Hyperthyroid symptoms after thyroid cancer and pregnancy

[mothertwinkle3]

Hi there! I’m new to this board.

I am a papillary thyroid cancer survivor of two years and also became pregnant just 8 months after I was diagnosed.

I have been weaning my baby and all hell has broke loose. Despite, having normal TSH ranges, I am showing many signs of hyperthyroidism. And my Endo thinks that must be going on.

I haven’t slept more than 3 hours a night for the last three months and feel weak and mentally out of it sometimes my cognitive skills are awful, as well.

I also was put on Prozac to help with the anxiety, but I wonder if it could be contributing to my reved up feeling and insomnia?

Has any one gone through anything similar and does anyone know about having a thyroid issue and taking an SSRI?

And please tell me that being hyperthyroid can cause all sorts of cognitive/ Mental symptoms and that I’m not losing my mind and just stuck like this forever.

It is so hard to feel like this as I haven’t been able to take care of my baby and five year very well these last few months!

I just want to get better!

[greygoose]

Just testing the TSH is not going to tell you anything. You need the FT4 and FT3 tested. And, it wouldn't be a bad idea to test your nutrients : vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, which could all be low and contributing to your symptoms.

What do you call hyper signs? We have to be very careful with symptoms because so many of them cross over and are symptoms both of 'hyper' and hypo. But, of course, you can't be hyper because you don't have a thyroid. But you could be over-medicated. What are you taking, and how much? Anxiety is very much a hypo symptom.

[Nanaedake]

I'm very sorry you are feeling so unwell especially when you've got a young child and baby to look after. I'm not sure how your doctor thinks Prozac is going to help. It will likely complicate things as the main focus should be to get your hormones back on track. Prozac can affect the way you absorb levothyroxine.

SSRI's can cause a range of strange symptoms and, in my humble opinion, they are a lazy doctor's way of avoiding helping you to sort out your hormonal imbalance which will involve regular blood tests, adjustment to levothyroxine doses and vitamin supplements. This could take 6 months or more and the doctor simply cannot be bothered or hasn't got the time - is my guess. The Endo should not 'think' what is going on but should provide biochemical evidence of your thyroid status, thereby proving what is going on. Guessing is not good medical science.

When you are on the right dose of levothyroxine and your vitamin levels are optimal then you should become symptom free. What symptoms have you got besides the mental disturbances? As Greygoose has said, many symptoms cross over and it can be difficult to judge whether they are hyper or hypo symptoms, that's why you need full blood tests for thyroid and vitamin status.

Ask your doctor to test TSH, FT4, FT3, vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D. Your body has gone through huge hormonal changes with pregnancy and birth and you need to check these levels.

The type of levothyroxine you are taking can also cause problems. Always stick to the same brand and don't mix brands. Find one that suits you and stick to it. Don't let the pharmacist swap with each refill as they can be absorbed differently. Take levothyrxoine on an empty stomach and leave at least an hour before eating or drinking anything except for water. Leave 4 hours before taking other medicines or supplements except for vitamin C which can enhance thyroid hormone absorption.

Please post your latest thyroid test results along with the lab ranges and we can help. You need to include TSH, FT3 and FT4. If NHS has not tested all of these then post the ones you've had done so far along with any vitamin levels. You can get a print out of results from your GP receptionist.