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Hyperthyroid after thyroidectomy?
I had a thyroidectomy on July 18, 2008 - thyroid was the size of a grapefruit, caused by Graves Disease. This surgery has really knocked me on my bottom - still not regulated completely, but definitely worth it! Felt really good (almost normal) for maybe 1-2 months combined (not consistently, 1 or 2 wks here and there) and now I feel hyperthyroid again. Is this possible? I am on synthroid, 137 mcg because after 6 months of 125 mcg I was still hypothyroid. After about 3 months of 137 mcg I am having hyper symptoms again. They left a sliver of my thyroid, but still considered this a total thyroidectomy. I was told by two separate docs, there was a less than 50% chance of it actually working as a regular thyroid - if at all. Has anyone experienced this, having the little sliver work - slightly or at all? Anyone go hyperthyroid after a thyroidectomy? Having these symptoms again helps me realize why I had it removed in the first place; I can't believe how many symptoms I'd forgotten about - ugh, I would have been happy to keep it that way :)!!
You still have that 50% chance that YOU DO have function - that to me is very good odds. When removing the thyroid it is impossible to pull every bit of tissue out. It is a "spongey" gland - so total removal is next to impossible.
Regardless also of the surgery, you still have autoimmune Graves which is a hard rearing hormone disorder that causes an over functioning of thyroid hormone pumping inconsistantly and difficult to regulate when it will "rear up" and activate hormones again. Suppression of Graves is the only thing that can take place to stop this over stimulation of hormones.
To add to that your are being controlled under a TSH level with labs, so your meds are being based along that number, not actual stimulation of natural hormone that is still taking place - along with increases of meds. It is a swing pattern of medication induced hormones and actual autoimmune attacks that can swing you back and forth from hyper to hypo symptoms.
Again remission/ suppression of Graves is the only thing that can happen to get you stable again. Until that is taken care of you will be up and down with these symptoms.
Regardless also of the surgery, you still have autoimmune Graves which is a hard rearing hormone disorder that causes an over functioning of thyroid hormone pumping inconsistantly and difficult to regulate when it will "rear up" and activate hormones again. Suppression of Graves is the only thing that can take place to stop this over stimulation of hormones.
To add to that your are being controlled under a TSH level with labs, so your meds are being based along that number, not actual stimulation of natural hormone that is still taking place - along with increases of meds. It is a swing pattern of medication induced hormones and actual autoimmune attacks that can swing you back and forth from hyper to hypo symptoms.
Again remission/ suppression of Graves is the only thing that can happen to get you stable again. Until that is taken care of you will be up and down with these symptoms.
I did all I could to "suppress" the Graves before choosing surgery, I was maxed out on the beta blocker and anti thyroid meds - my numbers just wouldn't move.
I went to the doc on Monday and these were some of the symptoms I mentioned (they did draw my blood and am waiting on the results):
*heat intolerance w/overactive sweating
*increased heart rate - 95 bpm when resting that day, it has gone up higher before (I usually have a very slow heart rate)
*Insomnia
*Adrenaline Rush type feeling at weird times
*Fatigue and a hard time waking in the morning
*Insomnia
*Bursts of energy, but too fatigue to do anything with it
*Hand tremors and unsteady hands when I need them for fine motor skills
*Dizziness and lightheaded - sometimes seeing spots in vision
*Really light menstrual cycle almost as if it starts, then it stops suddenly (after a day) - they're not regular (before surgery it had been 4 months since I'd had a cycle, after surgery I finally had one and they were getting more regular)
I know there's more that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. What other things can they do to suppress Graves Disease? I thought removal of the thyroid would relieve most symptoms? I don't have the other symptoms that are Graves related as far as the thick red itchy skin, bulging eyes etc. The most bothersome symptom is the intolerance to heat with overactive sweating - I feel sick and dizzy when this happens. That and the insomnia, mood swings, and libido garbage!! Oh and forget about any silver lining of weight loss, when I go hyper thyroid I crave a lot of unhealthy carbs that I don't usually eat or want. I'm insulin resistant and anytime I give in to the cravings (which are not your regular dieting craving either) I don't loose weight I gain or stay the same. I was finally able to loose weight when I was feeling the most "normal" (about 20 lbs - it was awesome) but have now gained 11 lbs in one week! For me the hyperthyroid fatigue is worse than the hypothyroid - you feel so tired but can't get enough sleep and your body feels so exhausted when you do nothing and then you get hit with insomnia. Sorry for the vent, must be another mood swing ;), well that and there are times I need to just get it out because it's so frustrating when you have no control!
I went to the doc on Monday and these were some of the symptoms I mentioned (they did draw my blood and am waiting on the results):
*heat intolerance w/overactive sweating
*increased heart rate - 95 bpm when resting that day, it has gone up higher before (I usually have a very slow heart rate)
*Insomnia
*Adrenaline Rush type feeling at weird times
*Fatigue and a hard time waking in the morning
*Insomnia
*Bursts of energy, but too fatigue to do anything with it
*Hand tremors and unsteady hands when I need them for fine motor skills
*Dizziness and lightheaded - sometimes seeing spots in vision
*Really light menstrual cycle almost as if it starts, then it stops suddenly (after a day) - they're not regular (before surgery it had been 4 months since I'd had a cycle, after surgery I finally had one and they were getting more regular)
I know there's more that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. What other things can they do to suppress Graves Disease? I thought removal of the thyroid would relieve most symptoms? I don't have the other symptoms that are Graves related as far as the thick red itchy skin, bulging eyes etc. The most bothersome symptom is the intolerance to heat with overactive sweating - I feel sick and dizzy when this happens. That and the insomnia, mood swings, and libido garbage!! Oh and forget about any silver lining of weight loss, when I go hyper thyroid I crave a lot of unhealthy carbs that I don't usually eat or want. I'm insulin resistant and anytime I give in to the cravings (which are not your regular dieting craving either) I don't loose weight I gain or stay the same. I was finally able to loose weight when I was feeling the most "normal" (about 20 lbs - it was awesome) but have now gained 11 lbs in one week! For me the hyperthyroid fatigue is worse than the hypothyroid - you feel so tired but can't get enough sleep and your body feels so exhausted when you do nothing and then you get hit with insomnia. Sorry for the vent, must be another mood swing ;), well that and there are times I need to just get it out because it's so frustrating when you have no control!
Hi Stella,
I had total thyroidectomy after I found out I had thyroid cancer. My Thyroid hormones were normal, though. After the surgery, the high levels of levothyroxine (137mcg a day)I had to take made me hyperthyroid - I weigh 57 kg, so if you weigh the same maybe the hormone you're taking is making you sub-clinically hyperthyroid too.
Even though my T4 is now balanced, I don't think artificial hormones are as effective as the natural ones. That has made me seek other kinds of treatment, and recently I came across Dr. Mark Hyman's treatment for the thyroid. All he suggests is that we eat more natural stuff and avoid corn, gluten and dairies. You can download it on line. Hope it works for you!
I had total thyroidectomy after I found out I had thyroid cancer. My Thyroid hormones were normal, though. After the surgery, the high levels of levothyroxine (137mcg a day)I had to take made me hyperthyroid - I weigh 57 kg, so if you weigh the same maybe the hormone you're taking is making you sub-clinically hyperthyroid too.
Even though my T4 is now balanced, I don't think artificial hormones are as effective as the natural ones. That has made me seek other kinds of treatment, and recently I came across Dr. Mark Hyman's treatment for the thyroid. All he suggests is that we eat more natural stuff and avoid corn, gluten and dairies. You can download it on line. Hope it works for you!
I just had a total thyroidectomy on monday, june 15 2015. My endocrinologist said i would never have hyperthyroid symptoms again. So far i have been experiencing panic attacks, the terrible kind i used to get 10 years ago prior to being on methamazole. I'm Really worried i might end up one of those people who can't be helped.
My tsh has been in normal range for last 10 years with methamazole. I was on the very lowest dose- 2.5 grams per day until i started having liver issues. A thyroidectomy was my only option. I'm One of those sensitive "canary in the coal mine" kinda people that is sensitive to alot of things. I'm Wondering how i am having hyperthyroid symptoms two days after surgery- i am now on 100 micrograms of levothyroxine per day and wondering if this is exacerbating the hyperthyroid hormones still in my body post surgery and it will even out? My doctor seems baffled that i would be having these symptoms at all. I did this procedure to save my liver and feel better. Now I'm starting to wonder if i should have done the surgery at all as i read more about the similar problems others are facing post thyroidectomy. Sorry to ramble but I'm sure you all can relate to the anxiety and concern i am experiencing. Any thoughts?
My tsh has been in normal range for last 10 years with methamazole. I was on the very lowest dose- 2.5 grams per day until i started having liver issues. A thyroidectomy was my only option. I'm One of those sensitive "canary in the coal mine" kinda people that is sensitive to alot of things. I'm Wondering how i am having hyperthyroid symptoms two days after surgery- i am now on 100 micrograms of levothyroxine per day and wondering if this is exacerbating the hyperthyroid hormones still in my body post surgery and it will even out? My doctor seems baffled that i would be having these symptoms at all. I did this procedure to save my liver and feel better. Now I'm starting to wonder if i should have done the surgery at all as i read more about the similar problems others are facing post thyroidectomy. Sorry to ramble but I'm sure you all can relate to the anxiety and concern i am experiencing. Any thoughts?
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's possible that you still had excess thyroid hormones in your system, then to be put on 100 mcg of levo right off the bat might have been too much for you, if you're overly sensitive to med, even though it takes 4-6 weeks for the levo to reach full potential in your blood.
It's customary to start off on lower doses of thyroid med and build slowly, as the body can tolerate the med, rather than trying to start at full dosage right away. You might talk to your doctor about starting at a lower dosage and see if that will help.
Another possibility is that some symptoms can cross over and apply to either/both hyper and hypo... it just so happens that anxiety/panic attacks is one of those symptoms.
Hopefully, TSH is not the only thing you've tested for all these years, as it's not the best indicator of actual thyroid status... you should have been tested for Free T3 and Free T4, which are the actual thyroid hormones...
It would be most helpful if you could post your actual thyroid hormone levels, both before and after the surgery and be sure to include reference ranges as those vary lab to lab so they have to come from your own lab report.
It's customary to start off on lower doses of thyroid med and build slowly, as the body can tolerate the med, rather than trying to start at full dosage right away. You might talk to your doctor about starting at a lower dosage and see if that will help.
Another possibility is that some symptoms can cross over and apply to either/both hyper and hypo... it just so happens that anxiety/panic attacks is one of those symptoms.
Hopefully, TSH is not the only thing you've tested for all these years, as it's not the best indicator of actual thyroid status... you should have been tested for Free T3 and Free T4, which are the actual thyroid hormones...
It would be most helpful if you could post your actual thyroid hormone levels, both before and after the surgery and be sure to include reference ranges as those vary lab to lab so they have to come from your own lab report.
After a total thyroidectomy 10 yrs ago for Graves disease that never once did as expected for decades my levels stayed just about nomal on 150 micrograms of thyroxin all of a sudden levels are horrible heart running 100mph can't keep weight on & down to 50 micrograms of replacement 3 times a week! !! What is happening I can't have an overactive thyroid gland I don't have a thyroid gland & only 1 working parathyroid
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