I know I’ve thought about it, and I’m pretty sure all of us with no thyroid gland have – what would it be like if we could start over with a “hard reset” and get a new gland by having a thyroid transplant? Research is working on just such a thing and while it may not be available in my lifetime, there is reason to believe it may be a possibility in the future.
Stem cell research is pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible, and organ replacement with new, lab grown organs is on the horizon. I sincerely doubt that this will benefit patients like myself, whose loss of thyroid gland tissue and function is because of autoimmune (Graves) and the result of radioactive iodine treatment RAI), but for people like my friend, Kathy, a new gland could make medication a thing of the past.
Why do I say it wouldn’t be for me? Well, it sure isn’t because of a lack of longing for normal, but I have to have a realistic outlook and my body is…well, likely still full of antibodies that would flare up at the sight of their target – a nice healthy thyroid gland. Hell, my eyes hurt with dose changes, and that tells me that the antibodies are there and ready.
You would have to be the right candidate, but if you drew the lucky straw, this could be an exciting advancement in medicine you may benefit from! https://www.verywellhealth.com/stem-cell-therapy-thyroid-issues-3233018
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