underactive thyroid after partial thyroidectomy

Thanks for your reply - your reference to 'brain fog' is a good way to describe how I feel. I'm disappointed that I seem to have been misled into believing that the remaining part of my thyroid would compensate and it quite clearly isn't!  I'm sure you're right that I'll need to start taking thyroxine in the near future though I've read many negative comments from people who take it.  It's quite reassuring that you had a similar operation to me, and you've been taking oroxine for so long without any unpleasant side effects.  I hope the same will be true for me!

Yes I've been given , cholesterol and blood pressure tablets too, but it's not working , think your right if my latest blood results come back normal I will get a second opinion, as they've done, cholesterol , and sugar tests today

What iron did you use to raise your levels?

My whole iron panel is low

Ferritin is 39

My story is similar to yours, I had a partial thyroidectomy in 2015 and was told I didn't need any thyroid supplement but recent blood test showed that my t4 levels are low but my t3 levels are normal, my question is does that mean I would need some type of supplement for this because the nurse that called me with the results only discuss the results but no answers for what I should do.

Hi Sketchy

Again, thanks for all your input - it's been invaluable.  I now realise that I know so little about the thyroid and am now trying to understand its complicated mechanisms.  Armed with these I will feel more confident if I need to challenge my GP in the near future.  I've also asked for copies of my blood tests so that I can see clearly any changes in T3 and T4 levels. Thanks for pointing out the more prominent symptoms of hypothyroidism - aside from the 'brain fog' I'm certainly feeling more fatigued than I used to when I exert myself - taking the dogs for a walk for instance.  So as you suggest, I'll probably need medication before too long - and I don't suppose I'll have any choice but the synthetic one!  Again, thank you for all your advice and support.

Hi Sketchy

I took your advice and obtained copies of the thyroid tests done by my GP. The result shows that my TSH level is 5.24 miu/L; I think that this suggests that my pituitary and hypothalmus are functioning appropriately.  However my T4 level is 12.0 pmo/L which seems to be only just within range (12.0-22.0).  This suggests that there is insufficient T4 to convert into T3 (am I correct? - this is all very new to me!) It is ten months since my operation.  Do you think that I have no alternative but to use thyroxine - or do I have any alternatives?  I am quite nervous of starting medication if I can possibly avoid it. Is it possible that my remaining thyroid might manage to compensate for the missing half, given enough time?  My symptoms at the moment seem to be limited to a 'foggy brain' which is very unpleasant (it seems to come and go at present). But will things get worse so that I begin to experience the more well known symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Hi Pat,  I'm glad that you obtained the copies of your thyroid tests (you must always do this).  Unfortunately most Gp's are inept when it comes to treating thyroid patients so we must look out for ourselves if we want to remain healthy.  It's a sad state of affairs!

Your TSH level at 5.24 is 'outside' the normal range which should be below 2 .0 and it is pointing towards hypothyroidism.  Your T4 is low and should be in the top half of the reference range (mine is 18).  It appears that FT3 was not tested therefore we are unable to know how much T3 is actually being produced.  

According to me It would appear that your remaining thyroid is struggling somewhat.  As I mentioned in one of my earlier comments it is possible to help the remaining thyroid to perhaps function better by giving it the supplements needed to boost it's performance.  You can google those supplements on some of the thyroid sites to get more information about them.  I have found that iron is crucial for me - although the doctors will tell me that my iron levels (ferritin) are ok (within the range) when I take some extra iron I seem to stave off hair loss and achey joints and it is crucial to T4 to T3 conversion. The other vitamins are vitamin D3, B12, Selenium and zinc.  My ferritin levels rose from 76 to 93 and if I go slack on the iron they drop and aches come back.

A word about the brain fog.  (This happened to me a couple of years ago when an inept doc dropped my 100mcg Oroxine to 75mcg.) The thing I found about it is this - when it continues, due to lack of thyroid hormone I became quite dopey, didn't want to leave the house, do anything, didn't want to drive, see friends, make art etc.  It crept up on me slowly until I came down with a terrible flu (don't usually get them) and could not throw it off due to the lowered immune system.  I got to the stage that through the fog I realised that I might die and I was freezing cold.  Somehow, I decided to take my temperature and it was 35.8 celsius, later it dropped to 35.2.  I suddenly realised that I had become hypothyroid and I remembered the change in the Oroxine dose.  I was furious because I had complained to the doctor who had made the change only weeks after she did it and she flatly refused to allow me to raise the dose instead gave me a prescription for anti-depressants.  My husband dragged me to the doctors office where I saw another doctor, got antibiotics and I told him I was raising my Oroxine dose back to where it should be.  Been fine ever since.

So, you could try the iron and vitamin supplements but if you don't feel you are doing well after several months you may have to get another blood test done and start taking some thyroxine.  If so, be sure to start with a small dose and you may eventually have to build up the dose over time.  It takes time to establish the correct dose for you.

 

Hi Sketchy

Again, I'm indebted to you for the information and suggestions - this is a steep learning curve for me. Fortunately my husband is helping me to research the implications of possible hypothyroidism and helping me to understand it too!  It seems that my hypothalmus is having to work too hard to try to make up the shortfall and failing?  I should have mentioned that I've been taking a timed release multi-vitamin and mineral tablet for over a year now so maybe that suggests that I can't support my remaining thyroid any more than I am doing.  I do have a good diet with plenty of selenium and iodine.  There is one issue that I haven't mentioned: my doctor prescribed Proton Pump inhibitors approximately eight months ago for gastric reflux (probably caused by a long period of extreme stress caring for a sick relative).  I had no idea that PPIs could be so deadly: after about 4 months on them I developed chronic diarrhoea which lasted for 4 weeks.  It was then that I started doing research and found that PPIs can prevent absorption of things like B12, selenium etc.  If I'd known then what I know now I would never have taken them and would have managed my reflux myself, but doctors seem to prescribe them like smarties as if they're absolutely harmless.  Once I stopped taking them, everything eventually settled down but I wonder if they did do me some harm.  Anyway, whether they did or not, I know you're right about me being hypothyroid and needing medication.   

I'm very glad that you stood up for yourself and got the medication you needed - hopefully with my new found knowledge, I'll be able to do the same. 

Thank you again.

Hi

I'm 39 and about to undergo partial thyroid removal due to enlarged nodules . However the surgeon explained to me today that because I have an enlarged nodule on the left side too that he was contemplating a full removal of my thyroid but due to my age he thought only p artical removal is necessary and the nodule on left side could be monitored on a yearly basis .. however I may have to undergo surgery again in the future to remove the thyroid fully ( hope I'm making sense) reading about people's experiences on this site I'm concerned if the concequenes of partial removal as I feel it dosent seem to solve the problem .. fatigue , Weight issues , depression etc. I have had all these symptoms however nothing has ever showed up in blood tests . I am really concerned that this op won't solve anything and symptoms will continue until eventually they will deciede to remove the left side too . I'm just wondering if anybody could advise me on how to approach this . Or anyone with similar experience . I would be so grateful for any feed back whats so ever

Many Thanks

I had partial thyroidectomy when i was in teens, I didn't get fat till I was 40 nor was I on any meds, I wasnt depressed I probably didnt have as much energy as most of my friends but I still enjoyed that part after the op...

I was a not big at all it was only when i started taking Levothyroxine because I had become Hypothyroid which was what the professor had predicted but I didnt know what Hypo was then as Internet wasnt about then >

...., I think my hair suffered a bit as never grew, I was unable to have kids to which I am now told I was probably Hypo and because I was skinny they didnt really take much notice. anyway, I think at times I may have struggled more than i think.. I sort of wished now I had just taken meds to not become hyperthyroid, but at that age I had opted to have OP 40 seemed like years decades away and thought i would be dead by then tbh lol  I didnt want to be on meds every day. so partial ?sub Thyroidectomy seemed the better option at the time , the scar was quite raw for few years then you forget about it, probably smaller these days ....

If I was you tbh I would get a 2nd opinion or even 3rd by a surgeon as they dont all think the same ....

on if you really need a sub part or full thyroidectomy and check how many thyroidectomy  your surgeon has done in the past as , if he hasn't done many I personally wouldn't of trusted them..ask if he has ever lost a patient doing one, all these things you need to know , not scaring you as it has happened and especially onto so experienced surgeons .. 

I had a Professor who was an excellent surgeon do mine, but he never warned me about how bad Hypothyroid would be in my latter part of life or I think I would of not had it done..

just do your research on surgeons and if you have it all out you will be on Levothyroxine for your rest of your life, a prt thyroidectomy if surgeon isn't experienced could well make you hypo with it 1st time and you could be on Meds all your life,

,, take your time, read lots ask lots of people what they have done how they felt, would they do it given the choice again ? , ( as you have)

, the op itself hurts a little but not for long, I felt bad for about 2 years after mine, they said all bloods were normal but we all take different  times to heal... all I say is research research and more research, different opinions just dont take one Surgeons advice unless you know he's ace at his job...

Good luck keep us informed to what you do or do not do take care ...

 

My situation was different but there was the decisions to be made...

I was given the option of total removal now or wait and see for 12 months. If I waited, the operation was going to be more difficult so I opted for do it now.

I had the operation 4 weeks ago and so far, not too bad. It takes months to get the thyroxine dosage right.

My problem is a loss of voice. Nothing more than a hoarse whisper so far but the ENT surgeon is sure the voice box is OK and the nerves are working so it will just take time to heal.

My wife had a total thyroidectomy 4 years ago and she is doing well. No voice problems and no other issues we can blame on the thyroid.

If you have a partial, you may be able to go without daily medications which is good.

If you go with the total, you know there are no more operations to look forward to which is also good.

Taking thyroxine daily is no big deal. If your parathyroids are damaged, you will also need calcium daily.

 

Hi .. back again !! I had partical thyriod removal in Feb .. all went well . Took a whole month off work to recover . Felt great .

It's been about two months since op and now Im feeling a bit low , quite tired and also aches and pains in random areas of the body i.e. stomach , back , lower abdomen also chills

I haven't had any bloods done since op .. which I'm going to asap . Just wondering if anyone has exerienced these symptoms . ?? Thanks to everyone who replied last time .. greatly appreciated. Hope your all doing well .

Many Thanks x

Hi!

I'm also 39 and my situation is very similar to yours. I had a partial thyroidectomy 8 days ago. I am just wondering how your recovery has been. Before the surgery I was on a low dose of levothyroxine (25mgs) after the surgery the surgeon told me to stop them. Today I had my stitches removed and the Dr told me to start taking them again because I feel horrible!!!I feel more hypo now then before the surgery. Complete brain fog where I don't even feel like I am in my own body. My body feels so confused....i start sweating for no reason, or get real cold. At times it feels like my insides are trembling. I feel weak and at times I absolutely need to sleep or I can't take it. I also have depression and anxiety. All if this is 100 times worse then before the surgery. Hopefully restarting the levothyroxine will help but I'm worried that it is such a low dose it won't make a dent in the way I am feeling. I am wondering if you have any advise on what worked for you to help you feel better. Thanks!

Hope you feel better Betsy I can sympathise as I too had a partial thyroidectomy 4 years ago. I was older than you at 56. The best thing was giving up my strenuous job working part time nights. Relaxation is important. The worst thing I did was attempting to go back to that job at 57. I took vitamins including selenium when I first had it done and it helped. Later I needed to take a good iron and B vitamins supplement. My TSH has remained normal, under 2, however I often feel hypothyroid and have aches. I am going back on the iron supplement and taking magnesium as well as liquid calcium D3 zinc and magnesium. I am older than you, and believe the decline in oestrogen has a lot to answer for. My voice took several months to recover, but I was grateful it was judged to be benign hurtle cell tumour. I have seen how large my friend has got after losing her thyroid and being on levo but she enjoys her life walks a lot and eats good meals, I have to watch my weight constantly, dare not eat too much as I am overweight. My next step is going gluten free as that can help people who have thyroid troubles, I feel cross that the hurtle cell tumour developed due to radiation therapy in 2003 due to breast cancer. I should have insisted on mastectomy and avoided it. But I was persuaded into it. I met a lady who had a partial thyroidectomy and she was slim and busy running her own jewellery design business. Not everyone has problems afterwards. Good luck.

Hopefully you are on thyroxine again and getting better, and a stronger dose too. It's no joke having severe depression and anxiety because of hormonal problems!