Hi Sophiesudane, anyone having their thyroid gland removed should have an antibody test done first. Your doctor should still do one on you to determine what type of thyroid disease you have.
You may also want your doctor to test your T3 and T4 levels through dialysis; it is more accurate and is beginning to become the norm.
Good luck.
I am much older than you are and am going through similar situation with my thyroid. I have been tired most of my life, but due to circumstances, had to work, get up, face the transporation, the workforce, etc., often while being tired. Now I am not working. But I will tell you this: if you're tired a lot, it's easy to get depressed. Or angry. It's also easy to get weepy I notice when something touches me emotionally, but the weepy time comes mostly when I'm tired. Yes, in order to cope, it's good to do things when you can that you enjoy.
I am constantly shocked about the amount of bad information that is out there. So much of it comes from doctors. I had a total thyroidectomy 4 years ago and I would do anything to be able to get it back. I had Grave's disease, large solid nodules (biopsies were inconclusive) and was told by "the best thyroid surgeon in the area" that it needed to be removed and I would be feeling normal in 3-6 months. Grave's and Hashimoto's means that you have an autoimmune disease. Removing the thyroid or destroying it with radioactive iodine does stop your immune system from attacking your thyroid but it doesn't treat the autoimmune disease. The thyroid is usually the weakest link. Once the thyroid is gone you still have the problem of making sure you don't develop another autoimmune problem. Your body will usually find something else to go after. When you get sick your thyroid gland adjusts for that. It adjusts for pregnancy and weight gain or loss. When you're on a set dose it doesn't account for these temporary changes. For example, when females with no thyroid get pregnant they must raise your dose to provide extra thyroid hormone for the baby. It's impossible to keep up with the growing baby and changes in your body. At minimum doctors will test every 6 weeks. The constant ups and downs of changing meds while also being pregnant is not fun. You can be hypo for a while and then your dose gets raised and you can become on the hyper side until the baby grows or you gain enough weight. Then when you deliver you have way more thyroid hormone then needed putting you into hyperthyroidism. It can take 2-3 months for your body to adjust to the new dose and you feel better. That is if the dose is correct. Getting an infection of any kind is a less intense version of this. You won't have your meds adjusted for that. You just have to have low thyroid symptoms on top of the illness. Low thyroid hormones means your body will have a harder time fighting the infection too. This is not a fun way to live. It's unfortunate that most people with thyroid disease don't even get diagnosed until symptoms become debilitating or cancer has already developed. When a medical professional tells you that they have the answer to your problems, most people want to believe in that so badly to end the suffering they have been experiencing. Of course, you think they know what they are doing and are willing to do whatever they tell you to do. People need to be screened yearly and not just for tsh but for thyroid antibodies to make sure a problem isn't developing before it's too late. Most people with an autoimmune disease have leaky gut syndrome. Please research this and see that it is possible to heal your autoimmune disease. You should do this if it hasn't yet progressed to irreversible damage and even if it has and you've already been treated for thyroid cancer. Your immune system is still overactive even after the thyroid is gone. Most doctors won't tell you this either because they have an ego that tells them medical school gave them all of the answers or because they don't make money from teaching people how to heal themselves without surgery and/or lifelong medications and frequent appointments. The thyroid gland is a very important part of our bodies. The decision to remove or destroy it should not be taken lightly. Search the internet for info, find a doctor trained in integrative or functional medicine or a doctor of osteopathic medicine, look into how to cure leaky gut syndrome, and make sure you get all of the lab tests you should have. When a doctor tells you to take a pill and the problem will be solved without being willing to talk about the underlying cause of thyroid disease, find a new doctor immediately. We have to be our own advocates for our health. It is worth the effort.
We really can't suggest anything without more info. Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. What, if any, other symptoms do you have? What med and dosage are you taking?
I'm the same I don't have no thyroid and I take meds to but ive got where I don't have no energy what should I do
Going on 20years from total thyroidectomy still get feelings of anxiety and feel like I need a toilet a lot get very nervous and sick feeling if I've got to go out for tea to a restaurant can't drink alcohol next day really ill I'm on 175mcg thyroxine doctor said my blood test was fine but I know there is something wrong
going on 5 years now. still don't feel well. Hope you are well.
Wow Bruçe i sure hope so.. My total thyroidectomy was Sept 2015.. Up 30 #s bloat mess... No cancer/ graves disease / lg. Nodules present I keep telling myself things have got to get better...not
Hong but stretch pants and shorts fit and over sized t shirts..
Wow Bruçe i sure hope so.. My total thyroidectomy was Sept 2015.. Up 30 #s bloat mess... No cancer/ graves disease / lg. Nodules present I keep telling myself things have got to get better...not
Hong but stretch pants and shorts fit and over sized t shirts..
After reading your comment and wiping the tears from my eyes, I feel compelled to tell you that I had my thyroid taken out 3 years ago and once the doctor got my Synthroid adjusted properly, I'm back to a normal life and doing everything I could before the operation! I haven't gained any weight and I haven't been depressed until reading your comment! As you read everyone's comments, remember that each of us have different problems so, not everything you read is because of removing one's thyroid! Have a long and prosperous life!
There is absolutely no need to be so concerned. What you read on the Forum are stories from hypothyroid patients that don't have good thyroid doctors who understand how to test and treat hypothyroidism. Now that you have found this Forum you can count on all the support you need and all the information you need to assure effective treatment. So, in order for us to best help you we need some basic information from you.
When was the TT done? When did you start on the Synthroid? What is your daily dosage of Synthroid? Do you have any other symptoms besides depression? If tested since the TT please post the results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.
As you proceed always keep in mind that a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not TSH results. If your doctor is unwilling to treat clinically as described, then we will help you find a good thyroid doctor, if you will tell us your location.
I am 20 years old and recently had my entire thyroid taken out because I had cancer. It has been a very stressful situation. I have felt depressed ever since I started synthroid. Reading what all these people have gone through gives me so much anxiety. I don't want to have to deal with depression, anxiety, fatigue and weight gain the rest of my life. I can't help but think it will not even be worth it to live if I will only be going through a struggle and suffering the rest of my life.
By doing fine, does that mean that you have no symptoms of any kind? If not I am surprised, since your Free T3 is so low. Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.
I had a complete thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer at age 21. I'm now almost 75 and doing fine. After the surgery I had radioactive iodine to "burn" out whatever thyroid tissue was left. I started at 3mcg of synthroid- now using the generic levothyrixine and down to 150mcg. My tsh was .005 at last test, t4 free 1.4 t3 free 2.1. Hang in there- you can have a long and happy life without a thyroid.
Hi I didnt read through all the comments there were just too many lol, was anyone here born without a thyroid?
I am not alone! I had thyroid cancer at 19 and my life has not been the same. Its been a struggle to try to regulate the levels. It is such a hassle! Im tired, moody, anxious, etc. I feel exhausted some days and others not so much. I have my good days and bad days. I dont know what to do to feel like myself again. Is there another thyroid hormone besides synthroid??? I am so frustrated with being tired all of the time.
I feel the same way!! You are not alone. I had a complete thyroidectomy
Please post your actual thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. Also, tell us about any other symptoms you have besides weight gain. If tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin (iron related), please post those, and ranges as well.
Had my thyroid removed march 2011, gained 25 lbs, lb a day for 25 days!!! couldn't breathe well, not from eating for sure. age 47 then had a heart attack on October 24, 2011. there is a connection, I'm sure of this. I have a stent and am happy to be alive. Get my bloods done every 6 months and to date still cant loose weight, now 55 lbs overweight and frustrated. thinking of adding more T3 to my pill box. everything else seems to have too many side effects. I eat healthy and now gluten free.... dr's say bloods are all good, what the hell somethings wrong, now I'm considered obese which can cause heart issues .............any suggestions for the weight loss? so hate the way I look and afraid the weight will give me another heart attack
Just because thyroid test results fall in the so-called "normal" range does not mean that is adequate for you. the ranges are far too broad, due to the erroneous way they are established, and also each patient may have different optimal levels. If you would like comments on your thyroid related test results, please post them, along with reference ranges shown on the lab report. Any other symptoms besides being tired?
I have recently been diagnosed with a 3.7cm nodule on my thyroid, my primary told me that my hormone levels are normal (although I feel tired most of the time and feel like something is stuck in my throat). I am scheduled to see an Endo in a few weeks. The whole thing has me worried. Thanks for listening and for sharing your stories
to anybody. I have high thyroid anti bodies and peridoctase levels. but normal thyroid levels otherwise. I can hardly swallow. it hurts in the back of my throat constantly. I had that FNA and came back to re ultra sound and re FNA in three months. I feel it getting worse though the endo put me on levo 50mg until I return. Ive been told its dying and I cannot prevent this. its like a dead piece of meat will end up in my neck someday if I don't remove it. my BIGGEST concern is WIEGHT GAIN. if they try to have me remove it...will I gain weight and NOT be able to lose it for the most part. If you keep and it dies in your neck., how will you ever know if it was cancerous or not? I have a multinodular goiter, two large nodules besides on the thyroid, one solid 1.2 cm the other looks cystic 1.4cm , not being able to NOT feel things as I swallow and eat or swallow and choke a little,,im so confused what to do...endo said "if any bit bigger" we can have you on a "table" in 2 weeks, and just remove it!! ugh. :( any good advice? especially where WIEGHT is concerned here... Thanks <3
to anybody. I have high thyroid anti bodies and peridoctase levels. but normal thyroid levels otherwise. I can hardly swallow. it hurts in the back of my throat constantly. I had that FNA and came back to re ultra sound and re FNA in three months. I feel it getting worse though the endo put me on levo 50mg until I return. Ive been told its dying and I cannot prevent this. its like a dead piece of meat will end up in my neck someday if I don't remove it. my BIGGEST concern is WIEGHT GAIN. if they try to have me remove it...will I gain weight and NOT be able to lose it for the most part. If you keep and it dies in your neck., how will you ever know if it was cancerous or not? I have a multinodular goiter, two large nodules besides on the thyroid, one solid 1.2 cm the other looks cystic 1.4cm , not being able to NOT feel things as I swallow and eat or swallow and choke a little,,im so confused what to do...endo said "if any bit bigger" we can have you on a "table" in 2 weeks, and just remove it!! ugh. :( any good advice? especially where WIEGHT is concerned here... Thanks <3
There is no reason to think that you cannot feel well again while taking T4 and Cytomel, if your biologically active thyroid hormones are adequately adjusted. Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. Also, tell us about any other symptoms besides weight gain. If tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, please post those, along with ranges also.