severe wieght gain, and other side effects from a complete thryroidectomy

[nikolahull]

Last year, Jan 29, I had my thyroid completly removed due to thyroid cancer ( so i was told before the surgery), even though in my records it shows a goiter. So that is still debatable, the diagnoisis that caused me to have the surgery. I have been put on synthroid 200 mcg daily.

Since my surgery, I have gained 65 plus pounds; constantly ache in my joints; have moments where I am very confused, and forgetful,; have no energy, yet I can not sleep; have no interest at all in sexual relations with my husband, which is effecting my marriage; and constantly feel like there is a marble in my throat on the right side, along with swollen arm pits and tenderness, and also in my groin area; very irregular in my BM's (three days of very soft stool, and severe diareaha, then 2 - 3 days of constipation; nausea and vomiting a lot; and shortness of breath a lot.

I have spoke with my dr several times about this, however, his awnser to me is "step away from the buffet", "it is just a side effect from the meds", etc. Is this true? or am I just going crazy? I have no insurance, and in my area (Sarasota Fl) there is limited access to affordable healthcare (with in my budget, since I have not worked since prior to my surgery due to the constant fatigue, and other symptoms). do you have any recomendations on what I can do to allivate some (if any) of these symptoms, other than go back to my dr? Is there any natural products I can take that would help in any of these problems? Or should I just continue to see my dr who has the bed side manner of an undertaker? also with my wieght gain, can i take any of the diet pills, or supplements out there to lost the extra added weight that I have gained in the last year?

[pep88]

I would agree with the above, but I would also like to know your lab numbers.  Do you have any information from the lab?  Can you call you doc and get your test results?  Specifically your TSH, free T3 & free T4?  If it's a GP as stated above, he may not be running all of these tests and you could have real problems with one of your T's or be out of true range with your TSH, and he'd never know it.  And you'd pay the price by feeling ill.

[Thypatient]

I'm sorry you had to experience such crudeness from a dr - that's awful.

Having had the same surgery experience, I think you really need to pursue an appt with a clinical endocrinologist.  From what I know, you're speaking about things that need a closer look.  In particularly, and for starters, swelling and tenderness in the armpits and groin.

Perhaps there is a local medical center that has an endocrinology practice that can also provide indigent care.

Good luck.

[nikolahull]

Thank you. Yeah he is not a specialist, yet a general DR who because of my financial situation, and no insurance was about the only one I could see. He definatly has the bedside manner of an undertaker. Also, Thank you for the advice on the vitamins with the extra b's. I didn't know until recently that I should be taking a calcium supplement.

[laura1967]

Apparently you are not seeing a thyroid specialist....otherwise your dr wouldn't sound so cold and judging towards you.  Our Endocrinologist here at medhelp (Dr. Lupo) is in Sarasota. You might try to get in with him. Spending a little money on a good dr is worth feeling good! You need to make sure your dr even ran ALL the proper tests...TSH, Free T3 and Free T4, to get a complete picture of what is going on. Maybe you need an additional med added like cytomel, to your synthroid....but you wouldn't know unless your dr knows how to run the proper tests and to read them properly. Normal doesn';t necessarily mean normal.
I hope you feel better soon.
Make sure you are taking your vitamins with extra B's. :)