Thyroidectomy

[mrsbarnes15]

I had a thyroidectomy and neck dissection on Febuary 20th. Ever since I started taking my levothyroxine, around the same time I had my radioactive iodine treatment, its been hard to breathe. My oxygen levels are at 100 percent and It does not feel like a upper respiatory infection or anything. What could be causing this?

[danie17075rm]

I suffer from air hunger all the time.  This website shows a little bit about why this happens:


http://www.drlowe.com/jcl/comentry/breathingproblems.htm

[mrsbarnes15]

I just had another TSH and T3 and T4 tests done. My tsh levels were 8.43 with the ranges being .23 - 4.50. My T3 and T4 were normal. My doctor gave me a prescription for a higher synthroid dose, she said we will check it again in 6 weeks. Could this be why im short of breath all the time?

[blsdnsvvd]

Are you having any other symptoms that you may have noticed after your TT. Go online and research "anxiety symptoms", alot of people including me, develop anxiety after thyroid removal or hypothyroidism.

[mrsbarnes15]

No not yet. That was just an er visit for calcium levels. I will be going to see an endo soon tho.

[Barb135]

Did you only have TSH done?  Just because your TSH is 0.78, doesn't mean your thyroid levels are high. TSH is not a good indicator of actual thyroid hormone levels.  You really need the Free T3 and Free T4 tests.  

[mrsbarnes15]

Hey there,
I just had labs done last nite and my tsh levels were .78 with the ranges being .26 - 4.50. So I guess my thyroid levels are a little on the high side. I wonder if thats what is causing all of these symtoms? I am still taking .125 mcgs of levothyroxine daily. Please any help or advice
would be appreciated!

[Barb135]

125 mcg is a huge starting dose. How long have you been on it?  You could have a reaction to that, or you might be reacting to the fillers/binders.  

I'd suggest that you see about going back to a lower dose and work up slowly; there could very well be a dosage between 0 and 125 mcg that might work better for you.

If you have your current labs, please post them, so members can better assess your testing/treatment.  Be sure to include the reference ranges, since these vary lab to lab and must come from your own report.

Anxiety can also cause a sensation of difficult breathing or like there's weight on your chest.

[mrsbarnes15]

Hello and thanks for the response! Im currently on .125 mcgs of levothyroxine and that was my starting dose. They say my levels are normal. I dont feel normal! And as for the breathing it feels like im not getting enough air like there is something heavy on my chest. I did talk to the doctor about it about a month ago and she gave me some antibiotics and thought it was a infection but its not. Its still there and it seems like it started right after I started taking my levothyroxine.

[Kristina538]

What dosage of levothyroxine are you taking and when did you start?   There aren't supposed to be side effects, but some people are sensitive to starting on higher dosages.

[Barb135]

Not sure what you mean by "hard to breathe"....Do your sinuses seem to be plugged? Does your chest feel "heavy"?  Does it feel like there's pressure somewhere? ..

If your oxygen levels are at 100%, it would seem that you are breathing quite well. Could this simply be a "sensation"?