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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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Hi Anonymous,
You should always ask your doctor regarding your personal limits as each person reacts differently to surgery. I am certainly glad you found us and you can also join the thyroid groups here https://www.empowher.com/search/google?cx=007544384767083790728%3A2otat3sg2a8&cof=FORID%3A9&query=thyroid+group&op=GO&form_build_id=form-5de8fffe66585202f40533c2d049be6f&form_token=6295d1b50503d2a5f7094ab1d3d20b3c&form_id=google_cse_searchbox_form.
Hope this helps and good luck. Keep us posted on your healing.
Missie
January 8, 2012 - 11:27amThis Comment
Hi my name is Marie, I am so glad that I found this website, I just had my thyroid removed ( 15 days ago). I can say I am feeling much better than before, at least more energy, I wonder if after 2-3 years of treatment I will start feeling the same way, also I wanted to ask when is recomended to have sex after thyroid surgery?
January 8, 2012 - 11:07amThis Comment
I am so grateful to find this thread!
I am a 42 year old female and had a complete thyroidectomy in April due to follicular thyroid cancer. I just completed radioactive iodine treatment last week for the ablation and received the news today that my body scan is all clear. (Yay!)
I heard from my onco-endocrinolgist and he won't be checking my thyroid levels for another month. The last time they checked them (post surgery), he said they were "off" and raised my synthroid from 100 mcgs to 150 mcgs. I still feel very hypothyroid -- extremely fatigued, confused/muddy headed, depressed, and most disconcertingly, I've gained 25 pounds since surgery and I haven't changed my diet. I am usually a very active person but the fatigue prevents me from doing anything.
I realize that the frustration with this disease is that it takes a while for the body to regulate and therefore, to see any relief. Has anyone else had problems with weight gain after surgery? Did it come off easily?
Thank you for any insight you can give!
Distressed in Biloxi
September 6, 2011 - 11:55amThis Comment
Well Susan, what medication did they put you on for your missing thyroid? Is your GP aware that depression can be a major symtom of hypothyroidism (where your body does not have enough thyroid hormones)?
August 21, 2011 - 8:30pmThis Comment
Hi I had my thyroid removed 6 weeks ago i know it's not long after the operation but i feel worse now than i did before the op. I am constantly tired have no energy what so ever. i am 52 but feeling 92 surely this isn't how it's going to be from now on. I have been see my G P last week only to be told it could be depression i asked why as i'm not stressed just tired. I left with with no answer to my problem and no medication. is there anything i can try at home apart from sleeping. i'm tired of being tired !!!!!
August 21, 2011 - 2:42pmThis Comment
Have you had this pain ever since the surgery, or is this something new? Here may be a starting point to check out other possible causes related to thyroid surgery. . .
http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroiddrugstreatments/a/recuperating.htm
Something to keep in mind, even if you have no symptoms of being tired or depressed, some people do not get those symptoms if the thyroid hormones are only slightly off.
Either way, it definanetly warrents investigating. I would try to find a good thyroid doctor within driving distance and have it checked out.
June 26, 2011 - 8:07amThis Comment
After my thyroid removal 2 years ago I am not depressed or tired
June 26, 2011 - 6:04amhave pain in my neck above the thyroid area when I swallow . Is it related?
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hello . i had my full thyroid removed due to stage 2 cancer in left thyroid, doctor said i would be fine in 4 weeks , its been 6 weeks, i have had blood wrok done , i was first put on 1 mg of synthroid, blood work came back and my levels 2 weeks ago were 39.5 , so doctor increased to 2 mg of synthroid, my proble is this i drive a 18 wheeler, i have problems sleeping for long periods, i go to bed at 9.00 pm and am up by 5.00 am, i take the 2 mg synthroid in am with my coffee , by 10=11
June 11, 2011 - 8:08pmam , i am so tired i wish i was dead, so hard even to move,
is the coffee i drink with the synthroid meds affecting the way it works, or are my levels so bad, my body is just fighting to get threw the day, i do have more blood work for levels in 2 weeks, to see if i am on the right meds, but as i said i am so scared driving long distance in truck, any help would help so much, Thank you Mark
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I thought i answered this but i dont see my post anywhere. I have the same thing as mark. I am on 220 mg t4 and ive tried all the alternatives such as armour etc. had my thyroid removed in feb. I take my thyroid before bed time. I feel great until about 11am and then i crash so hard i can hardly function. My ears start ringing, exhausted, i wish i was dead. The ear ringing gets so bad as i get fatigued. Then by about 5 pm, i feel pretty decent. WTF?
August 11, 2012 - 10:06amThis Comment
Mark,
Here is a great article to possibly explain why your numbers are still so high. I realize you’re not going to be happy waiting in the morning to drink your coffee, but it could really make a difference!
http://thyroid.about.com/b/2008/09/03/coffee-thyroid-drugs.htm
Although the Synthroid site does not specifically state coffee, it does say to take it on an empty stomach, for up to an hour. . .
http://www.synthroid.com/Prescription/Tips.aspx
Also, it may take quite a while for your body to adjust to medication. For some people, it is only a few weeks, for others it could take up to 6 weeks. Another option is taking the medication at night, before bed. Again, for some it works much better, for others it does not. Also, make sure you are getting the same medication from the pharmacy. Many pharmacies will substitute a generic for Synthroid, unless the RX specifically states Synthroid. Some people, including myself, cannot tolerate the generic. It put me in a tailspin of hypo problems, and in the middle of August I was still wearing three coats!
If you are still having trouble getting back to normal, perhaps looking into a T3 medication as well would be helpful. Here is an article on that http://thyroid.about.com/cs/t3controversy/a/NEJMT3study.htm.
What you are on with the Synthroid is a T4 medication only (Thyroxine), and there is a synthetic T3 called Cytomel available as well. Some doctors are leery about working with T3, but if you’re not feeling better, it may be worth looking into.
Another option is Natural Desiccated Thyroid, which is what they used before the invention of Synthroid. It has both T3 and T4 in it already, along with T2, T1 and calcitonin, all the hormones your thyroid would have been making. For some people, it has been a great improvement.
All in all, keep researching the different methods of treatments, and if one doesn't work for you, know that there are other options. And learn about the interactions, because I have learned from experience that many doctors are not aware of these interactions, as well as time of day and fasting options for TSH. . .
http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/tshtests.htm
There is a lot to learn about being a thyroid patient, but in the end it is worth the time it took to help you feel better!
Best Regards,
June 16, 2011 - 9:29amAuntlello1
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