[Bobbi]

#1061740

You will not "be" hypothyroid. Yes, if there were no replacement hormone to take, "being" severly hypothyroid would be as horrid as being hyperthyroid. But we are not hypo when we take replacement hormone. Replacement hormone IS thyroid hormone. It is chemically identical to thyroxine and it keeps us euthroid (i.e. at normal levels of hormone).

I do wish you good luck with the surgery.

[sheisa]

#1017938

I am having a total thyroidectomy in two weeks (June 8th).

Background: I had an incident back in October 2010 where I literally thought I was dying. I was taken to the ER where they did tests and sent me to an encrinocrinologist. I was diagnosed with Graves disease. I was so hyperthyroid, they wanted me to immediately get my thyroid out. I decided surgery would be my last option and not my first.
I did my research and found these boards as well as others.

I was immediately put on ATDs which I got deathly hives from. I even had to cancel a vacation because I was so sick. I spent alot of time at the doctors trying to get better. I felt terrible but at least it explained alot of the symptoms I have been having for over a year(sleeplessness, weight gain, breathlessness, infertility, exhaustion etc etc). I fought doing surgery for months (changed my diet etc etc) until recently where my eyes were affected and they found a mass on my thyroid.

So I am at the place of surgery. I know I have to do it but fear that hypothyroid may be just as bad as the hyper symptoms I had. I am worried about the surgery itself. I am trying to get them to put me on Armour right away instead of Synthyroid.

Any words of encouragement would be appreciated. Sorry for such an introduction to the boards. BTW, Im 40, married with two adopted kids.

[Ski]

#1061741

Hello, and welcome!

Sorry you need to join the club, but we’re glad you’re here.

First things first ~ after surgery, you really shouldn’t be hypo for much time at all, since the "end date" of your thyroid function is very clear, and you can start replacement hormone (in order to let it start building up) before your blood tests read officially hypothyroid. Adjusting afterward is a little time consuming, but you should be starting at a good point (in other words, you won’t get to zero and have to climb up from there).

As for the Armour discussion ~ just for general information (for others, because obviously you already know), Armour contains a bit of T3 along with T4 thyroid hormone. Most of us take T4 only, which is the inactive form of thyroid hormone circulating in our bloodstream. As our body needs thyroid hormone to "fuel" something, we convert T4 into T3 and use it. (Isn’t our body smart?) ” title=”Very Happy” />

For MOST thyroid hormone patients, T4 is sufficient replacement. For a very small population, a bit of T3 can help. For a lot of patients who try T3, it is too much and ultimately leads to hyper symptoms. Those patient histories (we’ve been told at our conferences) start with a positive result (at least the patient feels a bit better), and a few months down the road end up with rapid heart rates and anxiety, etc. etc. When T3 is removed, things resolve.

T3 has a very short life in the bloodstream, and for that reason a patient who is taking T3 either needs to have a time-release version, or they need to take it multiple times throughout the day, in order to really see the benefit from it. Otherwise it’s just like a firework ~ poof and then it’s gone ~ so it wouldn’t provide any lasting results.

For the most part, a doctor prefers to go the route of T4 only to start with, and evaluate the process along the way. If the symptoms warrant a bit of T3 added, they’ll explore that ~ which will also involve reducing the T4 in order to balance things carefully. Remember that thyroid hormone replacement must be taken in a very specific way (on an empty stomach, nothing to eat for 45-60 minutes afterward, no mineral supplements within 4 hours), and if you take it several times a day, all of that gets VERY complicated.

All of this being said ~ try to remember that you WILL get well. There is an end to this madness, and you’re heading in the right direction. Nothing about any of our potential treatments is as dangerous as remaining hyper.

[sheisa]

#1061742

My doctor is putting me on Lugol’s solution for 10 days. Any negative side effects?

[Author]

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