Hi I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after a TT and had RAI last month. I thought after RAI I would magically return to my old self but it just hasn't happened. Im constantly worrying that the treatment hasn't worked, I don't find out until the end of the year when I have my scan.
I try to keep myself occupied so that I don't have time to think but thats exhausting. I just want to feel like me again 😥
Im on levo 125/150 alternate days
Yes I have levo straight after surgery had thyrogen injections before RAI
Will pm you if thats ok
I was in your situation 6 years ago. You have had major surgery and had radioactive iodine plus the psychological stress of a cancer diagnosis. It will take time, please be kind to yourself. I found that it was about 2 years before I felt more like myself, but did improve after the all clear on the six month scan.
It is important to have regular blood tests at the beginning to ensure you are on the correct dose of levothyroxine, your oncologist will want you to have a suppressed TSH at present to ensure no spread of any cancer cells. I have to have suppressed TSH for 10 years and am now on yearly blood tests for thyroglobulin which is used as a tumour marker.
You now have hypothyroidism and are therefore eligible for lifelong free prescriptions (your gp fills in a form). It is important to get copies of blood tests for your personal records and check them yourself.
There is a lot to learn but you can take it slowly. Good luck.
You will eventually get back to near normal but it can take at least a year and maybe longer. It's exhausting trying to behave normally when you don't feel back to normal. It took me many years to get well but I think partly because the levothyroxine was faulty at that time and then also I think calcium deficiency was not picked up. So, if you don't start feeling better in about 6 months then pursue it and get essential vitamin and mineral levels checked. Don't accept that feeling unwell is the best you can expect... You should be able to feel well again.
You should be symptom free once on the right dose of levothyroxine if vitamin levels are also good. Although there is a psychological impact, symptoms are related to thyroid hormone imbalance. Imbalance can impact vitamin levels which in turn can provoke symptoms. Don't expect your GP to know anything about it. Most never see thyroid cancer and won't know what is normal. Once on stable hormone replacement you should be symptom free. You might need to work at maintaining health through ensuring you stay on the same brand of levothyroxine, managing good gut function and taking vitamin supplements but time will tell.
Hi Katie, I had thyroid cancer (2 ops) and RAI 6 years ago, it does take time to feel "normal" again and we all recover at different rates. I told myself I was wasting my life by worrying and forced myself to get back to normal, but we all have to do what works for us. You will get there. Give yourself time and try and do the things you enjoy. Getting the medication right for you can take a while, I have had to change my dose several times. Good luck.
Its going to take a while to adjust to being thyroid- less and it seem everything just happened so your body is still adjusting and depending on how you adjust It might take a while. -breathe-
I had thyroidectomy for cancer and I could not adjust emotionally to T4 only meds I needed the T3 ... I was a mentally unwell. I also had to accept the fact that I'm never going to feel like I did before my thyroidectomy.... this was much harder.
Good luck Katie and it will get better.
I did not have a complete thyroid panel prior to my thyroidectomy (regret) but I was so ill informed about the thyroid test and medications that I would need and I trusted my Endo and this I (regret) too because I let this man destroyed my health right from the start.
Will I ever feel normal again!
Will i ever feel normal again?
Will I ever feel ok again?
Back to Old Self
Will I ever feel better? 
