Thyroidectomy in oct

[Tanyag]

Hi everyone, I had a total thyroidectomy in Oct, I had a large nodule on my thyroid was not cancerous. I notice now I wake myself up to like gasping for breath. Or sometimes I think I stop breathing in sleep. Has anyone else experienced this. All so new to me

[GERALDDAVID]

I had a TT 4 years ago and heart bypass 6 1/2 years ago. I started having panic attacks and couldn`t sleep more than an hour at a time. My weight kept going up till finally my oxygen level got too low and I had to go on oxygen at night, also got a little T3 and changed some of my heart meds. I felt so much better, lost 25 lbs the first month and 15 more the second, have lost a hundred lbs in 2 years. Turns out I had sleep apnea, you airway closes when you try to sleep. I got the air mask to wear at night for positive ventilation, didn`t need oxygen anymore, no more ugly panic attacks. Felt like someone was suffocating me about 20 times a day. After 2 years of proper REM sleep I feel so much better, my immune system is much stronger now. Not even a sniffle.

I went in for parathyroid surgery, didn`t know they would take out my thyroid. Said it was enlarged and knotty, was working ok though. They took out 2 of the 4 very small parathyroids. They are behind the thyroid and you can get by with just one, they control your calcium level. Without them life can be tough, you have to take lots of calcium, hard to control level. Calcium blocks your thyroid meds so does iron so leave 4 hrs between that and thyroid med. Also calcium blocks iron so must be separated. I have trouble with low iron and take calcium twice a day. I take 150 mg of levothyroxine in the morning plus 5 mg of liothyronine. Take 5 more in the afternoon. Levo is T4 Lio is T3. You might want to read up on them.

[Tanyag in reply to GERALDDAVID]

Thank you. I am very interested now in finding out what the t3 does. I am read up on it now. It is all so confusing to me. I didn't realize the thyroid plays a big part in everything on your body

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tanyag]

Levothyroxine is also called T4, liothyronine is also called T3.

T4 is the inactive hormone and converts to T3. T3 is the most important and is the active hormone all of the billions of receptor cells in our body needs in order for us to function normally. The doctors have to prescribe sufficient levo to convert to T3 and it should be towards the top part of the range but some don't as they believe anywhere within the range is 'sufficient' and ignore patient's continuing clinical symptoms.

So we have to read and learn in order to recover some semblance of good health. I am hypothyroid and I think as you've had your thyroid gland removed altogether, you should also be prescribed with some T3 to your T4.

When you have a blood test for thyroid hormones, make the earliest possible appointment and fast (you can drink water). Leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood test and take it afterwards. Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and so that you can post if you have a query.

[Tanyag in reply to shaws]

Thank you. It is all starting to make more sense now. I go in 2 week and do labs. I am gonna do as you say. Thank you so much. One more question, do you think that here is any symptoms that indicate one may need t3

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tanyag]

Only if someone still feels unwell when taking levothyroxine and still has clinical symptoms, although they are on an optimum dose.

If dose is high enough and patient converts well to T3 there's no sense in adding something else if they feel good.

[shaws Administrator]

Tanya, I'm sorry you had to have your thyroid gland removed.

What dose and I assume it's levothyroxine you are taking.

[Tanyag in reply to shaws]

I kinda am glad I had it removed. I feel alot better. I was so sluggish before. I am on synthroid 175 mg

[Tanyag in reply to shaws]

Sorry to keep bugging you. I also just looked at my lab papers and he only ordered labs for t4 and tsh. Does that sound right. Should he have a order for t3 as well or does it show in these orders

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tanyag]

That is the basic tests they do when diagnosed and taking levo. Just beware - some doctors think as long as the TSH is anywhere 'in range' they stop adding levo. Some of us need a very low or suppressed TSH to feel well - that is 1 or below. Always go by how you 'feel'. If fine you are on an optimum dose so they shouldn't adjust just by looking at the TSH. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is from the pituitary gland not the thyroid which when it's struggling the pituitary gland tries to flog the thyroid gland to send out more hormones.

[Tanyag]

I was on 140 mg but did lab work and it showed I was hypo

[MidnightBlue]

Have you mentioned this to your GP? He/ she could rule out sleep apnea.

[Tanyag]

No I haven't, but I have been thinking about it. Thanks for confirming that thought