Thyroidectomy/hypothyroidism

[mrsbarnes15]

Hello. I recently had a thyroidectomy and I just had to stop taking my cytomel  about two weeks ago for an upcoming radioactive iodine treament on Monday. Im getting really hypothyroid, Its getting hard to stand, im sore and most of all im sooo tired but I cant sleep. Im tired, but my anxiety is shooting through the roof. Will this go away after I start my hormone again? please help!

[mrsbarnes15]

THank you for responding! And sorry it has taken me so long to respond back, I have been on levothyroxine .125 mcg for about 7 weeks now and I still feel like crap. Heart palps, anxiety, depression ect. Im not sure what to do?

[gimel]

Hypothyroid patients frequently have those symptoms, so I'm sure it is all related to that.  I was just thinking ahead to what the doctor will be prescribing for you after the RAI.  I thought you should know that a good thyroid doctor will treat you clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  

So you are going to need to be tested for Free T3 and Free T4 each time you go in.  Also request Vitamin D, B12,  ferritin, and a full iron test panel.  If the doctor resists and makes excuses that it is not necessary, just insist that it is necessary.  When test results are available, please post results and their reference ranges and members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.

This letter was written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

I suggest that you read the letter thoroughly and ask your doctor is he is willing to treat you clinically as described in the letter.  If not, then you will eventually need to try and find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.  

[mrsbarnes15]

Thanks! I just had the thyroidectomy on Feb 20th so the cytomel was supposed to be short acting just to get my though untill I had to stop taking it for the RAI treatment. I was taking two .25 mcl. I had to stop taking it about a week and half ago. I just dont understand why im so tired but cant sleep. I can difinily feel my anxiety is high, thats probablly why?

[gimel]

Stopping the T3 med results in a very quick drop in T3 levels, thus you are feeling so bad.  I'm sure that it will go back to the way you felt before.  Free T3 is the thyroid hormone that largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate.  

Just curious, are you taking any thyroid med other than Cytomel ?  What are the dosages of your thyroid meds.?  Did you have any lab tests from right before stopping the Cytomel?  If so, please post the test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.