6 months after thyroidectomy

[Lowlow76]

Hi my name is lowanna hester. Im 41 yrs old. Im taking levothroxin. Had total thyroidectomy 6months ago. And was wanting to know if the medicine makes u gain weight and how can i deal with that

[Tiredmum75]

Thyroid is the organ that is responsible for metabolism that’s why your probably putting weight also Hashimotos has weight gain as a symptom so it maybe that. On my medication one of the side effects is weight loss not weight gain. Hope this has been helpful just try eat healthy and exercise but don’t over do it and work with the disease cause Hashimotos isn’t fixed by a thyroidrectmy it will bite you hard if you don’t

[Tiredmum75]

Also would really recommend dr Amy Myers book the autoimmune connection and dr Izabella Wentz book

[Townplanner]

Hi. It's not the medication, it's not having a Thyroid that causes the weight gain! However if you are on the correct Thyroid hormone replacement for you, then your weight should stabilise.

For me, after my TT, that meant going on a combination of T4 and T3. So Levothyroxine

and Liothyronine.

If you're on Facebook, look for me - Felicity Hart ((works Hertfordshire County Council) and message me. I will give you details of a group specifically designed to help people who have had a Toral Thyroidectomy!

[1971JM in reply to Townplanner]

Morning, Im six months post TT, my levels still aren’t correct...what does the liothyronine help with???

I’m not gaining weight but I’m definitely not losing....

Any help would be appreciated...

Thanks

[Hidden]

If you post your blood test results with the ranges and another question the knowledgeable people on this site will help you. They require more information i.e. medication, quantities etc.

I had the same operation back in 2015 and before that I had absolutely no idea regarding the thyroid. I have been helped on this site and now feel so much better and haven't gained weight either. Good Luck.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum lowanna and I am sorry you had to have a thyroidectomy.

Others who have had this operation will also respond.

First thing is we have to read, learn and ask questions if we are to improve our clinical symptoms and health.

Hypothyroidism can cause weight gain as it reduces our metabolism but when on an optimum of thyroid hormones for us, to raise metabolism (it has to be very gradual) weight can be reduced. It is the commonest question - weight gain.

Some important hints to follow:-

1. All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours from your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. This allows the TSH to be at its highest as many doctors are poorly trained and are unaware that the TSH is highest earliest a.m. and drops throughout the day and may mean doctors adjusting our dose unnecessary.

Always get a print-out of your results for your own records and post, with the ranges, for comments.

Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as everything has to be optimum to help us feel better.

The aim of replacing thyroid hormones is to remove all of our clinical symptoms and make us feel well again. Too low hormones and we don't feel well at all and can have various symptoms.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

The aim - and many doctors are unaware of this fact - is a TSH of 1 or lower and some need it to be suppressed with Free T4 and Free T3 towards the upper part of the range. Doctors mistakenly believe that if TSH is below 1 we'll have a heart attack or osteo both of which are untrue. The lower the TSH with FT4 and FT3 near optimum we should feel much better. Rarely are the Frees T4 and T3 tested.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges. We are entitled by law to get copies and post if you have a query.

[T3MARY in reply to shaws]

Shaw that was a brilliant explanation I really believe if someone had been about that explained in your terms what was happening to me after my TT it would have helped me cope

[shaws Administrator in reply to T3MARY]

It seems that many who've had the same op as you - have gland removed without any explanation of what the consequences can be or patient given any advice. The majority of GPs and Endos seem to be the worst persons to have knowledge when such an important part of the body is removed. All they seem to be concerned about is the TSH. We cannot survive without thyroid hormones. That's a fact.

Oh, to go back 60 years when we were diagnosed and given NDT which was increased (all without blood tests) until clinical symptoms were removed. I have my gland so therefore I would always recommend, if someone has no gland, that a combination of T3/T4 may be more helpful to the patient as the T3 gets into T3 receptor cells quickly. Levothyroxine is T4 only and it has to convert to T3. T3 is the only active thyroid hormone and our billions of receptor cells need it for us to function normally.

If you're in the UK and because the exorbitant cost which had been raised about tenfold at least, they've withdrawn it and left many high and dry. If people have a clinical need for T3 it should be prescribed. Research has also shown that most benefit with a combination of T3/T4 but it would seem to me that these research documents are never read by the professionals.

I wish you a speedy recovery. If you take any other medications they should be taken 4 hours apart from levo.

[T3MARY in reply to shaws]

You’ve said it exactly what happened to me it’s actually wrecked the quality off my life They Never tell you that thanks again for all advice X

[Chippysue]

Levothyroxine is T4 and your thyroid was making T3 (and others) so you need t3 as well!

Either with NDT or T3

Your free t4 blood result needs to be at the top and free t3 towards the top of the lab ranges.

[Paulaw22]

I had a partial thyroidectomy and was put on a low dose of thyroxine early this year. As you’ve already been advised it sounds like your not on enough thyroxine and need to inform your GP. I don’t think you can have hashimotos when your thyroid has been removed, as hashimotos is a disease of the thyroid which causes the thyroid to grow to try to provide you with enough natural thyroxine for your body to function properly because it’s not naturally providing enough. If your thyroids removed then the disease is gone.

I have been told I could have hashimotos as I grow nodes and tumours but they won’t commit to it and I’m finding that I’m putting on a little weight now after nearly 12 months on thyroxine. I think I’m getting used to the dose and I do have nodes which feel like they’re growing again.

Good look but please ask whether your levels are ok ?

[Lowlow76 in reply to Paulaw22]

Yea my results came back it stated i had no cancereous cells. Thnk GOD BUT I WILL BE INFORMING MY DOC ON THE NEXT VISIT. THNK U