I miss the old me 😟: I feel so sad. So exhausted... - Thyroid UK

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I miss the old me 😟

rosieposie83 profile image
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I feel so sad. So exhausted.

First day back in work after my thyroidectomy and RAI which were both a while ago but have been furloughed and I feel absolutely exhausted 😢

Will I ever get my energy back?

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rosieposie83
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Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

That rather depends on whether you’re on a high enough replacement thyroid hormone dosage.

Many GPs (and sometimes endocrinologists) don’t know more than the basics about thyroid conditions and will happily keep you on a dosage that keeps you near enough functional but a long way from optimal.

Are your doctors monitoring your FT4 and FT3 levels as well as TSH? The TSH result isn’t one which can be relied upon for determining the right dose of levothyroxine (but many doctors don’t seem to realise this).

ITHY profile image
ITHY in reply to Jazzw

Dear Jazzw, I had a thyroidectomy and RAI (papillary-follicular thyroid cancer) 20 years ago. You need time to adapt. I tried Rhodiola an adaptogen plant (in pill form with B6) that gave me energy. It can be worth a try, but always check with a doctor, although most of them have never heard of Rhodiola. We all react differently too to adaptogens (like Ashwaghanda, ginseng etc.).

Margo profile image
Margo in reply to ITHY

I too had a thyroidectomy 20 years ago thyroid cancer, and have struggled on and off. I am going through a bad patch of chronic fatigue, and aches and pains. Wondering if I should get some Rhodiola, I already take a B supplement. How do you take it please? Does it have to be taken away from everything else? Did Ashwaghanda help you?

Have been taking TR Mann for a few years but it is no longer available and about to start using Thyroid S which could make a difference.

Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator

Hi rosieposie83, well done for being back at work. Congratulate yourself for getting through this first day back after all you’ve been through. Please don’t beat yourself up for being exhausted or compare how you feel now to how you felt before your diagnosis. Every day you manage is a step in the right direction. Go easy on yourself and give your body time to adjust.

Do check both your thyroid levels and key vitamins and post your results on the forum for advice; getting ferritin, folate and D optimal will all help boost your energy.

Best wishes to you!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking Do you always get same brand

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Absolutely essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

Many people after thyroidectomy will need addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

But first step is to get full thyroid and vitamin testing done

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

All four vitamins need to be optimal too

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is ALWAYS under 2

When adequately treated, TSH will often be well below one.

Most important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4. When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)

Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works

all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello Rosieposie :

Can I just add that a fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you with trace elements of T1.T2 and calcitonin plus a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg plus a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg. on a daily basis.

It is imperative that you are dosed and monitored on your T3 and T4 blood tests and we generally feel better when both these vital hormones are balanced and in the upper quadrant of the ranges.

T4 - synthetic Levothyroxine is a storage hormone and needs to e converted by your body into T3 which is the active hormone that runs the body and T3 is said to be a bout 4 times more powerful than T4 which the average person needing to utilise around 50 T3 daily just to function.

Some people can get by on T4 only, some people find Levothyroxine seems to stop working for them at some point i time, and some people simply find that they need to add T3 - synthetic Liothyronine to their prescription to restore theT3 / T4 balance and at a high enough level to be acceptable to the patient nd give the patient back their " you ' .

Personally speaking I just think it makes common sense that after a medical intervention, for either a thyroidectomy, or in my case, RAI thyroid ablation, that both these vital be on the patients prescription for f, and probably when, they will both be needed by the patient to restore well being and good health.

Your conversion of converting the T4 into T3 can be compromised by low core strength vitamins and minerals, and it is advisable to get your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D tested as you may need to supplement yourself, as you maybe i the NHS ranges but not at a high enough level for someone living without a thyroid.

The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation, including your physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

In the first instance we need to see blood test results and ranges for a TSH, T3, T4 inflammation, antibodies, and ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D and then we have some facts and figures and forum members will explain, step by step what it all means when you post back up in a new post the results and ranges.

If your doctor is unable o run these blood tests for you there are private companies listed on the Thyroid uk website who are the charity who support his amazing forum.

The Thyroid uk website also includes much information about all things thyroid and an excellent base to read from along with the other questions and answers on this forum.

I'm with Graves post RAI in 2005 and became very unwell around 8 years later, and found myself on here asking questions about 5years ago. I'm now so much better I now offer help and advice to others where I hope I can help them turn some of this around for themselves.

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