Post surgery blues.. are my conditions linked?

[Lozza812]

I was diagnosed as hypo just over a year ago after many years of symptoms, but with 'in range" results.

For some reason I thought that once I was diagnosed and on a proper medication regime all would be fine...

I have felt no relief from symptoms after being on initially 125 mg levothyroxine, now 50mg. And over the last 3-4 months I have felt worse than I ever had.

Along with my hypo I have hyper-mobility syndrome, which has led to generalised osteoarthritis in all my major joints. To combat the osteoarthritis I have been on anti-inflammatories for the last 25 years, which has now caused reduced kidney function. As a result of the kidney issues I have had most of my medication stopped (all my painkillers and anti-inflammatories). The only ones I have left open to me are the potentially addictive morphine based meds, which I am reluctant to take.

At the same time as all this I have had my first joint replacement, my right knee, 5 weeks ago. I have asked Dr to re-run my bloods, but have been told my yearly review isn't due until July...

In the last 3 weeks (2 weeks after surgery) my hair has started falling out in handfuls, which has never happened before. I have a sore, dry throat and I am cold and absolutely shattered, dozing all day under a blanket shivering, and then awake all night. I am so exhausted that I have to stop and rest half way through a shower!

I know that the anaesthetic and the surgery will have had an effect on me, but i have had surgery before without such ongoing effects - could surgery have effected my thyroid function to this extent?

Can anyone tell me if these conditions are linked?

I just wish someone would look at me as a whole instead of considering my thyroid, or my pain all separately. I even have to see different surgeons as the knee bloke 'doesn't do backs'.

Sorry to whine, but feeling pretty low at the moment and not sure where to turn or how to tackle things.

[Palioly]

MORPHINE USE - I had to use it on and off for several years due to extremely severe Sciatica. I used both slow-release capsules, and a morphine liquid called Oramorph, plus also Coedine tablets occasionally. The slow-release stuff is supposed to work for 12 hours, but in fact the effect slowly wears off, for me, after about 8 hours onward. I got up to a dose of one 60mg capsule each 12 hours (120mg/day !). A lot. Plus sometimes had to use the Oramorph as well.

For sciatica pain relief I was started off with Paracetamol, then co-codamol, then solpadol, then tramadol, then morphine - fentanyl was next/last resort but never used.

I then had a Spinal Decompression in 2018, which was successful, so had to get myself off morphine, by slowly reducing to 2 x 30mg capsules and then 2 x10mg capsules, then 1 x 10mg - and after several weeks was morphine free, with no withdrawal symptoms. Some people will take longer to do this.

Side effects were some weight loss, sexual difficulties, (I'm male & was then aged 75) a lot of constipation, along with the needed pain relief. Do NOT drink alcohol when using it. Get advice on car driving from your GP.

Note these are my personal notes for anyone who cares to read them, and as always on this site I need to say that the notes just might not apply the same to you as to me, and you might react differently to morphine. Do let me know if this helps.