I take my first dose of drops. By the time Tuesday morning hits, I feel like a pro at this. The next thing I know, the phone is ringing, and it is the endocrinologist’s assistant telling me not to go through with the surgery. The blood work shows thyroid levels are still bad!

Back and forth we go! My point in all the confusion is I have already started taking the drops. I am three days into the process of preparing for surgery. I decide to call the surgeons office again. Guess what? The surgeon is on vacation until the day before my surgery. Now what? Do I keep going or do I stop taking the drops?

I decide to keep going with the drops. Too many individuals are involved so I go back to the original message from the surgeon. Make sure to take those drops! Friends and family are calling to see what decision I have made. Why is there so much miscommunication with the doctors? Yes, I agree!

Make sure to be on top of what is going on with your medical journey. I did mention to the endocrinologist that their office should be reaching out to the surgeon. Any questions should be resolved beforehand, so we are all on board. I really felt the surgeon was fine with medication changes, but the drops were especially important.

The main point being minimizing the bleeding during surgery is the number one priority! The day before surgery I receive a call from the surgeon. He tells me, “my oh my what a mess”. “Did you continue with the drops”? I inform him, “yes”! Now, surgery is a go, and I need a good night’s sleep! Drops are finished, and surprisingly I am ready for sweet dreams. My last day having a thyroid! What will my life be next?!