thyroid

Anyone out there have many difficulties after thyroid surgery? I had a total thyroidectomy last May and have not felt the same since. I have had chest pains and tests including angiogram's, I have passed out and been taken to the hospital, no reason according to Dr's, also have High Blood pressure now and on med's, also cholesterol is being lowered now by meds, always feel light headed and not stable on my feet like I used to and now they have discovered I have Cysts on my Ovaries.(since I had my hysterectomy really young they had left those in) For the last year it seems it has been one illness after another and one test after another. I can't believe it would not be somehow thyroid related. (Reason for thyroid surgery was I had graves disease and papillary carcinoma.) I don't even know what Dr. to go to now, seems my symptoms are all over the place. Not to mention the normal hypo symptoms of gaining 16 pounds, muscle and joint pain etc. Don't like those symptoms but I can live with them if I could just feel better. I'm currently on .175 synthroid and the Dr. increases it about every three months, is anyone else having these problems?

It sounds like your parathyroids may have been damaged during your surgery.

Your parathyroids are four little glands around your thyroid. Their purpose is to regulate calcium. They can easily be damaged during a thyroidectomy, especially if the surgeon does not take care to avoid damaging them by leaving enough renmants of your thyroid behind.

Some of your symptoms sound like they may be related to low blood calcium, e.g. high blood pressure, muscle cramps. You can get a blood calcium test to see if this is the case.

There are also many side effects of blood pressure medication, so it sounds like you will need to work with several doctors - a good endocrinologist and a good cardiologist.

THANK YOU TIJUNKIE-
THE DR, DOES CHECK MY CALCIUM A LOT BUT IT NEVER SEEMS TO BE OUT OF LINE, I DID HAVE A PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF SURGERY AND WAS DOSED PRETTY HIGH ON CALCIUM WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL. I TAKE MY CALCIUM EVERDAY NOW ABOUT 1/2 HOUR TO 1 HOUR AFTER MY SYNTHROID. THE CHEST PAIN THEY THINK IS FROM GERDS ALTHOUGH I DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THE HEARTBURN I USED TO SINCE I'M ON MED'S FOR IT. I GET SPASMS IN THE CENTER OF MY CHEST THAT RADIATE TO MY NECK AND FEEL LIKE MY TONSILS ARE TIGHT. (THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN THOSE YET BUT THAT'S ABOUT ALL THEY HAVEN'T LOL) THE ANGIOGRAM WAS GREAT ACCORDING TO THE DR. SO NO HEART PROBLEMS, JUST FEEL LIKE A PIECE OF GARBAGE MOST OF THE TIME. LOW ENERGY,
LIGHT HEADED, TUNNEL VISION, PLUS THE CHEST ISSUE, RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME, MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN. OTHER THAN THAT I'M PERFECTLY OKAY (HA!HA!) JUST SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT ALL THIS HAPPENS TO HAPPEN WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER MY SURGERY. I CERTAINLY WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS AN ISSUE
WHEN I GO BACK TO THE ENDO NEXT MONTH-

The only problems I had after my total thyroidectomy were menstrual issues....in fact, I think all the extra thyroid meds they put you on to suppress cancer contributed to my rapid fibroid growth.

Your numbers may sound good, but the fact is that you continue to feel lousy, so the doctors need to listen.

After my thyroid surgery, I felt fine, but I heard a lot from other patients in support groups that they didn't feel good, and that it was a long journey back.

I had the right side of my thyroid removed almost 2.5 years ago. I am still monitored on my left. Actually I have an Ultra sound this month. I had hyper thyroid before and a large Alien Lump I called Ned. I had a small encapsilated Papillary Microcarinoma as well.

I felt way worse before I had the lump removed. I am now on .88 synthroid. The problem is I have a heck of a time losing weight. It is really tough. I have to work at it really hard and I am still overweight. Though I exercise hard 5 to 6 days a week.

I would get your levels done again. Maybe you need a different kind of medication. I am sorry you are having a such time with this. But maybe it is your blasted ovaries causing so many problems. Keep us posted

Katie

THANKS LADIES! BOY THIS WEB SITE IS AWESOME. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME SEARCHING THE WEB FOR SOMEONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. IT'S NICE TO AT LEAST TALK IT OUT!

I HAVE GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT, I WAS VERY BLESSED TO BE ONE OF THOSE PERSONS THAT DIDN'T GAIN WEIGHT EASY, THAT WAS UNTIL THE THYROIDECTOMY. NOW I'M 16 LBS HEAVIER AND STILL GAINING! THAT IS PRETTY FRUSTERATING FOR ME, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CONTROL IT AT THIS POINT. THE THINGS THAT WORKED BEFORE IF I STARTED GAINING DON'T ANYMORE. THEN COUPLED WITHT THE FACT THAT I AM SO DARN TIRED AND FEEL LIGHTHEADED I AM AFRAID TO START BACK EXERCISING AGAIN. ESPECIALLY AFTER THE BLACK OUT, PASS OUT EXPERIENCE. THAT WAS PRETTY SCAREY. I GO BACK TO THE ENDO IN A MONTH AND NOW TO THE GYN TO HOPEFULLY DEAL WITH THE CYSTS. WHAT A BLESSING IT WOULD BE TO FEEL GOOD, I SURE HOPE THE MAJORITY OF THE THINGS I'M FEELING ARE FROM THE DARN OVARIES. THE DR'S SURE DON'T LIKE TO LISTEN. THEY SEEM TO THINK IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE "OLD" I AM ONLY 53 AND I DON'T THINK I GOT "OLD" OVERNIGHT. (FEEL GOOD ONE DAY THEN THE NEXT BECAUSE YOU ARE OLD YOU DON'T? HELLLOOOO!)
GREAT TALKING WITH YOU AND THANKS SOOOOO MUCH FOR THE INPUT.

I had my thyroid removed 15 years ago and was put on Synthroid. Three years ago I went to a chiropractor and mentioned how I had joint aches. He asked if I was on Synthroid, and I answered affirmative. He had just read an article about Synthroid and how it makes some people ache. The article suggested taking liothyronine (Cytomel).

During my next visit to the doctor, I asked him to prescribe Cytomel. He did (25mcg), and my body aches disappeared. At the time I was on 125 mcg Synthroid. After taking Cytomel, my Synthroid dosage was reduced to 50 mcg.

I hope this helps, even though this response is a little late.

THANK YOU FOR THE INFO, I WAS ON CYTOMEL JUST BEFPRE I WENT IN FOR THE RADIATION TREATMENT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT LEAVES YOUR BODY QUICKER THEN SYNTHROID AND THEY WANT YOU TO BE REALLY HYPO SO THE TREATMENT WILL WORK BETTER. I WILL CERTAINLY ASK THE DR. SEEMS THAT YOUR MED'S AREN'T VERY HIGH FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD THEIR THYROID REMOVED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I SHOULD BE DOSED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN .200 AND .300 SINCE THEY TOOK OUT MY ENTIRE THYROID.(OF COURSE THAT DEPENDS ON THE DR. YOU TALK TO)
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CYTOMEL MORE OFTEN TO KEEP THE DOSAGE LEVEL BUT I WOULD DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO FEEL BETTER AT THIS POINT.
AGAIN THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR THE INFO-

Gem Lady,

I have also had my thyroid removed, April 2001, due to papillary carcinoma. It has taken over two years for me to get my synthroid right to where I felt half way normal again. I started at .15, then raised to .2, then .25 then .30. This past January my endo lowered me back down to .20 and I feel a lot better. What helped me the most was the Thyroid Cancer support group by email. You can sign up at www.thyca.com, I think that's the site, I have it bookmarked. The group is very helpful and they have a lot of information that I never leard from my endo. One thing that might help you is to wait to take your calcium at least four hours after you take your synthroid, that has really helped me too. Plus I take a lot of vitamins from GNC that were recommended by a thyroid expert. I also gained about 20 pounds with my thyca experience and this year I was finally able to lose it. My husband and I went on the South Beach Diet at the beginning of Feb. and I've lost 20 pounds. Plus, the diet has helped with a lot of the stomach issues I've had since thyca. Feel free to email if you want.

haazel
4/22/04 - TAH/BSO.

Hi Haazel!

Thanks for taking the time to respond it truly is appreciated! The
Synthroid dosage thing confuses me, you say you were only taking .2 and .25 and .30? Is that the same as .175 and .200??
I was put on .10 when they found the nodule to try and shrink the thing and that is when it all started. Turns out the reason I had the nodule was two fold, Graves Disease and Papillary Carcinoma. It's been a year now and sometimes I wonder if I am ever gonna feel normal. I have to go back in for my thryoglobulin test tomorrow then in two weeks approx. to the endo again to see if I need more radiation. Last test was good so I am hopeful. More concerned about being off the meds again, since I am currently taking the .175 and so tired I can't imagine being off any med's for a week and being able to function at all.
I have pretty much read most items on the web but can't seem to find to many that have had all the issues I have had (see comments written earlier) I am hoping that when I get balanced all of the issue will go away. Thanks again, I appreciate talking with someone who has been there!