Dave: My wife, had the same procedure done, on her Thyroid. Now she 's been taking Synthroid for 25 years. Every so often, her doctor will adjust her mcg's up or down. We never realized, that our Tyroid Gland plays a very important role, in our Health. Sorry your Dad, was robbed of his health, from smoking. Too many horror stories from Tobacco. Keep the Faith, Phil.
If there are synthroid users out there here's my experience with the drug. A side effect is aching joints. I went to a natural thyroid medication called Nature Throid and an increased dosage and got rid of the joint pain.