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Thyroid Removal Concerns
I'm going to have my thyroid removed soon. What concerns me is weight gain and how this will effect my life. At present I'm at the top of normal on thyroid tests. Not yet into abnormal range of hyperthyroidism. What is different is I also have a TSH of 23 due to the fact that I have a hot nodule, numerous nodules some large. So, as I can see I lean to hyperthyroidism and am hypo also. I don't loose weight easily. I have had a TSH of around 23 for over ten years and have never taken thyroid hormone replacement. Over the last few years my thyroid nodule of concern has grown. From 2.4 to 3.2. I have had numerous fine needle biopsies. None cancerous.
A month ago I went into afib for the first time and was hospitalize. The issue of the thyroid came up and that it could have contributed to the afib. So, I now will be seeing a surgeon to see about getting my thyroid removed.
I'm very concerned how I will feel after this surgery and if everyone gains weight. Interesting that it was about 13 years ago that my tsh became low and I did gain about 30lbs. This weight has stayed on for these 13 years and
I really am concerned that this thyroid removal will make me gain more weight.....or with proper thyroid replacement
for my hypothyroid after treatment I will possibly loss weight which would be welcomed.
A month ago I went into afib for the first time and was hospitalize. The issue of the thyroid came up and that it could have contributed to the afib. So, I now will be seeing a surgeon to see about getting my thyroid removed.
I'm very concerned how I will feel after this surgery and if everyone gains weight. Interesting that it was about 13 years ago that my tsh became low and I did gain about 30lbs. This weight has stayed on for these 13 years and
I really am concerned that this thyroid removal will make me gain more weight.....or with proper thyroid replacement
for my hypothyroid after treatment I will possibly loss weight which would be welcomed.
I'm the one with the TSH that's always around 20.0.
As Barb said, TSH is nothing but a messenger from your pituitary to your thyroid to tell it to produce more hormone. TSH, per se, causes no symptoms. If your FT3 and FT4 are high, you are hyper.
I have a pituitary issue called "pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone". Basically, the T3 that one's pituitary needs for itself is converted from T4 in the pituitary itself. My pituitary lacks the enzyme that converts T4 to T3, so it's starving for T3. It "thinks" the rest of my body is as well, but my peripheral conversion is fine. So, we just have to ignore my TSH.
Ironically, weight gain (or inability to lose) can be associated with both hypo and hyper. Some people just seem to gain weight whenever the thyroid if off in either direction, although weight gain is more often associated with hypo.
I dropped 25 pounds after starting levo without doing anything differently. You just have to keep after your doctor to adjust meds until all symptoms are gone.
I also have a heart arrhythmia, in my case a congenital heart defect that makes me prone to episodic tachycardia. Once again, both hypo and hyper can affect arrhythmias. Once my meds were adjusted properly and stabilized, my tachycardia has been the best it's been since I was a kid. I'm now just over four years free of an episode.
I'll look forward to seeing your labs, too.
As Barb said, TSH is nothing but a messenger from your pituitary to your thyroid to tell it to produce more hormone. TSH, per se, causes no symptoms. If your FT3 and FT4 are high, you are hyper.
I have a pituitary issue called "pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone". Basically, the T3 that one's pituitary needs for itself is converted from T4 in the pituitary itself. My pituitary lacks the enzyme that converts T4 to T3, so it's starving for T3. It "thinks" the rest of my body is as well, but my peripheral conversion is fine. So, we just have to ignore my TSH.
Ironically, weight gain (or inability to lose) can be associated with both hypo and hyper. Some people just seem to gain weight whenever the thyroid if off in either direction, although weight gain is more often associated with hypo.
I dropped 25 pounds after starting levo without doing anything differently. You just have to keep after your doctor to adjust meds until all symptoms are gone.
I also have a heart arrhythmia, in my case a congenital heart defect that makes me prone to episodic tachycardia. Once again, both hypo and hyper can affect arrhythmias. Once my meds were adjusted properly and stabilized, my tachycardia has been the best it's been since I was a kid. I'm now just over four years free of an episode.
I'll look forward to seeing your labs, too.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I will look forward to seeing your test results and we can go from there.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid into producing hormones; apparently, for some reason, the pituitary doesn't realize there's already plenty of hormones. The nodule may be leaking independently of the thyroid.
As far as weight gain, we're all different, so while some don't gain weight, some do; some lose it easily, once thyroid hormone levels are adequate and stable, some of us struggle with it. I never weighed more than 105 lbs, except during pregnancy, until my thyroid stopped working and I gained 30 lbs in less than 3 months. I'm still struggling to lose it, but I also have other conditions that contribute to weight gain/inability to lose, so that's another factor to be taken into consideration, as well.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid into producing hormones; apparently, for some reason, the pituitary doesn't realize there's already plenty of hormones. The nodule may be leaking independently of the thyroid.
As far as weight gain, we're all different, so while some don't gain weight, some do; some lose it easily, once thyroid hormone levels are adequate and stable, some of us struggle with it. I never weighed more than 105 lbs, except during pregnancy, until my thyroid stopped working and I gained 30 lbs in less than 3 months. I'm still struggling to lose it, but I also have other conditions that contribute to weight gain/inability to lose, so that's another factor to be taken into consideration, as well.
If your afib is caused by your thyroid then it's removal will correct the problem. My comments re blood thinners was not all inclusive but specifically directed at one in very common use, warfarin (coumadin). Perhaps I wasn't clear enough The potential for dislodging of blood clots during a fib is a known risk and can have serious consequences. The newer drugs are effective but expensive. Be glad you can afford them. Many people must rely on older less expensive drugs like warfarin because of their circumstances.
You are of the belief that hypothyroidism always means weight gain and that it can't be controlled through simple means like hormone replacement diet and exercise. Yes, obesity has it's problems but being recently dx'd with hypo, a condition I suspect I've had for several years before discovery, I can tell you no one in their right mind would consider me obese or even slightly overweight at 5'7 and 130#. a weight I've rarely fluctuated from over several decades.
A good holiday to you, too
You are of the belief that hypothyroidism always means weight gain and that it can't be controlled through simple means like hormone replacement diet and exercise. Yes, obesity has it's problems but being recently dx'd with hypo, a condition I suspect I've had for several years before discovery, I can tell you no one in their right mind would consider me obese or even slightly overweight at 5'7 and 130#. a weight I've rarely fluctuated from over several decades.
A good holiday to you, too
Thanks Barb! I will post my new values which were just taken so it will be a few days. Your comments are helpful. Get back with info.
Hi Chris! Your right about the afib. Your comments would scare someone to death. But this isn't a heart forum and if someone wanted advice about afib then the heart forum would be the place to get supportive information. Clarifying a few things may help someone who doesn't know anything about afib to not be scared to death. I'm well informed about afib and do take the best available latest medication for that condition. It doesn't require intense monitoring and isn't rat poisoning. In fact, not everyone bleeds excessively from anticoagulants and I have no problems at all stopping bleeding. I don't find afib to be a something that will kill you and if you are a good candidate you can have afib corrected. A simple surgery that for some questionable reason is preformed more for men then women. Maybe its because most patients with afib are men. Its is becoming known that
more women are in afib and not excepting the past practices of non treatment.
Your personal choice to weight gain over heart beat is your choice as the lesser of one two. Excess of weight is very harmful to your health on many different levels and should be taken serious when managing your
health.
Have a great Labor Day
more women are in afib and not excepting the past practices of non treatment.
Your personal choice to weight gain over heart beat is your choice as the lesser of one two. Excess of weight is very harmful to your health on many different levels and should be taken serious when managing your
health.
Have a great Labor Day
COMMUNITY LEADER
It would seem that there's something else going on, since your TSH is at 23 and your thyroid hormone levels are in the high normal range. High TSH, itself, does not make you hypo. You can only be hypo when your thyroid isn't producing enough hormones and yours certainly seems to be doing that.
If you have your thyroid removed, you will be placed on thyroid replacement hormones. If your dose is adequate, you should not gain a lot of weight. This will not, however, guarantee that your TSH will return to normal levels. We do have one member whose TSH, routinely, stays around 20 and she feels just fine.
If you have your actual FT3 and FT4 levels to post, that might be helpful for us and be sure to post reference ranges, as they vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
If you have your thyroid removed, you will be placed on thyroid replacement hormones. If your dose is adequate, you should not gain a lot of weight. This will not, however, guarantee that your TSH will return to normal levels. We do have one member whose TSH, routinely, stays around 20 and she feels just fine.
If you have your actual FT3 and FT4 levels to post, that might be helpful for us and be sure to post reference ranges, as they vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
I suffer from hypothyroidism not hyper so can not speak from my own experience re your problem but some of what you say is confusing and contradictory. For instance, the low tsh value you report from 13 years ago would not be associated with weight gain but would be more indicative of hyperthyroidism and weight loss. And a hot nodule would more likely suppress tsh levels than increase them. I will leave any discussion of treatment options for those who share your symptoms.
But that said, it seems the real issue is your fear of weight gain vs afib. Given the choice and surgical removal of my thyroid was indicated, I'd choose weight gain in a heart beat because it can be managed with thyroid hormone replacement and a good diet and exercise regimen.
Management of afib will require antiarrythmic drugs and often includes the need for blood thinners like warfarin to help prevent blood clots that may become dislodged during periods of afib. Dislodged clots can cause stroke and lung embolism among others. Anticoagulants like warfarin require close monitoring and are not without serious risk of bleeding that may be life threatening if not managed carefully. Warfarin is a common ingredient in many rat poisons and causes death through internal bleeding by its very nature as an anticoagulant.
I am not trying to scare you, but your worries about weight gain seems the lesser evil imho. If the afib doesn't kill you it's drug management may still be cause for concern of serious health risks.
But that said, it seems the real issue is your fear of weight gain vs afib. Given the choice and surgical removal of my thyroid was indicated, I'd choose weight gain in a heart beat because it can be managed with thyroid hormone replacement and a good diet and exercise regimen.
Management of afib will require antiarrythmic drugs and often includes the need for blood thinners like warfarin to help prevent blood clots that may become dislodged during periods of afib. Dislodged clots can cause stroke and lung embolism among others. Anticoagulants like warfarin require close monitoring and are not without serious risk of bleeding that may be life threatening if not managed carefully. Warfarin is a common ingredient in many rat poisons and causes death through internal bleeding by its very nature as an anticoagulant.
I am not trying to scare you, but your worries about weight gain seems the lesser evil imho. If the afib doesn't kill you it's drug management may still be cause for concern of serious health risks.
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