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#1060247

Havent updated in a while because I have felt absolutely miserable lately.

Had TT 7/29/2013
Last labs on 150 mcg of levothyroxine
T4: 10.1
T3 uptake: 25.8
Free thyroxine index: 2.6
TSH: 2.628

Even though these levels are in a standard normal range I feel like crap. I have this terrible aching pain and it’s worse in my shoulders and ribs though its all over. I’ve had problems with inflamed cartiladge in the ribs in the past (which is what it feels like) but I would only get that when I would have bad bouts of bronchitis, which I haven’t had.

I’m also on/off freezing cold. Especially in my upper arms. Can’t touch anything frozen. Was mentioned I may alao have Reynauld (?) syndrome. This has been constant since the surgery & now I’m on the hunt for a rheumatoligist.

The pain almost feels musculoskeletal, like the pain I had when i had high pulse & low blood pressure when I had been diagnosed with Graves’ last year. I’m also exhausted though I feel uppity & shaky at times, like Graves’. And instead of being constipated I’m the opposite. I just don’t get it.

If I’m still feeling like crap by my next appointment my endocrinologist is thinking of putting me on Armour thyroid. My levothyroxine was upped to 175mcg after my last appointment. Just feeling so messed up right now.

Sorry if typos & such. Not used to writing alot from a smartphone.

Amanda

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#1181487

Oh, forgot my blood pressure & pulse are fine everytime I check.

[Raspberry]

#1181488

I’m still playing the methimazole game (and not really winning), but this part of my experience might apply to you. I’ve found that even a difference of 0.1 below my optimal FT4 level can start producing hypothyroid symptoms. For me Raynaud’s symptoms do come on once my thyroid levels sink low enough. Perhaps you aren’t in the best place within the normal range for you? Is your doctor willing to experiment or look into FT4 to FT3 conversion issues? Good luck to you and I hope you feel better soon.

[npatterson]

#1181489

I am sorry to see that you are having so many symptoms, but VERY IMPRESSED with the fact that you typed your entire post on a smartphone!. If I am reading things right, you are only slightly more than three months post-op. Are you seeing a thyroid SPECIALIST? Are you having FREE T3 and FREE T4 levels done? Those indicate the amount of the hormones that are free and available to you. At this point, Armour sounds sort of risky. It can have severe heart and bone ramifications. It is tough to “wait and see”. It takes a total of six weeks for changes to settle in to your body (that is 6 or 7 half lives of the T4)–it lasts a long time.

Keep us posted/

Take care,

Nancy

[adenure]

#1181490

Hi Amanda,

I hate to say this, but 3 months isn’t all that long (since your TT). I remember feeling fairly crappy for a good 4 months post TT even though my numbers were normal 2 months post TT. At about the 4 month mark, after my dose adjustment (and I had been on it for 2 months), I started to feel better and see symptoms improve. My issues were daily headaches, insomnia (which I still deal with off and on), feeling down although not exactly depressed, and yes, I got Raynaud’s as well. It came on about 6 months after my surgery in my feet. It’s not too bad now, but I had a few months were it was painful, itchy, inflamed and fairly miserable.

It could be that you will feel better at the lower end of normal (instead of a TSH of 2.6 which is mid- range). How long have you been on the 175? Has it been 6-8 weeks yet? I’d give it a chance and continue to allow your body to heal from Graves, surgery, and accustoming itself to Synthroid. It takes longer than we think it should. I agree with Nancy that switching to Armour might make things harder right now. Your body is trying to find its rhythm again, but it needs time. You might consider asking your doctor about adding some Cytomel with the Synthroid it you really want to try T3. At least with Cytomel, you can control the amount of T3. With Armour there is a ratio of T3 to T4 within the one dose that you can’t change independently. I did try Cytomel (only 1/4 of a 5 mcg pill) at one point. I had hyperthyroid symptoms return though, so I had to stop it. Bummer.

I am almost 1 and 1/2 years out of surgery and am doing well. No, it isn’t perfect nor is it “pre -Graves me”, but it is good. The hardest thing is giving our bodies the time they need to recuperate and get used to our new normal. It takes months- especially if your dose is being changed- your body needs a good 2 months on that dose to really see if it’s right.

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#1181491

The last labs I had done were the only ones I listed above. I think the free thyroxine index is reverse T4 but I’m not entirely sure. I had also read somewhere in the past that somehow with other tests the RT3 can be read through the regular T3 readings. Something involving another test & math I believe…? I have no idea. Starting to become clueless again.

My neuro wants me to go to a rheumatologist so they can check other things like vitamins & see if there’s any other autoimmune problems lingering.

My chest pain became unbearable yesterday so I went to an urgent care facility to spend $75 to be told I most likely have costochondritis (lungs & heart seem fine), take 600mg of motrin 3x a day & call my primary tomorrow. I still have lingering pain. Now my neck is killing me too even with the pain meds. No clue if this is from the hypothyroidism / Hashi’s or what.

Very stressed for a multitude of reasons. Really upset. Feel like crying. Just want to be better & go back to work & not feel like hell.

Amanda

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1181492

Oh, Amanda…. I can feel your pain and frustration – I know first-hand how hard it is to be “patient” while we go through the ups and downs and the numerous medication tweaks. I had my TT on July 16 so I’m only at the 3.5 month mark. I finally started feeling good (not perfect, but good) about 10 days ago and it’s starting to be consistent rather than “1 good day followed by 2-3 bad days”.

I agree STRONGLY with what the others said about having to give each level at LEAST 6-8 weeks before judging how it’s working. That patience part is so hard for me but it really has taken me a good 7 weeks after each dosage change for things to settle down. Each time we tweak the dose I get all kinds of symptoms for well over a month. I’m so glad everyone here told me to wait it out because if I had changed the dose again too soon this rollercoaster would never end.

My last bloodwork (10 days ago) showed that I am still slightly hyper but I told the endo that I really needed a break from changing doses and that I’d like to stay at the dose I’m at a while since it feels so good to be “stable”. Even if it’s not a great feeling, it’s a consistent one. But three days ago I decided I’d had enough of being hyper so I had my endo call me in a lower dose of Levothyroxine and now I’m going to take 112 one day, 100 the next, and keep alternating, which I guess works out to 106 mcg. per day. So now, I will wait the 6-8 weeks to see if that’s my magic number.

Yes, this is so frustrating and some may say 3 months isn’t long but it feels like a lifetime when you’re not feeling well. You’re almost there…. hang in there…. this WILL all get better. Don’t let it defeat your attitude….. you’re on the home stretch!
Sue

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