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Extreme Fatigue post thyroidectomy

I had total thyroidectomy 6-12-2012.  Doing well, as well as to be expected.  I fought fatigue prior to having removal, but now I have extreme wicked fatigue.  My levels are staying consistent and taking meds everyday at the same time with no food.  I am soooooooo over this fatigue and nothing seems to help, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am just passed back and forth between doctors each blaming each other for what it is and what it is not.  I have had so many specialist appoinments (cardio, pulm, sleep, gi, pcp, neuro) and still cant get an answer besides "fatigue is not life threatening so you may have to just live with it".  Ahh, no I wont.  I am only 38 yo and I have 4 teenagers that I want to be active with.  This is causing MAJOR problems.  PLEASE HELP!
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Avatar universal
There could be many things going on here. If you're not seeing an endocrinologist I highly suggest. If you have Low B-12 that can play a roll but have to also determine if you have intrinsic factor issue  you can take all the oral B-12 and it want make a difference cause you don't have that factor for absorption and may be IM injection instead. I'm sure they have done a TIBC labs to ensure You have the necessary material for production of red blood cells. They may need to look at the adrenal gland to see if they're producing appropriate mineral and corticosteroids. Also may need to determine if you have abnormal levels of immature red blood cells. They may need tobdoba thyroid uptake scan to ensure its functions on that level. These 're just a few factors. Like I said if you haven't already request a consult to a reputual endocrinologist to do a good work up on you and rule in/out any other thyroid or endocrine issues.
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Avatar universal
Im not sure if anyone still follows this,but if for any reason they do perhaps it may help someone. I had my TT in 09/16 it;s just now going on about 9 months. I too am still always tired body pains I cant maintain normal life at all especially for being 28. I was on levothyroxine, but my levels werent going down at one point my tsh was 5.12. I was switched to synthroid the non generic form because there is a guaranteed consistancy with them compared to levothyroxine which my Dr. Told me doesnt only differ from pharmacy, but can actually fluctuate up to 20mcg up or down from what the dosage was supposed to be from pill to pill. Since switching at the end on January my tsh is now .03 which was awesome. I had my antibodies tested, vitamin d and t3/t4 as well as a bunch of other tests. I can say that the one lucky thing I got from the whole thing is finally a great doctor who is super accurate about everything. Needless to say last Time I went to the Dr. He went over my results and my vitamin D levels are super low, he actually figured out that I apparently have rickets which no one had ever tested before not even before my surgery. My calcium levels were good too, that is something that you want to have checked. My test also said that I have low B12. So I was prescribed a vitamin d pill and told to take b12 daily over the counter. It doesnt seem to be changing much yet overall I do feel a bit better no energy though still its only been a couple weeks though. Also you might want to look Into parathyroid issues they can play a part in it all too.
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1 Comments
Symptom relief should be all important for you, not just test results.  What symptoms do you have now?  What were your T4 and T3 results and reference ranges shown on the lab report?  What thyroid medication and dosage are you on currently?  

I seriously doubt the story about Inconsistency of dosage  with Levothyroxine compared to Synthroid.  Quite some time back apparently both products had some issues with consistency.  Some doctors say the same thing about inconsistency with desiccated thyroid meds, which is not true.  
Avatar universal
Some hypo patients taking T4 meds like Levo find that their body is not adequately converting the T4 to T3.  Since Free T3 largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions, it has been shown to correlate best with hypo symptoms.  If you will please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report we can better assess what is going on with you.  Also, if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, please post those as well.  
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Avatar universal
After a total thyroidectomy and being on Levothyroxin, I was having head-meets-desk energy problems every day. A new doctor switched me to Armour Thyroid and an iodine/iodide supplement called Iodoral. Within a couple of months, there was a huge improvement in my energy. Two years later, my energy is still MUCH improved over the Levothyroxin days, but it doesn't compare with my pre-op energy levels.
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Avatar universal
i believe thats true for my issues.My TSH sometimes is normal but T3 is off. They always only check TSH even though my endo said tell them to check T3 &  T4 every time.Now i will ask for free t3&4.Thanks
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Avatar universal
mine was out in 2006 & my fatigue keeps getting worse along with muscle loss.The last few yrs i struggle severely to take care of myself. I believe it is from thyroid issues.
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Avatar universal
OMG, what kind of doctor would let his TT patient live with those symptoms and those lab results?  Of course, test results should always be compared to the reference ranges shown on the lab report, but your levels are so out of whack that it is no wonder you are feeling so bad.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not TSH results when already taking thyroid med.  Many of our members say that relief from hypo symptoms required Free T4 at the middle of its range, at minimum, and Free T3 in the upper third of its range, or as necessary to relieve symptoms.  

Before going further, please post the reference ranges for the Free T4 and Free T3 results.  Also, what is your thyroid med and dosage?  
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Avatar universal
I had a TT May 2014 and I have yet to get any energy back.  I am at risk of losing my job because I can barely stay awake and have a very foggy mind all of the time.  I just had my levels checked on 6/4/2015 at Prolactin 31.7, T4,FREE 0.7, T3FREE 1.9, FSH 4.1, TSH 2.82, Estradiol 206, ....can any of those cause complete lack of exhaustion, I want to sleep pretty much the entire day.
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Avatar universal
Please let us take a look at your thyroid status by posting your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin (an iron test), please post those and ranges as well.  What thyroid med are you taking and what is the daily dosage?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Did you ever find out what was going on?  I had TT for cancer 12/2013 and have fatigue so bad I sleep 14 hours per day.  When I exercise (when I CAN without limping), I am exhausted for days after.  Some days my joints hurt so bad I can't move and others  (even the next day) I am totally fine save the tiredness.  Labs are stone cold normal. All docs think I'm nuts.  Have been diagnosed with ideopathic hypersomnia, IBS, ADD, Anxiety Disorder, and all kinds of other crap I never had before the surgery. I'm seeing a neurologist and a rheumatologist trying to find another cause, but I don't see how it could be anything but the thyroid issue.  I take Armour and while it's better than Synthroid (which seriously made me bipolar), I am still a shell of my former self.  I brake for green lights and run red ones, forget what I was doing 5 minutes ago, and am generally becoming an infant again.  All the docs think I'm depressed.  I'm not depressed.....I'm PISSED.  I have a great family and a great life...one that I would like to get back.
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Avatar universal
Did you ever find out what was going on?  I had TT for cancer 12/2013 and have fatigue so bad I sleep 14 hours per day.  When I exercise (when I CAN without limping), I am exhausted for days after.  Some days my joints hurt so bad I can't move and others  (even the next day) I am totally fine save the tiredness.  Labs are stone cold normal. All docs think I'm nuts.  Have been diagnosed with ideopathic hypersomnia, IBS, ADD, Anxiety Disorder, and all kinds of other crap I never had before the surgery. I'm seeing a neurologist and a rheumatologist trying to find another cause, but I don't see how it could be anything but the thyroid issue.  I take Armour and while it's better than Synthroid (which seriously made me bipolar), I am still a shell of my former self.  I brake for green lights and run red ones, forget what I was doing 5 minutes ago, and am generally becoming an infant again.  All the docs think I'm depressed.  I'm not depressed.....I'm PISSED.  I have a great family and a great life...one that I would like to get back.
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1202943 tn?1347840652
I agree that you must get the Free T3 and FREE T4 tested.  I had RAI to kill my thyroid and afterwards became very ill because my dr was just testing TSH and T4.  My TSH was very low even though I was hypo.  I saw much improvement after reducing my synthroid and adding a very low dose cytomel.  Now I take armour thyroid and feel great.
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Avatar universal
So, do you think your current doctor would order those FT3 and FT4 tests?

I believe you that you take your meds properly...you don't have to convince me.

The very first thing you need to do is get someone to test FT3 and FT4.  Then, you will know a lot more about what you're dealing with and will know which meds you need to be taking and be better prepared to choose an appropriate endo.  
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Have you had vitamin B12 tested?  Deficiency of B12 can cause the most excruciating fatigue I've ever experienced. You might want to get your levels tested.

Completely agree that you really need the FT3 and FT4 levels tested.  Your TSH is good, but, as goolarra said, should not be used as the sole criteria for diagnosing/dosing.  
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Avatar universal
I had a multinodular goiter that had enlarged rapidly over the last year.  I too was having a great deal of problems with swallowing and choking.  My levels were all over the place, and my grandmother had thyroid cancer with reoccurance.  This put me at a high risk, and my US came back very concerning.  
I have asked several times about other options and again my current Endo tells me that all of my "symptoms" can not be related to my thyroid.  But yet I have had work ups for everything else and they were all negative.  So this just reiterates the fact that it is my thyroid. Very frustrating.  Always put the blame on me saying that I am not taking meds, or I eat with them, or I dont take them at the same time.  THAT IS NOT THE CASE!!!!
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Avatar universal
I should have added that antibodies are irrelevant after a TT.

Why did you have the TT?
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Avatar universal
Once on meds, TSH, which should be a screening test at best, is completely inadequate to base dosing changes on.  FT3 and FT4 should be tested every time TSH is, and the three tests in order of importance are FT3, FT4 and TSH.

T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones.  It floats around in your bloodstream until cells need thyroid hormone, but it can't be used directly by cells.  First, it must be converted to T3, the "active" form of the hormones.  Some people convert T4 to T3 slowly.  

When that happens, a direct souce of T3 has to be added to their meds.  That can be synthetic Cytomel and generics or desiccated porcine thyroid, which contains both T3 and T4.

You're on a pretty high dose of levo, so although your dose might just need to be increased, my guess is that you might need to be taking some T3.  However, without FT3 and FT4, that's exactly what it is...a guess.  The palps and anxiety you experience when trying to increase your T4 meds are a further indication that T3 is your problem.

Searching for a solution faster than 6 months to a year (ugh!), I'd suggest you ask your current doctor to order FREE T3 and FREE T4 (make sure she orders free and not total) and TSH immediately.  If she balks, a gentle reminder that YOU are the one paying for these tests might inspire her.  If she refuses, I have some other thoughts.  

    
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Avatar universal
No, and that too has been one of my concerns.  She only tests TSH.  I have never had antibodies or other thyroid testing done.  Occasional T3 T4 but very rare if ever.  I have looked at new Enocrinologists but I will have a 6 month to 1 year waiting period.  
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Avatar universal
Did your doctor test FREE T3 and FREE T4 along with TSH?  If so, please post those results as well.
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Avatar universal
I am taking Levoxyl 175mcg.  I cant go higher without having palpatations and extreme anxiety.  My levels last time I got labs were 1.84.  Which where they are drawn and according to my endo that is within the normal.  If I am not mistaken the range is 1.4 to 5.2.  Of  course I do know though that she wants me at 1.2 to 1.4.  
My levels before I had surgery would always go up and down.  They were never consistent.  For what reason she could never tell me other than, " you must not be taking your medicine".  That is not true and I would continue to tell her that.  Again I am over the back and forth blame games.  I have been cleared and told my heart is fine, my lungs are fine, my brain is fine( what they found), no sleep apnea, and no absorption issues. So the only thing left and what the others MD;s revert back to are my thyroid.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
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Avatar universal
What medication are you taking and what is the daily dosage?  Also, please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  
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