I feel terrible whilst I am hypothryoid - I have been hyper too since thyroidectomy as was on too high a dose. I had thyroidectomy due to Graves disease.
But while I am hypo (as I am now) I literally can't get out of bed with constant nausea and weakness. Dizziness, muscle pain, I feel like I am dying! Even if my levels are just a little low this happens (TSH 3-5). My stomach acid is too low, I wake up in the middle of the night (guessing blood sugar levels / cortisol). This all goes when I am Euthyroid (the once or twice I was shortly) or hyper.
When I had a thyroid I didn't feel this bad even when my TSH was 30+!!
I was wondering since my operation could it be possible that my adrenals can't support me like they used to; another symptom of hypothryroidism if you like? I know I would still have the majority of symptoms but if I was taking cortisol could it help?
**Edit - I should say that I also suffer from circles under my eyes and brown patches on my skin. Again they disappear if I am not hypo. I know it can just be hypo but they are also symptoms of low adrenal function
You are undermedicated with a TSH 3-5. The aim should be if hypo a TSH of 1 or below or suppressed. Besides, I think it would be more humane to prescribe some T3 to a person without a thyroid gland. I am not surprised you feel so very unwell.
One of our Admins, Clutter, has had Graves and didn't feel well on levo only and improved when T3 was added.
Unfortunately, we are neglected by the medical profession because some doctors wrongly believe that the TSH is the diagnosis, ignores the clinical symptoms, and prescribe too low a dose of levothyroxine to keep the TSH 'somewhere in the range' and think their job is done. Will prescribe a myriad of meds to try to control the symptoms which is really impossible as it is a decent dose of thyroid hormones we need.
To rectify your low stomach acid, try Betaine with Pepsin tablets in any chemist or health stores or you can order from Amazon.
If we want to get well we have to more or less take a degree as we are being failed by the NHS (if you're in the UK). Many do fine on levo but not the 40,000 + on this forum.
From now on, make the earliest appointment for your blood tests for your thyroid hormones, fast (you can drink water). Leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.
Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.
Always get a print-out of your blood tests with the ranges for your own records and so that you can post if you have any queries.
Ask questions if anything bothers you.
I don't know how much levo you're taking but ask GP to reduce levo by 50mcg and add 10mcg of T3 on a trial basis. Research has shown that a 1:3 ratio is best for T3/T4 combination.
Hi TheHoggle, This is exactly how I felt once I had had my sub-total thyroidectomy after Graves would not settle. I certainly did not feel as bad while I was actually Hyperthyroid. About a year after |I had the operation I woke one night being unable to breathe. A Locum came out and gave me an injection and said I was completely exhausted. I presume the injection was Hydrocortisone and I believe it was my adrfenals that had finally had enough of struggling. I was then untreated, but was then given Valium (eventually after two years I came off them on my own) for 19 years. Once started on Norton Levothyroxine I began to feel better over the course of about 4 months and was well on Norton until this was taken off the market and I was put on Actavis. I stuck this for 1 week and asked to have something better. Was then put on Goldshield Eltroxin and was well again until this was taken away in 2010. I have been ill since then.
It does rather sound as though your adrenals are suffering. I am addressing mine now, and think this will be for ever.
Ask your doctor for a SST blood test. Buy some Nutri Adrenal Extra to support your adrenals. These are supplements and are safe to take. I take 4 a day. Felt a bit better on them but I guess we are all kind of different. Hope you feel better soon.
Rotten feeling not well..I sympathise! Have you ever done a twenty four hour urine collection? This measures your levels of cortisol as well as blood tests.
good luck
Won't tell you my horror stories - you wouldn't believe them! I too had most of my thryoid removed...worse thing I ever did...NOW they tell us that nowadays they DON'T remove people's thyroid but just treat them per ce.....too late for us that have had the gland removed.
I would get ferritin and folic acid and iron tests done too and go back to doc and tell him how you feel. It is the T4 they look at mostly, but get them to check your T3 levels too...
it is a nightmare I know and same for many other thryoid sufferers.
I cannot walk too far or too fast cos the soles of my feet burn and feels like I'm walking on broken glass. Sometimes get terrible pain in my thigh muscles when climbing stairs....can hardly make it to the top..nearly screaming by the time I reach top of stairs!
Floralpen, I too, was told that they no longer remove your thyroid at my last Endo appointment. Wish they had know that in 1978 when they gave me a sub-total thyroidectomy. However, even knowing this they still don't treat us properly.
TheHoggle, You don't feel well because you are very undermedicated to have TSH >3. What is your FT3? Most people need FT3 in the top third of range and this will usually result in TSH <1.0.
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