Feeling very overwhelmed - new here!

[beccacbn]

HI. I had a total thyroidectomy 3 weeks ago. its all happened very suddenly.

Before August, I was a very busy mum of 3, studying to become a Pilates teacher. I was in the gym or studio 5 days a week - I did get tired and occasionally felt a bit dazed but put it down to having a busy life.

Then in August, they found a 6cm lump in my left thyroid and as they couldn't be sure what it was, I had it removed along with left thyroid. I have had verbal results to say it is benign. However, I now feel dizzy a lot in the day, dazed, anxious, overwhelmed. I feel completely exhausted at the end of the day.

I have had to stop having coffee as it makes the symptoms worse as does a glass of wine. I haven't been able exercise as I feel too weak.

I have spoken to my consultant who has done a TSH blood test and I am waiting for the results.

I am not expecting the bloods to show up much and just wonder if I just need to accept that this is how life is now - no coffee, no alcohol, early nights and to rest after any exercise. I am ok with this, but just feeling very upset and overwhelmed at the moment. I would really appreciate any insight or advice or just someone to share this with. Thank you

[cjrsquared]

Just slightly confused, did you just have the left part of your thyroid removed? If so it was a partial thyroidectomy as the right half will still be in situ. Many people after a partial thyroidectomy manage well without replacement hormones with the remaining thyroid able to produce enough, but some people require additional hormone to bring their levels into the normal range. Are you on any replacement hormone, ie, levothyroxine? Once you have your blood results post them in another thread with a little about any thyroid medication for advice. It is early days and for most people things do get better. Good luck

[beccacbn in reply to cjrsquared]

Yes, you are right .. I had a total throid lobectomy and isthmectomy. Which I believe is half of thyroid rather than a total throidectomy - sorry ... lots of ectomy's!

I am not on any thyroid medication and never have been.

Thank you for your reply and I will post as soon as I get my bloods back.

[radd]

beccacbn,

No, you do not need to accept this is how life is now and feeling over whelmed is common in thyroid/adrenal issues.

The adrenal glands release several hormones affecting metabolism and help the body deal with physical/emotional stress and reduce inflammatory reactions.

Your adrenal glands will have taken a bashing after your op and as they also work in conjunction with the thyroid gland (HPA Axis), they may require some catch up time.

TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and is a pituitary hormone that is secreted in response to the need for thyroid hormone. Therefore, a TSH test will not be sufficient to give you an over all insight into how your right thyroid gland is performing as you need to know the levels of FT4 & FT3 (thyroid hormones).

[beccacbn in reply to radd]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Do you think that I should either go back to consultant and demand (nicely) for further testing or I have seen that people on here recommend a private test - perhaps to do this sort of test to then take to my consultant?

[Nanaedake in reply to beccacbn]

I had the same surgery as you but mine was cancer. However, the net result is the same. I take levothyroxine to bring my levels into a good range. Surgery affects you in many ways as it is a physical and psychological stress. The anaesthetics used may also take time to get out of your system. With half a thyroid left you should eventually make a good recovery, however, it's going to take time for your body to adjust to a change in hormone function. It's normal to feel tired after this kind of surgery. Once your hormone level is balanced you should be able to drink coffee although you might find it better to limit it. The same with alcohol. I've had times when I cut out all caffeine and now have one cup a day.

You need to get TSH, FT4 and if possible FT3 levels tested with a blood test. In view of the fact that your condition was benign, you should check if TPO and TgAb antibodies were tested and if not then ask for those. You could also check out vitamin D, B12, folate and ferritin as you will make a better recovery if those vitamin levels are good. When you have results, post on this forum for some advice.

GP can do vitamin levels. GP or hospital could do TSH, FT4 and FT3 but NHS is unlikely to test FT3 level. In any case, you should be advised whether you need levothyroxine replacement according to the TSH and FT4 blood test result. A lot of people with reduced thyroid function seem to need TSH around 1.0 to feel well. It might take time to find the right level for you if you need levothyroxine.

I would not pay for private tests until you've got a list of all your blood test results to date. then you'll know what's been tested. Ask GP for the ones that haven't been done. If not satisfied with the tests NHS provides then you have the option of using a private lab as listed on Thyroid UK's website. Your consultant may not be prepared to accept them so you need to be clear what purpose private tests will serve.

[beccacbn in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks for this really comprehensive reply.

I am sorry to hear that your lump turned out to be cancer and I hope that since your surgery, you are doing ok.

I had blood tests done in France - which is where they found my lump (so tests done before lump removed).

The readings were TSH 2,882 UI/ml (range 0,5550 - 4,780)

T3 - 3,24 pg/ml (range 2,30 - 4,20)

t4 - 11,72 (range 8,90 - 17,60)

but my anti - thyroglobuline was 65 UI/ml (range <60)

Which means its slightly raised.

I do not really know what this means - if anything and as it was taken before the operation, is it really relevant?

[Nanaedake in reply to beccacbn]

Raised thyroglobulin levels can relate to a number of conditions including Hashimotos thyroiditis. Do you know if TPO antibodies were tested? TPO antibodies if raised are conclusive of Hashimotos or autoimmune thyroiditis I believe. It's worth knowing because if you have a thyroid autoimmune condition then it's likely to be progressive in the sense that it will continue to destroy remaining thyroid tissue.

If your TSH was 2.8 before surgery and you felt well then it could be that you will feel well if your thyroid is producing hormone to that level. However, often when people have reduced thyroid function and need to take levothyroxine, they seem to need a lower TSH level nearer to 1.0 to get enough thyroid hormone to feel well. I've no medical knowledge I'm just a fellow thyroid patient so no special knowledge, just more than 10 years on this thyroid journey. I'm as well as I can be now.

[Hidden]

Why haven't you already had a blood test? It's odd not to have one after surgery. Anyway you will feel better I also felt bad after mine was removed. It can take time to sort things out. Why not use a private blood test to find out your levels and post the results on here with the ranges. Take the test first thing fasting. I hope that you feel better soon it's a big shock on the body, especially if you were very fit beforehand I was too.