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Life after thyriod removal
I had my thyroid removed on 12/30 due to Goiter no cancer or any other issue. Right before and still after surgery I am very nervous and just don't feel like my old self. There are issues with getting my synthroid med right. I did not have nervous issues before all this and now I just wonder how long until I feel not nervous or how long until I feel me again or ever?
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are your actual thyroid hormone levels. Please post them, with reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report. I can't answer very many questions without knowing your actual levels - neither can your doctors.
Well things have not been going well. I was in the 25 still having the nervious issue but took the med for a month and my tsh level is 100.00. Which is way too high. So she started me on the 50, which I have been on the last week and half. I went to see PCP today and tell her my nerves are getting bad with the higher dose of synthyroid. So now I am to take the 50 for 3 days and the 25 for 4 days. my bp is going up too. She seems to think my body is in panic mode looking for my thyriod and that's why I don't feel tired. I still have lots of energy. I do have an appt with a thyroid specialist on Friday. So I am hoping to get some answers.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I thought 125 was too high a starting dose, too... don't know what some doctors are thinking when they start people on thyroid meds... you may never even get to 125 mcg as there could easily be a lower dose that you will settle at.
It's typical to go off med for 3 days, then start back at a lower dose, but because of the long half life of levothyroxine, it will take longer than 3 days for the 125 to get completely out of your system. That's okay, though - you don't want it to get completely out, as that would make you go really hypo, which you want to avoid, if possible.
It's typical to go off med for 3 days, then start back at a lower dose, but because of the long half life of levothyroxine, it will take longer than 3 days for the 125 to get completely out of your system. That's okay, though - you don't want it to get completely out, as that would make you go really hypo, which you want to avoid, if possible.
Well I couldn't take it. I went to my PCP and explained about the nervousness and I have lost 25 pounds. She said that 125 was way too high and to stop taking it for 3 days and on Sunday I am to start the 25mcg for 4 weeks. So far I have been off the 125 for 2 days. I still have the nervousness but the werid thing is it start around 1-2 pm in the afternoon. So I am really hoping this is work. I really just want the nervousness to end.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You can always cut the dose in half again for a while, if it's too much, then increase. Not sure if you can quarter it, to take 3/4 or not; I know they're pretty small so without a real sharp splitter, you often just end up with powder.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Remember, it takes 4-6 weeks for the dose to reach full potential, so staying on it only another day won't do a whole lot.
Good luck and let us know how you turn out...
Good luck and let us know how you turn out...
Thanks for the answers and advise. I guess I will keep in the dose for a 2nd day and see. Thanks again. It was very helpful
COMMUNITY LEADER
If he'd have put you on thyroid hormones, they goiter would probably have shrunk, even if your thyroid was working properly, though chances are, it really wasn't working as well as he thinks it was. Labs were probably coming back "in range", so he said everything was fine, when "in range" doesn't necessarily mean they are...
Did you ever have thyroid antibody tests done that might have been a basis for a diagnosis of Hashimotos? Goiter is extremely common with Hashimoto's.
Well, I guess it's too late to worry about any of that now, anyway.
125 mcg Synthroid is too much to start anyone on... even half that is too much for many/most of us to start, especially if you might be over 50. A common starting dose is 25 mcg for a couple of weeks. If that's tolerated well, a move up to 50 mcg is recommended, followed by an increase to 75 mcg. It's usually best to hold there for a little longer than 2 weeks, but some doctors will go ahead and move on up to 100 mcg.
While you'll stay hypo longer, by moving up slowly, you give the body a chance to adjust to each increase, rather than just doubling the dose right off the bat and running the risk of what you're going through now. If I had to make a choice, I'd rather be a little under medicated than over medicated.
Since it's common for symptoms to worsen or new ones to appear when dosages are increased, many people are able to simply ride it out. If you don't feel like you can do that, call your doctor and ask for a lower dosage, with the understanding that you'll have to increase, at some point, since you levels are, both, very low and if you don't have hypo symptoms now, you will have very soon. Also, your nervousness/anxiety, could be a hypo symptom caused by the low hormone levels, so if you can stay on the dosage, they may go away in a week or so.
Did you ever have thyroid antibody tests done that might have been a basis for a diagnosis of Hashimotos? Goiter is extremely common with Hashimoto's.
Well, I guess it's too late to worry about any of that now, anyway.
125 mcg Synthroid is too much to start anyone on... even half that is too much for many/most of us to start, especially if you might be over 50. A common starting dose is 25 mcg for a couple of weeks. If that's tolerated well, a move up to 50 mcg is recommended, followed by an increase to 75 mcg. It's usually best to hold there for a little longer than 2 weeks, but some doctors will go ahead and move on up to 100 mcg.
While you'll stay hypo longer, by moving up slowly, you give the body a chance to adjust to each increase, rather than just doubling the dose right off the bat and running the risk of what you're going through now. If I had to make a choice, I'd rather be a little under medicated than over medicated.
Since it's common for symptoms to worsen or new ones to appear when dosages are increased, many people are able to simply ride it out. If you don't feel like you can do that, call your doctor and ask for a lower dosage, with the understanding that you'll have to increase, at some point, since you levels are, both, very low and if you don't have hypo symptoms now, you will have very soon. Also, your nervousness/anxiety, could be a hypo symptom caused by the low hormone levels, so if you can stay on the dosage, they may go away in a week or so.
I have had the goiter for over 5 years and they wanted to wait until it got too big to take out since imy tyroid was working fine. Right after surgery he put me on 125mcg and it made me more nervous and stuff so he said only take half the pill then yesterday he called and put me back on the 125mcg. My t3 free is 1.5 range is (2.0-4.4)and my t4 free is 1.27. Normal range is (0.75 -1.54).
COMMUNITY LEADER
Anxiety is a normal reaction to a surgery, such as thyroidectomy. Prior to having your thyroid out, had you had hypothyroidism or anything? Had you been on any thyroid replacement medication? It's quite rare for a doctor to agree to remove a thyroid simply because of a goiter and no other issues. Were you tested for/diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
It takes 4-6 weeks for Synthroid (or any other T4 medication) to take full effect, so if you just started after your surgery on 12/30, you haven't been on it long enough for it to have reached potential.
What dosage did your doctor start you at and exactly how long have you been taking it? Do you have any thyroid related labs you can post so we can get an idea of where your levels might be or where they started? Be sure to include reference ranges, since ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
One other thing to note is that it's not unusual symptoms to worsen or for new ones to appear when adding/changing med or dosages.
Patience is the key when it comes to regulating thyroid hormones.
It takes 4-6 weeks for Synthroid (or any other T4 medication) to take full effect, so if you just started after your surgery on 12/30, you haven't been on it long enough for it to have reached potential.
What dosage did your doctor start you at and exactly how long have you been taking it? Do you have any thyroid related labs you can post so we can get an idea of where your levels might be or where they started? Be sure to include reference ranges, since ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
One other thing to note is that it's not unusual symptoms to worsen or for new ones to appear when adding/changing med or dosages.
Patience is the key when it comes to regulating thyroid hormones.
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