Flu-like symptoms after total thyroidectomy

[loveblue]

Hi, everyone.  I'm new here, so go easy on me.  : )  I had a total thyroidectomy (very large, non-cancerous goiter) in late August 2006.  The surgery went fine and I was having a 'normal' post-op recovery until two weeks after the surgery.  For the last five weeks I have been experiencing flu-like symptoms that last most of the day, until early evening.  When the flu-like symptoms end, they are replaced by hot flash-type symptoms.  (I'm post menopausal).  

Before the surgery, I had hyperthyroidism - severe fatigue, nervousness, very dry and itchy skin, problems concentrating, very fast heart rate, plus heart beat very hard, so hadn't had a restful nights sleep in about 8 months.  All problems except skin dryness are gone, but the constant flu-like symptoms are preventing me from returning to work.  I am currently taking 100 mcg of Levothyroxine, which my endo wants to increase to 125, but my primary care doctor feels I may already be over-medicated.  I am also taking 2 500 mg calcium tablets daily, in addition to drinking about 16 oz of 2% milk per day.  I'm also experiencing sharp stomach pains and loose stools about 5 days a week.  My post-op thyroid levels are now in normal range, but just barely.

I will be seeing my primary care physician within the next week, but I am really getting concerned about the daily flu-like symptoms.  Anyone ever experience anything like this post-TT surgery?

[artsavvy]

I am 56 now and was diagnosed with goiter at age 25, so long time on Synthroid. I had a TT 3 days ago and I feel wonderful. More energy than I have had in years. I have asthma too and now after the thyroid is out I can breathe better. No whizzing on expiration. I no longer have a lump in my throat on swallowing. I still have to wait for the pathology report but will not stress over that either...what is, just is. I struggled with committting to surgery but now that it is gone I am relieved. Had three docs who thought it should come out...who wants to do biopsies every 6 months and be cold and draggy all the time. Most times I just wanted to lay down even though the lab values were within normal range. Normal range is where I have questions. Anyone who knows me know I am not normal. Little humor. Everyone that sees me notices the skinny neck. I am overwieght and have been unable to lose anything without starving myself. It was not normal. Seems the multinodual goiter was much larger than originally suspected with the ultrasounds. Doc real pleased with himself for taking it out because it was pressing on everything. One of the weirdest things is that I had a pinched nerve in my neck that casued pain in my arm if I held my head in the wrong position. It is gone. I am on 125 now and will remain on it for awhile to see how body adjust. I am taking two tums with each meal.My appetite has subsided and so far with God's blessings I feel great. Hardly any pain with recovery. To be fair I have had many orthopedic surgeries so my pain level tolerance is probably streteched pretty far out there. The surgery is not painful, the worse part is from the intubation to put you under general anesthesia. Take heart my TT friends and know that TT may be the beginning of a new life. If you don't get the answers you want find another doc. Always start with an internist and then the edocrinologist state what you want with them both and take your facts with you. Remember they work for you.

[weeener]

I am post TT 5 days and feel terrible. No energy, no apetite, nauseated, feel depressed.  I feel shaky in the morning and then it gets a little better towards the evening. Spoke to my endocrin and she said body just needs time to adjust. Hope it will not take long as I am already unable to work related to voice issues from intubation. Can anyone say how long it takes to at least get some energy back?   I am on 125mcgs synthroid and 4000mg calcium per doctors orders.

[adutch]

try a course of predisone it could be an allergic reaction to the antestic. i get the cough now after every surgery and believe me i have had a few starting with a total thyroid removal and gall bladder (same time 2 for 1 they called it and took 6 hrs) i am fighting the cough now after having a knuckle removed from my left thumb but find that a 5 day course of the predisone usually takes care of it 5 on day 1 then 4 on day 2 etc.

[sunshiny_55]

I am 6 days post-surgery. I had a partial thyroidectomy due to a large non-cancerous nodule that was causing swallowing difficulties. I have been extremely fatigued since surgery and I also get hot flashes and nausea. I see a few others have felt this way too... have any of you gotten over it yet? I sure hope so! I hope I don't always feel this way! I want my nodule back, if so....

[STRAZ]

DID ANYONE DEVELOP A COUGH AFTER SURGERY I AM JUST 4 WEEKS POST OP AND 2 WEEKS POST OP I STARTED COUGHING AT NIGHT THOUGHT IT WAS ALLERGIES GOT RID OF MY NEW BEDDDING AND STILL CONTINUES WORSE AT NIGHT SOMEONE PLEASE HELP !! - MARYANN
IN GREENWICH -

[greatmom67]

I also had extreme fatigue after the surgery, I am 16 days post surgery and I still feel tired and have to lay down and rest.  I am also on 1500mgs of calcium and one pill of calcitrol daily besides the synthroid. I would like to know if anyone with a complete thyroidectomy suffers from palpitations.  Frequently I am plagued with these palpitations and they are very uncomfortable.