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Why am I feeling bad after thyroid surgery?

March 5, 2009 - 12:45pm 1390 reads 6 comments

I had my left thyroid removed in December, 2008 because of a nodule. It was benign.
All my TSH levels are in normal range. I take 50mcgs. of Synthroid daily.

I suffer from severe depression. I am on 60 mgs of Cymbalta daily.

I am still feeling miserable. I am extremely tired, even more so since the surgery. I sleep 10+ hours daily and I am STILL tired. I have absolutely NO energy to do anything. Just getting dressed is an effort!

I am in need of some answers as to why I am still feeling so tired. My get up and go has "gone up and went."

Please, please help...I don't know what to do. Any information you provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
Karen

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Alison Beaver

Hi Karen,
I'm so glad you found this site!

First of all, I'm glad to hear that your surgery went well, and that the nodule found was benign.

I am wondering if you think the Cymbalta is working? Sleeping more than 10 hours a day, not able to get dressed, not motivated and low energy...and still being tired and miserable...sound very much like symptoms of depression. Have you talked with your mental health provider about your symptoms that have not gone away? Have you tried other medication or treatment options for your depression? Are you currently in psychotherapy for your depression?

How long have you been on Cymbalta? Do you feel that this medication worked at one point in time for your depression, then after your thyroidectomy, is no longer working? Or, did you begin these medications at the same time? Have the doses ever been adjusted?

Lastly, what did your doctor tell you about the effects of having your thyroid removed?

The symptoms you described can also be from having a deficiency in the thyroid hormone, or is known as hypothyroidism: fatigue, weight gain, chilliness, slowed thinking, depression, constipation and muscle cramps. However, these symptoms are temporary and if they are still occurring, should be discussed with your doctor; perhaps the Synthroid is not working as it should?

Please write back, and let us know if you have spoken with either your medical doctor and/or mental health doctor about your symptoms. We can provide some additional information.

Elly

Hi Karen!
I'm so sorry you're feeling this way! I know exactly what you're talking about. I had my Thyroid removed two years ago. From my experience, I have learned that everyone is different, and every TSH level of comfort is different.....Some feel fine at a 3, some feel awful and prefer to be at a 1. What about your T3 & T4 levels? where do they stand on the scale? You may need an up in the Synthroid?

Also, you are still new out of surgery(In my opinion). It can take time. I thought I'd be great after 6 weeks, but it wasnt until about 12 weeks after surgery my body sorted out. And I still battle the ups and downs with my Synthroid adjustments.

I also needed some changes to my Anti-Depressant.
I would call your Dr.

Hope you feel better!
X

Diane Porter

Karen, I just wanted to agree with Alison and ask about your anti-depressant. Meds often need to be changed or adjusted, especially when we suffer from severe depression.

Your recent challenges, your surgery, and your thyroid medicine all represent big changes in your daily life. To a person who is already dealing with depression, this can be startling. And any hormonal changes can affect us as well.

How long have you been on this dose of Cymbalta? Have you seen your mental health doctor since your thyroid surgery?

Please take care, and let us know.

Anonymous

Ditto on the advice above.

I know someone who had this done and it took a lot longer than she originally was told to feel mostly right.

Anonymous

I had my Thyroid taken out in Sept. 09 and I am still having problems getting my body sorted out. I am an avid swimmer and do an hour of laps everyday but since I had my thyroid taken out it is all I can do to do that. Afterwards I am done for the day on doing anything else. I feel like someone pulled the plug on my energy level because I am tired all of the time. I felt better at 150mcg but my doctor said that my labs were "surpressed" whatever that means and we moved me back to 100mcg. Now my levels are all wrong and we have moved me to 125mcg but the main issude for me is that I haven't felt good or my body hasn't felt "right" since the surgery. I don't know what to do and I don't think it is depression. I wasn't having problems before the surgery in fact I was feeling the best I have felt in years. I think it is something missing from my system that synthroid does not handle. Any suggestions?

Susan Cody

Dear Anon

Thanks so much for your comment.

Firstly, I think it's wonderful you are keeping up your swimming. But consider cutting down on how many laps you are doing (for now) so that you have some energy for other activities in your life. While physical exercise is important, it should not tire you to the exclusion of doing other things during the day.

I know you don't think you have any kind of depression but I'd like to talk about that for a second.

Depression and thyroid are linked. And depression has very strong physical implications, not just mental or emotional ones. Your fatigue and feeling something is amiss in your body may well be a symptom of depression.

You can read a very similar posting here by one of our readers : http://www.empowher.com/community/ask/why-am-i-feeling-bad-after-thyroid...

and here is an informational video for you to watch (transcripts below the video) : http://www.empowher.com/media/video/depression-can-it-be-caused-other-me...

Here is one more discussion thread for you : http://www.empowher.com/community/share/thyroid-problems

Anon - have you had a full checkup of all your hormones? Can you tell us your age?

We'd love to hear more from you so that we can guide you in the right direction. There is help out there and we'll help you find it.

Best,
Susan

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