Hypothyroid - Could it have been caused by Necrosis after neck lift ?

[Gerry1969]

For my whole adult life I've been a perfectly normal (UK) size 8-10 gradually gaining a few pounds as I headed towards my 40's but nothing worrying. Last year I had lipo on my neck and lower face lift which resulted in necrosis at the wound sites. This took a full 2.5 months to heal during which, I was on antibiotics. I lost half a stone in weight but then began to pile it on despite being active and eating healthy. One and a half stone more and a year later I was diagnosed with hypothyroid. I'm now on levothyroxine which isn't working for my weight so I'm going to have to persuade / beg my doc to test T3.

My main question is could the necrosis or the surgery have caused damage to my thyroid?

The surgeon who performed the surgery is being sued by about 12 other people. Turns out he's a bit of a butcher!

One more thing. Before I went into surgery the nurse mentioned that my blood test showed leucocytes which usually indicates infection. I was fine at the time so they went ahead.

I don't feel confident in asking my doc. Her knowledge seems a bit basic.

[shaws Administrator]

I am not sure about whether your operation would have caused a dysfunction of your thyroid gland but some things can cause it, i.e. whiplash injury for instance or other kinds of damage to neck. It wouldn't be impossible, I think, for your op to do so as you wouldn't be aware during anaesthetic what occurred.

Regarding now being hypo and on levothyroxine and weight gain.

If you've not had a recent blood test for your thyroid gland I would ask for one to include Free T3 too. The lab might not do so if your TSH is 'normal'. You can get one privately.Hopefully they will. Make your appointment as early as possible and fast (you can drink water). Take your dose of levo the day before and don't take it until after your blood. Also ask for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be done as we are usually deficient.

Get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges and post for comments if you have a query.

web.archive.org/web/2010032...

Once you have your blood tests and they are not optimal maybe you can then ask GP to add some T3 to your T4.

[Gerry1969 in reply to shaws]

I'm all new to this and gradually beginning to understand. Last time I asked my doc to test T3 she said, "oh, that's only if you're over active".

I didn't know enough then to challenge her but I've printed out my ammunition for my next appointment.

Thanks for your comments

[shaws Administrator in reply to Gerry1969]

I doubt she will take any notice of things we've printed from the internet. Just for your own info this is a link and go down and read about the Free T3 test.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

The link above was mainly about being kept in a 'range' and thus maybe not getting sufficient hormones to make us feel better.

[penny]

You might like to look up a Scar Integration practitioner to get any adhesions from you surgery freed and reintegrated.

Science says that even if we do not feel the pain of surgery as our neural pathways are blocked, our bodies feel the pain and retain the trauma. (Cellular Memory, Candice Pert.)

[Heloise]

Hi Gerry, any trauma or stress to the body if it lasts long enough will impact the thyroid. If you want to watch this very insightful video you'll find that the adrenal gland receives the message from the hypothalamus so it can begin processes of adrenaline, steroids or sex hormones. The adrenals control much more than I ever realized. They use cholesterol in many of these processes. In the end, if the adrenals are high the thyroid will be low. It is a balancing act. Other doctors who are considered functional medicine will look for the underlying cause of the thyroid dysfunction and I think if it is not attacks on different areas of the thyroid gland is the activity of the adrenal gland. All in all the glands are doing what is necessary for survival and not really the fault of the gland. Yes, there is so much to learn but it's worth the investigation.

youtube.com/watch?v=T_Re4ja...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_CP7l...(Not working as expected?)

[endomad in reply to Heloise]

Just come across this I am researching my very low cortisol. So much conflicting info makes my head spin, this makes sense thanks x

[Heloise in reply to endomad]

Hi endomad, I'm rather endomad myself. A functional doctor has much more information for you because they know how the BODY works, conventional doctors know more about how drugs work....if that.

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland but the adrenal gland may need support. It depends on why it is not able to produce enough. You may have had high cortisol to support your low thyroid for a while. Of course sleep is the best way to recover along with certain nutrients; vitamin c, licorice root and Siberian Gingseng could be tried. If your TSH is still over 2 it will still be stressing your adrenals.