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?

[greatmom67]

I just had a complete thyroidectomy on july 15 of 2008.  Surgery was kind of hard to recover from but I am happy to say that I am back to work and feel very little discomfort.  I must admit that my throat feels extremely tight especially when swallowing.  I had a goiter and three nodules that were beginning to constrict me.  I am taking 75mcg of synthroid daily and had been on it 3 years prior to the thyroidectomy.  Hopefully I will see changes in my weight. Be well everyone.

[L777]

OK long story I will try to cut to chase - I started an 10 lb per year weight gain about 10 years ago - at this time, I was in the gym everyday - I just dropped off - got tired.  I contributed the lack of energy and weight gain to my job change - from never sitting, to always sitting.  

My previous annual GYN doc said I had and enlarged thyroid - so I went to my primarty doc - he said that I would probably have to start working out 2X as hard to achieve same results- nothing important (to him I guess) -

I have progressivly gotten more tired, more depressed and gained more weight - one prev. doc put me on lexapro - kind of helped me for a little while during my mother illness.  She faught a battle with cancer and past in Jan. I am an only child (adult) with 3 of my own kids - so kind of pushed the fatigue to the side thinking that it was brought on by 3 years of horrible depression watching my mom go thru this stuff. My latest symptom has been hair loss - I used to have so much hair - BIG TEXAS Hair.. and my mom grabed my hair in December and just got a horrible look on her face and asked where my hair had gone.. kind of freaked me out..

I started putting these symptoms together and thought I was experiencing every hypothyroid symptom possible - my current GYN - said "time to figure this out!" even if my bloodwork was normal - we need to figure out why my thyroid is big - so he refered me to my present physician - who is wonderful - she listened and understood my frustration - primarily.. I have not mentioned yet - is that I am back n the gym since last October - averageing 15 days.. I boosted that up to 20 days in the gym every am at 530 - cardio for 45 min at 165 bpm.. then weight training.. I have lost....NO WEIGHT!..my best friend is my gym partner and she is a personal trainer - so I know we are doing every thing right.. I started going to work out at lunch with a sedentary friend - she lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks.. me, nothing and she does only 10 min cardio and poops out on me.. I am so frustrated..

Ok - almost there - my doc scheduled me for test - nuclear uptake and a sono - appears I have a multinodular goiter - 2 lesions are cold and 2 cm each - on each lobe - my ENT did  FNA biopsy - results are follicular - my options are to watch it - or remove it.. 20%chance of follicular cancer (as I mentioned my mom just died of cancer - so that is very concerning - different type - still the "C" word.).. My fear is that if I remove my thyroid that I will keep gaining weight.. my fear is it will get worse.. yea I feel tired - but am I 'realy' tired?.. I don't know anymore.. my fear of life without a thyroid has frozen me.  Does anyone think my thyroid issues are related to my madness - or should I just wait this thing out and keep up in the gym?  I have no idea what to do - the medical field says unless my bloodwork says my thyroid is low - they can not feel that it contributes to weight gain - yet it is clear I have a thyroid problem.. what is that supposed to mean?

HELP - any suggestions are welcome!

[TOLD YOU]

I was very tired but didnt have flu like symptoms.  I didnt drive for well over a week because of my neck muscles being sore and tight.  I am on .1mg (100mcgs) of synthroid also.
Hey Olemissreb are you from Mississippi ??
I am and there is one more person on here from Miss. that is pretty cool.
Dana

[olemissreb123]

I had a TT 6 days ago.  I am having flu like symptoms, feel really tired and lathargic.  I am very scared to drive.  I am on .100 synthroid - I am not sure I will ever fell normal???

[[email protected]]

I did not have radioactive iodine. The operation procedure is simple. I did not know that I am gonna feel so tired after surgery. My doctor said, "well, you are gonna take one pill a day like an vitamin supplement, thats all". They did not tell that I will feel like this. Its really bad until a specific dose fits for you. I am glad that before surgery you are searching information. Good luck.

[redlushberry]

Wow, all these posts are making me nervous. I have had Graves Disease for about 6 years and my Dr has scheduled a TT in 3 weeks. I have been trying to get pregnant on my Neomercazole meds for about a year to no avail. That's why Dr thought the TT a better option. Did anyone have radioactive iodine as an option, or a Partial Thyroidectomy?

Thanks I am feeling very nervous about the TT.