ask: Why am I feeling bad after thyroid surgery?

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

I had a partial thyroidectomy 8 years ago and everything was fine afterward. Now I am starting to get the same symptoms as before except my eyes are all weird, watery and feel as though they are bulging. I also feel week, tired, and shaky. I've always been extremely thin but I seem to be loosing weight again and my hair is coming out in clumps again. The thing is could I have hyperthyroidism again if all that is left of my thyroid is a small piece on the left side? I have an appointment with a doctor today to discuss this. I 've had to call off of work two days in a row because I feel so weird and tired. Thanks for any response.
Tracy

Hi Anon - The long-term effects of thyroidectomy depend on how much of the thyroid is removed. If only part of your thyroid is removed, then yes, you could have hyperthroidism again. I hope your doctor visit went well today. Will you let us know what you learned and if we can help you further? Take care, Pat

I had my thyroid removed on april 1 2010. My body hurts. :( I move the wrong way and get severe muscle cramps I feel tired all the time. I am currently in the process of adjusting medications but this is not at all what i expected, I had both hypo and hyper thyroid problems. Not too much depression as of yet. someone please tell me what I am feeling is normal and give me some pointers on what to expect and how long it is going to take to feel normal or at least halfway normal again I would appreciate any and all suggestions. I am currently eating tums all day for calcium and i think they are yuck :( but it is what the hospital recommended.