Suggestions for suitable careers for thyroidectomy patients?

[J8A9S]

Evening all,

I’ve recently experienced ongoing cognitive issues which makes it difficult to concentrate for extended periods of time and also affects memory recall despite being within “normal” tsh reference ranges.

I’m in the second year of my undergraduate degree, and I’m hoping to teach upon graduation.

I wondered if there were others out there who have had a thyroidectomy and experience similar issues to myself? How does this affect your job? Any potential suggestions? Thank you ☺️

[pennyannie]

Hello again J8A9S

Your career choice is your career choice :

Once optimally medicated your having had surgery and having Graves Disease should be irrelevant to what happens in your future, and shouldn't define you.

[Meanbeannyc]

I am not optimally medicated and I work in a very physically and mentally demanding job. What has helped the most through the adjustment period is getting lots of rest. I try to sleep when I’m tired. Nap. Not over exert myself, etc,

[J8A9S in reply to Meanbeannyc]

Thanks for the reply, what is it you do?

[Meanbeannyc in reply to J8A9S]

I won’t specify. But I work in healthcare, during Covid. I always work in healthcare, but it’s definitely more difficult at the moment.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you get OPTIMAL thyroid and VITAMIN levels.....your life should be back to normal

For many people after thyroidectomy, that will include addition of small doses of T3 alongside levothyroxine

But FIRST step.....as per replies to your first post.....is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing ...usually privately ...but always worth trying GP first

A multivitamin is never recommended on here....too little of what you do need and stuff you don’t

Stop taking any vitamin supplements that contain biotin a week before all blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

Full thyroid you need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Always get all thyroid tests done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Add any results and ranges if you have them

[J8A9S in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. I’m having bloods taken in the morning so will have results to post shortly.

[69dream in reply to SlowDragon]

Good information for everyone, too many people wasting money on bottles of vitamins that they don't need, some may even be overdosing.

[shaws Administrator]

I think you will feel better with a T4/T3 combination and hope the doctor will prescribe for you.

T4 (levothyroxine) is an inactive hormone and it converts to the active hormone i.e. T3 (liothyronine). We have millions of T3 receptor cells and heart and brain have the most.

There are millions worldwide who feel well and fit on levothyroxine, but many on this forum do not. There are options but they will not be prescribed on the NHS.

[J8A9S in reply to shaws]

I hope so! I understand from other people’s experiences that it can be difficult obtaining t3 but I’d really like to try it, if only to rule it out..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to J8A9S]

Vitamin levels need to be optimal before considering adding T3

Come back with new post once you get results

[Nanaedake]

I wasn't able to get T3 as my area wouldn't prescribe and had awful experiences with Endocrinologists. I couldn't afford private healthcare and was worried about continuity of sources and cost of self sourcing T3. As a result, I had to figure out another way back to full health. I experienced similar symptoms to yourself.

Getting all vitamin levels optimal, ensuring very good nutrition and a gentle but consistent exercise regime based on strength rather than cardio has made a vast difference. It took a few years and some setbacks to get on track. I had to learn to dose very consistently with levothyroxine and keep gut function tip top which can still be a struggle.

I now work full time in a demanding job which requires good memory, managing stress levels and is quite exhausting at times. I may not have quite as much energy as other people but I'm coping and have a full and satisfying career.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll get back to good health again.

[jimh111]

Hopefully you will able to improve over the next year or so with better treatment. It's interesting that you mention 'difficult to concentrate for extended periods' because this is what I noticed. Studies always look at short term cognitive function, they have never observed the ability to concentrate for e.g. 30 minutes.

I was severely hypothyroid and had to give up my job as a computer programmer. I found I could do interactive work but not something that needed concentration or reading and comprehending. So, as a failsafe consider a job where you can be busy but not need to read and comprehend detailed text. You might find it difficult to remember children's names which would make teaching very hard - you should know by now if you have big difficulties with names.

I hope you will get better and make this a target for many reasons but also keep a second option in mind just in case. And post more quetions here if you want futher advice.

[Saturn64]

Hi, I work as a chartered accountant and suffered from undiagnosed hypothyroidism. I was aware of increased lethargy, reduced concentration and poorer cognitive processes, but put it down to another health issue I have, as well as other things going on in my life that were taking up my time and causing a lot of stress. At the time, I was also studying for professional exams, which a couple of months later, I failed in a spectacular fashion!

Shortly after that, I had a check-up with my doctor, and I was explaining my loss of concentration and particularly the acute mental confusion I had experienced when sitting my exam. The doctor immediately concluded something was wrong and checked my last blood tests. He diagnosed I was as severely hypo-thyroid and had been for over a year.

I was started on Levothyroxine and the worst aspects of my lack of concentration and lethargy were eased and have continued to improve. My dosage has been steadily increased over the last 18 months.

Six months after starting on levothyroxine, I passed the exam with a high grade. I work in a demanding environment and I don’t worry about my ability to concentrate for long periods or my cognitive processes. So, I think that you should be fine once you get your medication sorted out.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Saturn64]

It's good to have a positive response, as the majority on this forum have been unable to improve their health on levothyroxine. I'm glad it suits you and that you feel healthy and energetic again which is excellent.

[Nanaedake]

If the quality and consistency of levothyroxine is controlled adequately and maintained and variable factors minimised then I do well. If manufacturers mess about with the production methods or make any changes and consistency is compromised then it affects me and has impacted me in the past.

Since levothyroxine has only been consistent from around 2015, a lot of people might have unknowingly been adversely affected prior to this. Also, coexisting conditions can impact on levothyroxine absorption so its not an easy hormone replacement to manage effectively to ensure consistent absorption and release. Other medicines can also affect how levothyroxine works so it's certainly not a simple task to stay well and does require some discipline.

[Miffie]

I have had hypo most of my life.My thyroud was destroyed by radiation in the 1950s when I was a baby/ toddler. I was treated with aNDT as was everyone at the time. I did struggle but struggled on and got my degree and post grad teaching qualification. When I was finally given a blood test in my thirties it turned out I was seriously under medicated. MyGP at that time increased my dose to optimal. A serious shock to my system, how easy is life I thought. That only lasted a few years and a new GP meant back to rock bottom results. However I still kept on and battled through the fog, pain and tiredness. I took a further degree with the OU, a Management diploma and ended up a Project Manager. A life lived to the full.You are mistress of your own destiny , I am sure you will find that once medication becomes stable you will not have the current worries about coping. Stay strong, good luck.

[Sleepy101]

Hello,

It is hard to have memory issues, fatigue and be run down and also work. I work in mental health full time and I have had my own life suffer because of the above issues. I put a lot of pressure on myself and struggled with emotional regulation issues. I've started a small dose of levo and it has helped me although i have good and bad days. I also changed jobs a few times because the role was unmanageable for people without thyroid issues and it has helped me to not accept a role that is too busy and too demanding.